Dr. Ron Siegel is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Harvard Medical School, where he has taught for over 40 years. As a clinical psychologist in private practice, he has worked with low-income children and families, treated adults with chronic pain and stress disorders, and provided mindfulness-oriented psychotherapy. Dr. Siegel has written and edited several books, including Mindfulness and Psychotherapy, The Mindfulness Solution, Sitting Together, and Wisdom and Compassion in Psychotherapy.

Those who have experienced trauma often struggle with self-criticism, isolation, and reliving painful experiences. Even when we know self-compassion matters, it can feel abstract or blocked by internal resistance. How can we transition from self-judgment and disconnection toward a sense of safety, love, and acceptance?

According to clinical psychologist and mindfulness expert Dr. Ron Siegel, self-compassion can facilitate personal healing and therapeutic outcomes. The three counteractions to self-criticism and isolation are kindness, humanity, and mindfulness, which can be accelerated by psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. When engaging in these therapy sessions, Dr. Siegel emphasizes the importance of preparation, skilled facilitation, and integrating these practices into daily life to support lasting change.

In this episode of Living Medicine, Dr. Ron Siegel returns to chat with Dr. Sandy Newes about cultivating self-compassion in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Dr. Siegel discusses the synergy between mindfulness and psychedelics, how secure attachment informs healing, and how to bring compassion into the body.