Therapy FAQ

My guest on this episode is Reiko Joseph, LMFT.  Reiko is a therapist who has credentials in Psychedelic Somatic Interactional Therapy.  She is also Clinical Instructor, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Certified Instructor, Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP), approved by the International Experiential Dynamic Therapy Association (IEDTA), and a member of the California Association of Marriage & Family Therapists (CAMFT).  Reiko is a masterful therapist and colleague in Los Angeles who practices/teaches ISTDP therapy and has in recent years ventured into the realm of psychedelic assisted therapies. The jury is still out for me on psychedelics for a number of reasons-- but I'm cautiously curious about their clinical application.  I have many many more questions, but this discussion is solid intro for anyone who is curious about, skeptical of, or sold on psychedelics in clinical practice. Hopefully in a follow up episode we can discuss the difference between learning about our defenses consciously vs. under psychedelic influence, the mechanisms of change, and what models of the mind (if any) can best explain aspects of psychedelic experience.  I wanted to talk to Reiko because I've seen her walk patients through major unlockings of the unconscious without the aid of psychedelics and achieve significant healing (listen to the end of the BOLD VOICES podcast Episode 5 on "Unlocking the Unconscious" to hear a testimonial from @dr.paulflores about an unlocking he had while in therapy with Reiko)...what do psychedelics have to add to what is already a powerful experience? Questions explored on this episode:  What is the importance of the unconscious re: therapy and healing?  What do psychedelics have to add/how do they help in this regard?  Who should be careful?  What do you consider when trying to figure out when psychedelics are indicated? 

Continued from the previous two episodes... enjoy this last part of a 3 part interview with my guest Jon Frederickson. In this episode we talk about three types of ways people avoid: detaching from feelings, turning anger against themselves, and splitting apart feelings while using denial and projection.  We also talk about externalization and a case example of a parent teen relationship.   Jon Frederickson is on the faculty at the Washington School of Psychiatry. He also teaches students all over the world how to provide ISTDP therapy and how to become better dynamic therapists and supervisors. His book Co-Creating Change won the British Medical Associations 1st Prize in Psychiatry. His latest book Co-Creating Safety is a pathbreaking and illuminating resource for working with patients who suffer from severe mental illness and ego fragility. Finally, his book The Lies We Tell Ourselves is an excellent read for anyone just exploring getting into therapy and a great companion piece for the therapy process.  You can follow Jon's page for therapists on facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/DynamicPsychotherapy You can also learn about Jon's work here: https://istdpinstitute.com/ In this episode I ask Jon about what the healing force is in psychotherapy and how this factor shows up in working with patients who have the most troubling symptoms. His answer takes us on a tour from Freud, to Bion, to Davanloo and ultimately leads to specific examples of how patient's who suffer from fragile ego function might handle their wish to heal. This is the third episode in a 3 part series.

Continued from the previous episode... enjoy this interview with my guest Jon Frederickson.   In this episode we talk more about the healing force in therapy and apply the discussion to everyday problems most people experience like anxiety and depression.   Jon Frederickson is on the faculty at the Washington School of Psychiatry. He also teaches students all over the world how to provide ISTDP therapy and how to become better dynamic therapists and supervisors. His book Co-Creating Change won the British Medical Associations 1st Prize in Psychiatry. His latest book Co-Creating Safety is a pathbreaking and illuminating resource for working with patients who suffer from severe mental illness and ego fragility. Finally, his book The Lies We Tell Ourselves is an excellent read for anyone just exploring getting into therapy and a great companion piece for the therapy process.  You can follow Jon's page for therapists on facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/DynamicPsychotherapy You can also learn about Jon's work here: https://istdpinstitute.com/ In this episode I ask Jon about what the healing force is in psychotherapy and how this factor shows up in working with patients who have the most troubling symptoms. His answer takes us on a tour from Freud, to Bion, to Davanloo and ultimately leads to specific examples of how patient's who suffer from fragile ego function might handle their wish to heal. This is the second episode in a 3 part series.

