Non-Traditional Mental Health Healing with the 4M's with Dave Snell #133

Non-Traditional Mental Health Healing with the 4M's with Dave Snell #133

Author: Sarah Dawkins - Root Cause Healing and Natural Holistic Health Coach August 7, 2025 Duration: 29:03

On this episode of the Heal Yourself with Sarah Dawkins podcast, I speak with Dave Snell, a retired naval officer and cybersecurity consultant. Dave shares his deeply personal story of healing from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that developed during his military service and onging depressive episodes.


Discover his unique approach to recovery, which he calls the Four Ms of Mental Health: Movement, Mind, Meditation and Meaning. This episode explores the intersection of traditional and non-traditional therapies, the role of diet and exercise in mental wellness and how finding purpose can be a powerful antidote to depression and suicidal thoughts.


Listen in to hear a story of resilience, vulnerability and hope.


Key points


01:37 Multiple traumas from work

05:37 Food as medicine

07:22 Movement as a coping mechanism

09:19 Reason to start healing

12:16 4 M's for healing

22:16 Authentic connections

25:18 Tip for healing depression, PTSD


Dave's bio

Dave Snell is a retired naval officer who served as a surface warfare officer, deploying to the Mediterranean, North Atlantic, and Western Pacific, and then as a cryptologist, deploying to combat zones in the Middle East and Philippines, working with the nation’s premier special operations units countering terrorism around the world. Since retirement he has been a consultant to Fortune 100 companies to secure the cybersecurity and recently as a private investigator conducting a full-spectrum of investigations.


Just as the COVID pandemic was overtaking people’s lives, Dave undertook a concerted effort to recover from Post-Traumatic Stress associated with his service. Changing his diet and with the help of a focused therapist introducing him to therapies, he was able to identify the 4Ms of mental health recovery – MOVEMENT, MIND, MEDITATION, and MEANING. While he still works as an investigator and consultant, he is also passionate about helping people identify and overcome their own mental health issues, one step at a time.


Connect with Dave

www.snelladvisory.com

www.linkedin/in/dsnell1/


Who am I?

Sarah is a highly sought-after Holistic Health and Healing Coach, International Speaker and the Author of HEAL YOURSELF.

She’s also a Multi-Award-Winning Entrepreneur and Award Winning Host of the popular health-focused podcast, Heal Yourself with Sarah Dawkins.

As a former Registered Nurse with over twenty years of medical experience, Sarah brings a unique, integrative perspective to her work.

Sarah’s expertise spans from self-healing multiple chronic health issues to supporting clients in uncovering and addressing the root causes of their symptoms, empowering them to achieve vibrant, lasting health and transformative wellness.


www-sarahdawkins.com


Hosted by integrative health practitioner Sarah Dawkins, Mind Body Medicine for Self Healers is for anyone who senses there's more to their wellbeing than standard diagnoses and treatments. This podcast digs into the often-overlooked connections between our emotional histories, nervous system states, and physical health. Rather than offering another set of tips for managing symptoms, conversations here explore how unresolved trauma can manifest as chronic pain, what true nervous system regulation feels like, and practical ways to engage the body's own wisdom for healing. You'll find a focus on somatic practices and the underlying principles of natural recovery, all aimed at moving past simply coping and towards reclaiming a genuine sense of vitality. It’s a space for those ready to look deeper, questioning the root causes of imbalance and discovering a more integrated path to lasting wellness. Each episode builds on the idea that you are not just a patient to be managed, but an active participant in your own healing journey. Tune in for thoughtful, grounded discussions that bridge the gap between mind and body, offering a compassionate and insightful companion for your personal health exploration.
Author: Language: en-gb Episodes: 100

Mind Body Medicine for Self Healers
Podcast Episodes
The Art of Healing Through Movement with Cheryl Ilove #129 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:23
Imagine being told you'll live with chronic pain for the rest of your life... and then proving them wrong. In this powerful episode of Heal Yourself with Sarah Dawkins, we’re joined by Cheryl Ilov, author, speaker, marti…
Super Accelerated Healing: Your Healthiest Life #123 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:50
Are you ready to transform your health by shifting your energy, mindset and daily actions? In this powerful episode of Heal Yourself with Sarah Dawkins, we dive into the principles of vibrational alignment, clarity of vi…
Rewiring the Subconscious Mind with Dr Manish Plaha #122 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:59
Dr Manish Plaha, a medical doctor in the UK, was struggling with stress and burn out. After a suggestion by a friend to start meditating, something he had never considered, his life changed dramatically and he moved to B…
Where Did My Bones Go? with Nancy White #120 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:22
Nancy was diagnosed with osteopenia and osteoporosis in her spine and hips, which she believes was a result of taking natural medications for her thyroid stripping the calcium from her bones. Nancy took back responsibili…