Ep 394 - Jessica Dibb - Breathwork and Psychotherapy
Ep 394 - Jessica Dibb - Breathwork and Psychotherapy

Spiritual Underground Podcast

Host Dan Reeves talks with breathwork teacher and author Jessica Dibb about using conscious breathing as a practical, spiritual and psychological support for recovery. They discuss simple daily practices, the idea of being "breathed" by a higher power, and how breathwork can ease stress while nurturing long-term healing.

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1:11:18•15 Apr 2026

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Breath as Medicine: Jessica Dibb on Recovery, Healing and Being Breathed

Episode Overview

Conscious breathing can quickly shift emotional and physical state, helping with stress, anxiety and moments of overwhelm in daily life and recovery.
Just seven minutes of intentional breathing a day, even while doing simple tasks, may start to move someone from short-term calm into longer-term behavioural change.
Seeing breath as “universal medicine” and noticing that we are being breathed can deepen both spiritual connection and a sense of safety.
Breathwork can complement psychotherapy and 12-step work by addressing physiological stress, emotional patterns and spiritual hunger together.
Breathing outdoors and, at times, in shared practices such as yoga or eye gazing can enhance feelings of connection, belonging and inner nourishment.

“"Breathing is the universal medicine… the most precious medicine and treasure that we have is right inside of our own chest."”

What can we learn from those who have battled addiction? This conversation between host Dan Reeves and guest Jessica Dibb centres on one simple, radical idea: breathing might be the most accessible medicine anyone has. Aimed at people in recovery, seekers on a spiritual path, and anyone feeling overwhelmed by modern life, the chat blends 12-step wisdom with psychology and breathwork.

Dan shares how conscious breathing has become a practical tool in his sobriety, from calming spikes in stress (“I can come back down to where now I'm okay to manage this thing”) to easing that constant sense of being behind on life’s to-do list. Jessica explains how her book *Breathwork and Psychotherapy* came about, calling it “a kind of a calling card from a higher power”.

She lays out why she sees breathing as “the universal medicine”, available to everyone, even someone on a respirator. She unpacks how each breath affects both body and mind, and describes breath as “the most precious medicine and treasure that we have… right inside of our own chest.” You’ll hear clear, practical ideas: Jessica suggests just seven minutes of conscious breathing a day, even while doing the washing up, as enough to start changing emotional patterns and stress levels.

She talks about using breathwork for self-regulation, healing, spiritual growth, and even reshaping long-standing traits over weeks and months. There’s also a gentle invitation to see breathing as a spiritual relationship rather than a performance. Jessica prefers not to say “take a deep breath” anymore, instead asking people to notice they are “being breathed” by something greater, and to allow that breath to deepen.

If you’re sober, sober-curious, or simply tired of feeling on edge, this episode offers a grounded, science-aware and heart-led way to bring a little more peace into each day—with nothing more than the breath you already have. How might your recovery feel if you treated every breath as medicine?

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