Types of Therapies Available
Dr Alana (Lani) Roy utilizes an eclectic range of therapies, tools and strategies to work deeply with the psycho-social-cultural and spiritual factors that impact mental health and wellbeing. Lani is passionate about helping people to gain awareness of their thoughts, feelings and body responses so that they can live life mindfully and from a place of strength and vitality. Lani believes that even when facing the deepest of pain and complex mental health challenges; the healing journey starts when we begin to step into our personal power and start taking responsibility for our own self-care, our relationship with self, and how we interact with the world. You can learn more about these therapies below:
Psychedelic Somatic Psychotherapy (PSIP)
PSIP is a therapeutic modality developed by Dr. Saj Razvi at the Psychedelic Somatic Institute. PSIP is an alternative model to the traditional non-directive, non-interactional psychotherapy model that is used in clinical trials and involves a range of sessions both with, and without, psychedelic medicine. PSIP is an autonomic nervous system-based, body modality that speaks the language of primary consciousness, which is sensation, emotion, imagery, autonomic nervous reactivity (anxiety, panic, depression, dissociation), and operates within the vast world of implicit non-verbal memory. Of the various directions a psychedelic substance can take an individual, the PSIP modality is designed to:
- Keep the focus on the personal (versus mystical or transcendent) and relational aspects of a client’s psychological functioning,
- Activate psychobiological autonomic nervous system based, self-correcting mechanisms to process anxiety, stress, depression, dissociation, PTSD, and complex relational trauma, and
- Establish a body-based processing pathway that is preferentially engaged by psychedelic medicines due to it being more robust than the cognitive processing channels of secondary consciousness.
Notably, PSIP involves an interactional component on behalf of the therapist which permits and encourages directing the client and touching the client.
PSIP is unique in that it uses cannabis as a psychedelic and views it as an equal partner to psilocybin in moving individuals through the layers of their consciousness.
Visit here for more details: https://www.psychedelicsomatic.org/
Empath Integrative Somatic Psychotherapy
Empath Integrative Somatic Psychotherapy (EISP) is a form of medication-assisted psychotherapy which permits the self-correcting potentialities of the nervous system to take place by releasing trauma responses that are “stuck” in the body. EISP has a focus on somatic processing whilst incorporating metacognitive, relational, and transpersonal domains.
Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing therapy (EMDR)
Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing therapy (EMDR) is a key intervention in treating trauma and is endorsed by the Australian Medical Health Practitioner Agency and the Australian Psychological Society. Alana uses EMDR with adults, teenagers, children and Deaf people using sign language. Rapid eye movement, which occurs naturally during dreaming, seems to speed the client’s movement through the healing process. By following the therapist’s fingers the client is guided and assisted to concentrate on a troubling memory or emotion while moving the eyes rapidly back and forth.
During EDMR therapy psychoeducation is provided and the client’s symptoms, support systems, resources, and self-regulation skills are mapped out. EMDR therapy is a very empowering technique for clients as they take control to resolve their trauma as they come to more positive conclusions. Retrieving a traumatic memory and following eye movements requires more working memory capacity than is available. Consequently, the traumatic memory is not completely retrieved and is less vivid with fewer associated feelings of fear, anger or sadness. Subsequently, the new memory is highlighted, and the impacts of the trauma memory are reduced.
Internal Family Systems
IFS is a collaborative and inspiring model of therapy in which promotes growth in a timely, gentle manner developed by Richard C. Schwartz in the 1980s. This model combines systems thinking with the view that the mind is made up of subpersonalities where each has its own unique perspective and qualities. It uses Family System Theory to recognise how the subpersonalities are organised.
This model has 5 basic assumptions:
- The human mind has a numerous unknown number of parts
- Every person has a ‘self’ which is in charge of coordinating the inner family
- Some parts participate in non-extreme behaviour which are beneficial to the individual
- Increased personal growth and development results in more complex interactions with parts. The internal family develops.
- Development to the internal family will affect the external system and vice versa.
Three distinct areas of IFS model:
Managers- their job is to maintain a healthy level of functioning in daily life by warding off unwanted emotions, interactions or experiences from the outside world.
Exiles- become apparent due to pain or trauma from possible childhood experiences managers and firefighters exile ensure it doesn’t affect the conscious level and maintains functioning and preservation
Firefighters- they act as a distraction for the mind. They prompt a person’s impulse behaviour and they turn to things such as drugs, alcohol sex and more.
Emotion-Focused Therapy
Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) is a therapeutic intervention designed to address maladaptive emotions, such as chronic fear and shame. Emotion-Focused Therapy utilises a range of techniques in a safe and genuine therapeutic environment, which allows the emotions to be activated, explored, expressed, and regulated. EFT cultivates emotional intelligence and, as a result, can nurture deeper and more meaningful relationships.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (pronounced ‘act’) is a therapy aimed at dislodging the psychological suffering experienced as a result of human language. Language, whether it be talking, gesturing, imagining, or thinking, can lead us to criticizes or condemn ourselves or others; it can further lead us to judge, lie, manipulate, jump to the future, or relive unpleasant experiences from the past. ACT uses multiple techniques to support clients to live a life worth living (values), in the present moment (mindfulness).
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is a technique employed within ACT, and as a therapy on its own. It rests on the assumption that we will, of course, encounter all sorts of unpleasant private experiences (e.g., thoughts, images, feelings). Mindfulness is consciously bringing awareness to the here-and-now experiences with openness, interest, and receptiveness. Mindfulness facilitates clients to let these negative experiences come and go without our judgment or criticism. It transforms our relationship with our thoughts in a way that reduces their impact on our lives.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a form of therapy that is based around helping the client understand, manage, and alter their thoughts and actions for the purpose of improving their emotional and psychological wellbeing. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has been demonstrated as effective with numerous clinical and non-clinical problems, including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, eating disorders, substance abuse disorders, and psychotic disorders. This form of therapy has been shown to be very effective for the treatment of social anxiety.
Sublime Sound Sessions
Alana utilises a range of vibrational sounds (Tibetan bowls, crystal singing bowls, gongs and drums) to support clients to drop into deeper aspects of their minds, bodies and spiritual self. Alana incorporates sublime sound sessions into mindfulness and meditation practices which can help support relaxation.