The ancient Chinese concept of 心猿 - or monkey mind - suggests that our minds are full of drunken monkeys who chatter incessantly and swing wildly between thoughts and emotions.
Mind monkeys represent our unruly thoughts and overactive emotions. They provoke lethargy, frustration, and self-defeating behaviour. They drain the energy that we need for change and make us feel stuck as a result.
Monkey therapy focuses on healing all the aspects of our psychological issues: our thinking, emotions, body reactions, and neurological patterns.
It’s integrative which means that it draws from various therapeutic practices to provide a holistic healing approach that suits your individual needs. Most importantly, it meets you wherever you are.
Monkey therapy integrates of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Internal Family Systems, and a cutting-edge neuroprocessing technique called Brainspotting.
SERVICES
MONKEY THERAPY
When we are young, we develop core beliefs about the world, others, and ourselves. Core beliefs help us navigate the world, keeping us safe and connected to others. These beliefs guide the way we think, feel, behave and relate, often without us even realising it.
As we get older, our circumstances change, and the beliefs that used to serve us may not work for us anymore.
CBT teaches us to:
- recognise often-hidden core beliefs that no longer serve us,
- update negative core beliefs to be more adaptive, useful, and realistic,
- break our negative thinking patterns,
- change unhelpful behavioural patterns, and
- create actionable steps
in order to strengthen our relationships, move us towards our goals, and realise our full potential.
COGNITIVE BEHAVIOURAL THERAPY (CBT)
CHANGE THE WAY WE THINK
INTERNAL FAMILY SYSTEMS (IFS)
CHANGE THE WAY WE FEEL
- We may believe, ‘I am good enough,’ however, in certain circumstances, we still feel unworthy.
- We may tell ourselves, ‘There is nothing to worry about ‘, but we feel deeply anxious nonetheless.
- We may crave clarity, groundedness, and a sense of connection but we feel stuck in our overactive emotional patterns.
All of our emotional responses serve evolutionary functions, either to protect us or keep us connected to others. Even difficult emotions like frustration, for example, which gives us the energy and courage to protect our boundaries.
IFS connects us directly with emotional parts of us that are often supressed or hidden away. Rather than acting them out or supressing them, IFS teaches us how to welcome those parts with compassion and patience. As a result, we learn to self sooth when we need it most.
IFS strengthens our sense of groundedness and connection, enabling us to live our lives with clarity and confidence.
BRAINSPOTTING
Brainspotting is a neuroprocessing intervention that targets specific psychological stuck points hidden in deeper regions of the brain. It is a simple yet powerful process.
Brainspotting is similar to EMDR in that it engages specific eye positions. However, a benefit of Brainspotting over EMDR is that the process does not require ‘reliving’ past traumas. Rather, it focuses on a current stressor or stuck point in your life.
I specialise in Expansion Brainspotting, which targets both the stuck point and resource spot in the same session. Expansion Brainspotting creates new positive neural pathways in association with the stressor – strengthening one’s resilience to the stressor. The result is a desensitising of past triggers in as little as two or three sessions.
Changing the way our past affects us
NEURODIVERSITY COACHING
I specialise in neurodiversity coaching that is focused on ADHD and autism.
I was inspired to become an ND coach by my own personal journey with neurodiversity. As a growing number of people have done, I found out as an adult that many of the traits that make me unique can be attributed to my neurodivergent brain.
ND traits present a spectrum of gifts and challenges. Now, I help clients recognise and strengthen their own internal resources as well as minimise the challenges that ND traits can bring. ND coaching draws from ND-focused CBT, IFS, and ASD Specialist and ADHD Clinical Trainings.
Because neurodiversity does not often travel alone, I incorporate therapeutic practices for coexisting mental health issues. I meet clients wherever they are – helping to address psychological challenges, improving confidence, self-acceptance, self-reliance, and sense of inner peace.
PSYCHEDELICS
Psychedelics have been used for healing in tribal ceremonies for centuries. Originally, psychedelic healing involved the entire community. Shamans and tribe members were part of the preparation, the psychedelic ceremonies, and the integration of the patient's healing.
In modern times, Westerners may fly to South America to receive traditional psychedelic medicines. Or might visit a clinic or a retreat centre for the medicine. They then step back into their lives where often those around them are unaware of the best ways to support their healing. Friends and family relate to them in the ways they always have.
