Paradox Outta Da Box

#52-The Psychedelic Craze

So the big question is if treatment using psychedelics is here to stay or whether it’s a ‘flash in the pan’. Those who advocate for it claim that it lowers habitual defenses in a way that allows the mind the neuroplasticity to expand. This often allows for a new perspective on blockages and situations that have prevented the person from living more fully. Yet, others view the use of psychedelics as an attempt to find a ‘quick fix’ shortcut that hopes to bypass the rigors of a more traditional therapy style designed to help the person toward gradual but long term change. In truth, these 2 aspects can be integrated as new understandings gained under the influence can be reinforced and explored in follow-up regular therapy sessions. However the introduction of a drug or substance means that there needs to be an added level of medical supervision, since people may have varying physiological responses and reactions. In the podcast we will also consider the importance of creating a safe environment based on the trust level between the client and the attending team. Although this aspect is often not fully considered, it is by creating a trusting alliance that the client can be guided through his personal experience in a way that ensures a positive therapeutic outcome.

#51-Lawfare, Malpractice, & Power Struggles

We don’t often hear about this topic in seminars or training. This is one of those things that most of us don’t want to think about. The hope is - If we don’t think about it, maybe we won’t ever have to deal with it. Usually if there is some kind of difficulty, we try to work with the client to come to an amicable agreement. However, if you work long enough in this field, inevitably there are situations or circumstances where the client may be more interested in pursuing a court settlement. Sometimes a frustrated client my become intent on harming your reputation through legal action or filing a complaint to the professional board. In this podcast we will explore various scenarios and how to recognize potential warning signs and pitfalls, along with ways to avoid and address them.

50) Top Down or Bottom Up

Which type of therapist are you? Are you more the ‘expert’ therapist that guides your client in a ‘top down’ approach to behave in an appropriate manner, think more rational, or see things in a more realistic way. Or are you more the ‘explorer’ type who works from the ‘bottom up’ to help realign blocked emotions, ‘parts’, or thoughts to encourage internal integration and growth.   Either way the therapist comes with a ‘helping agenda’ designed to move the client forward to achieve the end goal of being more ‘functional’. The problem, of course, is that even the most motivated of clients’ are not always ready to keep up with their therapist’s well-meaning ‘helping agenda’.   This leads us to suggest a third possible option that is beyond ‘top down’ or ‘bottom up’; what might be called a ‘Here & Now’ approach. Here, in a paradoxical manner, the therapist is willing to let go of his personal agenda to change the client. In so doing, the focus of treatment is to simply strengthen the alliance based on enhancing a trusting relationship that is not dependent on changing behavior, emotions, or thoughts. The focus is to simply accept the client ‘as he is in this moment’.   Instead of trying to encourage the client to be or do more of ‘who he is not’, - in the ‘here & now’ we offer empathy, humor, and genuineness to relieve the client’s underlying experience of abandonment, isolation, and feeling stuck. This unconditional acceptance results in feeling a profound sense of internal relief. When done correctly, this instigates an organic, unplanned, and unexpected level of change that is not subject to a linear or logical agenda.

#49-Ecstatic About Somatic

Many therapists might think that Somatic therapy is new to the therapy scene. However, Fritz Perls from Gestalt Therapy incorporated many somatic type interventions in facilitating his work. Often he would tell clients, “Lose your mind, and come to your senses!” The direction of therapy would guide clients to get in touch with their body’s inner energy and sensations. In this way he would encourage people to express and release the wordless blocks that prevented their energy from flowing more freely and openly.  Dr. Peter Levine expanded on this concept with his work in Somatic Experiencing. He recognized how trauma and stress could become “locked” in the body. When this occurred, such trauma would not only effect people emotionally and psychologically, but lead to physical symptoms of anxiety, depression, shallow breathing, and many other physical issues. On the surface Somatic therapy seems to focus mainly on becoming aware of tension in the body, followed by the process of learning to release these blockages. But a good somatic intervention does much more than this… In this podcast we will address how the somatic approach provides therapy with an agenda and direction, but will also explore the often overlooked underlying ‘active ingredient’ that is necessary for such interventions to be successful in ensuring long term healing.

#48- Digging for Childhood Trauma

Therapy has evolved quite a bit since the 1970’s and ‘80’s. Even at that point psycho-analysis no longer had a monopoly on therapy. While John Bowlby had already introduced his work regarding parent-child attachment, its significance was not yet recognized. Back then, behavioral therapy and CBT had come to dominate the field. The assumption was that by rewarding positive behavior or using logic and rational approaches it was possible to get people to change their behavior and thinking. While this had an effect on more superficial cases, there were many clients who did not benefit from these approaches.   However over the years, the importance of Bowlby’s work became more evident as to the impact of attachment and disrupted attachment (aka: trauma) had on influencing child development. We now understand that untreated trauma does not simply go away, but rather influences the personality into adulthood. As a result our awareness of trauma related issues, the underlying question in therapy is no longer "What's wrong with you?" but rather "What happened to you?" Fritz Perls of Gestalt Therapy recognized that blockages in people’s daily lives were caused by early forms of trauma. He called these blocks ‘unfinished business’.  In today’s podcast we will discuss what needs to be done to address unfinished business and how far we need to dig.