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Essentials: Therapy, Treating Trauma & Other Life Challenges | Dr. Paul Conti

Jan 22, 2026 38m 20s 20 insights
In this Huberman Lab Essentials episode, my guest is Dr. Paul Conti, MD, a psychiatrist and expert in treating trauma and psychiatric illness. We explain what trauma is and how it affects the mind and body, as well as the best treatment approaches to support recovery. We also discuss why guilt and shame often follow traumatic experiences and why processing trauma is essential for healing. Dr. Conti shares practical tools for how to choose and work effectively with a therapist and discusses the therapeutic potential of psychedelics and MDMA in clinician-assisted settings. Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com.
Actionable Insights

1. Face & Explore Trauma Directly

Directly look at and explore past trauma, rather than avoiding it, as this is the primary way to deal with internal arousal and the long-term impact of trauma.

2. Communicate Internal Trauma

Communicate and put words to what’s going on inside of you, either by talking to a trusted person or writing it down, to avoid burying the trauma and initiate the process of change.

3. Prioritize Basic Self-Care

Consistently ensure the basics of self-care are met, including adequate sleep, good nutrition, natural light exposure, positive social interactions, and healthy living circumstances, as these are fundamental building blocks for all other aspects of health.

4. Seek Rapport-Driven Therapy

When seeking professional help, prioritize finding a therapist with whom you have strong rapport and trust, as this is the most indispensable factor for effective therapy.

5. Take Ownership of Therapy

Actively observe your internal state and feelings, taking ownership of your therapy process, and communicate with your therapist if you don’t feel sufficiently helped to ensure the treatment is effective.

6. Allow Crying for Grief

Allow yourself to cry when processing difficult emotions or trauma, as crying is a natural and effective coping mechanism that helps grieve and shift negative emotions like anxiety, anger, and frustration.

7. Introspect with Distance

Engage in real introspection by creating enough distance from your thoughts to generate new perspectives, rather than simply reinforcing old patterns of rumination that are non-productive.

8. Speak or Write to Process

Speak or write about your internal experiences, as using words engages additional brain mechanisms, allows for different ways of thinking, and helps develop an ‘observing ego’ to understand internal processes.

9. View Trauma Objectively

Look at your personal trauma from an outside perspective, as if it happened to someone else, to foster compassion for yourself and reduce the energy of guilt and shame associated with the experience.

10. Address Depression’s Root Cause

To achieve lasting improvement in depression, focus on unraveling and addressing what is truly driving the depression, rather than solely relying on medication as an endpoint.

11. Prioritize Lifestyle Over Medication

For general health issues like high cholesterol, prioritize self-care actions such as weight loss and increased exercise before or alongside medication, to address root causes and avoid over-reliance on drugs.

12. Define Trauma Clearly

Use specific language when discussing trauma, defining it as something that overwhelms coping skills and causes lasting change, to ensure clear communication and avoid diluting its meaning.

13. Challenge Self-Care Beliefs

Challenge the internal belief that poor self-care is necessary for maintaining an ’edge’ or achieving success, as this mindset can prevent you from adopting healthier habits.

14. Trial Multiple Therapists

Try a few different therapists for a session or two to assess if a strong rapport is taking root, which is crucial for establishing an effective therapeutic relationship.

15. Seek Trusted Referrals

Seek therapist recommendations from people you trust, as word-of-mouth referrals can significantly increase the likelihood of finding a suitable and effective professional.

16. Utilize Clinical Psychedelics Safely

If considering psychedelics for therapeutic purposes, ensure they are used in a legal clinical setting with professional guidance to maximize their powerful potential as anti-trauma mechanisms and minimize hazards.

17. MDMA with Clinical Guidance

In a clinical setting, use the permissive state induced by MDMA under professional guidance to approach traumatic experiences from a new, less fearful perspective, facilitating problem-solving.

18. Reduce Mercury: Diet & Supplements

If blood tests show elevated mercury, limit tuna consumption, increase leafy greens, and consider supplementing with NAC (N-acetylcysteine) to support glutathione production and detoxification.

19. Enhance Sleep with AGZ

Consider taking AGZ, a sleep supplement, 30 to 60 minutes before sleep to improve the quality and depth of sleep, as it contains clinically supported ingredients in optimal ratios.

20. Comprehensive Lab Testing with Function

Utilize comprehensive lab testing services like Function to get a detailed snapshot of your bodily health, including insights on heart health, hormones, immune function, and nutrient levels, with expert analysis of results.