Humanizing Mental Health: Recent Episodes

JATA (Jeremy Alcorn and Trenton Akers)

Treat the person... not the illness.You can only ever hit the target you are aiming at. Society’s mental health “target” has been mental illness. Unfortunately that target is getting bigger and bigger as more people experience mental illness.

We believe it is time to change the target. It is time we humanize mental health. It is time we bring new understanding that a disease focus will only bring more disease.

It is time to focus our target on wellness.

Kristina Denton shares her experience working as a shockwave therapy technician at an erectile dysfunction clinic, and the profound insights she gained about men's vulnerability and shame. Her journey of healing and empathy towards men is a powerful testament to the human connection and the impact of attachment wounds. The conversation delves into the speaker's journey of healing and understanding men through her work in a clinic, her complex relationship with her father, and the transformative impact of her experiences. It also explores the themes of forgiveness, compassion, and the disruption of societal narratives around masculinity and shame.

Takeaways

Men's vulnerability and shame
The healing power of human connection Healing through understanding and forgiveness
Disrupting societal narratives around masculinity and shame

Chapters

00:00 The Unexpected Journey
02:47 Accidental Entry into the Clinic
08:43 The Responsibility of Holding Space
14:54 The Humanizing of Men
18:53 Healing and Empathy
19:20 The Power of Human Connection
22:32 Journey of Healing and Understanding
25:42 Complex Relationship with Father
36:31 Impact of Experiences and Transformation

The podcast episode explores the theme of 'Looking at the Limits of Labels' through the personal experiences and insights of Dr. Brian Arnold. Dr. Arnold shares his journey of overcoming labels, the impact of labels on identity and mental health, and the role of belief and faith in combating negative labels. The conversation also delves into the impact of labels in the education system and the problems. The conversation delves into the impact of information overload, the importance of strength and resilience, the influence of labels and limitations, the significance of empathy and understanding, the role of beliefs, limitations, and anxiety, the value of accountability and personal growth, and concludes with reflections and intentions for personal growth and purpose.

Takeaways

The impact of labels on identity and mental health
The role of belief and faith in combating negative labels The power of empathy and understanding
Overcoming limitations and labels

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
01:30 The Impact of Labels on Identity
06:23 Overcoming Labels and Limitations
10:23 Internalized Oppression and Self-Acceptance
12:32 Combatting Labels with Belief and Faith
17:47 The Impact of Labels on Mental Health and Identity
23:26 Contributing Factors and Determining Factors
25:05 The Impact of Labels in Education
27:34 The Impact of Information Overload
29:31 Strength and Resilience
30:00 Labels and Limitations
35:17 Empathy and Understanding
38:02 Beliefs, Limitations, and Anxiety
44:36 Accountability and Personal Growth
53:11 Closing Thoughts and Intentions

In this episode, Jeremy and Trent discuss Trent's experience with disability, addressing common questions and misconceptions. They also delve into the impact of disability on family dynamics and personal identity. The conversation delves into the complex themes of disability pride, self-acceptance, and the impact of disability on personal relationships. It explores the nuanced journey of self-love and the challenges of overcoming societal expectations and stereotypes. The conversation also highlights the importance of trust and understanding in deep, meaningful relationships.

Takeaways

Disability pride and awareness are important topics that foster understanding and empathy.
The experience of disability goes beyond physical limitations and influences personal identity and family dynamics. Self-acceptance is a journey, not an immediate destination
The bond of trust between friends is invaluable

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Disability Pride Month
01:21 Common Questions and Misconceptions
03:26 Trent's Experience with Cerebral Palsy
05:18 Challenges and Assumptions
06:30 Elevating Perspectives
08:48 Life with a Disability
16:02 Impact on Family Dynamics
19:47 Reflections on Family and Identity
24:41 Trauma and Personal Development
27:09 The Experience of Disability
29:06 Navigating Self-Acceptance
32:02 The Influence of Environment and Resilience
36:13 The Impact on Personal Relationships
41:08 Disability Pride and Self-Love
43:35 The Nuanced Journey of Acceptance
53:31 The Power of Trust and Understanding

Julie Brams discusses the concept of the nature-embedded mind and the importance of re-rooting our mind back into the whole. She explores the historical separation of humanity from nature and the process of rediscovering our connection with nature. The conversation also delves into the experience of being connected and practical ways to reconnect with nature on a daily basis. The conversation explores the healing power of emotional energy, the impact of human emotions on nature, and the importance of reconnecting with and restoring the natural world. It delves into the concept of rerouting and changing the foundation of mental health to include nature and the environment.

Takeaways

Re-rooting our mind back into the whole is essential for reconnecting with nature.
The experience of being connected with nature can be transformative and rejuvenating. The healing power of emotional energy
The importance of rerouting and changing the foundation of mental health

Chapters

00:00 The Nature-Embedded Mind
06:03 Separation of Humanity from Nature
15:58 The Experience of Being Connected
24:34 The Medicine of Emotional Energy
30:27 Reconnecting with Nature
43:13 Changing the Foundation of Mental Health

Zach King, a pop punk musician and mental health advocate, shares his journey of transformation from corporate life to music and mental health advocacy. His experience with anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation led him to discover the healing power of music and the importance of finding purpose and connection in life. Zach's story emphasizes the significance of authenticity, resilience, and the impact of music on mental health.

Takeaways

Authenticity and purpose are essential for mental well-being.
Music has the power to heal and connect individuals in their mental health journey.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Zach King
07:54 Expectations and Pressure
13:10 The Power of Music in Mental Health
22:08 The Connection Between Music and Mental Health
30:02 The Rebellion Community

The conversation delves into the integration of psychology and spirituality, the role of adversity in personal growth, embracing emotions, finding peace, taking responsibility, and making choices. It emphasizes the importance of finding peace in the moment, respecting past experiences, and making choices for personal growth and well-being.

Takeaways

Integration of psychology and spirituality
Embracing emotions and finding peace

Chapters

00:00 Integration of Psychology and Spirituality
10:00 The Role of Adversity in Growth
19:49 Embracing Emotions and Finding Peace
29:59 Taking Responsibility and Making Choices

https://humanizingmentalhealth.riverside.com/

Dr. Jeffrey Smith discusses the limitations of diagnosis in mental health treatment and the importance of understanding entrenched maladaptive patterns. He emphasizes the art of therapy, the role of accurate empathy, and the relational healing process. Despite resistance in the mental health community, he is making headway in advocating for a broader approach to treatment. The conversation delves into the complexities of psychotherapy, the impact of social media on mental health awareness, the pitfalls of diagnosis-focused treatment, and the role of consciousness in healing. It also explores the non-conscious mind's influence on behavior and the integration of therapeutic processes.

Takeaways

Limitations of Diagnosis
Art of Therapy and Accurate Empathy
Relational Healing Process Psychotherapy is not as mysterious or complicated as commonly perceived.
Diagnosis-focused treatment may lead to overpromising and disappointment in the mental health system.

Chapters

00:00 Rethinking Mental Health Diagnosis
06:11 The Art of Therapy and Accurate Empathy
11:46 Challenges in the Mental Health Community
41:13 Integration of Therapeutic Processes

Heather shares her personal journey of addiction, coping mechanisms, and the underlying mental health challenges she faced. She emphasizes the importance of community, finding a higher power, and breaking the stigma of addiction. The conversation delves into the complexity of addiction, the impact of childhood experiences, and the layers of coping strategies. The conversation delves into the impact of trauma, coping mechanisms, and the journey of recovery from addiction. It also explores the role of spirituality and the importance of seeking help and support.

Takeaways

Addiction is not always about substance abuse; it can manifest in various behaviors and coping mechanisms.
Community and finding a higher power play a crucial role in the recovery journey.
Childhood experiences and underlying mental health challenges contribute to the development of coping strategies and addiction. Trauma's impact on coping mechanisms
The ongoing journey of recovery

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Addiction and Coping Mechanisms
09:26 The Role of Community and Finding a Higher Power
19:24 Understanding the Layers of Coping Strategies and Mental Health Challenges
25:38 Understanding Trauma and Coping Mechanisms
32:29 The Journey of Recovery and Seeking Help
37:37 The Role of Spirituality and Support

The conversation explores the journey of resilience, transformation, and reinvention through the lens of mental health and personal growth. It delves into the challenges faced by a recent veteran and the process of recovery, healing, and recontextualizing life stories. The theme of seeking truth and reinvention is also highlighted, emphasizing the importance of personal growth and self-discovery. The conversation delves into the impact of internalized messages and the search for belonging, followed by a discussion on career transition, community, resilience, and the process of becoming. It highlights the importance of challenging internalized beliefs and finding a supportive environment for personal growth and development.

Takeaways

Resilience and wellness
Transformation and reinvention Internalized messages
Finding belonging

Chapters

00:00 The Journey of Resilience
12:56 Recontextualizing Life Stories
18:43 Seeking Truth and Reinvention
29:20 Career Transition and Community
39:18 Resilience and Becoming

Rethinking ADHD and Mental Health Diagnoses: Insights from Jeremy and Amy AlcornIn this episode of Humanizing Mental Health, Jeremy and Amy Alcorn explore the complexities of ADHD, diagnosis processes, societal perceptions, and how to support neurodivergent individuals effectively. They challenge common narratives and emphasize the importance of understanding oneself beyond labels.Key Topics Covered:

The limitations and potential overpathologizing of adult ADHD screening tools
The societal wave of diagnoses: how conditions like ADHD and autism become trendy
The dangers of attaching identity to a disorder and the importance of self-understanding
How medication efficacy varies across mental health conditions, and the role of diagnosis
The impact of societal structures and culture on mental health, including accessibility and stigma
Strategies for managing attention, time blindness, and perfectionism
The importance of flexible support such as testing accommodations without formal diagnosis
The influence of social media and media portrayal on perceptions of neurodivergence

Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to ADHD assessment and diagnostic tools

02:02 - Overdiagnosis concerns and population specifics

04:44 - Societal symptoms and medication efficacy for mental health conditions

07:39 - Treating the person, not the disorder: moving away from labels

10:49 - The wave of diagnoses: from bipolar to ADHD and autism

12:45 - Media influence and commercialization of mental health conditions

15:08 - The societal value of diagnosis versus self-understanding

17:22 - Developmental theory and emotional regulation in ADHD

19:31 - Attachment, safety, and self-nurturing for neurodivergent adults

21:04 - Time blindness and strategies to manage it

24:50 - Navigating multiple tasks and perfectionism

27:08 - Practical tips for task completion and self-compassion

29:38 - The danger of defining oneself purely by diagnosis

30:34 - The societal trends in diagnosis rates and implications

33:04 - The influence of media and cultural factors on mental health labels

36:17 - The social model of disability applied to neurodivergence

40:01 - Creating supportive environments and embracing neurodivergence

Final Thoughts:

Jeremy and Amy emphasize that mental health diagnoses are tools for understanding, not definitions of identity. Moving beyond labels involves self-awareness, societal support, and recognizing neurodiversity as a natural variation of human experience. Hashtags: #ADHD #MentalHealth #Neurodiversity #SelfUnderstanding #HumanizingMentalHealth

Embracing Authentic Success: A Conversation on Life Lessons and TransformationIn this episode of Humanizing Mental Health, Jeremy Alcorn delves into a profound discussion with Becca Pierce about her extraordinary journey through personal and professional upheavals, including health crises and redefining success. Becca shares inspiring insights on authenticity, resilience, and crafting a life aligned with one's true purpose.

