Host Kaiyura Albery speaks with Dr Dona Biswas FRANZCP MBBS MD (Psych), an Australian-based Integrative Psychiatrist, Researcher and Author of the book The Quantum Psychiatrist, From zero to zen using evidence-based solutions beyond medication and therapy.
Dreamer and Seeker on the road less travelled, Dr Biswas is tackling the human consciousness question, and reshaping the landscape of mental health treatment in the process.
Join us this episode for a discussion on infinite potential, new/old treatment modalities, Dr Amit Goswami's concept of Quantum Psychiatry, Dr Peta Stapleton's research on EFT, Dr Dona Biswas' upcoming book and why she believes life can be so much more than just symptom reduction.
You can find her book The Quantum Psychiatrist, From zero to zen using evidence-based solutions beyond medication and therapy here.
If you want to know about Dr Amit Goswami, you can find his website here.
More information on Dr Peta Stapleton and EFT can be found here.
The 'new' body system mentioned in this episode is called the Primo Vascular System, for more information check out this article.
For more information on Dr Vivek Sharma, Expert in QEEG and Neurofeedback, you can go here.
You can find the poem - Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost here.
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Reflexive Perspectives Theme Song
Introducing our guest for today, Dr Dona Biswas. Today we're talking about the future of mental health treatment, which points us back to the past
Dr Dona Biswas FRANZCP MBBS MD (Psych), an Integrative Psychiatrist, Researcher and Author, running her own private practice in Sydney Australia
Dr Biswas specialised in Psychiatry in India, where she practised for a number of years before moving to Australia. She earned her Fellowship in Australia and worked in several reputable public hospitals before opening her own private practice
Who is Dr Dona Biswas and how did she get to where she is today?
Dr Dona Biswas and Dona Biswas. Dr Biswas is an Integrative Psychiatrist in Sydney with a special interest in holistic approaches to mental health
Frustrated with limited therapeutic options available, trained in many new and emerging neuromodulatory techniques
Nutritional Psychiatry, Neurofeedback, EFT, EMDR among others
Dona Biswas a dreamer and a humanist who longs for a better and more evolved world
Growing up, Dona Biswas had a strong interest in Psychology and the power of the mind
Developed debilitating asthma when she was in high school, significantly impacting her schooling. Tried conventional medicine for many years without much improvement, father got frustrated and took Dona to a homeopath
Homeopath prescribed something that drastically improved her condition, able to continue with studies and was accepted into the course and profession she wanted to study
This experience sparked Dona Biswas passion for holistic healing
Exploring alternative and traditional modes of healing
Motivation for studying medicine was to pursue her passion for healing
Drawn to Mental Health and decided to specialise in Psychiatry
Hopes to explore the power of the mind in physical and emotional healing
Frustrated with the limited options in mainstream psychiatry, either medication or therapy
Dr Biswas is grateful she has had the opportunity to research and train in many different modalities, and can integrate them in her clinical practice
What do you think the limitations are of our current models of Psychiatry or Psychology?
Dr Biswas is not interested in controversy, only seeing things as they are. She sees that current Western Mental Health paradigm fails to acknowledge the multidimensional nature of the human experience
Psychiatry for the body on the physical plane, Psychology for the mind, each focus on one plane of existence to the exclusion of everything else
Psychotherapy is on the mental plane, most conventional psychotherapy is talk therapy
Reduces life's experiences to either physical, chemical or psychological problems
Being human means so much more than just our problems
Quantum Psychiatry encompasses a wide range of human experiences
physical, mental, emotional, energetic or spiritual dimensions
All facets of our being need to be addressed in order to feel whole and complete
Quantum Psychiatry, an emerging perspective with big potential
The realm of infinite potential and its implications
Consciousness is primary, reality is a manifestation of that consciousness
Implications for mental health, the brain is not the seat of consciousness, as we conventionally believe but that consciousness uses this brain to manifest itself
Until observation occurs, multiple potentials are possible
In the realm of potentiality, many realities can exist at the same time
Consciousness and spirituality exist in this realm, the realm of infinite potential
Thoughts and beliefs have a lot of potential there and they have the potential to manifest our realities and desires
May sound like an airy fairy concept but is grounded in science
Before creating the artwork, the artist sees it in their mind's eye
As the artist observes the work gets more and more refined
Human's are both observers and creators of their reality
Alternative modalities, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) and Neurofeedback
Dr Biswas covers a range of lesser known and lesser used modalities in her book
Hesitant to using the term alternative as they may become mainstream in a few years, just like EMDR
Difficult to bring into mainstream, not enough research to back them right now and a large body of literature is required for it to become mainstream literature
