47: Healing Depression Project: A New Model for Treating Depression With Silvia Covelli & Achina Stein

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST – Also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

In this episode of the Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations, I interviewed integrative psychiatrist Dr. Achina Stein and patient advocate Silvia Covelli, co-founders of the Healing Depression Project, about their revolutionary new model for treating depression. Both bring a wealth of experience in functional medicine and share a deep passion for helping people uncover the root causes of their mental health challenges.

We discussed the biochemical and physiological drivers of depression — including trauma, inflammation, gut health, and nutrient deficiencies — and why the conventional model of prescribing antidepressants often falls short. This episode is full of hope and actionable strategies for those struggling with depression and looking for an alternative to medication-focused treatment. A holistic, root-cause approach to healing depression is a game-changer, and I’m so excited to share this episode with you!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Conventional psychiatry often misses root causes
  Depression is typically treated with a diagnosis and a prescription — often skipping deeper evaluation. Labs like B12, iron, vitamin D, and thyroid markers are rarely run, even though deficiencies can cause depression-like symptoms. Dr. Stein notes, “We used to do this routinely. Now it’s fallen off the radar.”
• Inflammation is the true root — not a chemical imbalance
  Neurotransmitter imbalances are a downstream effect of chronic inflammation. Dr. Stein emphasizes the need to investigate inflammatory triggers like poor gut health, nutrient deficiencies, mold toxicity, and hormonal imbalances — especially during perimenopause and postpartum.
• Mold toxicity is a hidden and devastating trigger
  Over half of the Healing Depression Project participants had elevated mold toxins — often without visible mold in their environment. Symptoms ranged from depression and anxiety to fatigue and skin rashes. Mold exposure requires immediate detox support, often with binders, before any other treatment can succeed.
• Therapeutic ketogenic diet led to remission in 50% of participants
  In just 26 days, half of the program’s participants — who had treatment-resistant depression for an average of 25 years — reached full remission using a gluten-free, dairy-free ketogenic diet paired with foundational lifestyle changes like sleep hygiene, movement, and meditation.
• Psychodrama therapy offered powerful trauma release
  Ten days of immersive group-based psychodrama provided the equivalent of 50+ hours of traditional therapy. Participants processed and rewrote core traumatic experiences, contributing significantly to emotional breakthroughs.
• Sustainable recovery requires daily action
  Depression healing isn’t passive — it requires intentional shifts in daily habits. Silvia Covelli emphasizes: “This isn’t a magic pill. It’s a system. But when you commit, it changes everything.”
• Supportive nutrients and testing are essential
  Tools like betaine HCl, bile salts, selenium, zinc, and testing for hormone imbalances, mold toxins, and gut dysbiosis were critical in individualizing care. The team emphasizes personalization and ongoing support after the in-person retreat.

Freebies

• Why Am I Still Depressed? The Top 4 Mistakes You’re Making – A Practical Starter Guide to Overcome Depression – Free downloadable guide from the Healing Depression Project

Guest Resources/Connect with Dr. Achina Stein and Silvia Covelli

• Healing Depression Project 45-Day Program – Functional medicine-based depression recovery program with retreat and virtual follow-up
• Visit the Healing Depression Project website for information about the next 45-Day Depression Recovery Program which starts on August 30, 2025. The program includes a 30-day in-person retreat at a Lake House in Austin, TX, followed by a 15-day at-home integration phase, ensuring sustainable improvement. Participants who are invited to apply can also apply for our scholarship program. If a scholarship is awarded, it can cover up to 80% of the total investment.
• Healing Depression Project social links – Instagram, Facebook, YouTube
• Functional Mind Clinic (Dr. Achina Stein’s Practice) – Functional medicine psychiatry practice (RI, MA, TX & nationwide with her team)
• Silvia Covelli – Founder of Healing Depression Project
• Beth Zupec-Kania – Ketogenic Nutritionist (developed custom keto plan for the program)
• What If It’s Not Depression? – YouTube
• Dr. Achiina Stein’s Book: What If It’s Not Depression? Your Guide to Finding Answers and Solutions discusses functional medicine perspectives on treating chronic depression.

Supplements We Discussed

• Betaine HCl – Used to support stomach acid and fat digestion on a ketogenic diet.
• Ox Bile – Supports gallbladder function and fat absorption – Contained in Rootcology’s Liver and Gallbladder Support.
• Vitamin B12 – Often tested and supplemented to address deficiencies in depression. Pure Encapsulations B12 is one supplement I like and suggest for my Hashimoto’s clients.
• Folate – Rootcology’s MTHFR Pathways contains folate and other important nutrients that work together to support methylation.
• Ferritin / Iron – Low iron stores discussed as a root cause of depression. One quality supplement you might like to try is OptiFerin-C by Pure Encapsulations.
• Vitamin D – Routinely tested and optimized for mood support. Pure Encapsulations has a high-quality Vitamin D3 that I like and recommend.
• Chaste Tree/Vitex – Used to support progesterone and hormonal balance
• Bioidentical Progesterone – Can be used for women to support conception, prevent miscarriage, in postpartum and perimenapause/menopause. Some women experience depression, anxiety and insomnia due to low progesterone. Many cases of postpartum depression can be resolved with progesterone.

