The Alchemical Path

In this inspiring and expansive conversation, Liz sits down with Emily “Emma” Donovan, a therapist, spiritual counselor, and functional nutritionist who’s reshaping how we understand mental health and emotional well-being.As the founder of The Holistic & Functional Psychology Institute and a practitioner at Alternative Therapy STL, Emma helps women — and the clinicians who serve them — move beyond symptom management to address the root causes of emotional, mental, and physical challenges.Her integrative approach blends functional nutrition, spirituality, and holistic psychology, weaving together science and soul to create lasting change from the inside out.Together, Liz and Emma explore:💫 The connection between nutrition, mood, and emotional regulation💫 How spirituality and science can coexist in modern therapy💫 What “root cause healing” really means — and how it changes everything💫 How therapists can begin integrating holistic and functional methods into their own work💫 The power of mind-body-spirit alignment in creating resilience and vitalityEmma also shares insights from her global travels to 34 countries, where she’s gathered wisdom about healing and the human experience from many cultures.This conversation is a deep dive into what it means to heal holistically — honoring the body’s intelligence, the mind’s potential, and the soul’s longing for wholeness.🌿 About Emily “Emma” DonovanEmily “Emma” Donovan (she/her) is a Therapist, Spiritual Counselor, and Functional Nutritionist at Alternative Therapy STL, and the Founder of The Holistic & Functional Psychology Institute.She helps clients address the root causes of emotional and mental challenges by integrating functional nutrition, holistic psychology, and spiritual counseling. Through her institute, Emma offers therapist training programs, online courses, and international retreats, helping clinicians bridge traditional and holistic methodologies in their work.With a passion for travel and a heart for healing, Emma has visited 34 countries, continually expanding her understanding of how culture, connection, and spirit influence health and transformation.Learn more and connect with Emma:Holistic Therapy | Alternative Therapy STL | Saint Louis, MissouriHolistic Therapy Training for Mental Health Therapists | The Holistic & Functional Psychology Institute, LLCCheck out The Holistic Wellness Questionnaire https://www.holisticandfunctionalpsychology.com/hwq Emma is offering a Black Friday sale on her retreat at the end of this month. The code is BLACKFRIDAY and it's available from 11/27 to 12/2. Anyone who registers with the code will get all activities included in the purchase price, which is worth over $400. Learn more about the retreat here: https://www.holisticandfunctionalpsychology.com/retreat Like and Follow The Holistic & Functional Psychology Institute @holistictrainingfortherapists on IG and https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578366315106 on FB

In this powerful and deeply human conversation, Liz sits down with Sam Pow, a therapist and clinical supervisor whose work reimagines how we think about suicidality, resilience, and healing.Sam’s philosophy of Suicide Resilience invites us to view suicidal thoughts not as something to fear or suppress, but as a message from within — a call to create a life that truly feels worth living. Through compassion, curiosity, and authenticity, Sam helps clients navigate identity struggles, existential questions, and emotional pain, guiding them toward transformation and meaning.Together, Liz and Sam explore:💫 The concept of Suicide Resilience and how it transforms our understanding of healing💫 Systemic change and the importance of deconstructing the forces that shape suffering — including patriarchy, colonialism, capitalism, and other systems that disconnect us from our inherent worth💫 How true liberation begins when we remember who we are outside of those systems and reclaim our right to belong, to create, and to live fully💫 The role of psychedelic integration in fostering insight, connection, and resilience💫 Sam’s personal and professional journey into this work — and what it means to hold space for both pain and hope💫 The importance of community, embodiment, and creativity in the healing processSam also shares about their Resiliency Group in Los Angeles, which provides a supportive space for connection, meaning-making, and empowerment for those navigating suicidal thoughts or emotional overwhelm.This episode is an invitation to reframe despair as a doorway to transformation — and to recognize that even in our darkest moments, the potential for alchemy and rebirth remains.🌿 About Sam PowSam Pow (they/them) is a Therapist and Clinical Supervisor who supports clients struggling with suicidal ideation, dissociation, identity challenges, existential issues, and emotion regulation. Their work centers around Suicide Resilience — the journey of allowing suicidal thoughts to guide you toward building a life you want to live.Beyond their clinical work, Sam brings creativity and community into everything they do. They are a longtime participant in Burning Man, volunteering with the Crisis Intervention Team and Survivor Advocacy Team, and they channel rhythm and movement as a djembe drummer with a fire-dancing troupe.💫 Learn more about Sam’s work, their Resiliency Group in Los Angeles, and other offerings at sampowlcsw.com🕯️ Connect with The Alchemical PathFollow for more conversations that bridge the worlds of psychology, energy, and soul.🎧 Listen on Spotify | Apple Podcasts🌿 Hosted by Earth & Ember Wellness

In this episode of The Alchemical Path, I’m joined by Jodi Silverman, LCSW, a psychotherapist and Reiki practitioner who bridges the worlds of traditional therapy and energy healing. Jodi shares her personal journey into Reiki, how she integrates it into her therapeutic work, and why creating safe, sacred space is essential for transformation.We talk about the importance of tending to both the nervous system and the spirit in the healing process, and how embracing energy work allows us to move beyond the limits of conventional therapy.This conversation is an invitation to remember that healing is not linear — it is layered, intuitive, and deeply human.🌿 How Jodi combines Reiki and psychotherapy in her practice🌿 The role of energy in emotional and spiritual healing🌿 Jodi’s journey into embracing intuitive gifts and energy work🌿 Why safe, sacred space matters for transformation🌿 How therapists can expand their practice beyond the traditional boxLearn More!Learn more about her therapy and Reiki services: ⁠THERACHI HEALING - Holistic Psychotherapy⁠Listen to her podcast: The Spiritually Curious Therapist on Spotify or Apple PodcastsLearn about her courses and additional offerings: ⁠Journey With Kindred Souls LLC – Soul Actualization through Courses, Coaching and Community⁠👉 Tune in now to hear Jodi’s wisdom and feel inspired to bring more wholeness into your own healing path.If this episode resonates, share it with a friend or leave a review to help us grow this community.

This podcast was born from a hunger for depth—a space where therapy and transformation don’t have to fit inside the box of clinical perfectionism, and where healing can be messy, spiritual, intuitive, and deeply human.In this solo episode, I share some of my personal journey:The early years of being a therapist and feeling the limits of the systemThe unexpected spiritual awakening that set everything in motionHow Reiki and energy work cracked open new ways of understanding myself—and my clientsWhy I created The Alchemical Path as a space to challenge the norms and invite sacred rememberingThis is not just a podcast (for me). It's a practice in authenticity. A return to the soul of what healing can be. And a call to reimagine how we show up—for ourselves, and for others.🎧 Whether you’re a therapist, healer, or simply walking your own path of becoming, this episode is an invitation to go deeper.🌀 What to Expect Going ForwardEach week, I’ll sit down with therapists, coaches, and guides who are doing things differently—blending science and soul, intuition and intellect, ritual and real life. You’ll hear stories, practices, and insights from those reclaiming healing as a sacred, personal, and collective path.📬 Subscribe, review, and share if this resonates with you. And welcome—truly—to The Alchemical Path.Find out more about my practice at www.wpcounseling.org