Integrative Mental Health University

Psychosis describes an extreme state of consciousness. It is usually understood as a disease. Meet seasoned professionals who share alternative perspectives gained from decades of experience.

Your Take Home: 

You will be more able to describe different ways of looking at the extreme states lumped together as “psychosis” plus ways of engaging and coping with, and transforming, these states beyond the use of psychiatric medication. This will include:

1. An overview of how some transformative, articulate, progressive psychiatrists and psychologists approach “psychosis”;

2. How looking at extreme states as “mental illness” can lead to stigma and the shunning of those in distress.

3. How the label of “psychosis” at times refers to normal responses to trauma;

4. How extreme states can entail potential for positive transformation.

Agenda:

• Overview: Defining “psychosis”
• Jim van Os, MD, (middle photo below) on normalizing psychosis 
• Take the quiz – contemplate symptoms
• Re-evaluate the dominant, biomedical view
• Consider trauma-based approaches
• Learn how the concept of “spiritual emergency” can be of value 
• Free book and video by Anne Cooke, PhD.