Meet Dr. Steven Roth | Ketamine and Psychedelic assisted Hypnotherapist and Coach, International Speaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Steven Roth and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Steven, what’s your definition for success?
My definition of success is when you do what you do, and you’re not sure whether you’re working or playing. By this, I am referring to a state of complete immersion and enjoyment in one’s activities. It is a state where the line between work and play becomes blurred because you are so passionate and engaged in what you are doing.

In this context, success is not solely measured by external achievements or financial gains, but rather by the level of fulfillment and joy experienced during the process. It is about finding a vocation or pursuing a career that aligns with your passions and interests, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the work without feeling burdened or drained.

When you are engaged in activities that you truly love, time seems to fly by, and you become completely absorbed in the task at hand. It no longer feels like work in the traditional sense, but rather a form of play or self-expression. This state of flow, where you are fully present and focused, brings a sense of satisfaction and contentment that goes beyond external rewards.

Success, in this sense, is about finding that perfect balance between doing what you love and being able to sustain yourself financially. It is about finding a career or lifestyle that brings you joy and fulfillment while also allowing you to meet your practical needs.

Ultimately, this definition of success emphasizes the importance of pursuing one’s passions and finding purpose in what you do. It encourages individuals to seek out opportunities that align with their interests and values, creating a sense of harmony and enjoyment in both work and play.

For myself, this opportunity is practicing Hypnodelics (the combined use of hypnotherapy and psychedelics). Most every experience I’ve had in the past, from census taker to bartender to dentist to cannabis expert to hypnotherapist to psychonaut, has led me to become a Hypnodelics practitioner. At this time, I’m one of the few people in the world practicing this modality. While practicing, I’m playing and getting paid, and I feel I’m doing my Dharma or life purpose; this is SUCCESS!

What should our readers know about your business?
Now that I’m over 60 years of age I consider myself to be a wise man and look back at my life and real-eyes ( realize ) that all the experiences in my life from early childhood, my education, jobs, careers and trainings happened FOR me to be the success I am today. Nobel prize winning physicist Albert Einstein was quoted as saying “‘ The biggest decision you will make in your life is whether you believe the Universe is kind and supportive, or hostile and unfriendly. This quote resonates with me as one of my most important ways of looking at challenges is because I believe the Universe is loving, kind and supportive, and everything in my life happens For me not to me and I therefore I have nothing to worry about. As a child I was very sensitive and shy and was challenged with acne, buck crooked teeth, braces, a speech impediment, and this all led me to low self esteem, taking things personally and being in victim mode, but I did become a very good listener. My mother was very nurturing and kind-hearted and my dad was more of the authoritarian and was very quick to point out what was wrong. Although my dad was a great role model for me, his pointing out what I did wrong bothered me so much that I became really great at reframing his comments to be of a more positive nature and became sort of a great spin doctor as I became an adult.
In college I learned about mood altering substances; from alcohol to get over my shyness, to cannibis and whipits ( nitrous oxide ) to escape from my mind. I received a BS. In Zoology at the University of Florida and at because it included all the prerequisites for Medical School., but never really thought it would ever serve a purpose later in life. However I am an international public speaker and I often educate my audience about the power and possibilities of their mind to enhance their lives. And the negative effects of stress, fears and anxiety. Most people forget that we are animals, and when animals are stressed whether real or imagined our bodies no longer function optimally. When we as animals are stressed ( as I emphasize in my lectures ) we go to Sympathetic survival mode. We spend no energy for our reproductive , immune, or digestive systems; our thoughts and actions lead us to escape from a predator, and we our mental and physical health suffers especially if this happens for a prolonged period of time. While attending college I worked as a bartender which allowed me to become less shy and observe how people changed with mood altering substances ( alcohol mainly ), and as a US Census taker going door to door with questionnaires, this job also helped me get over my shyness.
I decided against applying Medical school and decided to study to be a dentist and I attended Tufts School of Dental Medicine from 1985-1989 where I received my DMD degree. In Dental school I learned more social and leadership skills, and also perseverance and a hard work ethic.
I started my first dental practice in 1991 in downtown Miami and my philosophy was that all my patients would feel better both physically and mentally when they leave than when they first arrived to my office. I later named my office Relax and Smile Dental Care and made sure the name suited the experience our patients felt. In 2000 I open up a 2nd location in South Beach and continued the same type of genuine compassionate care.
In 2005 after 1 year of an extremely challenging marriage I got divorced and was heartbroken and in a deep depression.
I had my plant medicine experience with ayahuasca and that help me see my divorce from a different perspective and helped me get thru the depressive episode I was experiencing. Deciding never be a part in a codependent relationship again and seeking a way to get fully out of my depression I started my journey into the world of self-development. I started with Tony Robbin’s Unleash the Power Within and along with 1000 others walked on hot coals and finally saw some light at the end of the tunnel.subsequently I’ve taken 1000’s of hours of self development courses, books, podcasts etc…
In 2007 due to the recession my business dropped by 60% and I decided to attract new patients by catering to the people with dental anxiety and took a course in Hypnodontics ( dental hypnosis ) and also became interested in how powerful a modality it is and took my training to become a hypnotherapist. I first used hypnosis for anxious patients, then patients with fears and phobias and then for smoking cessation and weight loss and eventually I perform dental procedures without ant anesthesia, first fillings, then root canals and finally extractions! This made me such a believer that I decided to open my Elite Hypnotherapy practice.
I sold my Dental practice in 2021 and can now appreciate all the benefits that my dental career provided me. I was able get over any prejudgments about people and to really love and appreciate people. I also became great at removing anxiety from my patients and anxiety affects people live’s. Because of my practice I became a hypnotherapist and learned about how the power of hypnosis and the mind. I was also able practiced my life coaching skills and hypnotherapy techniques with my patients which was priceless.
At the beginning of the Covid Pandemic was still practicing Dentistry and had my first experience with Psylocibin ( magic mushrooms ) and then experienced Ketamine Therapy with a psychiatrist. The journeys were transformative and profound and continue to teach me about myself, my wife, the world. With the use of these medicines I was able to remove myself from the fear that pervaded our society during Covid-19. I then started taking courses and studying everything I could about psychedelics and had the thought of combining hypnotherapy and pyschedelics for a better outcome. And lo and behold I found research from 1965 combining hypnosis and psychotherapy with LSD. The research concluded that the combination of Hypnosis and psychotherapy with LSD ( Hypnodelics ) achieved better results then with LSD and psychotherapy alone.
Several months later I learned about a Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy training in Israel with my friend Dr. Mark Bronstein and Dr. Phill Wolfson, one of the leading authorities in the world on Ketamine. My training and experiences in Israel were life changing and at that time I realize I had finally found my passion and life purpose, and true success..
In conclusion, at 60 years of age I found my true passion and Dharma and I’m able to provide my patients with a service that will transform their lives. According to Timothy Leary, the psychologist who was one of the first advocates of pyschedelic drugs the two most important factors for a positive and successful psychedelic experience is mindset and setting. My hypnotherapy and Hypnodelics practice is at my home, Sera Sera Social club which is a beautiful , peaceful and relaxing setting. My pretalk helps my patients with their mindset and for my Hypnodelic patients my GIFT ( Guided ImaginationFor Transformation ) enables the proper mindset for transformational life changing journey. Thru my new career I’m able to fulfill my goal of always having my patients leave feeling better than when they first arrived.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I was born in Miami Beach, so I’m quite familiar with the city. Here’s a refined week-long itinerary for you:

