Psychosis
Our clinic has a special interest in complex mental health issues such as psychosis. Since her early graduate training, Dr. Maya Gupta’s research and clinical focus has been on early psychosis intervention. She worked with the Prevention and Early Intervention Program for Psychoses (PEPP) at London Health Sciences Centre for almost 5 years before opening her own practice. In her private practice, she has worked extensively with individuals experiencing psychosis, as well as with family members and caregivers who are supporting loved ones with psychosis.
In its textbook definition, psychosis is a condition that alters a person’s experience of reality. However, the experience of psychosis is incredibly unique and varies considerably person to person. Not everyone will experience the symptoms listed below.
In general, some common experiences that occur alongside psychosis include:
- Firmly held beliefs that don’t adapt or take into account contradictory evidence
- Perceptual abnormalities such as seeing or hearing things that other people cannot see or hear
- Difficulty or disorganization in thinking and/or speech
- Blunted emotions, lack of motivation, lack of interest, or difficulty experiencing pleasure
Psychosis can occur for many different reasons, including genetic risk, brain development, exposure to stressors or trauma, sleep deprivation, or side effects of substances or medication. Someone can experience psychosis and never be diagnosed with a mental health disorder.
At our clinic we take a holistic, humanistic approach to treating psychosis. We do not challenge people to conform to our view of reality but rather hold space for the exploration of various points of view. We work collaboratively to help our clients consider multiple perspectives of reality. We fully believe that someone can experience voices or atypical beliefs and still live a healthy, meaningful life. It is more important to us that our clients gain insight into themselves, build self-awareness about how they cope with stress, and live a life that is in line with their personal values.
We recognize the impact that trauma can have on the experience of psychosis. For some people the experience of psychosis itself can be traumatic, especially if they are on the receiving end of stigma or discrimination, or if their experiences have been chronically invalidated or ridiculed.
We are culturally sensitive in our therapeutic approach and do not westernize these experiences solely under the medical model. We recognize that in many other cultures, these experiences are viewed as spiritual and sacred
For family members and caregivers
We recognize the toll psychosis takes on the whole family and the stress experienced by family members and caregivers who have loved ones struggling with psychosis. We work with caregivers to find ways to prioritize their own health, take care of their own mental health needs, set appropriate boundaries if necessary, and find joy in their relationship with their loved one again.
There are many evidence-based treatments that are effective for addressing the distressing experiences of psychosis. At our clinic we take an integrative approach and blend multiple therapeutic modalities to meet each person’s unique needs.
Approaches
Here is a quick look at some of the top approaches we use for psychosis:
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a form of psychotherapy that helps people accept their thoughts and feelings, while also engaging in committed, value-driven action. ACT recognizes that many people engage in emotional avoidance and as such, treatment is focused on helping individuals acknowledge and accept difficult thoughts, feelings, and experiences rather than trying to control or avoid them. ACT is based on the principle that trying to control or eliminate unwanted thoughts and feelings can often lead to more suffering. ACT emphasizes the importance of exploring and understanding our own personal values and engaging in meaningful, values-based activities even in the presence of difficult thoughts and feelings.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on helping people understand how their thoughts, feelings, behaviours, and body are connected. In CBT, individuals learn new skills that help them to reframe negative thought patterns, make changes in their automatic behaviour responses, and learn effective strategies to calm their body. CBT focuses on developing a trusting and collaborative relationship between client and therapist. It is generally considered to be a short-term and goal-oriented therapy.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills (DBT Skills)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills (DBT Skills) is a combination of skills that help teach people how to manage difficult emotions, improve their relationships, and better cope with stress. The core components of DBT Skills are: Mindfulness (being present in the moment without judgment), Distress Tolerance (tolerating pain and distress in effective and healthy ways), Emotion Regulation (identifying and managing intense emotions and developing new coping tools), and Interpersonal Effectiveness (improving communication, assertiveness, and setting healthy boundaries in relationships).
Waitlist Updates
We are currently accepting new clients for our Social Work team only.
Our Psychology team is not accepting new referrals at this time.