Main Topics Covered:

The impact of life-altering health experiences on worldview and success perceptions
How societal expectations influence our personal definitions of achievement
The importance of crafting individual success goals rooted in authenticity
The process of reconstructing beliefs after trauma and loss
Practical steps to reconnect with purpose and prioritize time as a limited resource
The significance of human connection and compassion in healing and growth

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction to Becca Pierce and the episode's theme

02:15 - Becca’s career highlight: leading Maryland’s Obamacare implementation

04:45 - The public failure and its impact on identity

07:10 - Major health scare: brain tumor diagnosis and crisis response

09:55 - How trauma reshapes core beliefs about success and life purpose

12:15 - The tribal and societal influences on our success definitions

14:20 - The pivotal moment when Becca questioned external validation

16:35 - Her new personal success framework: impact and authenticity

18:00 - The role of compassion and authentic connection in healing

20:10 - Processing shock and shock recovery: Becca’s visceral experience

22:30 - The importance of positive mindset before and after surgery

24:40 - The growth that stems from significant harm and belief reconstruction

27:12 - Becca’s book: You Don't Have to Achieve to Be Loved

28:20 - Practical tools: writing your own success definition and managing time

32:00 - Final thoughts on living intentionally and authentically

Resources & Links:

https://morebeccapearce.com/ Website with her book and coaching news letter and speaking engagements
Amazon – Becca Pierce’s Book

The episode explores the therapeutic potential of role-playing games, such as Dungeons and Dragons, in mental health treatment. It delves into the use of games as a tool for therapy, the impact on youth, and the integration of therapeutic modalities within the game environment.

Takeaways

Therapeutic role-playing games offer a unique and effective approach to mental health treatment.
The use of games as a therapeutic tool can facilitate growth, learning, and social interaction.

Contact Trent at (403) 458-0204 or trent@openakers.com

Chapters

00:00 The Therapeutic Potential of Role-Playing Games
10:53 Youth and Therapeutic Role-Playing Games
20:01 Integrating Therapeutic Modalities in Games
30:16 Decision Fatigue and Therapeutic Gaming
39:19 Exploring Therapeutic Video Games

Hook

What does it really take to move from addiction to lasting recovery? In this episode, Jason McLemore shares the hard-earned lessons that transformed his life and how recovery communities are helping others rebuild theirs.

Pull Quote

“Recovery isn’t just about stopping a behavior — it’s about building a life that makes you want to stay well.”

Hashtags

AddictionRecovery #MentalHealth #RecoveryJourney #SubstanceUseRecovery #HumanizingMentalHealth

Summary

In this compelling interview, Jason McLemore shares his powerful journey from addiction to recovery, highlighting the importance of community, wellness, and personal responsibility in the healing process. He discusses what sustainable recovery looks like, the role of lived experience in supporting others, and how organizations like Cenikor are helping individuals rebuild their lives through evidence-based addiction treatment and long-term recovery support.

Guest Name

Jason McLemore

Keywords

addiction recovery, substance use recovery, mental health, recovery journey, wellness, community support, treatment programs, lived experience, addiction treatment, mental health advocacy

Key Topics

The role of community support in addiction recovery

Jason McLemore's personal journey from addiction to recovery leadership

Cenikor's approach to wellness, treatment, and aftercare

The importance of lived experience in supporting people in recovery

Action Items

Call the Cenikor admission center at 888-236-4567 for help

Visit cenikor.org to learn more about treatment options and recovery programs

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Jason McLemore and His Background

05:03 Jason's Journey Through Addiction

11:30 The Turning Point: Finding Motivation in Recovery

15:11 Understanding Recovery and Its Responsibilities

19:54 Wellness Beyond Recovery: Building a Fulfilling Life

22:50 The Importance of Internal Philosophy in Recovery

23:58 Building a Culture of Recovery from Within

24:58 The Gift of Hitting Rock Bottom

26:00 The Journey of Recovery: Learning from Repetition

26:56 Daily Wellness Practices for Sustained Recovery

28:55 Finding Focus and Mindfulness in Recovery

31:13 Accessing Treatment: Breaking Down Barriers

34:48 Family Support in the Recovery Process

38:36 Messages of Hope for Those Struggling with Addiction

42:55 Exit.mp4

The conversation explores the power of play, its impact across the lifespan, and the barriers to play in adulthood. It delves into the library's program 'Reconnecting to Play' and discusses the concept of maturation and its relationship to play. The conversation explores the importance of play in schools, its impact on mental health, the cultural perception of adult play, and the stigma associated with play in adulthood. It also delves into the neurochemical and social-emotional benefits of play, its role in building confidence, and its connection to mental health and aging. The conversation emphasizes the significance of play for adults and its impact on identity, belonging, and wellness.

Takeaways

Play is essential for mental health and well-being
Barriers to play in adulthood can be broken down through intentional programs and safe spaces Play is essential for mental health
Adults benefit from play as much as children do

Chapters

00:00 The Power of Play
08:44 Breaking Down Barriers to Play
18:59 Maturation and Play
24:01 The Cultural Perception of Adult Play
30:56 The Neurochemical Benefits of Play
36:19 The Importance of Play for Adults
43:27 The Synergy of Play and Aging

Keywords

boredom, mental health, mindfulness, creativity, motivation, addiction, human evolution, purpose, distress tolerance, ADHD

Summary

In this conversation, the hosts explore the concept of boredom, discussing its prevalence in modern society and its implications for mental health. They delve into the benefits of boredom, including its role in fostering creativity and motivation, and how it can serve as a reset for the nervous system. The discussion also touches on mindfulness practices that can help individuals engage with their boredom in a constructive way, as well as the connection between boredom and addiction. Ultimately, the conversation emphasizes the importance of finding purpose in moments of boredom and recognizing its value in personal growth.

Chapters

00:00 Understanding Boredom: A Personal Journey

03:10 The Benefits of Boredom

06:02 Boredom and Creativity: The Imagination Connection

09:18 Mindfulness and Boredom: Finding Purpose in Stillness

12:15 Boredom's Role in Human Evolution

14:53 Navigating Boredom in Modern Life

17:50 The Science of Boredom and Addiction

21:09 Mindfulness Practices: Engaging with the Present

24:03 The Balance of Boredom and Engagement

27:04 Final Reflections on Boredom and Life's Purpose

45:40 Exit.mp4

Looking for help? Connect with Jeremy or Trent

https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapists/jeremy-clark-alcorn-medicine-hat-ab/780854

https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapists/trenton-akers-medicine-hat-ab/781175

Summary

In this episode, Trent Akers and Jeremy Alcorn explore the complexities of mental health diagnosis, focusing on the use of diagnostic language, the evolution of mental health understanding, and the implications of diagnosis in treatment. They delve into various anxiety disorders, including panic disorder, and discuss the importance of emotional granularity in understanding mental health experiences. The conversation emphasizes that diagnosis serves as a description rather than a cause, highlighting the need for a balanced perspective on mental health.

Takeaways

Many clients use technical or diagnostic language to describe their issues.

The history of mental health has evolved significantly over the decades.

Diagnosis can help in treatment but is not always necessary.

Anxiety is a broad term that encompasses various disorders.

Emotional granularity helps in understanding mental health experiences.

The DSM provides descriptions but not causes of mental health issues.

Diagnosis can impact self-perception and treatment approaches.

Mental health is complex, with overlapping symptoms across disorders.

Understanding the limitations of diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Mental Health Language

03:06 Understanding Diagnosis in Mental Health

06:21 The Evolution of Mental Health Perspectives

09:10 The Spectrum of Mental Illness

12:02 Exploring Anxiety Disorders

15:19 Types of Anxiety and Their Impacts

18:08 Panic Disorder vs. Panic Attacks

21:23 The Role of Diagnosis in Treatment

24:20 The Importance of Emotional Granularity

27:15 Character Flaws and Mental Health

30:03 The Utility of Diagnosis

33:19 Conclusion and Key Takeaways

44:15 Exit.mp4

Keywords

mental health, anxiety, diagnosis, DSM, treatment, emotional granularity, panic disorder, mental illness, social work, therapy

Looking for help? Connect with Jeremy or Trent

https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapists/jeremy-clark-alcorn-medicine-hat-ab/780854

https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapists/trenton-akers-medicine-hat-ab/781175

Summary

In this episode, Trent, Jeremy and Amy discuss the complex relationship between stress and personal growth, emphasizing the importance of community support and the role of scaffolding in development. They explore how stress can be reframed positively and the significance of allowing individuals, especially young people, to experience manageable stressors to build resilience. The conversation also touches on the necessity of seeking help when stress becomes toxic.

Takeaways

Growth can come from stress if managed properly.

Sitting in discomfort is essential for personal development.

Community plays a crucial role in building resilience.

Children should not be shielded from all stressors.

Mature minors can benefit from learning to cope independently.

Scaffolding helps individuals gradually take on more responsibility.

Reframing stress can lead to better performance and outcomes.

Curiosity can transform anxiety into a learning opportunity.

A balance between healthy stress and toxic stress is vital.

Understanding limits is key to managing stress effectively.

Chapters

00:00 The Nature of Stress and Growth

03:38 The Role of Environment in Development

07:37 Scaffolding and Learning

11:34 Community Support and Resilience

14:59 Mature Minors and Autonomy

18:30 The Power of Narrative in Stress Management

21:59 Physical Strength and Stress

25:54 Finding Balance in Stress

29:25 Conclusion: Embracing Stress for Growth

36:49 Exit.mp4

Keywords

stress, growth, resilience, community, mental health, scaffolding, mature minors, coping strategies, narrative therapy, positive perspective

Looking for help? Connect with Jeremy or Trent

https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapists/jeremy-clark-alcorn-medicine-hat-ab/780854

https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapists/trenton-akers-medicine-hat-ab/781175

Summary

In this episode of Humanized Mental Health, hosts Trent Akers, Jeremy Alcorn and Amy Alcorn, explore the daily mental health practices they use along with the importance of self-compassion. They discuss techniques such as the mirror method, the use of music for mental wellness , and mindfulness strategies, while also addressing the complexities of countertransference in therapy. The conversation emphasizes the significance of acceptance and responsibility in personal growth, the role of relationships in mental health, and the need for ongoing self-reflection and coping strategies.

Takeaways

Mental health professionals should practice what they preach.

Daily mental health drivers can include music and mindfulness.

The mirror method can enhance self-compassion.

Acceptance is crucial for personal growth and healing.

Countertransference can be addressed therapeutically.

Mindfulness helps in coping with difficult situations.

Relationships are vital for mental well-being.

Self-reflection aids in understanding personal feelings.

Techniques like HALT can help in self-assessment.

