Whole by Design

EP 22: The Stress Equation and the Hidden Path to Resilience with Amanda Good

Stress is often treated like something to eliminate, but what if understanding it differently could help you move through life with more clarity, strength, and intention?
In this episode of Whole by Design, Dr. Julie Lopez is joined by clinician and clinical director Amanda Good to explore the stress equation, a practical framework for understanding why stress affects people differently and how lasting balance is created.
Together, they break down how demands, coping capacity, internal beliefs, and support systems interact to shape your experience of stress. Amanda explains why managing stress is not just about coping in the moment, but about identifying where imbalance lives and knowing how to shift it.
This conversation also explores how difficult experiences can become catalysts for growth, offering insight into resilience, deeper self-awareness, stronger relationships, and renewed meaning after hard seasons of life.
 
Learn more about The Sibley Group & Amanda Good: 
thesibleygroupdc.com 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-good-85844a1ab 
https://www.instagram.com/amandagoodlicsw/
Learn More about Dr. Julie’s Work: https://drjulielopez.com/ 
Learn More about The Viva Center: https://www.vivapartnership.com/

EP 21: The Unseen Patterns Behind Strong Relationships with Lee Collins

What do high-pressure emergency response and intimate relationships have in common? Communication under stress.
In this episode of Whole by Design, Dr. Julie Lopez sits down with Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) Lee Collins to explore what truly strengthens connection in relationships.
Drawing from his background in corporate leadership, emergency response, and clinical counseling, Lee shares how high-pressure environments reveal the communication patterns that either build trust or break it down. He unpacks the subtle shifts that move relationships from conflict to connection and explains why emotional awareness is the foundation.
This episode offers actionable insight into relationship skills, communication, and emotional regulation, helping you show up stronger in love, work, and life.
 
Learn More about Dr. Julie’s Work: https://drjulielopez.com/ 
Learn More about The Viva Center: https://www.vivapartnership.com/

EP 20: The Hidden Factors Shaping Every Type of Fertility with Dr. Natalie Grigorian

Fertility is often framed as a purely biological issue, but what if there’s more shaping our ability to create and receive in life than we realize?
In this episode of Whole by Design, Dr. Julie Lopez is joined by Dr. Natalie Grigorian, a Doctor of Oriental Medicine and Master of Acupuncture, to explore the hidden factors that influence fertility, not just in conception, but across all areas of life.
Together, they discuss how stress, the nervous system, and natural rhythms shape fertility and vitality. Dr. Gregorian shares how listening to the body’s signals, honoring cycles, and creating conditions for safety and receptivity can support healing, growth, and resilience.
This conversation offers perspective, insight, and practical guidance for anyone feeling stuck, depleted, or curious about how fertility extends beyond reproduction into creativity, work, relationships, and overall well-being.
 
Learn more about Dr. Natalie Grigorian & Aetherium Health: 
https://aetheriumhealth.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliegrigorian/
https://www.instagram.com/aetheriumhealth/
https://www.instagram.com/dr.natalieg/
Learn More about Dr. Julie’s Work: https://drjulielopez.com/ 
Learn More about The Viva Center: https://www.vivapartnership.com/

EP 19: Could AI Be Your Next Therapist? Expert Insights from Dr. Rachel Wood

AI is changing the way we approach mental health, but what does that mean for our relationships, emotions, and even therapy itself?
In this episode, Dr. Julie Lopez sits down with Dr. Rachel Wood, a licensed counselor and leader in cyber psychology, to explore the growing role of AI in mental health. They discuss how AI is being used for therapy, companionship, and self-reflection, the potential benefits and risks of synthetic relationships, and the one crucial step to stay empowered and safe when interacting with AI.
This conversation offers insight, clarity, and practical guidance for anyone curious about how technology is reshaping mental well-being.
 
Learn more about Dr. Rachel Wood: www.dr-rachelwood.com 
Learn More about Dr. Julie’s Work: https://drjulielopez.com/ 
Learn More about The Viva Center: https://www.vivapartnership.com/

EP 18: A Mom’s Willingness to Help her Daughter Die: A Conversation With Faith & Brenda Ferber

Trigger Warning: This episode discusses suicide and self-harm.
Suicidality can be complex, painful, and often misunderstood.
In this episode, Dr. Julie Lopez sits down with Faith Ferber, a trauma-informed Viva therapist, and her mother, Brenda Ferber, a writer, to explore Faith’s journey with mental health challenges from childhood through adolescence. They discuss early warning signs, the impact of family dynamics, and the one thing that ultimately helped Faith shift her relationship to suicidal thoughts.
This conversation offers insight, validation, and hope for anyone navigating mental health struggles in themselves or their loved ones.
Learn more about Faith Ferber - https://www.vivapartnership.com/our-team/faith-ferber-licsw-lcsw-lcsw-c/ 
Learn more about Brenda Ferber - http://brendaferber.com/ 
Learn More about Dr. Julie’s Work: https://drjulielopez.com/ 
Learn More about The Viva Center: https://www.vivapartnership.com/ 

