In this episode of Coursen’s Corner, host Spencer Coursen is joined by Amy Charlesworth, a veteran, advocate, and mental health facilitator, who shares her powerful story of transformation—from battling PTSD and suicidal ideation to leading healing retreats for other struggling veterans. Amy dives into her experience with the military, her personal trauma, and the life-changing impact of psychedelic plant medicine therapy, particularly for military veterans and their families.

The conversation also explores integration work, spirituality, relationship struggles post-deployment, and the significance of support systems. Amy opens up about her healing journey with psilocybin, MDMA, and 5-MeO-DMT, and how those experiences propelled her to launch her podcast and create programs focused on holistic recovery.

Timestamps:

- [00:01:26] – Amy’s early life and how the military became a path to purpose

- [00:02:44] – Struggling post-deployment: Addiction, insomnia, and suicidal thoughts

- [00:04:07] – Introduction to plant medicine and life-saving retreat experience

- [00:06:00] – Why integration is the hardest, most critical part of healing

- [00:12:17] – Breaking stigma: Veterans, the FDA, and big pharma

- [00:14:13] – Family Matters: Supporting loved ones during psychedelic recovery

- [00:20:28] – Confronting parental abandonment and healing generational trauma

- [00:22:02] – Childhood wounds and being seen in the medicine journey

- [00:26:14] – Letting go of "warrior mode" and embracing a softer self

- [00:28:28] – Redefining identity through self-talk and post-military evolution

- [00:30:15] – Transforming marriages and mental health through gratitude

- [00:43:40] – Transitioning out of the military: Uncertainty and new purpose

- [00:45:08] – Launching a podcast to give veterans a platform for healing

- [01:08:54] – Receiving wisdom from the medicine: The power of silence and presence

- [01:10:44] – Amy’s message to fellow women veterans and stepping into leadership

Links & Resources:

Follow Amy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/qnamy/

Subscribe to Amy's YouTube:  @QNAMYSHOW 

Podcast Guest Submission Form: https://www.spencercoursen.com/podcast

Follow Spencer on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s.coursen/?hl=en

Purchase "The Safety Trap" by Spencer Coursen: https://a.co/d/3KXG4y2