Healing Addiction with IFS & Polyvagal Theory — Cece Sykes & Jan Winhall
Jul 11, 2024
auto_awesome
Listen to Jan Winhall and Cece Sykes discuss using Polyvagal Theory and Internal Family Systems to heal addiction. They explore trauma's link to addiction, empowering self-criticisms, and a holistic approach for recovery. Discover the interconnected nature of trauma and addiction and their upcoming Holistic Recovery Course.
Addiction involves internal polarization with parts seeking negative control and others seeking relief.
Therapeutic approaches combine polyvagal theory and internal family systems to address trauma and addiction.
Addictive behaviors serve as coping mechanisms to regulate the nervous system in response to trauma-induced anxiety states.
Therapists are equipped with a multi-dimensional approach integrating polyvagal theory and internal family systems for addressing addiction complexities.
Deep dives
Addiction Defined as Chronic Polarization
Addiction is described as a chronic polarization within a person's internal system, involving parts that attempt to manage emotional pain through negative control while others seek soothing, escape, and relief. Treatment involves addressing the underlying trauma and negative self-hatred alongside the parts directly involved in addictive behaviors.
Experts on Polyvagal and Internal Family Systems Approaches
The podcast features Jan Winhall and Cece Sykes, experts in polyvagal theory and internal family systems, respectively, discussing how their approaches complement each other to provide a comprehensive solution for mental health professionals treating addiction.
Addiction as an Adaptive Strategy
Addictive behaviors are viewed as instinctive coping mechanisms to regulate the nervous system in response to trauma-induced anxiety states. By shifting between these states, individuals seek relief and dissociation, highlighting the adaptive nature of addiction.
Empowering Therapists and Clients
Therapists are empowered through a multi-dimensional approach that includes polyvagal theory and internal family systems, offering tools and confidence to work with addiction complexities. The focus is on co-regulation, reframing judgment, and softening distinctions to create a new therapeutic paradigm.
Holistic Recovery Approach
The holistic recovery course integrates harm reduction, learning models, IFS, polyvagal theory, and social interventions to provide a comprehensive understanding of and treatment for addiction. The course aims to offer an affordable, multidisciplinary approach for mental health professionals.
Connecting with the Experts
Listeners can find more about the experts' work, including upcoming books and courses, on their respective websites - janwinhall.com and cecesykeslcsw.com. Their collaborative efforts, embodied dialogues, and published works offer valuable resources for further exploration.
Boundaries and Compassion in Therapist-Client Dynamics
The podcast touches on the importance of therapists setting aside fears and biases related to addiction, maintaining boundaries but also fostering a compassionate, collaborative approach with clients. Emphasizing empowerment and understanding the adaptive nature of addictive behaviors are key points discussed.
Expert Collaboration and Ongoing Learning
The collaboration between Jan Winhall and Cece Sykes demonstrates a commitment to ongoing learning and combining expertise in polyvagal theory and internal family systems to provide a more comprehensive approach to addiction treatment. Their embodied dialogues and upcoming books further support their dedication to holistic recovery and professional development.
In this insightful episode, I’m joined by world leading addiction treatment experts — Jan Winhall and Cece Sykes. Jan has been working closely with Stephen Porges to develop a Polyvagal informed model for treating addiction, while Cece is one of the world’s foremost experts on leveraging Internal Family Systems for healing addictive processes, having recently co-authored a book with Richard Schwartz and Martha Sweezy on this subject.
Both Jan and Cece will be teaching a module on our upcoming Holistic Recovery Course, which provides mental health professionals with an evidence-based and multidimensional framework for re-humanizing and healing addiction at its core.
If you’re interested in being part of the first live cohort which launches in the final week of July, make sure to sign up for our email list at https://theweekenduniversity.com.
---
Jan Winhall, MSW, FOT is an author, teacher, and psychotherapist in Toronto, Canada. She is author of “Treating Trauma and Addiction with the Felt Sense Polyvagal Model”, by Jan Winhall, Routledge, 2021. Jan is an adjunct lecturer in the Department of Social Work, University of Toronto and Co-Director of Borden Street Clinic, a psychotherapy and teaching centre. She is a Coordinator with The International Focusing Institute and Director of Focusing on Borden, a psychotherapy and training centre. Jan presents internationally on trauma and addiction.
Cece Sykes, LCSW, ACSW is an IFS Senior Trainer, US and international. Contributed to Levels 1 and 2 IFS training manuals and teaches L1 as well as L2 Trauma and Addiction. Cece has over thirty years of clinical experience working with individuals, couples and families, specializing in work with the effects of trauma and addiction. Her chapter on compassionate approaches to addictive process appears in IFS: Innovations and Elaborations, 2016, Routledge. Cece also has special interests in spiritual practices intersecting with therapy and in the impact of psychotherapy upon the life of the therapist and she lectures, consults and leads workshops on all of these topics. Cece lives and works in the city of Chicago.
---
Interview Links:
— Cece’s website - https://www.cecesykeslcsw.com
— Jan’s website - https://janwinhall.com
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
