mental health treatments

Finding meaning and purpose is an integral part of the human experience, which is why, in psychotherapy, in religion, and in many other areas of our lives, we look for guidance. This universal need for contemplation can be thought of as spirituality. Yet, in the field of psychoanalysis, spiritual thinking is often overlooked, as it departs from traditional psychoanalytic theories. Today’s guest argues otherwise.

Amelio D’Onofrio has over 35 years of clinical psychoanalytic experience and his professional journey was shaped by faith and a desire for deeper understanding. From his immigration to the United States to pursuing his studies in Psychology, he discovered that a spiritual perspective could answer his more reflective questions about the self.

On this episode of The Art of Listening, Amelio delves into the integral connection between spirituality and psychoanalysis. He reflects on his own experiences with pain and suffering and describes how faith set the groundwork that allowed him to ‘emerge from the darkness’. Amelio also shares his new practices and means of spiritual discovery, by introducing his Gubbio Seminars. As the host of this retreat in Gubbio, Italy, Amelio provides psychotherapists and analysts with the opportunity to discuss pressing topics in the field. Drawing on the theme of this year's seminar, he highlights the epic story of Dante's Divine Comedy, guiding us through the poem and its connection to the self-analytic spiritual process of trauma, grief, and forgiveness.

Join us as we learn from Amelio how spirituality can enhance our understanding of the human experience, offering tools for personal growth, healing, and self-discovery.

Chapters

1 - Amelio’s cultural upbringing and his first encounters with suffering (7:50)

2 - Growing up with religion and Amelio’s relationship with faith (13:32)

3 - Psychoanalysis's relationship with spirituality (16:01)

4 - Ego-rational listening and generative listening (20:12)

5 - Amelio’s seminars and this year's theme: Dante’s Divine Comedy (22:52)

6 - The spiritual cycle of trauma, guilt, and forgiveness (28:15)

Links

• Amelio D’Onofrio
• Gubbio Seminars
• Eileen Dunn
• More from ‘The Art of Listening’ 

From the first beat of our hearts to our final moments of connection, love weaves its way through every aspect of our lives, guiding and enriching us. This life force goes beyond our conventional understanding of romance. Love is also the bonds we share with our friends, the support and care we receive from our families, and the self-love and compassion we cultivate within ourselves.

As natural as it can be, love is complex. Developing our capacity to both give and receive it is an achievement in its own right; and it’s another challenge to sustain meaningful relationships. Most often, these questions are the very reason we come to therapy.

Enrico Gnaulati knows this to be true. As a highly experienced clinical psychologist and author with over three decades of expertise working with children, adults, and couples, he has studied the balance of patience, understanding, and compromise required to maintain deep connections.

On this episode of The Art of Listening, Enrico uncovers the common thread that unifies successful and enduring relationships: the art of deep listening. Drawing inspiration from his own marital experiences and dedicated work with couples, Enrico imparts the wisdom of his latest book, ‘Flourishing Love: A Secular Guide to Lasting Intimate Relationships’. He explores how the pillars of listening, attention, and communication form intimate and lasting connection. He also shares his latest interests in therapeutic practice; his enduring labour of love.  

Together, we delve into the fundamental questions of what healthy love truly looks like, and the profound growth that comes from embracing vulnerability.

Chapters

1 - Enrico's upbringing and trajectory to psychotherapy, from children’s to couples' work (4:24)

2 - The intricate and complex dynamic therapists face within couples therapy (11:30)

3 - The power of "virtues", and essential qualities to long-lasting, successful relationships (18:04)

4 - The value of attention in relationships, and how to be a deep listener (25:48)

5 - Enrico’s view on the importance of relationships and human connection (29:23)

Links

• Enrico Gnaulati
• Enrico’s Book ‘Flourishing Love: A Secular Guide to Lasting Intimate Relationships’
• Enrico’s Book ‘Saving Talk Therapy’
• Eileen Dunn
• More from ‘The Art of Listening’ 

Love and belonging are some of the fundamental human needs necessary for survival. But as profound as they are, living with others, resonating with them, and “fitting in” is a delicate balancing act. Our sense of identity is deeply influenced by the acceptance, comfort, or rejection we experience from those around us, but certain aspects of ourselves will not align comfortably with others. 