EP 17: Sleep Matters: How Sleep Apnea Impacts Mental Health | Dr. Andres Barkil-Oteo

Poor sleep can affect more than just energy. It can shape mood, focus, and mental health in surprising ways.
In this episode, Dr. Julie Lopez sits down with psychiatrist Dr. Andres Barkil-Oteo to explore the hidden connection between sleep apnea and mental health. They discuss why sleep apnea often goes unnoticed, how it can mimic depression or ADHD, and what steps you can take to uncover and treat it.
This episode is an empowering discussion on the hidden impact of sleep apnea and why it is essential to take action so that you can restore your mental and physical vitality.
Learn more about Dr. Barkil-Oteo - https://www.washingtoninterventionalpsychiatry.com/team-member/andres-barkil-oteo/
Learn More about Dr. Julie’s Work: https://drjulielopez.com/ 
Learn More about The Viva Center: https://www.vivapartnership.com/

EP 16: All Bodies Rock: Breaking Free from Disordered Eating | Christie Dondero Bettwy

Disordered eating impacts millions of Americans, yet so many people face it in silence. If you’re struggling, you are not alone.
In this episode, Dr. Julie Lopez sits down with Christie Dondero Bettwy, Executive Director of Rock Recovery, to talk about her personal journey of disordered eating recovery and her work making treatment more accessible. Together, they explore how cultural messages about food and bodies fuel shame, why so many people feel “not sick enough” to seek help, and what it takes to begin moving toward healing.
This conversation invites you to rethink the stories you’ve been told about bodies, worth, and food, and to imagine the possibility of making peace with your body, exactly as it is today.
 
Learn more about Rock Recovery - https://www.rockrecoveryed.org/ 
Learn More about Dr. Julie’s Work: https://drjulielopez.com/ 
Learn More about The Viva Center: https://www.vivapartnership.com/ 

EP 15: The Psychedelic Power of Breathwork | Mark Worster

Psychedelics and breathwork may seem like very different paths to healing, but what if the breath alone could unlock the same powerful states of awareness?
In this episode, Dr. Julie Lopez speaks with Mark Worster, a psychiatric nurse, entrepreneur, and trauma survivor, about how deep breathwork can be a psychedelic experience without substances. Together, they explore non-ordinary states of consciousness, shadow work, and how accessing the subconscious through the body can lead to profound healing and joy.
If you’ve ever been curious about meditation, breathwork, holotropic breathwork, psychedelics, or wondered how to go beyond symptom relief to real transformation through non-chemical methods, this conversation is for you.
Learn more about Mark Worster’s work - https://nurse-mark.com/ 
Learn More about Dr. Julie’s Work: https://drjulielopez.com/ 
Learn More about The Viva Center: https://www.vivapartnership.com/

EP 14: Breaking Free from Co‑Dependency, Hyperfixation & Addiction | Zara Phillips

In this deeply honest conversation, Dr. Julie Lopez sits down with author, filmmaker, and advocate Zara Phillips to explore how co-dependency and hyperfixation act as survival mechanisms that can spiral into addictive patterns.
 
They unpack why we overthink, people-please, or fixate compulsively when safety feels uncertain, and reveal the two key components Zara credits with sustaining lasting recovery. 
 
From Zara's groundbreaking advocacy work demanding government apologies for forced adoption practices to her personal insights on breaking free from people-pleasing, this episode offers both validation and practical tools for healing.
 
Whether you're adopted, in foster care, or simply recognize patterns of abandonment and codependency in your own life, this conversation provides a roadmap for reclaiming authenticity and finding peace.
 
LEARN MORE ABOUT ZARA PHILLIPS: www.zaraphillips.net
CONNECT WITH JULIE: https://drjulielopez.com/ 
CONNECT WITH THE VIVA CENTER: https://www.vivapartnership.com/ 

EP 13: The Overmedication Crisis in Teen Mental Health | Dr. Britta Zimmer

Psychiatric medication can be life-changing, but for some teens, it becomes the only solution offered.If you or someone you love is on medication but still facing challenges and wondering why, this episode is for you. Discover how a personalized whole-body approach to teen mental health can create more lasting results.Dr. Britta Zimmer, Chief Medical Officer of Pacific Quest and expert in integrative psychiatry, shares what happens when mental health care focuses on band-aids instead of the whole person. She explains how trauma, nervous system dysregulation, and environmental factors often go untreated, resulting in cycles of overmedication and frustration.
 
LEARN MORE ABOUT PACIFIC QUEST: www.pacificquest.org
CONNECT WITH JULIE: https://drjulielopez.com/ 
CONNECT WITH THE VIVA CENTER: https://www.vivapartnership.com/