Other Tools and Resources

• Hamilton Depression Scale – A standard tool used to measure depression severity and treatment response
• Organic Acids Test (OAT) by Mosaic Diagnostics – Used for Mycotoxins and Organic Acids Testing
• Binders – Medications and supplements used to bind toxins, such as mold mycotoxins. Examples include activated charcoal
• Guided Meditation from Dr. Joe Dispenza – YouTube
• Morning Rituals, Movement, and Sleep Hygiene Protocols – Core behavioral components of the program
• Skindeep App (by Environmental Working Group)– Free app for analyzing cosmetic ingredients and identifying estrogen disruptors

Books and Articles – Mental Health Support and Thyroid Health

• Dr. Georgia Ede’s Book: Change Your Diet, Change Your Mind provides insights into the ketogenic diet’s impact on mental health.
• Root Causes of Depression and Hashimoto’s
• A-Z Symptoms of Thyroid Disease
• The OCD and Hashimoto’s Connection
• Could Nutritional Lithium Benefit or Hurt Hashimoto’s?

This episode is an invaluable resource for anyone struggling with depression or supporting someone who is. By integrating functional medicine and lifestyle changes, the Healing Depression Project offers hope and guidance for lasting recovery.

Get the Full Episode Transcript

Let’s Connect!

• Follow me on Instagram:@izabellawentzpharmd
• Get my FREE weekly thyroid & gut health newsletter: Sign up here
• Subscribe & Review: If you loved this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!

If this podcast resonates with you, don’t forget to share with a friend who needs this information!

Got questions? Drop them in the comments! 🙂

About Our Host

Dr. Izabella Wentz 

Dr. Izabella Wentz is a compassionate, innovative, solution-focused integrative pharmacist dedicated to finding the root causes of chronic health conditions. Her passion stems from her own diagnosis of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis in 2009, following a decade of debilitating symptoms.

Dr. Izabella Wentz has written several best-selling books, including the New York Times bestseller Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis: Lifestyle Interventions for Finding and Treating the Root Cause, the protocol-based #1 New York Times bestseller Hashimoto’s Protocol: A 90-Day Plan for Reversing Thyroid Symptoms and Getting Your Life Back, the Wall Street Journal bestseller Hashimoto’s Food Pharmacology: Nutrition Protocols and Healing Recipes to Take Charge of Your Thyroid Health, and her latest book, Adrenal Transformation Protocol.

Thyroid Pharmacist Blog
Instagram
Facebook
TikTok
Rootcology

About Our Guests

Dr. Achina Stein, DO, DFAPA, FACN, ABIHM, IFMCP

Dr. Stein is the head doctor at the Healing Depression Project. She is a leading expert in Functional Medicine Psychiatry and a best-selling author with 30 years of experience helping people recover from depression.

She is a board-certified psychiatrist, a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, a certified practitioner of the Institute for Functional Medicine, and a former Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.

Dr. Stein’s Amazon international bestselling book, What If It’s NOT Depression? Your Guide to Finding Answers and Solutions, offers groundbreaking functional medicine perspectives, instilling hope and providing healing pathways for those facing chronic depression.

In the 45-Day Depression Recovery Program offered by the Healing Depression Project, Dr. Stein works on identifying and addressing all the root causes of your depression-like symptoms. This program is bringing hope to those who have long struggled with depression and have not found relief with other treatments, including antidepressant medications.

Dr. Achina Stein’s Website
Dr. Achina Stein’s Instagram

Silvia Covelli

Silvia is the founder of the Healing Depression Project. She is an honors graduate from Boston College and a former social science researcher at Harvard University. She pursued graduate studies in finance and business law, and dedicated her career to entrepreneurship, becoming an accomplished businesswoman.

In parallel with her thriving career, Silvia faced relentless and chronic depression, exploring over 60 different treatments without finding sustained relief. Her personal struggle, combined with her extensive background in human transformation and mind-body connection, led her to develop a program that remarkably eradicated 25 years of depression symptoms, leaving her depression-free ever since.

This breakthrough later inspired the creation of the Healing Depression Project, and helping others break free from depression became her life mission.

Healing Depression Project Website
Healing Depression Project Instagram
Healing Depression Project Facebook Page
Healing Depression Project YouTube
Healing Depression Project LinkedIn