As psychoanalysts, we are mindful of acceptance and the foundation it provides clients to explore their thoughts, emotions, and vulnerabilities. We know that social norms of gender, sexuality, class and race are engrained deeply in our lives, and can keep us from living authentically, causing deep emotional wounds, eroding self-esteem, and hundering personal development. In the field of psychoanalysis, new voices are emerging to broaden the conversation surrounding these issues. Amongst them is Justin Shubert, a clinical psychoanalyst based in Silver Lake, Los Angeles.

In this episode of The Art of Listening, Justin shares his personal journey as a queer man navigating the field of psychoanalysis – first, as a patient, and then as a clinician. Together, we talk about queer theory, identity and power, and Justin shares his unique perspective on acceptance and belonging in a field that has historically grappled with conflicting opinions around subjects such as sexuality and gender. Justin also reflects on what led him to find a supportive community within the American Psychoanalytic Association's Committee on Gender and Sexuality, and discusses his ongoing efforts to create a space of acceptance, diversity, and inclusivity within his own practice.

Tune into our conversation to discover the power of acceptance and community in embracing differences. 

Chapters

1 - Justin’s first contact with psychoanalysis: from experience, to intellect (03:55)
2 - Reflecting on foundational experiences of queerness (7:25)
3 - Understanding queer theory and identity (11:43)
4 - Challenges and “resistance” to queerness, gender and sexuality theory in psychoanalysis (14:05)
5 - Finding and building a queer-conscious community in psychoanalysis (20:06)
6 - Listening with a queer approach: how Justin listens to his patients (23:08)

Links

• Justin Shubert
• Silver Lake Psychotherapy
• American Psychoanlytic Association
• Eileen Dunn
• More from ‘The Art of Listening’ 

The field of psychotherapy and analysis is a dynamic space that constantly evolves, and we are all determined to embrace these changes authentically. Over the past 31 years, Gloria Myers Beller and I have been sharing genuine, profoundly authentic conversations. The depth and breadth of our discussions as colleagues and true friends is a big part of what has inspired me to create The Art of Listening. 

As a seasoned psychotherapist, Gloria has spent over 50 years amassing wisdom in the field. As she cared for patients in a range of settings – and ultimately in her independent practice – she came to understand how pain constitutes the heart of the human experience.

In this episode of The Art of Listening, Gloria guides us through her own history of therapeutic practice. She illuminates the pivotal role authenticity plays in the therapeutic setting and the healing ability of truth. Drawing from her rich experiences and her own background as an African American woman from the segregated South, Gloria has cultivated a deep understanding of suffering as a universal point of contact among human beings. It is through this understanding that she has found the path to empathy, allowing her to connect with her patients on a profound level across decades and ‘meet them where their suffering lies’. 

Chapters

1 - Gloria’s early work in the emerging field of social work and psychotherapy

2 - The evolution of the psychoanalytic work and moving into private practice

3 - Understanding the benefits and limitations of private practice for psychoanalytic treatments

4 - Using suffering as the universal point of contact in psychoanalysis

5 - Gloria’s personal background and its influence on her approach to her work
6 - Developing a practice grounded in authenticity and connection 

Links

• Gloria Myers Beller
• Eileen Dunn
• More from ‘The Art of Listening’

In this enlightening episode, Ryan engages in a deep conversation with Dr. Paul Hutson, PharmD, a renowned researcher in the field of psilocybin and director of the Transdisciplinary Center for Research in Psychoactive Substances at the University of Wisconsin Madison. Dr. Hutson shares his extensive knowledge and insights into the promising role of psilocybin in the treatment of depression and substance use disorder.  

Throughout the discussion, they delve into the research that supports the use of psilocybin in medical therapy, shedding light on the rigorous processes involved in conducting such studies. Dr. Hutson elucidates the efficacy and safety findings that have emerged from his and others research, offering listeners a glimpse into the potential future of psilocybin in mainstream medical practices. Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of the meticulous approach to research that ensures both safety and effectiveness. Dr. Hutson shares firsthand experiences and observations, providing a rich and detailed perspective on the current state of psilocybin research. Moreover, the conversation ventures into the practical aspects of integrating psilocybin into contemporary medical practices, discussing the potential frameworks and guidelines that would govern its use. They explore what the future might hold for patients and practitioners alike as they stand on the cusp of a revolutionary shift in mental health treatment.

Whether you're a healthcare professional keen on the latest developments in medical research or someone interested in the evolving landscape of mental health treatment, this episode promises to be a rich source of information and insight. Tune in to be informed and to foster a deeper understanding of the promising horizon that psilocybin research is unveiling in the medical community.

