Medication-Free Healing: The Legacy of Soteria House

Join host Katinka Blackford Newman on The Med Free Mental Fitness Podcast as she dives into the topic of psychosis with Eugene Larkin, author of 'Seeking Soteria.' Eugene shares his experiences at the radical Soteria House project, where individuals with schizophrenia and psychosis were supported without medication. Discover the origins of Soteria Houses, the significant impact of offering presence over medication, and real-life success stories of those who thrived under this compassionate care model. This episode challenges the conventional views on mental illness and explores the potential of non-medicated approaches in mental health treatment.

00:00 Introduction to the Med Free Mental Fitness Podcast

00:40 Origins of Soteria House

03:04 Eugene's Journey to Soteria House

06:47 First Impressions and Early Experiences

09:45 Success Stories and Therapeutic Approaches

16:42 Understanding Psychosis and Mental Health Labels

19:37 Empathy and Understanding at TER

20:09 A Real-Life Example of Psychosis

20:41 The Journey of Rebirth

22:16 The Heroic Transformation

23:52 Reunion and Reflections

28:17 The Impact of Medication

31:26 The Satter Model's Influence

32:39 Medication: Choice vs. Force

36:06 The Misconception of Medication

38:10 Concluding Thoughts

Katinka Blackford Newman is a life coach, journalist and CEO of the nonprofit Antidepressantrisks.org

She can be reached at Katinka@kbnlifecoaching.co.uk