Psychologists, therapists, and psychiatrists are trained to identify issues, diagnose, and create a plan for resolution. As such, traditionally, therapy has been framed as a response: a method to heal an ailment.

Understanding and treating depression is complex, particularly when capturing the daily experiences of those living with it. Researchers are now exploring a new approach: using the human voice to gain deeper insight into how people process, express and recover from depression, thanks to newly developed technology.

In this episode, Ashley Mason, co-investigator at Vail Health Behavioral Health Innovation Center, provides a masterclass on cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), detailing techniques like time in bed restriction, stimulus control, and cognitive restructuring to improve sleep. She explains how to manage racing thoughts and anxiety, optimize sleep environments, and use practical tools like sleep diaries to track progress. 

In April, Vail Health’s Behavioral Health Innovation Center will kick off the second of two studies aimed at targeting depression. The OPTIMIZE study will examine the impacts of psilocybin, the active ingredient in psychedelic mushrooms, on people with major depressive disorder.

Sign up for a clinical trial of a psychedelic drug and you’re agreeing to a potentially bizarre experience. “All of a sudden, your dead grandma or Satan is in front of you,” says psychiatrist Charles Raison of the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Some think this consciousness-altering “trip” underlies the potential benefits of drugs such as psilocybin and LSD, which are under study to treat depression, trauma, chronic pain, and more. 

School counselors and school clinicians play vital roles in providing support services in our local schools, but their functions and areas of expertise differ significantly. Understanding the differences can help parents and guardians choose the right support for their children.

Oh, the holidays—a time of winter wonder here in Vail, where snowflakes glimmer in the soft winter dawn, and Mother Nature reveals yet another facet of her breathtaking beauty. But let’s be honest: the holidays, while magical, can also be incredibly challenging.

During the past 50 years, the significance of proper sleep hygiene has been emphasized in various well-being initiatives. We now know the close connection between sleep and our overall health. As noted by the Mental Health Foundations (n.d.), “Poor sleep over a sustained period leads to a number of problems that are immediately recognizable, including fatigue, sleepiness, poor concentration, lapses in memory, and irritability.”

Vail Health Behavioral Health Innovation Center Director Dr. Charles Raison recently co-authored a paper on psilocybin-assisted therapy, which quickly received international attention. Articles have been written by dozens of publications, including Newsweek, US News & World Report and the following. 

The aftershock of the recent school shooting in Georgia was deeply felt across the country, but for our Eagle County students and families, the fear was intensified by recent local threats.