My guest on this episode is celebrated therapist, author, and teacher Jon Frederickson.   Jon Frederickson is on the faculty at the Washington School of Psychiatry. He also teaches students all over the world how to provide ISTDP therapy and how to become better dynamic therapists and supervisors.   His book Co-Creating Change won the British Medical Associations 1st Prize in Psychiatry.   His latest book Co-Creating Safety is a pathbreaking and illuminating resource for working with patients who suffer from severe mental illness and ego fragility.   Finally, his book The Lies We Tell Ourselves is an excellent read for anyone just exploring getting into therapy and a great companion piece for the therapy process.  You can follow Jon's page for therapists on facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/DynamicPsychotherapy You can also learn about Jon's work here: https://istdpinstitute.com/ In this episode I ask Jon about what the healing force is in psychotherapy and how this factor shows up in working with patients who have the most troubling symptoms. His answer takes us on a tour from Freud, to Bion, to Davanloo and ultimately leads to specific examples of how patient's who suffer from fragile ego function might handle their wish to heal.   This is the first episode in a 3 part series.  

In this episode Tom Paulus, Psy.D. and Michelle May, LPC discuss the issue of will in therapy.   Michelle points out that just because someone is in therapy that doesn't mean they've consciously come to terms with their wish to get well.   She notes that we always assume healthy wishes and desires bring a patient into therapy but we also have to help someone work through their conflicts about choosing health.   We also speak a little about how patients who struggle with owning their will also have difficulty declaring a problem and getting clear that something is an internal problem for them.   Michelle is a therapist in private practice in Northern Virginia and chair of the Washington School of Psychiatry 3 year training in ISTDP.    You can learn more about her here: http://michellemmaylpc.com/ The breathwork at the end of the episode comes courtesy of Justin Ternes, DPT.  Breathwork is not therapy but it is a powerful healing tool to use alongside any therapy directed at unconscious processes.    Breathwork at the End: Justin Ternes of True Self Health trueself.health Music: "Panorama City" by Here's Your Problem Sponsors: Thomas Paulus Therapy - Therapy for Business - thomaspaulustherapy.com ISTDP San Diego - ISTDPsandiego.com Emotion Fit - emotionfit.us

Dr. Paulus and Dr. Jarvinen discuss some reasons why someone might not be getting better in therapy.   They discuss things like addressing psychological causes driving symptoms, trauma, and intervening at the optimal level of anxiety.  They also discuss how different psychological presentations necessitate different kinds of interventions: one patient may need support bringing down anxiety, another might need help turning angry feelings off of themselves and towards someone else who hurt them, and someone else may need help seeing how they avoid emotional closeness and detach from their feelings as a way to distance from others.  Don't forget to hang out for the breathwork at the end of the episode.  Please note: this podcast is not treatment and is not a substitute for treatment.  If you are having an emergency please seek emergency care and/or call you local emergency services.   Breathwork at the End: Justin Ternes of True Self Health trueself.health Music:  "Panorama City" by Here's Your Problem  Sponsors:  Thomas Paulus Therapy - Therapy for Business - thomaspaulustherapy.com ISTDP San Diego - ISTDPsandiego.com Emotion Fit - emotionfit.us

"What problems can therapy help me with?" Therapy for mental health is more mainstream than ever.   But what is therapy and what is it good for?  People want to know what kinds of problems therapy can help with and, also, what it can't address.  Enjoy friendly banter between psychologists Matt Jarvinen and Tom Paulus as they offer answers to this this FAQ.   Listen as they start out super basic and work their way up to a high level view of what therapy can help with.  Sponsors:  Thomas Paulus Therapy - Therapy for Business (thomaspaulustherapy.com) ISTDP San Diego (istdpsandiego.com) Emotion Fit (emotionfit.us)  Music:  "panorama city" by Here's Your Problem