Creating a supportive environment can enhance mental health.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Mental Health and Social Media

05:21 Daily Mental Health Practices

10:09 Techniques for Self-Reflection and Growth

15:01 Understanding Countertransference in Therapy

20:21 Acceptance and Responsibility in Healing

25:19 Mindfulness and Coping Strategies

30:12 The Importance of Relationships in Mental Health

35:02 Conclusion and Key Takeaways

51:03 Exit.mp4

Keywords

mental health, self-care, therapy techniques, social media, mindfulness, acceptance, countertransference, self-compassion, relationships, coping strategies

Summary

In this episode, the hosts discuss the often-overlooked impact of mental illness on family dynamics, emphasizing the importance of including family members in mental health treatment. Dr. Michelle D. Sherman has co-authored 2 interactive books:

Loving Someone with a Mental Illness or a History of Trauma: Skills, Hope, and Strength for Your Journey

https://www.amazon.com/Loving-Someone-Mental-Illness-History/dp/142145050X/ref=sr_1_2?

I'm Not Alone: A Teens Guide to Living with a Parent Who Has a Mental Illness or History of Trauma

https://www.amazon.com/Im-Not-Alone-Illness-History/dp/B0DM6YHV96/ref=sr_1_1?

Michelle shares her insights on psychoeducation for families, the evolution of mental health awareness, and the need for better support systems for youth. The conversation also covers practical strategies for communication, addressing self-harm, and the 4C process for managing emotional triggers. The episode concludes with resources for families dealing with mental health issues.

Her website:

http://www.seedsofhopebooks.com/

Takeaways

Family members often get overlooked in mental health treatment.

Increased awareness of mental health has occurred over the years.

Youth with parents who have mental illness need more support.

Communication about mental health is crucial for families.

Self-harm and suicidal ideation are serious concerns that need addressing.

The 4C process helps manage emotional triggers effectively.

Taking care of oneself is essential for supporting others.

Normalizing mental health experiences can reduce stigma.

Professional help should be sought when concerned about a loved one.

Books can serve as valuable resources for families dealing with mental illness.

Chapters

00:00 Understanding the Family's Role in Mental Health

06:05 The Evolution of Mental Health Awareness

12:07 Supporting Youth in Mental Health

18:09 Addressing Self-Harm and Suicidal Ideation

21:15 Navigating Crisis: Compassionate Responses

24:27 The 4C Process: Managing Triggers Effectively

28:42 Understanding the Client's Perspective

30:18 The Importance of Normalizing Mental Health

32:54 Practical Guidance for Families

36:46 Resources for Support and Learning

41:12 Exit.mp4

Keywords

mental health, family dynamics, youth support, communication, self-harm, healthcare system, normalization, 4C process, mental illness, psychoeducation

None

None

In this episode, Dr. Prav Grewal discusses his journey into psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, emphasizing the importance of emotional insight in healing trauma. He explores the impact of intergenerational trauma and the role of forgiveness in the healing process. The conversation delves into the biological mechanisms of psychedelics, the significance of spirituality, and the necessity of set and setting in therapeutic contexts. Prav also highlights the potential for psychedelics to be integrated into military mental health care, advocating for a compassionate approach to therapy that addresses both individual and collective trauma.

Takeaways

Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy can provide profound emotional insights.

Rigid personality structures can hinder personal growth and healing.

Emotional impact is often more significant than cognitive understanding in trauma.

Psychedelics can help integrate fragmented beliefs about oneself.

Forgiveness is essential for personal healing and letting go of trauma.

Intergenerational trauma can be addressed through psychedelic therapy.

The biological mechanisms of psychedelics promote neuroplasticity and healing.

Spiritual experiences during psychedelics can enhance therapeutic outcomes.

Set and setting are crucial for the effectiveness of psychedelic therapy.

Psychedelics have the potential to transform military mental health care.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Mental Health and Trauma Healing

00:43 The Journey into Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy

03:50 Understanding Emotional and Cognitive Insights

07:02 The Role of Psychedelics in Therapy

10:09 Developing a Framework for Psychedelic Use

12:54 Personal Experiences with Trauma and Healing

16:08 The Impact of Intergenerational Trauma

18:32 Forgiveness and Self-Worth in Healing

21:24 The Dysregulated Externalized Matrix of Notions

24:24 Attachment Theory and Coping Mechanisms

27:32 Compassion and Understanding in Mental Health

31:45 Understanding Anxious Attachment and Its Impact

33:32 The Biological Mechanisms of Psychedelics

36:55 Breaking the Cycle of Intergenerational Trauma

41:25 The Spiritual Component of Psychedelic Experiences

44:04 Integration and the Role of Action in Healing

45:56 Respecting Traditional Uses of Psychedelics

53:34 Psychedelics in Military Healthcare

58:43 Reflections on the Future of Psychedelic Therapy

01:00:54 Exit.mp4

In this episode we look at the function in what most people view as a dysfunctional symptom of mental illness that is rumination. We take a new and different view of rumination in looking for what role it is playing for the individual and how it may be part of the emotional work required to work through and integrate hard things into our psyche. The origin of the word rumination comes from the latin verb “ruminari” which means to chew the cud. We discuss the origins of the word and how this may give a different understanding of the function of rumination.

Resources:

https://youtu.be/MMaWEUuwoZY

https://a.co/d/8Xyogya

https://self-compassion.org/

This is a unique and interesting podcast episode. We planned to have this episode with the mayor of Medicine Hat Alberta Canada, the city in which Trent, Jeremy and Amy reside. Mayor Linnsie Clark was having some technical difficulties and we weren't sure why she was not joining us at the designated time. So Trent and I began a conversation about something that had been on our minds in terms of understanding trauma as an injury and not an illness. The first part of the podcast explores this idea then our mayor connected with us within the middle of the podcast and we transition from there into talking about Community recovery and how connection and Community is Central to our Wellness as humans

Mayor Clark first took office in 2021 as covid restrictions began to lift and has guided our community through a broader social recovery from the mental health effects of the pandemic.

Resources mentioned:

PTSD coach is an app you can get from the Apple app store or from Google play.

The booked re: understanding Trauma and recovery: The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk

In this episode Trent and Jeremy continue the conversation with author, professor and accomplished musician Dr Earnestine Whitman. She recently published the Book “Counter Melodies A Memoir in Sonata Form” that details her story of trauma recovery:

Jealous of her brilliant older sister, Ernestine longs for her father’s approval as a little girl but is never good enough. When she discovers a talent for the flute, she meets a charismatic teacher who gives her the encouragement she craves and becomes her surrogate father. After winning several competitions, she dreams of being a professional musician, but her stern father ridicules the idea and forces her to attend Emory University as a math major like her sister.

Ernestine doesn’t give up on her musical dreams, however, and halfway through college she wins the second flute chair in the Atlanta Symphony. There, she sits beside her former teacher, the principal flute. At first, she loves working with him, but after one successful season he turns on her and does everything in his power to get her fired. Devastated by her idol’s merciless harassment, she’s driven into a spiral of suicidal depression. As she tries to recover, her vulnerability is exploited, again and again, by the very men she turns to for help.

A harrowing account of one woman’s battle with twentieth-century misogyny, Countermelodies follows Ernestine as, through the darkness, she clings to her love for the flute and her unshakable dream of making it in the cutthroat world of classical music.

More information at:

https://ernestinewhitman.ag-sites.net/index.htm

You can buy the book from Amazon:

⁠https://www.amazon.ca/Countermelodies-Memoir-Sonata-Ernestine-Whitman/dp/1647427320⁠

Or at Simon and Schuster

⁠https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Countermelodies/Ernestine-Whitman/9781647427320⁠

None

We are joined by Jonathan McClung Chartered Professional Accountant. We discuss how money relates to our mental health.

Looking to connect with Jonathan for accounting services:

http://www.nowcpa.ca/

Articles referenced in the show

https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/archive/releases/2018/Q1/money-only-buys-happiness-for-a-certain-amount.html

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/science-research-data/mental-health-inequalities-income-canada.html

Budgeting App

https://www.ynab.com/

In this episode Jeremy and Trent are joined by Pamela Hauser who has a diverse set of training including life coaching and Tarot reading. She discusses some of the history associated with tarot reading and her use of it in life coaching.

For those interested in connecting with her you can find her @

Pamela S. Hauser

Proprietor & Presenter

Empowerpalooza

Training & Infotainment

Text:+1(587) 604-9803

Email: info@empowerpalooza.ca

Website: www.empowerpalooza.ca

Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube - all @empowerpalooza

In this episode Trent and Jeremy are joined by author, professor and accomplished musician Dr Earnestine Whitman. She recently published the Book “Counter Melodies A Memoir in Sonata Form” that details her story of trauma recovery:

Jealous of her brilliant older sister, Ernestine longs for her father’s approval as a little girl but is never good enough. When she discovers a talent for the flute, she meets a charismatic teacher who gives her the encouragement she craves and becomes her surrogate father. After winning several competitions, she dreams of being a professional musician, but her stern father ridicules the idea and forces her to attend Emory University as a math major like her sister.

Ernestine doesn’t give up on her musical dreams, however, and halfway through college she wins the second flute chair in the Atlanta Symphony. There, she sits beside her former teacher, the principal flute. At first, she loves working with him, but after one successful season he turns on her and does everything in his power to get her fired. Devastated by her idol’s merciless harassment, she’s driven into a spiral of suicidal depression. As she tries to recover, her vulnerability is exploited, again and again, by the very men she turns to for help.

A harrowing account of one woman’s battle with twentieth-century misogyny, Countermelodies follows Ernestine as, through the darkness, she clings to her love for the flute and her unshakable dream of making it in the cutthroat world of classical music.

More information at:

https://ernestinewhitman.ag-sites.net/index.htm

You can buy the book from Amazon:

https://www.amazon.ca/Countermelodies-Memoir-Sonata-Ernestine-Whitman/dp/1647427320

Or at Simon and Schuster

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Countermelodies/Ernestine-Whitman/9781647427320

This episode is a guided meditation led by Trent. It starts with a progressive muscle relaxation and then connects you to the internalized strengths you have built through the relationships in your life.

In this episode Trent, Jeremy and Amy have the pleasure to connect with Jackie Durnin.

Jackie is the visionary founder of Hinterland Health Retreat, a world-first rehabilitation facility that combines revolutionary neuro-technology with leading holistic therapies to offer a truly personalized and transformative experience.

Her story is one of profound resilience and transformation. After enduring trauma and sexual abuse, she embarked on a journey to find effective ways to manage stress, anxiety, and PTSD. This quest led her to become an EFT practitioner and counsellor, with over 15 years of experience working both nationally in Australia and internationally at rehabilitation centres, health retreats, and in private practice.

Driven by her passion for helping others heal and truly thrive, Jackie has created a health retreat unlike any other. Her discovery of advanced neuro-technology, previously unavailable outside the U.S., when combined with traditional mind and body therapies, results in significant, lasting transformations for individuals.

Here are links to connect with Jackie and the exciting work she is doing.

https://hinterlandhealthretreat.com/

https://hinterlandhealthretreat.com/our-neuro-technologies

https://hinterlandhealthretreat.com/programs

In this episode Trent and Jeremy are joined by Author Andre Merkl

Her book can be found here:

Amazon

Indigo

Barnes & Noble

You can find it on Audiobook at:

Amazon Audiobook

Audible

Apple Books

Spotify

Kobo

GooglePlay

You can connect with Andre at: website link is here.