**Day 1: Miami to Homestead**
– Start your day with a trip to Homestead to explore attractions like Coral Castle, Monkey Jungle, and the Blue Lagoon Farm.
– Afterward, venture to the Everglades Alligator Farm for a thrilling experience.
– End the day with a picturesque sunset and dinner at the Drunken Lobster in Key Largo.

**Days 2-3: Key Largo**
– Spend two days in Key Largo indulging in activities like jet skiing, biking, and snorkeling at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.
– Explore the vibrant bar scene in Key Largo during the evenings.

**Days 4-6: Key West**
– Head down to Key West for a few days of shopping, enjoying stunning sunsets, and experiencing the lively nightlife.

**Day 7: Return to Miami Beach**
– Return to Miami Beach and unwind at the luxurious Faena Beach Club. Enjoy a delicious lunch or dinner there.
– Book a relaxing massage at The Standard and take advantage of the spa’s amenities.
– Catch happy hour with a backdrop of the beautiful Miami skyline.
– Spend a day exploring the art and diverse restaurants in Wynwood.
– For your evenings, consider dining at Lagniappe for great food and live music, savor cocktails at Broken Shaker in Miami Beach, and experience the lively atmosphere of Ball and Chain in Little Havana.

This refined itinerary ensures you make the most of your time in Miami and the Florida Keys.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?

I’d like to give a shoutout to my dearly departed mentor, internationally renowned award-winning author and hypnotist, Dick Sutphen. He was a pioneer in metaphysical exploration and past life regression. His presentation, “Sacred Contracts,” at the first hypnosis conference I attended, inspired me to become a hypnotherapist. Six weeks after that convention, he became my instructor for the 100-hour training course in hypnotherapy and past-life regression.

Another shoutout goes to Rick Doblin, Ph.D., the founder and president of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). His decades of devotion to creating awareness of the benefits of psychedelic medicines and working to have these medicines legalized for therapeutic use in the US deserve recognition.

Lastly, a shoutout to Phil Wolfson, M.D., a principal investigator for MAPS and the creator of Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP). He is also the author of “The Ketamine White Papers.” Alongside Dr. Mark Bronstein, he served as my instructor for my Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy certification training course in Israel.

Website: Www.Drhypnodelics.com

Instagram: @DrHypnodelics, @DrStevesWellness

Linkedin: Follow me on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/comm/mynetwork/discovery-see-all?usecase=PEOPLE_FOLLOWS&followMember=dr-steven-roth-hypno-therapy