Episode Details
Back to EpisodesAddiction Industry Games, Shame & Secrets with Dr. Cali Estes | The Gaslit Truth Podcast with Dr Teralyn Sell and Therapist Jenn Schmitz
Description
Rehab can make millions and still send people home sicker, more medicated, and more likely to relapse. That’s the uncomfortable starting point for our conversation with Dr. Cali Estes, a global leader in addiction recovery who’s trained tens of thousands of professionals and also paid the personal price of loving someone who couldn’t stop using.
We dig into the addiction treatment industry from the inside: rushed assessments during detox, questionable diagnosing, and the quiet incentives that reward “attendance” more than healing. Dr. Cali Estes breaks down body brokering and kickback-style referral practices, why the “30 days and you’re fixed” story collapses the moment someone returns to real life, and how the relapse revolving door can become a business model. If you’ve ever wondered why it feels like the system needs repeat clients to survive, we put language to that feeling.
Then we get practical about what actually improves outcomes in addiction recovery: trauma-informed therapy, somatic work, EMDR, and supporting the brain and body through post-acute withdrawal with labs, nutrition, supplements, and recovery planning that follows you home. We also talk about Sober on Demand, Cali’s wraparound, at-home detox and support model, and where psychiatric medication tapering fits when SSRIs or benzodiazepines are involved.
If you’re a clinician, a family member, or someone trying to get well, this one will challenge what you’ve been told and offer a clearer map forward. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs better options, and leave a review with the biggest takeaway you’re bringing with you.
We're recruiting for a first-of-its-kind psychiatric medication withdrawal research study. If you've experienced psychiatric medication withdrawal, you may be eligible to participate. Email DrTeralyn@DrTeralyn.com to learn more.
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