Therapy and The Treatment-Supported Rite of Passage
The stages of Prochaska and Diclemente's Transtheoretical Model for optimizing therapy echo the same stages used by many indigenous peoples, (as well as modern ecopsychological organizations), in crafting rites of passage. While relief from symptoms like depression or anxiety may not be what many of us think of as an occasion calling for a rite of passage, fundamentally, a rite of passage is an intense, immersive experience geared toward supporting a person to change - and change is at the heart of therapy. The type of experiences offered by rites of passage (immersive activities such as psychedelics and wilderness exposure, for example) - are shown in modern research to help people get unstuck in different ways than traditional talk therapy. These immersive experiences can change the brain from the "bottom up," in ways that are critically different than thinking and talking.
The In Vivo Ecopsychology 10-month treatment program, including the individual sessions, classes and groups, and opportunities for "bottom-up" experiential workshops, sessions, and retreats, is outlined based on the stages of the TTM. There are several opportunities for immersive "rite of passage" experiences in the middle of the 10 months, with time set aside beforehand for preparation and afterward for reintegration. You do not have to progress through therapy in accordance with that exact timeline: your treatment will be customized for you (in fact, it is very common to spend the entire time working on just one of the stages). However, the opportunity for a "treatment supported rite of passage" is embedded within your therapy, and resources and opportunities are available, at different points throughout the cycle, for every stage. Preparation and Reintegration are also offered for clients who are interested in undertaking a rite of passage activity but are not enrolled in ongoing therapy.
The In Vivo Ecopsychology 10-month treatment program, including the individual sessions, classes and groups, and opportunities for "bottom-up" experiential workshops, sessions, and retreats, is outlined based on the stages of the TTM. There are several opportunities for immersive "rite of passage" experiences in the middle of the 10 months, with time set aside beforehand for preparation and afterward for reintegration. You do not have to progress through therapy in accordance with that exact timeline: your treatment will be customized for you (in fact, it is very common to spend the entire time working on just one of the stages). However, the opportunity for a "treatment supported rite of passage" is embedded within your therapy, and resources and opportunities are available, at different points throughout the cycle, for every stage. Preparation and Reintegration are also offered for clients who are interested in undertaking a rite of passage activity but are not enrolled in ongoing therapy.
TSROP OptionsWatch a Recording of the October 17th Zoom Information Session:
Psychedelics, Rites of Passage, and Therapy |
Get Involved!
1. Not sure where to start? Join an information session or enroll in individual therapy with Keely Owens, LCPC, or consulting clinicians. You will automatically be assessed based on the TTM and supported to develop a goal or "intention" for the next ten months of therapy. Your therapy will be integrated with the "treatment supported rite of passage", even if you do not choose to undertake an immersive activity. You will receive individualized therapy sessions based on your specific needs, and you will also have access to classes, groups, workshops, and experiential modalities throughout the year that support each stage in the change process. You will also receive support in working with other professionals as needed: psychiatrists, integrative medicine practitioners, bodyworkers - to ensure that a holistic approach is taken toward optimizing your mental health. If you progress through all of the stages of change and fully meet your goal, great! If you work the whole time on one of the stages, that is great too! At the end of the ten months your progress will be assessed will be discharged with a support plan and the option to re-enroll at the next session. 2. Have a therapist you like? Keep working with them, and enroll in TSROP as an adjunct to your usual therapy. You will gain access to classes, groups, and experiential activities, consultation in how to design, prepare for, and reintegrate from a rite of passage activity, and support for issues like assessing experiential retreats for safety and support for spiritual emergency. 3. Just want to try an experiential modality, like ketamine-assisted psychotherapy or a wilderness immersion retreat? Check the calendar and sign up to be screened for the service that interests you. All experiential services are offered separately from individual therapy, although some of the more intense experiences do require a certain number of preparation and reintegration sessions. 4. Looking for information about a particular subject or a particular experience? All Zoom classes are open enrollment on a class-by-class basis (you are welcome to attend just one). Earthwalk forest bathing activities, Undergound Circle Cave Trips*, and Sand Tray sessions and groups are also available for individual enrollment. * Cave trips do have a required preparation Zoom session and pre-trip meeting. 5. Want help with a rite of passage? There are thousands of rite of passage experiences offered by many different cultures, organizations, and individuals. There are also rites of passage that you can design for yourself. For all of them, the same principles of assessing safety, adequate preparation, setting Intentions, planning the return, and adequate reintegration, are critical for success. If you want support with a rite of passage of any kind, enroll in TSROP or contact Keely for an individualized plan to support your experience. |
Who Should Consider a Rite of Passage in Addition to Therapy? |
TSROP is appropriate for anyone seeking mental health treatment or supportive counseling who meets the following criteria: - Outpatient level of care* (clients who need Inpatient, IOP, PHP, or Rehabilitation will be provided referrals) - Desire to undergo change of some kind (clients who feel they do not need to change, that others are the ones who need to change, or who are looking for stabilization rather than change, are not ideally matched to this therapy modality). Not sure whether this is you? At intake and during the first few months of therapy, we will work with the TTM to assess whether you want to change, what you want to change, and where you stand in the change process. - Relative external stability (clients who are currently undergoing certain kinds of external crisis are not appropriate for rites of passage, because the demands of the external changes require the majority of their attention). Crisis, itself, is often a Rite of Passage: it forces change upon us. Many crises are so unsettling that they call for what is known as "Psychological First Aid" - support that is focused on grounding, protecting the nervous system from trauma, and seeking a foundation for stability. Many crises also require significant logistical attention. During this kind of crisis, a person does not have the bandwidth to focus on the introspective activities required for the intentional change of TSROP, and it can exacerbate unsettling and trauma. However, there are other forms of crisis that are an indication of an internal "call to change", and are a good match for this therapy modality. Oftentimes, TSROP is also a good therapy modality to approach after the dust has settled on a crisis: things have stabilized, but your life has changed and you haven't yet changed to match it and learn how to thrive in your new status quo. Not sure where you're at? Contact Keely for an assessment. - Oriented (TSROP is not an appropriate modality for clients experiencing a significant episode of psychosis, delusion, disorientation, or neurophysiological disturbance, because it utilizes a number of techniques based on symbols and metaphors, which can further exacerbate psychosis. Similarly, it is not appropriate for clients who are chronically under the influence of substances that alter orientation to reality. A chronic disorder with intermittent psychotic episodes can work with this modality provided that there is an adequate plan in place for identifying and managing psychosis. - Adults and Young Adults (TSROP is not appropriate for children or early adolescents). * Ketamine treatment is researched-supported to bring rapid relief in some cases of suicidality. In some cases ketamine is an appropriate treatment even for clients at higher levels of need or crisis. Treatment is slightly different in these situations, and may need to be administered in facilities with higher levels of supervision. Feel free to reach out if you are seeking more information. TSROP can and has helped people who have depression, dysphoria, anxiety, suicidality, trauma-related disorders (including PTSD), personality disorders, complex bereavement, adjustment disorders, identity challenges, OCD, ADD/ADHD, family, relationship, and marital challenges, multicultural issues, gender and sexual identity issues. Curious whether TSROP or a rite of passage experience is right for you? Contact Keely for more information or join an Information Session! |