I just found out yesterday, more than a year after the fact, that Dr. Brian Healy, of the Center for Optimal Performance in NYC, has passed away.

Brian was the psychologist who help me through my PTSD “experience” 17 years ago, that was documented in my one man show THE PEOPLE IN MY HIPS.

I am deeply saddened by his passing.

Way back in 2003, after seeing almost every kind of therapist on the planet, I came to Brian with severe developmental PTSD which I manifested at 45 years of age from doing Yoga. I was so scared. My somatic reactions were extreme, to say the least, but Dr. Healy was totally on board and supportive, as I went on the the wildest ride of my life. We worked together courageously for two years and he helped me cure myself 100% of my insane PTSD.

And then, with Dr. Healy’s support, I went on to write a one man play about my PTSD journey THE PEOPLE IN MY HIPS, and I brought this story to life at Manhattan Rep in 2009, which included video of our sessions together.

In therapy with Brian, I would bounce, cry, moan and shake, and he would sit calmly and compassionately ask questions.

My biggest breakthroughs came in therapy after Dr. Healy allowed me to videotape my sessions with him. My abuser, the unknown “Dark Man” as I referred to him, who was lost in my unconscious mind and in my body, was male, so I felt unsafe alone with Brian. But when I turned on the camera to document my sessions, I felt safe, and I was able to do the incredibly difficult work to climb underneath my PTSD symptoms and discover the lost memories in my body and my mind.

This was the most challenging time of my life, and Dr. Healy was there, quiet, supportive and committed to helping me get better.

Being a therapist was not a job for Brian.

It was his mission.

Here are two disturbing yet courageous clips of two of our sessions together from 2005.

Dr. Brian Healy was an extraordinary man.

He was a healer, and a true friend.

I literally owe him my life.

Brian, I cannot thank you enough.

May you rest in peace.