Dr Biswas has trained in many of these modalities but EFT and Neurofeedback are her favourite techniques
Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) , gently tapping, engages the body and the mind
EFT engages traditional Chinese Meridians, regulates cognition and the Trauma that is stored in the body
Dr Stapleton has shown in her research that a single session of EFT can reduce cortisol levels by up to 50 percent or more, therapy on steroids
Neurofeedback, the subject of Dona Biswas' passion and her area of research
Neurofeedback, a sophisticated and versatile modality, effective for a wide range of conditions
Controversy surrounding these techniques, people may be confused, it is natural to be skeptical of alternative modalities
Dr Biswas encourages people to critically evaluate the information they read, rely on reputable online sources not social media
If there are prominent researchers in this field doing good research, listen to them
Neurofeedback as brain training or learning, works directly with the Central Nervous System through feedback
What happens during Neurofeedback session
Neurofeedback useful for a range of conditions including ADHD and Developmental Trauma, Dr Biswas has a particular interest in Developmental Trauma, Few options in conventional mental health treatment
EFT and Neurofeedback can be life changing for people who have Developmental Trauma
The stigma surrounding new and old modalities, learning and connecting with all aspects of the self including the physical body
We do need the brain as a way to manifest the consciousness to its full potential, the brain as a receiver or an antenna
What are the barriers people face when accessing effective support?
With utmost respect for conventional modalities which can be very helpful for people, there is a significant minority of people who have complex mental health issues and might not respond to conventional treatment
Current mental health paradigm fails these people and people who want to go a bit further and who are looking for more options
Not enough professionals are trained in or offering these evidence-based interventions
After exhausting conventional pathways of asthma management, Dr Biswas was still suffering
Without the Homeopathic treatment, Dona Biswas doesn't think she would have coped with the rigours of medical training
Grateful for the option, but it was not easy for her father to find
It's about awareness, having the right practitioner, there's not enough of them
There are options, but people need to be asking the right questions and using the right words. Reading between the lines
What do you see the role of creativity as, in assisting people to reach that optimal state of wellbeing?
Creativity as a global idea, not just arts
Art is important but the question to ask is why does creativity have such great power? Creativity is the well spring of life
In Eastern Philosophy, energy itself is considered creative, and in Quantum Physics as there are many parallels to Eastern Philosophy
Creativity is the nature of Consciousness
We can learn to harness the creative energy which is in each of us, to shape our own destiny
Art and any form of expression is so powerful because it gives meaning to our experiences
It changes us from being victims of our life circumstances to being architects of our own future
Creativity is giving meaning to an experience, and expressing it in a way that ibrings purpose to your life
A lot of poets didn't have pleasant lives, they lived a lot of tragedy, but they gave meaning to their experiences and expressed it through their poetry
This is how and why creativity has the power to transform your experiences
Creativity is a powerful tool to help people go beyond just symptom reduction, life is much more than just symptom reduction
Expression of the self and transmutation
Full Chakra guided mediation in the final chapter of the Audiobook
How they were created and why Dr Biswas included them in her modestly-priced book
Frequency, Colour and Theme relating to each Chakras metaphysical issue
Check out episode description for more information and links
What Dona Biswas is working on at the moment, her upcoming book which delves into the world of Neurofeedback
Feeling Neurofeedback is under appreciated, their upcoming book seeks to show the evidence, the transformations and answer the common questions people have about it
Loving to explore new techniques but only supporting those that are evidence-based
Neurofeedback has the potential to transform the landscape of mental health treatment
This book is for the general public, the scientific community, and policy makers. The purpose is to educate
Where is the upcoming book available and will there be an audiobook?
What message do you have for people looking for support, those starting out and those already in the process but not satisfied with their options?
Look beyond the ordinary, think outside the box. Think critically, learn to read between the lines, rely on reputable sources, make your own choice where you want to take it
Stay critical, stay reflective and that's how you are going to find the answer to your problems
Seeker on the road less travelled, continue on quest to explore the realms of human consciousness and the infinite potential of the human existence
Committed to sharing all the she discovers on her journey because it's what she loves doing
We rise by lifting others
Thanks to Dr Dona Biswas for sharing her time and her knowledge
Links for Dr Dona Biswas in episode description
