Dr. Laura Ellick, a clinical psychologist specializing in addiction, eating disorders, and chronic medical conditions, joins the conversation to examine how mindset shapes both the development of disorder and the path to recovery. Drawing from decades of clinical experience across detox units, jails, and medical settings, she outlines how underlying trauma, emotional avoidance, and cognitive patterns drive maladaptive behaviors—and how they can be changed.

The discussion centers on the distinction between psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral approaches, with a clear emphasis on how thoughts directly influence emotional states and behavior. Dr. Ellick explains why relapse is rarely sudden, how subtle internal shifts accumulate over time, and why early awareness is critical for intervention.

Key themes include:

• The “three C ...