• Biography for Dr. Paul Hutson PharmD
• Transdisciplinary Center for Research in Psychoactive Substances
• Dr Hutson's Publications
  • Single Dose Psilocybin for Major Depression- JAMA 2023
  • Psilocybin and QTc in healthy volunteers
  • Meta-Analysis of research supporting Psilocybin use in anxiety and depression
  • Pharmacokinetics of Psilocybin
  • Subjective effects of high dose Psilocybin
• Other referenced studies
  • Single dose psilocybin for treatment resistant depression 
  • Psilocybin for alcohol use disorder
  • Psilocybin for For tobacco cessation

The use of psychedelics to assist in the improvement of mental health symptoms is a cutting-edge practice happening in psychotherapy clinics, and doctor offices, across the world.
 
In this episode of Insight Mind Body Talk, Dr. Travis Fox, of Winding Path Psychotherapy, talks about the current psychedelic therapy research for PTSD, Major Depressive Disorder, addiction, and other mental health disorders. Dr. Fox explains how he implements the use of psychedelics to assist in the therapy process and shares his thoughts on what is ahead in this emerging, highly promising mental health treatment. 


Continue Learning

• Dr. Travis Fox
  • travis.fox@winding-path.com
  • https://www.winding-path.com/
• University of WI-Madison
  • Program for Research, Outreach, Therapeutics, and Education in the Addictions (PROTEA)
    • https://www.fammed.wisc.edu/protea/
  • Transdisciplinary Center for Research in Psychoactive Substances
    • https://pharmacy.wisc.edu/centers/tcrps/
• US National Library of Medicine
  • Clinical trials https://clinicaltrials.gov

Produced by Jessica Warpula Schultz
Music by Jason A. Schultz

Insight Mind Body Talk. Also, check out our e-courses!

Psychedelics as the Start, and Not the Ending, of the Journey of Healing

After decades of stigmatization, psychedelic medicines have re-emerged onto the world stage as the most promising new mental health treatments in a half-century. Our guest for this podcast, Dr. Rosalind Watts, has played an outsized role in these remarkable developments. Dr. Watts is internationally recognized as a leader in the study and implementation of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. She developed and led the psychedelic-assisted therapy program used in two of the first modern studies of psilocybin for the treatment of depression. More recently, she is the founder of Acer Integration (https://acerintegration.com/), an international, year-long integration community developed for connecting to the self, others, and the natural world. In this podcast we trace Dr. Watts’ journey in the psychedelic world, listening to her describe her initial hope that psychedelics might routinely cure mental illness give way to a growing concern that increasingly unrealistic hopes for these medicines were distorting both their risks and benefits. The podcast concludes with Dr. Watts laying out a vision for integrating psychedelics into more holistic ways of promoting mental health and building healing communities.

Featuring:

Dr. Rosalind Watts, Clinical Psychologist, Founder of Ace Integration

Host:

Charles Raison, Psychiatrist, Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Emory University

About Emory University's Center for the Study of Human Health:

The Emory Center for the Study of Human Health was developed to expand health knowledge and translate this knowledge to all aspects of life – for the individual and populations as a whole. The Center assembles the extraordinary faculty, researchers and thought leaders from across disciplines, departments, schools and institutions to bring this knowledge to Emory University students and inspire them to become leaders for the next generation in meeting challenges facing human health.

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Blog: Exploring Health
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Twitter: @EmoryCSHH

Mike Zaremba, co-founder of Float House Vancouver (Canada's premier sensory deprivation tank facility), drops into the Jewcy tank with us! We discuss all things health and self care through floatation therapy and the many benefits it provides. Additionally we chat about small businesses ownership, healing through psychedelics and exploration through herbal medicines. Mike also goes back into his childhood and upbringing alongside his brother, who happens to be his Float House co-founder! Growing up with parents who were small business owners themselves, influenced Mike and his brother Andy to have the chutzpah (look it up) to build their Floating empire.

We learn about how Float House was able to survive Covid, thanks to the generous support of their Float community who helped to fund their survival. In addition to this, new services were brought in... hot-cold contrast therapy and infrared sauna treatments.

As always, mental health is highlighted in our discussion. xo

Ohhh... and there's a holiday sale on NOW until the end of December, 2021 = CLICK HERE

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Instagram (@float_house)

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