Instagram: @thegiftofinfidelity

Andrea’s book is a raw and intimate memoir of one woman’s experience navigating infidelity and divorce, Andrea Merkl illustrates what it means to heal trauma individually and collectively as she gave birth, endured a year-long social media detox, ran a triathlon and discovered a dissociated childhood trauma of sexual abuse.

In a heartbreaking account, Andrea shares her discoveries of what laid under the landmine of infidelity as she reckoned with generational trauma, self-betrayal, and her connection to God, showing us that everyone is equipped with the resilience and strength that is needed to heal.

This journey will leave you questioning your own self-betrayal tendencies, provide you with trauma-informed tools to heal your nervous system, dissociation, C-PTSD and inspiration to lead you down a path to a wholeness whether you have been through infidelity or not. We believe that one of the worst things that can happen to us is infidelity. What if infidelity isn’t the bad guy we all make it out to be? What if, on the contrary, it's one of the greatest gifts you can receive? Like a gateway, to something far more toxic called self-betrayal.

Self-betrayal is universal, it doesn’t only apply to infidelity. I believe most people are living a life of quiet self-betrayal, unconsciously making choices and actions from this disconnected self. And it's not always our fault, it's generational. We learn at a very young age to abandon ourselves. We self-betray to fit in, to avoid conflict, and to feel accepted. Our worth and value tied to external sources hating ourselves a little bit more each day, we become disconnected to who we are.

An unexpected outcome of forgiveness reminds us that through compassion and courage, an evolution of our soul can occur and on the other side is freedom. Passionate and illuminating, The Gift of Infidelity is an empowering and redemptive narrative of transformation, offering a message of hope and Divine love.

About the Author

Andrea is a creative consultant, conscious leader and mother. A forerunner of conscious leadership and purpose driven marketing, she is blazing new trails in personal transformation and conscious parenting. Having gone through a traumatic experience of infidelity and sexual abuse herself, she has used her own experience to develop a methodology on this subject, and is now sharing her unique perspective with audiences and readers helping others in similar situations. She offers a course on Conscious Co-Parenting, helping families navigate life after divorce and infidelity, providing resources on creating a safe, loving and collaborative environment for their children.

She resides in Calgary, AB, Canada with her two daughters, Co-parenting with their father and step-mom. You will find her running, swimming, biking and spending time in nature with her family. She believes in the power of transformation, the mind body connection and that we are all here to create a better world.

In this episode Amy Trent and Jeremy take a dive into a recent movie that brings psychological concepts to the big screen, Inside Out 2. The film shows the internal process that happen to a teenage girl as she negotiates her social environment. This film uses many psychological concepts and brings the ideas of internal family systems to the big screen.

In this mental health conversation Trent and Jeremy discuss the fact that different people respond differently to potentially traumatic events

Factors influencing why events cause trauma for some people and not for others include:

Nature of the Event: Certain types of events are more likely to be experienced as traumatic by most people, such as natural disasters, accidents, acts of violence, abuse, or mistreatment that result in loss of life. These events are inherently distressing and have a higher likelihood of triggering trauma responses.
Interpersonal Nature: Events that involve intentional harm by another person, such as interpersonal violence or abuse, tend to be more distressing for individuals compared to random accidents or natural disasters. The deliberate nature of interpersonal harm can make the experience more traumatic due to the betrayal of trust and sense of vulnerability.
Degree of Control: The level of control an individual has during a distressing event can influence whether it is experienced as traumatic. Having a sense of agency and being able to resist or mitigate harm can lessen the impact of the event on one’s psychological well-being.
Social Responses: How others respond to an individual following a traumatic event plays a significant role in determining the extent of post-traumatic distress. Positive and supportive social responses can help restore a sense of safety and well-being, while negative or harmful reactions can exacerbate feelings of unsafety and hinder recovery.
Meaning Attribution: The meaning an individual assigns to an adverse experience can affect their emotional response to it. Factors such as personal values, beliefs, and past experiences shape how individuals interpret and process traumatic events, influencing their overall psychological impact.
Sensitivity Level: Individuals vary in their sensitivity to specific types of adverse experiences based on their exposure and desensitization over time. Gradual desensitization to certain content or experiences may reduce the difficulty in accepting and moving on from similar events compared to those with less exposure.

Trent, Jeremy and Amy discuss the Strength Based perspective of Mental Health. Strength-based therapy is a type of therapy that focuses on highlighting your personal strengths and positive qualities. It employs various strength-based therapy techniques to enhance client outcomes. This approach, also known as strengths-based counseling, enables clients to adopt a strengths-based approach in their daily lives, significantly improving their quality of life and mental health. Notably, a therapist’s strengths and understanding of their own strengths and weaknesses play a crucial role in tailoring this therapy to individual needs.

The origins of strength-based therapy, a solution-focused therapy, can be traced back to Donald Clifton, reports Psychology Today, a renowned professor and psychologist. Initially rooted in social work, it evolved by incorporating therapeutic approaches from other therapy modalities like narrative therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Through this evolution, it embraced a more comprehensive strength-based counseling framework, leading to the well-established strengths-based therapy we recognize and value today.

Strengths-based practice, a method integral to strength-based counseling, ensures that clients are at the forefront of their own treatment plans, empowering them to harness their inherent strengths and resources. This approach, also known as a strength-based model, maintains a strength-based perspective in mental health.

In this episode Trent, Jeremy and Amy are joined by Shara Ruffin. We discuss the idea of personality disorders.

Personality disorders are long-term patterns of behaviour and inner experiences that significantly deviate from what is expected in terms of thinking, feeling, and behaving. These disorders can affect various aspects of an individual’s life, including their relationships, emotions, self-image, and behaviour control. There are ten specific types of personality disorders outlined in the DSM-5-TR, categorized into three main groups:

Cluster A personality disorders (Odd)

Paranoid personality disorder

Schizoid personality disorder

Schizotypal personality disorder

Cluster B personality disorders (Dramatic)

Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD)

Borderline personality disorder (BPD)

Histrionic personality disorder

Narcissistic personality disorder

Cluster C personality disorders (Fearful)

Dependent personality disorder

Avoidant personality disorder

Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder

Treatment for personality disorders often involves psychotherapy tailored to the specific disorder and individual circumstances. Psychoanalytic/psychodynamic therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), group therapy, psychoeducation, along with self-care strategies like physical activity and avoiding substances can be beneficial in managing symptoms associated with these disorders.

Shara Ruffin is a licensed clinical social worker and former psychotherapist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She holds a bachelor's degree in social work from Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania and a master's degree in social work from Howard University School of Social Work.Throughout her 20-year social work career, she provided therapeutic support to enhance the lives of others through her specializations in grief, personality disorders, family trauma, compassion fatigue, military counselling, mindfulness meditation, ADHD, and anxiety. Shara has appeared on numerous podcasts, including Black Mental Health, Philly Radio Headspace, and Timing, The Free Retiree Show, and Social Worker Rise, among others. Shara presented her clinical work regarding military families at the Annual Congress: Child Care, Mental Health, Psychology, and Development conference in Toronto, Canada. Shara is also a Board Certified Tele-Mental Health Provider. Shara is currently the CEO and Founder of Journey To Licensure LLC, where she supports social workers through their licensure examinations in combination with wellness coaching. Journey To Licensure LLC was also featured in Business Insider.

This is the first video episode on Spotify of the Humanizing Mental Health Podcast. We have a library of audio episodes on Spotify and everywhere you get your podcasts. In this episode Jeremy uses recent personal losses to explore the human experience of grief.Grief is a natural response to loss, encompassing the emotional suffering experienced when something or someone loved is taken away. It can manifest in various ways, from shock and anger to profound sadness and guilt. The intensity of grief correlates with the significance of the loss, affecting physical health and daily functioning. Coping with grief is a personal journey that involves acknowledging and processing emotions to find healthier ways to cope.In this episode Trent challenges some of the foundational understanding of stages of Grief by Kübler-Ross:Denial: Initially, individuals may deny the reality of the loss, expressing sentiments like “This can’t be happening.”Anger: As reality sets in, feelings of anger towards the situation or others may arise, questioning why it happened.Bargaining: Some may attempt to negotiate with a higher power or seek ways to reverse the loss.Depression: Overwhelming sadness and withdrawal from activities are common during this stage.Acceptance: Ultimately, individuals come to terms with the loss and find peace with what transpired.We use Jeremy’s personal experiences to discuss the experience of loss and the concepts of integrating loss.

In this episode Trent, Amy and Jeremy use the therapeutic story "The Magic Kitchen" This story is adapted by Richard Schwartz and helps in understanding how we work with the parts of ourselves to find a sense of internal cohesion. In particular this story is a metaphor for how we connect inward to become healthy in order to be able to connect outward in romantic relationships. It is the old mental health adage that one must be able to have a healthy, loving relationship with themself to be able to have a healthy, loving relationship with others.

We integrate the ideas and themes brought up in the story and discuss how this relates to mental health.

In this episode Jeremy and Trent answer questions that Amy Alcorn prepared about the rising prevalence of Mental Health conditions in our world. We discuss factors and variables that have influenced the trend towards high numbers of people with mental health diagnosis.

This is the second episode in our mental health frequently asked questions series. In this episode Trent and Jeremy answer frequently asked questions about different counselling practice theories and how they work

This is another hypnosis script by Jeremy. This is a general healing it can be used to support mental and physical health.

Today we compare and contrast compassion and empathy where compassion is seen as an action oriented response and empathy is understood as holding emotional space for another person or being in the emotion with the other person.

We are joined by Doctor Nicole OBarto-Trainer

Nicole received her doctorate in counselling psychology from West Virginia University. She was clinically trained in the Department of Psychiatry at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA. She also has specialized training in the integration of mind body therapies in the treatment of chronic gastrointestinal disorders and somatic disorders from the Allegheny Center for Digestive Health. Dr. Trainer has been studying integrative mental health since 2009 and has advanced training in mindfulness-based interventions, HeartMath biofeedback, and functional approaches to depression and anxiety, including nutrition, micronutrient therapy, and amino acid therapy.

Dr. Trainer has been working in private practice since 2011. She founded Native with the intention to shift the conversation in mental health care away from deficits and subjective lists of symptoms treated largely with pharmaceuticals to one focused on innate health and the integration of evidence-based complementary and alternative therapies. Further, Dr. Trainer believes that a more dynamic and holistic approach to mental health treatment would better prepare an individual for the lifelong process of understanding their emotional self and taking care of their mental health.

Dr. Trainer is also passionate about raising mental health awareness and reducing the stigma surrounding seeking help for mental health problems. She encourages a conceptualization of mental health that is more fluid and allows for occasional disruptions in emotional wellbeing to be embraced as a natural part of the human experience and not pathologized.

You can get more information at https://nativeclinics.com/

Or contact Nicole at nicole.trainer@nativeclinics.com

For more more information about Trent and Jeremy please connect at https://psynergycentre.ca/

Or connect with us on facebook at Humanizing Mental Health

Pain is a not a well understood phenomena. This episode is a hypnosis script that is intended to both help reduce and potentially completely remove chronic pain by creating a new understanding of what pain is and what purpose it has served so that you can let it go.

