In the Shadow of the Mountain with Silvia Vasquez-Lavado
Ever hit rock bottom and thought there was no way out? In this episode, Dr. Monica Johnson, the Savvy Psychologist, talks with Silvia Vasquez-Lavado about how there’s no bottom that you can’t climb out of.
Hey listeners! You’re in for an inspiring story today. You’re going to hear the conversation that I had with author Silvia Vasquez-Lavado about her new book, In the Shadow of the Mountain, her journey through sexual abuse as a child, substance abuse, and her life-changing experiences that led her to mountain climbing.
Listen as we discuss the metaphorical and literal mountains that she’s had to conquer in her life. I think it’s so important for all of my listeners to know that you can go through devastating times in your life and still find internal peace and build a worthwhile life for yourself. For more, I strongly recommend reading In the Shadow of the Mountain.
You can hear the full discussion by pressing the “play” button above or find the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to Savvy Psychologist.
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Some important takeaways from our discussion:
- Suppression of trauma and harmful negative emotions is unhelpful.
- Reaching out to your support systems is beneficial when you’re struggling.
- You will hear mention of Ayahuasca, which is a psychedelic that is commonly used for spiritual and religious purposes. In Silvia’s story, she had a vision that led her on a pathway towards her own healing.
- Mindfulness and gratitude practices work!
I hope you enjoyed this interview with Silvia. Go read her book—I need more people to talk to about it with! If you buy her book, tag me on Instagram or send me a comment. You can also reach out to me via my email at psychologist@quickanddirtytips.comcreate new email or leave a voicemail at (929) 256-2191.
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About the Author
Dr. Monica Johnson is a clinical psychologist and owner of Kind Mind Psychology, a private practice in NYC that specializes in evidenced based approaches to treating a wide range of mental health issues (e.g. depression, anxiety, trauma, and personality disorders). Additionally, she has a focus on working with marginalized groups of people including BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and alternative lifestyles to manage minority stress. She is also dedicated to contributing to her field professionally through speaking, training, supervision, and writing. She routinely speaks at conferences, provides training and workshops at organizations, supervises mental health trainees, and co-authored a book for professionals on addressing race-based stress in therapy.
Dr. Johnson earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of South Carolina, completed her Psy.D. at the Arizona School of Professional Psychology, and completed her postdoctoral training year at Cherokee Health Systems in Knoxville, TN. She currently lives in Manhattan where she indulges in horror movies, sarcasm, and intentional introversion. You can find her on Instagram and online at kindmindpsych.com.
Got a question that you’d like Dr. Johnson to answer on Savvy Psychologist? You can send her an email at psychologist@quickanddirtytips.comcreate new email or leave a voicemail for the Savvy Psychologist listener line by calling (929) 256-2191.
