Psychosis and Therapeutic Intervention
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Psychosis
CBT for Psychosis, or CBTp, is an approach to distressing thoughts that asks clients to try on new perspectives. CBTp suggests that we might be a scientist of our minds. When a distressing thought occurs, clients may ask themselves, “Is there another interpretation I might try on?” Then, we may look for evidence that supports or contradicts that interpretation, loosening our grip on distressing thoughts by allowing space for other thoughts to come and go.
ACT for Psychosis
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is an approach to distressing experiences that advocates for mindfulness. In ACT, we let experiences come and go gently. ACT suggests that there is a higher “self” from which we might observe our experiences, an ego-less and divine side of ourselves which can laugh, cry, love and feel while letting the experiences rush through you like water.
Bowen Family Systems
Bowen Family Systems was developed in the late 60s and early 70s by a researcher studying the interplay of family and psychotic symptoms in certain family members. Bowen hospitalized 7 families, including siblings, parents, and the psychotic family member, in order to study the effects of family dynamics on psychotic symptoms. Bowen found that, while family members largely meant well, patterns of emotional over involvement, criticality and hostility all contributed to worsening symptoms in patients. Bowen was ground breaking in helping the therapy world to understand that mental illness is a product of family dynamics, not individual dysfunction. Bowen found that with supportive intervention, aimed at establishing proper boundaries, families could learn to empower their family members thus altering the course of the family, as well as the individual. Bowen’s work focused on psychotic patients, but has come to be understood more generally as having an impact on families with many different issues.
“Just as no one can be forced into belief, so no one can be forced into unbelief.”
— Sigmund, Freud
I have treated psychosis and mood disorders for nearly a decade. My belief is that every person can heal from psychosis. The medical model has for too long had a stronghold on treatment for psychosis, labeling it a “biological problem.,” rooted in genetics and random chance. We now know that psychosis is not simply a biological issue, but a spiritual one. In therapy we will work to heal the trauma of your experience. Reach out today for a free 15 minute phone consultation.