When we miss out on the preparation and aftercare that is integral to the healing experience, it is easy to fall back into our old patterns of being.
Preparation and Integration coaching provides the support that you need to turn your psychedelic experience into lasting transformation.
Psychedelic Coach and Guide
You may have heard about the importance of set and setting in a psychedelic experience. Ensuring that you feel safe in the journey space or setting is essential. Equally as important is your mindset going into the experience.
In the lead up to you journey, you may be excited to go on an exploratory adventure. However, a small part of you may feel scared and/or resistant. This resistance can show up in your psychedelic journey. Preparation coaching works with your hesitance, bringing to light and addressing the parts of you that may resist the profound experience that you seek.
I will walk you through what to expect, help you develop a heart-felt intention, and equip you with grounding skills so you feel calm and ready. Preparation coaching teaches you how to strengthen your internal resources so you can rely on them during your journey.
PSYCHEDELIC RETREATS
PSYCHEDELIC PREPARATION
Difficult Experience Support
Starting in 2024, as part of the NEU Practice team, I will be hosting holistic psychedelic retreats in an international location that legally permits the use of psychedelic medicine activities. For further information, contact me.
The most important time in a psychedelic journey is in the following days, weeks, and months after the experience. Our brains are more neuroplastic (able to change), our hearts are more open, and we are wiser about what we want and the patterns that may be blocking us.
During this valuable time, I help will you to:
- translate new insights into next steps, life goals, and personal growth,
- build your courage and resilience to move forward,
- address any psychological roadblocks with cutting-edge treatments,
- draw insights from more challenging aspects of the experience,
- offer accountability to move forward and maintain lasting transformation,
- provide much-needed support in the face of any resistance from family, friends, or work. Integration coaching ensures that you get the most from your psychedelic experience.
I do not supply psychedelic medicine to clients. I offer lawful services in line with the harm reduction guidelines (Psychedelic Harm Reduction and Integration or PHRI) which recommend destigmatising and compassionate support to adults who use psychedelics. I specialise in supporting adults who use psychedelics for therapeutic healing and personal growth.
INTEGRATION COACHING
PSYCHEDELIC GUIDE
Many people have profoundly positive experiences with psychedelics. However, ceremonies, psychedelic medicines, and facilitators are unregulated outside of clinical trials. So, preparation, setting, and aftercare can vary greatly. As a result, some people have negative experiences. Even when all the aspects of the psychedelic setting are safe and supportive, a psychedelic experience can be challenging.
I offer mind-body based treatments and neuro-processing interventions that facilitate integration of negative experiences, helping you to calm your nervous system and transform your negative journey into an opportunity for learning and transformation.
I have experience working with clients to overcome issues that often arise as result of societal stigma, discrimination, marginalisation, and bullying. These include:
- shame,
- anger,
- depression,
- anxiety,
- low self-esteem,
- rejection,
- relationship challenges, and
- isolation from family, friends, and/or community.
LBGTQI+ AFFIRMATIVE SERVICES
I provide support to clients in polyamory, open, non-traditional as well as traditional relationship structures.
I help clients address both internalised and external stigmas and mental health challenges in order to live the life they want.
SEX-POSITIVE SERVICES
Sex Work
Relationships, non-traditional and kink aware
In 2018, I answered the call of a friend and force-of-nature, Leya Tanit, to create a charity that would provide mental health support to sex workers. As a consultant, board member, therapist, and coach for Pineapple Support, I am a proud to say that the organisation has helped over 10,000 sex workers (and counting). It has been an honour and education for me as a professional.
In this endeavour, I have come to respect diverse ways of relating to our bodies, to our communities, and to each other. I provide a sex-positive practice that recognises the value and validity of sex work as well as the challenges that can arise from it.
ONLINE THERAPY
I practise these via Skype, which gives you the added bonus of accessing treatment from wherever you feel comfortable and safe. Skype therapy just means that we connect via the online communication app, Skype. Skype accounts are free and easy to use. Sign up takes about five minutes. Communication requires a webcam and stable Internet connection.
Email: jena@themonkeytherapist.com
CONTACT ME
Skype: Dr Jena Field