In this episode Jeremy, Trent and Amy discuss adaptive healing as it relates to your mental health.Adaptive healing is a process that refers to the body’s natural ability to repair and regenerate tissues and organs, primarily in response to injury or disease. This process involves various cellular, molecular, and biochemical mechanisms that work together to restore the body to its optimal functioning state. The adaptive healing process is crucial for maintaining overall health and well-being

This is a hypnosis script designed to help you turn off your thoughts and drift into sleep.

In this episode Amy askes Jeremy and Trent frequently asked questions about mental health. There are questions about specific mental health concerns, about population health, about medication and others.

This is another Hypnosis script that is created to help reduce and eventually remove any symptoms of anxiety and panic. Anxiety and panic are part of the alarm system of the body and can become sensitized by life experiences. If you can interrupt the loop between the body alarm system and the thought processes associated with panic then you can end the panic attack. It only take 3 minutes for the body to metabolize the adrenaline flowing through your body. In other words it only take three minutes for a panic attack to end.

We are joined today by Corrina Bateson.You can see more of our team at https://psynergycentre.ca/

Corrina is a Masters Level Registered Social Worker (Clinical Specialization) and Certified Canadian Counselor. She enjoys working with children, adults, seniors, and families. Concerns ranging from physical and emotional pain, mood, anxiety and personality issues, emotional regulation, neurodevelopment challenges, and intrapersonal and interpersonal concerns. In the last 20+ years, Corrina has worked in schools alongside children, within federal and provincial government systems, and in the community supporting those with addictions and mental health concerns.

Corrina likes to view situations through a holistic lens, as life has more than one approach, or perspective, or outcome. She is also a Trauma Informed Yoga Instructor and is trained in Usui Reiki Level 1 & 2. Through connection, support, collaboration, and embracing the possibilities together, Corrina holds a safe, non-judgmental and private space for you.

We are joined by Darren Cahoon who is a lawyer in Medicine Hat Alberta practicing family law. We discuss some changes that have happened in how family violence is defined and the implications of these changes. As always we bring this back to an understanding of how this relates to mental health and the interconnections between mental health with in the context of human interactions or the idea that mental health exists in the interactions between the person and their environment.If you are looking for legal assistances for family law issues you can find Darren at: https://hamiltoncahoon.ca/about

Today we are joined by team member Kathleen Curliss for a Psynergy Series episode. Kathleen will be the first person you meet at the front desk or hear on the phone as our office administrator aka Captain of the Psynergy ship & gate master! Kathleen comes to us with years of experience as a special education assistant, a respite worker, home care and disability services worker. She is a compassionate, engaging, creative problem solver who we’re sure you’ll find a comforting and joyous soul.
Kathleen is currently completing the Administrative Office professional certificate program at Medicine Hat College. Her keen eye for attention to detail, creative problem solving, organizational skills are an asset to helping Psynergy Centre run efficiently and effective for our best client experience.

In todays episode we further humanize the mental health practitioner. We are joined once again by Amy Alcorn. We discuss the hypocrisy and at times the imposter syndrome we feel as we work with people that have entrusted their lives and wellbeing to us. We discuss what healing looks like, how we deal with our own flaws and inadequacies as we work towards the best interest of the clients we serve. We also give information about upcoming events at Psynergy Centre which is the collective of health professionals we are associated with. To find out more about these events or to book an appointment with one of our practitioners please call us at (403) 527-5911 or look us up at https://psynergycentre.ca/

Many people struggle with boundaries and it negatively impacts their emotional and mental health. When people talk about boundaries they are usually talking about keeping someone else out of their life in some way or another. We take a very different perspective on boundaries in this episode. We discuss internal boundaries and how our boundaries function to keep us safe and healthy from the inside out rather than from the outside in.

This is a hypnosis script recorded by Jeremy. Healing Your Alarm System is intended to help individuals down regulate their nervous system. Many people in our world feel keyed up much if not all of the time. This is an indicator that the stress load in our lives is greater than our capacity to manage. Often this is a sign of trauma or a stress injury. In this script you will enter into a "mechanical room" inside yourself where you will make repairs to your alarm system and find yourself with greater patience, and a more relaxed flow to your life.

In this episode Trent and Jeremy are joined once again by Derrick Lillico to talk about addiction recovery.

Addiction recovery refers to the process of overcoming substance abuse or behavioral addictions and achieving a state of physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It involves a combination of medical treatment, therapy, support systems, and lifestyle changes to help individuals break free from the cycle of addiction and maintain long-term wellness.

We discuss some of the personal process of recovery for Derrick and how he is using his experience to benefit the lives of others.

This is a script created and recorded by JeremyHypnosis can be an effective tool for behavior modification related to anger management. During hypnotherapy sessions, therapists can provide suggestions and imagery that help individuals reframe their thoughts and beliefs about anger. By replacing negative thought patterns with positive ones, individuals can learn healthier ways to cope with anger triggers and respond more constructively in challenging situations. Hypnosis can also assist in building new coping mechanisms, such as relaxation techniques or visualization exercises, which can be utilized when faced with anger-inducing circumstances.

In today's episode we discuss the tenants of cognitive behavioural therapy and how cognitive distortions relate to our functioning.

cognitive-behavioral focuses on the interplay between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. It posits that the perspective a person takes can contribute to psychological distress, and by identifying and challenging these cognitive distortions, individuals can change their emotional responses and behaviors. Cognitive-behavioral therapists employ various techniques such as cognitive restructuring, behavioral experiments, exposure therapy, and skills training to help clients develop healthier thinking patterns and coping strategies. This perspective is highly structured and goal-oriented, aiming to alleviate symptoms by modifying dysfunctional thoughts and behaviors.

Cognitive distortions refer to patterns of thinking that are irrational, biased, or distorted, leading individuals to perceive reality inaccurately. These distortions can have a significant impact on one's emotions, behaviors, and overall well-being. Understanding cognitive distortions is crucial in the field of psychology as they play a role in various mental health conditions, including anxiety disorders, depression, and personality disorders

Hypnosis for weight management is a technique that has gained popularity in recent years as a potential tool for helping individuals achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Hypnosis, also known as hypnotherapy, is a therapeutic approach that involves inducing a trance-like state in an individual to promote relaxation, focus, and suggestibility. During this state, the individual becomes more receptive to positive suggestions and can potentially change their thoughts, behaviors, and attitudes towards food and eating habits.
Hypnosis for weight management works by targeting the subconscious mind, which is believed to be responsible for many of our automatic behaviors and habits. By accessing the subconscious mind through hypnosis, it is possible to identify and address underlying issues or beliefs that may be contributing to weight gain or difficulty in losing weight. These issues can include emotional eating, low self-esteem, stress, or negative body image.
One of the main goals of hypnosis for weight management is to reprogram the subconscious mind with positive suggestions and affirmations related to healthy eating habits, portion control, exercise motivation, and self-confidence. By reinforcing these positive messages during hypnosis sessions, individuals may experience an increased sense of control over their eating behaviors and find it easier to make healthier choices.

This is a script recorded by Jeremy for Stress Reduction

Clinical hypnosis offers a range of benefits for stress reduction, including reduced physiological responses, altered brain activity, enhanced immune function, improved sleep quality, increased self-awareness, emotional release, improved mood, reduced anxiety, increased focus and concentration, and promotion of relaxation and well-being. If you're looking for a natural, non-invasive way to reduce stress and improve your overall health and well-being, consider giving hypnosis a try.

This a a script Jeremy recorded for improving self esteem

The human brain consists of three main parts: the conscious, subconscious, and superconscious minds. The conscious mind is responsible for our rational thinking and critical analysis, while the subconscious mind processes emotions and memories. Clinical hypnosis works by accessing the subconscious mind and reprogramming negative thought patterns and behaviors.
The process typically begins with a thorough assessment of the patient's history, symptoms, and goals. Once the therapist has a clear understanding of the patient's needs, they will use various techniques to induce a state of trance, during which the patient becomes more relaxed and open to suggestion.
There are several different methods used in clinical hypnosis, including progressive relaxation, guided imagery, and direct suggestion. Progressive relaxation involves systematically tensing and relaxing different muscle groups to achieve a state of deep relaxation. Guided imagery involves using vivid visualization to create a peaceful and calming environment. Direct suggestion involves making positive affirmations to the subconscious mind to replace negative thought patterns.
Once the patient is in a state of trance, the therapist will use a variety of techniques to help them explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. This may involve exploring past traumas or negative experiences, identifying and challenging negative beliefs and behaviors, and developing coping strategies and skills.Clinical hypnosis has numerous benefits, including:
1. Reduced anxiety and stress: By accessing the subconscious mind, patients can learn to manage their anxiety and stress levels more effectively.
2. Improved sleep: Clinical hypnosis can help patients overcome insomnia and other sleep disorders by promoting relaxation and reducing stress.
3. Enhanced self-esteem: By challenging negative beliefs and behaviors, patients can develop a more positive self-image and improve their overall self-esteem.
4. Increased motivation: Clinical hypnosis can help patients overcome procrastination and increase their motivation to make positive changes in their lives.
5. Pain management: Clinical hypnosis can be used to manage chronic pain by altering the patient's perception of pain and promoting relaxation.

In this episode Trent and Jeremy discuss chronic pain.

The book referenced in the episode is "The Way Out" by Alan Gordon and Alon Ziv

The psychology of pain is a complex and multifaceted field that seeks to understand the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral aspects of pain perception and experience.
Pain Perception:
Pain perception is the initial stage in the psychology of pain. It involves the detection and processing of noxious stimuli by specialized nerve endings called nociceptors. Nociceptors are found throughout the body and are particularly concentrated in areas such as the skin, muscles, and internal organs. When these receptors are activated by potentially harmful stimuli, they send electrical signals to the brain, which are then interpreted as pain.
The perception of pain is influenced by various factors, including the intensity and duration of the stimulus, individual differences in pain sensitivity, and psychological factors such as attention and expectation. For example, studies have shown that individuals who are anxious or fearful tend to perceive pain more intensely than those who are not. Similarly, distraction techniques or engaging in activities that require focused attention can reduce the perceived intensity of pain.
Psychological Factors:
Psychological factors play a crucial role in shaping the experience of pain. One such factor is the individual's cognitive appraisal of the pain stimulus. Cognitive appraisal refers to how an individual interprets and evaluates a situation. In the context of pain, cognitive appraisals can influence how threatening or controllable a painful stimulus is perceived to be. Research has shown that perceiving pain as uncontrollable or highly threatening can lead to increased distress and amplification of pain perception.
Emotions also play a significant role in pain perception. Negative emotions such as fear, anxiety, and depression can heighten the experience of pain by increasing attention towards it and amplifying the emotional response. Conversely, positive emotions and social support have been found to have analgesic effects, reducing pain perception and improving coping mechanisms.
Pain and the Brain:
The brain plays a central role in processing and modulating pain signals. The primary regions involved in pain processing include the somatosensory cortex, which receives and interprets sensory information, and the anterior cingulate cortex, which is responsible for the emotional and cognitive aspects of pain.
Neuroimaging techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) have provided valuable insights into how the brain processes pain. These studies have revealed that pain activates a network of brain regions involved in sensory processing, emotion regulation, attention, and memory. Additionally, neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to reorganize itself in response to experience, plays a significant role in chronic pain conditions. Long-term exposure to pain can lead to structural and functional changes in the brain, contributing to the persistence of pain even after the initial injury or stimulus has resolved.
Psychological Interventions:
Given the intricate relationship between psychology and pain, psychological interventions have become an essential component of pain management. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is one such intervention that has shown promising results in reducing pain intensity and improving overall well-being. CBT aims to identify and modify maladaptive thoughts and behaviors related to pain, thereby promoting healthier coping strategies.
Mindfulness-based interventions have also gained popularity in pain management. Mindfulness involves paying attention to present-moment experiences without judgment. By cultivating awareness of bodily sensations and thoughts related to pain, individuals can develop a more accepting attitude towards their pain, reducing suffering and improving quality of life.

