Resources
Websites, Blogs and Written Resources
ISPS
A program that promotes psychological and social supports for getting through altered states
Treating Psychosis Website
Offers resources, links and exercises
ACT for Psychosis
Offers resources, links and audio recordings of meditations
Blog by Ron Unger
Blog related to information and recovery from altered states experiences
Mad In America Website
Offers an alternative view of and limitations to treatment
IIPDW
Research on safe medication withdrawal
ACISTE
Cultural Competency Guidelines
Institute for Dialogic Practice
US based training for Open Dialogue Treatment for altered states
Hearing Voices Group
Group support and connections for individuals with lived experience and family members
Harm Reduction Guide to Coming Off Psychiatric Drugs
Resource on informed tapering off of medication
I do not offer advice or recommendations on medications. This guide is informative only. Questions about med changes should be discussed with prescribing doctors. Rapid med changes are dangerous and have been found, at times, to escalate an experience of altered states. Please do not make any medication changes without consulting your treatment team.
CBT for Psychosis Network
Information on CBTp in North America
Stanford Inspire Early Psychosis Clinic
Coordinated Specialty Care for first experiences of altered states
Journal of Humanistic Psychology
Dr. Chelsea’s article, “Moving Beyond Current Treatment: Responding to Extreme States with Compassion and Dignity”
Videos
Ted Talk The Voices in My Head
Eleanor Longden describes her own lived experience and insight into meaning behind her voices
Ted Talk Connecting to Madness
Jim van Os talk on normalizing altered states experiences
Compassion for Voices
Video inviting people to understand and have more compassion for voice hearing
Psychodynamic Diagnosis Nancy McWilliams
Discussion on understanding the influences on people’s responses in the world
Ted Talk Hearing Voice: An Insiders Guide to Auditory Hallucinations
Debra Lampshire on looking deeper into voice hearing
Compassion Presentation
Dr. Chelsea’s presentation at the ISPS conference in 2020
Local Resources
Turning Point CORE Sacramento
Offers groups, classes and supports around mental health experiences
Sacramento Mental Health Urgent Care
Voluntary, walk-in support for mental health experiences
UC Davis Early Psychosis Treatment Program
Coordinated Specialty Care for first experiences of altered states
Especially Influential Books Related to Altered States
Karon, B.P. & VandenBos, G.R. (1981). Psychotherapy of schizophrenia: The treatment of choice
Mosher, L.R., Hendrix, V. & Fort, D.C. (2024). Soteria: Through Madness to Deliverance
Podvol, E. (2003). Recovering Sanity: A compassionate approach to understanding and treating psychosis
Whitaker, R. (2016). Anatomy of an epidemic: The history and science of a failed paradigm of care
Books and Manuals Related to Altered States
Bentall, R.P. (2009). Doctoring the mind: Why psychiatric treatments fail
Grof, S. and Grof, C. (1989). Spiritual Emergency: When personal transformation becomes a crisis
Laing, R. D. (1967). The politics of experience, and, the bird of paradise
Slade, M., Brownell, T., & Rashid, T. (2016). Positive psychotherapy for psychosis
Excellent Books
- Not specifically related to altered states but highly influential for the working through of altered states -
Rogers, C. (1995). On Becoming a Person: A therapist’s view of psychotherapy
Satir, V. (1972). Peoplemaking
Audio Discussions