In this episode Trent and Jeremy are joined by Hailey and Brian Alcorn. They own and operate Medicine Hat Music Lessons.

Music has a profound impact on mental wellness, as it can influence our emotions, thoughts, and overall well-being. Numerous studies have explored the therapeutic benefits of music, demonstrating its ability to alleviate stress, reduce anxiety and depression symptoms, enhance mood, improve cognitive function, and promote relaxation. The effects of music on mental wellness are multifaceted and can be attributed to various mechanisms.

Emotional Regulation: Music has the power to evoke strong emotions and elicit emotional responses. Listening to music can help individuals regulate their emotions by providing an outlet for expression and catharsis. It can serve as a form of emotional release, allowing individuals to process and cope with their feelings. Additionally, music can evoke positive emotions such as joy, happiness, and nostalgia, which can counteract negative emotions and contribute to overall mental well-being.

Stress Reduction: Music has been shown to have a significant impact on reducing stress levels. When we experience stress, our bodies release cortisol, a hormone associated with the body's stress response. Listening to calming music has been found to lower cortisol levels, leading to a reduction in stress. Moreover, engaging in active music-making activities such as playing an instrument or singing can also serve as a form of stress relief by diverting attention away from stressful thoughts and promoting relaxation.

Anxiety and Depression Relief: Music therapy has been widely used as an adjunct treatment for anxiety and depression. Research has demonstrated that listening to music can reduce symptoms of anxiety by promoting relaxation and decreasing physiological arousal. It can also provide a distraction from anxious thoughts and help individuals shift their focus to more positive experiences. In the case of depression, music therapy has been shown to improve mood, increase self-esteem, and enhance social interaction.

Cognitive Enhancement: Music has the ability to stimulate various areas of the brain involved in cognitive processes such as attention, memory, and executive function. Playing an instrument or engaging in musical activities requires coordination, concentration, and the integration of multiple sensory modalities. These processes can enhance cognitive abilities and improve brain function. Moreover, music has been found to enhance memory retrieval and learning, making it a valuable tool in educational settings.

Pain Management: Music has been shown to have analgesic properties, meaning it can reduce pain perception. Listening to music activates the brain's reward system, releasing endorphins and other neurotransmitters that can modulate pain signals. This effect is particularly evident in chronic pain conditions, where music therapy has been found to reduce pain intensity and improve overall well-being.

Social Connection: Music has a unique ability to bring people together and foster social connections. Participating in group music-making activities such as choirs or bands promotes a sense of belonging and camaraderie. It provides opportunities for social interaction, collaboration, and self-expression, which are essential for mental well-being. Additionally, shared musical experiences can create a sense of unity and solidarity among individuals.

Sleep Improvement: Music has been shown to have a positive impact on sleep quality. Listening to relaxing music before bedtime can help individuals unwind and prepare for sleep. It can induce a state of relaxation, slow down heart rate, and lower blood pressure, promoting a more restful sleep. Music therapy has also been used to treat sleep disorders such as insomnia by establishing a bedtime routine and creating a calming environment conducive to sleep.

We all have a variety of emotions that we experience. Our society has moved in a direction in which the only acceptable emotions are the so-called positive ones. This is detrimental to our mental health. In this episode Trent and Jeremy discuss why we need to be able to accept and feel all of our feelings.

Have you ever wondered why therapy works for some people sometimes? Other people seem to not benefit. Yet the same person that did not benefit from therapy at another time, even with the same therapist, has dynamic life altering effects. In this episode we explore the idea of motivation as it relates to mental health and to life.

We are joined again today by Jolene Broussard. Many babies are born in less than ideal circumstances that require life saving medical interventions. These situations often require immediate and sometimes long term interventions that interrupt attachment processes and result in trauma that influences how the child develops. We discuss both the difficulties that are prevalent and the ways we can work with these difficulties and help these children develop into well function and secure individuals.

In this episode Trent and Jeremy discuss the process of therapy and a common theme that has been happening lately. As therapist we want people to experience transformational change and we reflect on therapy from a therapist perspective and how we might help people moving from "just talking about their problems"

In this episode we are joined by Joeleene Brassard fellow Masters level Social Worker. She provides therapeutic intervention for children who have complex medical needs and their families. Joeleene has seen first hand with her own child, who has an extremally rare medical condition, the difficulty and trauma that happens during medical care. We do not intend to blame or shame the medical system or the medical practitioners. Most of the time the medical practitioners are trying their best to be compassionate. Although we have all probably had our experiences with a Doctor or Nurse that we wonder why they chose to be in the medical felid as they don't seem to have an ounce of compassion. We explore and humanize the experience of needing ongoing medical care for complex medical needs and Trent shares his experiences as a person with cerebral palsy. Trent shares how he has come to normalize the experience for himself both through acceptance strategies and learning how to become an advocate for himself.

In this episode Trent educates us on a particular methodology of therapy know as internal family systems.

According to the IFS institute

IFS is a transformative tool that conceives every human being as a system of protective and wounded inner parts lead by a core Self. We believe the mind is naturally multiple and that is a good thing. Just like members of a family, inner parts are forced from their valuable states into extreme roles within us. Self is in everyone. It can’t be damaged. It knows how to heal.

IFS is frequently used as an evidence-based psychotherapy, helping people heal by accessing and healing their protective and wounded inner parts. IFS creates inner and outer connectedness by helping people first access their Self and, from that core, come to understand and heal their parts.

But IFS is much more than a non-pathologizing evidence-based psychotherapy to be used in a clinical setting. It is also a way of understanding personal and intimate relationships and stepping into life with the 8 Cs: confidence, calm, compassion, courage, creativity, clarity, curiosity, and connectedness. Professionals from many different backgrounds such as, but not limited to, legal mediation, school administration, life coaches and religious leaders may utilize IFS to inform and guide their work. Our growing list of educational programs aims to serve not only therapists but the wider public and other professions.

We are joined by Courtney Materi. We discuss what it means to heal and about our our journeys towards mental health and wellness. Courtney is in the final practicum of her Master of Arts in Counselling psychology , and has an undergraduate double major degree in Psychology and Philosophy (BASc). Courtney offersexperience ranging from working with children with behavioural issues and as an educational assistant in school settings to volunteer experience as a University Peer Mentor, to Victim Assistance Services where she provided crisis, in-office, and court support to victims of crime and traumatic incidents. Courtney is currently working with the Community Assistance Response Team (CARe Team), in partnership with Canadian Mental Health Association and Medicine Hat Police Service responding to individuals in the community experiencing low to moderate risk mental health crises.Courtney aspires to offer a holistic person-centered therapeutic approach and is committed to meeting her client’s where they are in their unique healing journey. Courtney aims to integrateher passion for navigating trauma and cultivating holistic wellness, by creating a collaborative therapeutic environment with her clients.Courtney works with adults as individuals and in groups. She looks forward to the opportunity to practice in the capacity of a practicum student with Psynergy Centre from May to December 2023.

We are joined today by one of the current Masters level practicum students Michelle Ksenych. Michelle has been practicing for the last 7 years with a bachelor's degree in social work and is currently working on a master's degree in counselling psychology. Today we talk about the spectrum of care that is available in mental health and help people to navigate or negotiate what is the right kind of help that they need. We answer the question: where do I start in getting mental health care?

Jenelle joins us for a conversation about health and healing from an indigenous perspective.

Here is an introduction to Jenelle:

câk nit ishinihkâson (my name is), Jenelle McArthur. Ahcâhk (spirit name), Chasing Bear.

I am from Ocean Man First Nation, Treaty 4 Territory. I am Dakota and Nakota (Sioux, Assiniboine, and Plains Cree). I also have Scottish ancestry, which is where my last name, McArthur, originated.

I am an Indigenous Social Worker. I accredit my education to the First Nations University of Canada. I studied in Regina, Sk. and Saskatoon, Sk. I’ve also received education from The University of British Columbia, Vancouver Campus (Trauma Informed Institute) and St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia Campus (COADY International Institute).

I am an experienced Community-Based Researcher applying Indigenous methodologies. As a helper within our communities, I’ve spent most of my time within program creation and community development. I am grateful for knowledge acquired within restorative justice and family reunification. I am a compassionate trauma-informed iskwew (woman) with lived experience, which I believe is the most valuable within the work that I’ve done and will continue to do for our communities.

Currently, I am in a Clinical Graduate Degree Program. My educational journey has guided me towards completing a Master of Indigenous Social Work Graduate Degree. I envision this journey to be one of metamorphosis. Like the journey of a caterpillar that has gone into the chrysalis to one day become a butterfly.

My concentration areas are within Indigenous Spirituality, Non-Ordinary States of Consciousness (NOSC) and Plant Medicine Healing. I am training to become a Psychotherapist that specializes in (NOSC) Integration. Internal-Family System (R. Schwartz) is a focus and I’ve also been immersed within the learning applications at the Centre of Applied Jungian Studies (Carl Jung). I also resonate deeply with Compassionate Inquiry (Gabor Mate) and utilize this inquiry within my therapeutic practice.

Trent and Jeremy are joined by Lisa Mitchell Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine & Registered Acupuncturist.

This episode introduces Dr. Lisa Mitchell of Points Acupuncture and Herbs at Psynergy! Lisa is a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine and a Registered Acupuncturist. She received her accreditation from The Canadian Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Since graduating, she has been practicing in her own clinic. She is currently studying to become a Master Herbalist.
Prior to becoming an Acupuncturist, Lisa worked at The Inn From The Cold and The Drop-In Centre in Calgary, AB. Working with a diverse group of people with varying needs began her journey in assisting people discover the cause of their pain and suffering. She wanted to empower people on their health journey which led her to find her passion in Traditional Chinese Medicine. This practice incorporates Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture, gua sha, moxibustion, cupping and dietary therapy.
Dr. Lisa Mitchell’s practice as a Registered Acupuncturist benefits her clients by getting to the root cause of issues instead of simply treating symptoms. The benefits of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine are endless. She treats patients with anxiety, depression, insomnia, hormonal imbalances as well as sciatica, TMJ issues, back pain, migraines/headaches, skin disorders to name just a few.
Lisa knows your wellness is dependent on the many professionals you include in your health journey. She believes Chinese Medicine has been a hidden gem to most and she is eager to share her knowledge with you.

This is another in our Psynergy series. We are joined by Holly Turnbull who is a provisional psychologist and a practitioner at the Psynergy Center. She has expertise in a specific modality of therapy referred to as compassionate inquiry. The first part of this episode is spent in talking about the healing power of compassion, about Holly’s experience in working from a foundation of compassion and her experience with her mentor Gabor Mate. The rest of this episode is spent in more of a personal story of how Holly came to where she is in her life in finding the power of compassion and the desire to help heal the world through that power.

In this episode Trent and Jeremy talk about what ending therapy looks like. There are many reasons why therapy ends as there are a variety of variables such as insurance companies, EAP, and other stakeholders. In addition, therapists have large caseloads and their goal is to have their clients resolve their concerns and not need to see them. Sometimes the ending is the therapist's idea and sometimes it is the client's idea. We talk about what an ending looks like both when it is therapist driven and how you can talk to your therapist about ending if you feel you no longer need ongoing therapy.

Everybody’s talking about post traumatic stress. While traumas in our life cause harm, they also can facilitate growth. In this episode we are joined by Jeremy‘s cousin, Cody Bevans, who sustained a serious injury that was life-threatening, and most people would not have survived. Please join us as he discusses both the impact of that injury in his life and also the growth that occurred for him through his recovery process.

This episode is about healing trauma and consolidating memories so that they can be put away and the effects of the trauma can be released. In this episode Jeremy describes recent Insight that has unlocked the dissociative memories associated with events that happened in a trauma experience from his childhood. If you have not listened to the “humans behind the mic part one” then you might want to listen to that episode first. Jeremy models a process in which trauma memories can be consolidated so that they have less of an impact on your functioning and on your life.

Jeremy and Trent discuss the importance of integrating your therapeutic gains through homework.According to Psychology Today:Homework is an important component of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) and other evidence-based treatments for psychological symptoms. Developed collaboratively during therapy sessions, homework assignments may be used by clients to rehearse new skills, practice coping strategies, and restructure destructive beliefs.Although some clients believe that the effectiveness of psychotherapy depends on the quality of in-session work, consistent homework during the rest of the week may be even more important. Without homework, the insights, plans, and good intentions that emerge during a therapy session are at risk of being buried by patterns of negative thinking and behaviour that have been strengthened through years of inadvertent rehearsal. Is an hour (or less) of therapeutic work enough to create change during the other 167 hours in a week?Research on homework in therapyResearch on homework in therapy has revealed some meaningful results that can be understood collectively through a procedure called meta-analysis. A meta-analysis is a statistical summary of a body of research. It can be used to identify the average impact of psychotherapy homework on treatment outcomes across numerous studies. The results of four meta-analyses listed below highlight the value of homework in therapy:Kazantzis and colleagues (2010) examined 14 controlled studies that directly compared treatment outcomes for clients assigned to psychotherapy with or without homework. The data favoured the homework conditions, with the average client in the homework group reporting better outcomes than about 70% of those in the no-homework conditions.Results from 16 studies (Kazantzis et al., 2000) and an updated analysis of 23 studies (Mausbach et al., 2010) found that, among those who received homework assignments during therapy, greater compliance led to better treatment outcomes. The effect sizes were small to medium, depending on the method used to measure compliance.Kazantzis et al. (2016) examined the relations of both quantity (15 studies) and quality (3 studies) of homework to treatment outcome. The effect sizes were medium to large, and these effects remained relatively stable when follow-up data were collected 1-12 months later.Taken together, the research suggests that the addition of homework to psychotherapy enhances its effectiveness and that clients who consistently complete homework assignments tend to have better mental health outcomes. Finally, although there is less research on this issue, the quality of homework may matter as much as the amount of homework completed.Resources:https://www.therapistaid.com/worksheets/daily-mood-charthttps://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/Resources/Looking-After-Yourself

Jeremy laments the toxic effects of a world that is increasing in the means and modalities of communication technology. Do you find yourself increasingly frustrated, anxious and maybe even resentful of the number of things you have to keep track of? From multiple email addresses to the myriad of other methods of communication complicating your social integrations. At some point in time these tools move well beyond their intended purpose of increasing connection between people and create complexity and stress in peoples lives.

There's a never expanding Library of self-help books out there. From specific workbooks on dialectical behavior therapy, on how to work through depression or anxiety, to books that are written to educate and inform about mental illness, mental wellness, boundaries, relationships family of origin issues, and the list goes on and on. In this episode we speak about the merits of self-help and bibliotherapy and make some recommendations for the resources that we think would be most helpful.Here are some of the recommendations that we have for books that we found transformational.-Gabor mate: When the Body says No. Scattered Minds. In the Realm of the Hungry Ghosts. The Myth of Normal-Bessel van der Kolk: The Body Keeps the Score-Gordon Neufeld: Hold on to Your Kids Why Parents Need to Be More Important Than Peers-Jerold J. Kreisman, Hal Straus: I Hate You, Don't leave me-David Burns: Feeling Good-Kent Hoffman, Bert Powell, Glen Cooper, Christine Benton: Raising A Secure Child-Jay Earley: Batman and Psychology A Dark and Stormy Knight, Written by Travis Langley-Nicole Arzt: Sometimes Therapy Is Awkward A Collection of Life-Changing Insights for the Modern Clinician- Robin S. Rosenberg: The Psychology of Superheroes An Unauthorized Exploration-Richard C. Schwartz, Martha Sweezy: Internal Family Systems Therapy Second Edition - Robin Shapiro: Easy Ego State Interventions Strategies for Working with Parts -Lori Gottlieb: Maybe You Should Talk to Someone A Therapist, HER Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed -Matthew Walker: Why We Sleep-Elizabeth A. Stanley, Bessel van der Kolk: foreword Widen the Window Training Your Brain and Body to Thrive During Stress and Recover from Trauma -Michael P. Nichols: The Lost Art of Listening, Second Edition How Learning to Listen Can Improve Relationships -Eric Berne: Games People Play -Jonathan Haidt: The Righteous Mind Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion -Jay Gabler: Sociology for Dummies, 2nd Edition -Viktor E. Frankl Man's Search for Meaning

In this episode we are joined by Derrick Lillico a colleague that we work with out of the Psynergy Centre. Derrick’s passion for helping people has always been a part of who he is and we are grateful to have him at Psynergy Centre. Having lived experience growing up with a stutter, undiagnosed mental health and addiction struggles, Derrick brings a wealth of lived experience, knowledge and wisdom to working with clients. After a life-threatening brain injury, Derrick began to learn to empower himself through knowledge in order to overcome his struggles and begin his recovery journey through psychology and science. His personal testimony has been used in military and community settings as well as to reach young people in education settings to provide hope and resiliency to those who are struggling with brain injuries, addiction, PTSD and mental health un-wellness. Derrick has a special place in his heart for our military, first responders and their families dealing with disabilities but especially anyone who can’t find their place in this world.

Derrick always finds ways to meet people where they are at and is willing to meet in the community where people are comfortable. He has come to understand that his stutter and authenticity are superpowers that allow him to connect with unique individuals in ways they can relate to. Derrick has completed his ORCA-Recovery Coach training and is working towards formal certification upon completion of his practical hours. Derrick’s variety of work from 12 step programs to harm reduction along with a variety of multidisciplinary professionals and treatment systems has allowed him to connect people with whatever support speaks to their own soul. His collaboration with other organizations and non-profits has allowed him to experience the health care system from both sides. Derrick continues to be a leader in creating and building a Recovery Community in Medicine Hat with his other collaborators and believes our city can become a Healing Hub.

All health practitioners have an ethical requirement to gain consent when providing health care. Mental health care has some unique dynamics in the process of informed consent. Trent and Jeremy discuss what it means to truly have "informed" consent in mental health care.

We are joined once more by Leah Fischer who is a psychologist that Trent and Jeremy practice with at Psynergy Centre in Medicine Hat Alberta Canada. Leah has years of experience of working with people from a developmental attachment based perspective. She is certified in providing perinatal therapy. She brings this practice wisdom to our conversation as we discuss the foundations of human mental health and wellness. Join us as we reflect on the possibilities of improved mental health to individuals and the possibility of increasing mental wellness in our broader tribe (families, communities, society).

Trent and Jeremy practice with a group of other clinicians at the Psynergy Centre in Medicine Hat Alberta Canada. It’s time we make Introductions. We will intersperse these introductions throughout our episodes. Each clinician brings something unique to Psynergy Centre. Leah is Registered Provisional Psychologist who for the last 25 years she has dedicated her time to helping individuals and families navigate difficult circumstances and issues to uncover their best life!

Leah focused her master’s research from 2016-2021 on pre and post natal anxiety and depression, miscarriages, and infant loss and today she remains passionate about women’s issues. She is also the PSI Perinatal Regional Support Coordinator for Southern Alberta!

We are joined once again by Dakota Szola to discuss an area of specialization she has. Dakota has a history of working in the body building arena prior to her work in mental health and she brings an interesting perspective to ideas of how we relate to our body's, how we relate to our feelings, how we relate to our food and the interplay between these variables.

Trent and Jeremy practice with a group of other clinicians at the Psynergy Centre in Medicine Hat Alberta Canada. It’s time we make Introductions. We will intersperse these introductions throughout our episodes. Each clinician brings something unique to Psynergy Centre. Dakota is a Registered Social Worker with a Masters in Counselling Psychology. Dakota has worked in the human service field for several years, the last three years counselling youth and families in the community. Dakota offers counselling and skill-building services to children 7+, teens and individuals utilizing Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT). Dakota has additional education in addiction counselling and eating disorders and is passionate in these areas.

will update

This is a follow-up episode to our Psynergy Series episode with Andy Anderson. In this episode Jeremy further explores a very specific methodology that Annie practices. We further discuss some of the limits of the western medical model and some of the possibilities that are available for healing when looking outside of that narrow window. Including possibilities for greater mental health, emotional health and physical wellness.https://psynergycentre.ca

Trent and Jeremy practice with a group of other clinicians at the Psynergy Centre in Medicine Hat Alberta Canada. It’s time we make Introductions. We will intersperse these introductions throughout our episodes. Each clinician brings something unique to Psynergy Centre. Annie has been working in the healing field since the early 90’s when she started her training in Reiki. The learning continued as she then certified in Therapeutic Touch and Hands on Healing, followed by Massage Therapy.In 2003 she returned to school to become a Paramedic. She has worked both on a ground ambulance, fixed wing and in helicopter response for nearly two decades. While doing that, she worked with wounded paramedics affected with PTSD while on the Critical Incident Peer Support Team and trained hundreds of Paramedics on the Road to Mental Readiness Program designed by the Dept of National Defence.In 2019 Annie returned to her Reiki roots and refreshed both her Reiki Level 1 & 2 as well as completed her Mastery Level and teacher certification. The Energy Medicine Clinic was then born! Annie offers a wide variety of options for healing, with many certifications and trainings.Annie also educated herself at Wilfrid Laurier University 2020, completing her certificate in Positive Psychology and finishing her certification as a HeartMath Practitioner and will be finished this spring! Currently, Annie is also currently enrolled at Quantum University in Honolulu to finish her Master’s degree and PhD in Natural Medicine!!

We are joined once again by our colleague Shirley Jones. We elaborate on our discussion we had in her Psynergy Series introduction. We Speak more fully about her method of healing practice and how it expands upon the mainstream views of western medicine practice.

https://psynergycentre.ca

https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapists/trenton-akers-medicine-hat-ab/781175

https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapists/jeremy-clark-alcorn-medicine-hat-ab/780854

https://www.facebook.com/HumanizingMentalHealth/

Trent and Jeremy practice with a group of other clinicians at the Psynergy Centre in Medicine Hat Alberta Canada. It’s time we make Introductions. We will intersperse these introductions throughout our episodes. Each clinician brings something unique to Psynergy Centre. Shirley is a holistic practitioner that studied Touch for Health and Body Management which uses acupressure points to free energy along the energy meridians in the body. Shirley also has studied Iridology, Reflexology, Homeopathy, Hatha Yoga, Permaculure, Light Therapy and Botany to create further understanding of how intricate and innately intelligent our bodies are if we get out of the way and allow them to heal. Shirley is a nutritional consultant who specializes in ayurvedic and raw nutrition.   Shirley is a certified Biofeedback Specialist and has personally experienced the healing that happens when using this technique. She has worked with biofeedback for 14 years and has helped many clients regain their health. Shirley also does adrenal fatigue resets and neurolinguistic programming.   Shirley most recently studied Wolfe Non-Surgical Deep Tissue Therapy. Each session focusses one hour on the area of concern and is extremely effective at breaking up crystallization, calcification, and scar tissue and promoting healing and blood circulation. This is not massage but deep tissue therapy.

https://psynergycentre.ca

https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapists/trenton-akers-medicine-hat-ab/781175

https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapists/jeremy-clark-alcorn-medicine-hat-ab/780854

https://www.facebook.com/HumanizingMentalHealth/

Understanding Therapy This is a new series that will be interspersed throughout our coming episodes. We begin the series with a foundational question: Why Does Therapy work?Trent and Jeremy have seen many people heal and when they heal there is a reason why. Your Mental Health is not predicted by biology. Your mental health is a flexible experience that you have and can be healed and potentially cured. To be clear we will quote Gabor Mate: Healing is a direction not a destination If you are looking for help you can find us at:https://psynergycentre.ca/https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapists/trenton-akers-medicine-hat-ab/781175https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapists/jeremy-clark-alcorn-medicine-hat-ab/780854https://www.facebook.com/HumanizingMentalHealth/

We are joined once again by Rod Dorn, one of the therapists practicing at the Psynergy Centre Health and Wellness. We discuss one specific aspect of his practice which is working with individuals that have been involved in the criminal justice system. This is a humanizing conversation about a group of people that is shunned by society because of the harms that they have caused other people. Our intent is to have a respectful and reconciling conversation recognizing that our current criminal justice system does not bring about any type of restorative or healing affect either for the victim of crime or for the perpetrator of those crimes.

https://www.facebook.com/birchbaycounselling

https://www.birchbaycounselling.com/

https://psynergycentre.ca/team/

Jeremy shares an experience with a trauma trigger. He describes how he found resolution through the process of identifying the source of the trigger and integrating the experience. While individuals with PTSD would benefit from listening to this, most individuals are vulnerable to trauma triggers.

The Psynergy series on Humanizing Mental Health

Trent and Jeremy practice with a group of other clinicians at the Psynergy Centre in Medicine Hat Alberta Canada. It’s time we make Introductions. We will intersperse these introductions throughout our episodes. Each clinician brings something unique to Psynergy Centre. Rod was born and raised in rural Alberta. Prior to 2009, he has worked in a variety of industries from farming and truck driving to engineering and supervising construction projects. Rod was first inspired to become a counselor while listening to the radio in the cab of his semi truck. That was roughly 15 years ago. Rod spent time away from his wife and family to go to university; two degrees later, here he is. Rod is a fully registered psychotherapy practitioner proficient in treating a range of personal issues with people of many ages and walks of life utilizing Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT). He also a certified HeartMath practitioner and provides Biofeedback therapy!

https://psynergycentre.ca

https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapists/trenton-akers-medicine-hat-ab/781175

https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapists/jeremy-clark-alcorn-medicine-hat-ab/780854

https://www.facebook.com/HumanizingMentalHealth/

https://www.birchbaycounselling.com/

https://www.facebook.com/birchbaycounselling

Hypnosis can be a very powerful healing tool. In the previous episode we talked about psychedelics and their healing capacity through getting into a trance-like state and reorganizing the relationship one has with themself other people and the world. Hypnosis can get a person into a trance-like state without any drugs required. Jeremy is trained in clinical hypnosis. In this episode we discuss clinical hypnosis and then we pause as Jeremy hypnotizes Trench working on issues associated with fear. We conclude the episode by processing trance experience and integrating it.

https://psynergycentre.ca/

https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapists/trenton-akers-medicine-hat-ab/781175

https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapists/jeremy-clark-alcorn-medicine-hat-ab/780854

https://www.facebook.com/HumanizingMentalHealth/

Join us for part one of a two-part series focusing on psychedelics.

What are psychedelics? Depending upon when and who you ask, you may get vastly different answers. To Aboriginal peoples, psychedelics are viewed as traditional medicines. In the late 1960s into the 1970s, during the beginning of the “War On Drugs”, they were classified as illicit or illegal substances by many governments. Today, as they are increasingly being used to treat many mental health concerns, the question has now become, what is our new understanding of them?

Joining Jeremy and Trent to unpack this question along with discussing the policies and procedures guiding their use for mental health treatment is Ana Schlosser, a Registered Provisional Psychologist trained in and with several years of experience utilizing these medicines for mental health treatment.

For part two, Jeremy, Ana and Trent want to hear from you. What questions do you have about psychedelics? Submit your questions to the Humanizing Mental Health Facebook page

https://psynergycentre.ca/

https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapists/trenton-akers-medicine-hat-ab/781175

https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapists/jeremy-clark-alcorn-medicine-hat-ab/780854

When we are children, our parents help us make a decision about what is most important in life. In this episode Doctor Cory McClung discusses his journey and how attachment helped him come to terms with making an informed choice between work or family when it was time for him choose between two lifestyles that were very different from each other.

When evaluating when "enough is enough", we discuss how we base our priorities are on what we value the most, rather than simply success factors like money or prestige.

Learn more at: https://humanizingmentalhealth.ca

Pop culture is everywhere! You can see it in the clothes we wear, the food we eat, and the films we watch. It is penned by playwrights and musicians. While many elements of pop culture may be enjoyed by many people, for example, Comic-Con, the meaning and significance are wholly dependant on the individual experiencing them.

In this episode of Humanizing Mental Health, we dive deep into our pop culture experiences, comparing notes and re-examining our cherished cultural touchstones. Through this conversation, we not only gain a greater appreciation for our pop-culture lenses but also how they shaped and supported our experiences with mental health and its challenges.

In this episode of Humanizing Mental Health, we take a retrospective journey through Jeremy's career. We discuss his practicum with the Calgary Counselling Centre, his time with the Canadian military, Alberta Health Services, and finally, private practice.

Throughout our conversation, we explore how these unique settings and his clients have shaped his work as a mental health practitioner.

For more information, please check out our website at: https://humanizingmentalhealth.ca

The Greek philosopher Heraclitus said, "Change is the only constant in life."

While it may be a regular occurrence, change is also frequently accompanied by loss. For many of us, finding meaning in loss can be one of the most challenging and vital steps in continuing with life.

In this episode of Humanizing Mental Health, Amy and Jeremy assist Trent with processing a significant recent loss and its impact on his life.

Phones have become an ever present part of our lives. As with all technological leaps forward there is a cost. One of the costs has been to our mental health. The phone has become a double edged sword both bringing people closer together and driving a wedge in our natural ways of connecting.

To help us us better understand the effects of phones on our mental health we are joined by Alyssa Milner who is a digital native (a person who has grown up never knowing a time without cell phones or the internet). Alyssa brings a unique perspective as she has been very cognizant of the effects of screen time on people, particularly youth. She has approached technology with curiosity and caution as she has witnessed the effects on peers and herself.

For more information, please visit our website at

https://humanizingmentalhealth.ca

or on facebook at

https://www.facebook.com/HumanizingMentalHealth

In this episode Menno Melitz, one of the members of Jeremy's "Tribe" (social group), joins the conversation. In Menno's formative years he lived in many places in the world including the Netherlands, Indonesia (more than once) and Canada. He shares his experience of being influenced by the social connections (we call this "The Tribe") that he made in the different places he lived. We talk about how the "tribe" influences the individual in their perception of themselves and how they relate to their world. This builds on the idea that mental health does not just live inside the individual, it lives in peoples connections to themselves, their "tribe" and their world.

For more information, please visit our website at

https://humanizingmentalhealth.ca

or on Facebook at

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In this episode, we represent a critical component that relates to people's mental health. Mental health has been seen as something that lives inside the individual and is mainly predicted by genetics. Audra Foggin joins us and discusses her experience as an indigenous person impacted by the 60 scoop and the effects of intergenerational trauma.

Supplementary Resources Mentioned In This Episode

Seven Fallen Feathers: Racism, Death, and Hard Truths in a Northern City by Tanya Talaga

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Strong Helpers' Teachings, Second Edition: The Value of Indigenous Knowledge in the Helping Professions by Cyndy Baskin

Halfbreed by Maria Campbell

21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act: Helping Canadians Make Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples a Reality by Bob Josep

Five Little Indians: A Novel by Michelle Good

For more information, please visit our website at

https://humanizingmentalhealth.ca

or on Facebook at

https://www.facebook.com/HumanizingMentalHealth

This is part two of the humans behind the mic. In this episode Jeremy discusses his life and his journey. The events that helped shape him and his view about mental health.

For more information about Humanizing Mental Health, please visit our facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/HumanizingMentalHealth

Or check out our website:

https://humanizingmentalhealth.ca

As we begin to create a new narrative about mental health, one that is about the human experience and about how to find wellness, we felt that there is no better way to humanize mental health then to give a glimpse behind the curtain of the professional Social Workers that are the hosts.

In this episode Trent discusses his life and his journey through both the barriers and assets that brought him to where he is today.

For more information please visit us on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/HumanizingMentalHealth

Or visit our website:

https://humanizingmentalhealth.ca

In this episode, we discuss what we mean by "Humanizing Mental Health".

We believe the way society understands mental health is part of why so many people continue to suffer. We are promoting a more human approach that will support people in creating the life they desire.

We talk about the personal and professional experiences that helped us recognize the need for this shift in mental health and why we decided to launch a podcast championing it together.

We also briefly introduce and explain concepts/ideas associated with Interpersonal Neurobiology (INPB) and Attachment Theory, and link them to our approach to mental health.

We then close this episode by reviewing topics for upcoming podcasts.

For more information, please visit:

http://humanizingmentalhealth.ca/

or reach out to us on Facebook.