Episode 24 Stress model and Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) with Clinical Psychologist, Michael Romeo
12/15/22 • 62 min
Welcome to Episode 24. I have the pleasure of speaking with Michael Romeo, Clinical Psychologist, about Functional Neurological Disorder (FND).
Michael has been practicing as a Clinical Psychologist for over 20 years. He began his career as an Adolescent Psychologist. He worked in Bali treating ex-patriates experiencing PTSD following the Bali Bombing in 2002. He has worked as an educator and supervisor for most of his career. Michael lectured at Macquarie University for over ten years and was the International Student Counsellor at The University of Newcastle Counselling Service. Most of his career has focused on treating suicidal behaviours and complex trauma with EMDR, Schema Therapy, DBT and other strengths-based approaches. He currently works in private practice, where his primary clinical interest is treating Functional Neurological Disorders.
This is such a rich discussion as not only is Michael an expert on FND but has lived experience. Listen in for a wealth of information pertinent to both the practitioner and the individual who may be experiencing unexplainable neurological symptoms.
Some of the key points covered include:
- What is FND?
- Disconnection between the brain's hardware and the brain's software
- Neurological symptoms- brain stress response
- Why getting an accurate diagnosis is so important
- The diagnosis acceptance process
- Importance of engaging with therapy to reduce negative neuroplasticity
- Need for a team approach for FND- OT, PT, Yoga, Psychology, .......
- Energy Systems Hypothesis for Functional Seizures
- Stress Model and FND
- Children and Adolescents and FND
- Michael's personal journey with FND
- Virtual Reality for FND
- FND Resources
- Managing the boom and bust of FND
- Role of distraction in recovery
- Dispelling negative expectations and recovery
- SSP for FND- Michael's experience with the SSP- improved mood, energy, less brain fog, and a sense of calm.
Resources we spoke about include:
https://www.neurosymptoms.org/en/
https://fndhope.org/
https://fndaus.org.au/
SSP and FND Paper in Harvard Review of Psychiatry tells the story of MT, a 10-year-old girl with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) (Rajabalee, et al. 2022).
Neuromodulation Using Computer-Altered Music to Treat a Ten-Year-Old Child Unresponsive to Standard Interventions for Functional Neurological Disorder
SSP Course is designed for practitioners to implement the Safe and Sound Protocol in their therapy
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Please support my work by sharing this episode with a friend or colleague:)
Welcome to Episode 24. I have the pleasure of speaking with Michael Romeo, Clinical Psychologist, about Functional Neurological Disorder (FND).
Michael has been practicing as a Clinical Psychologist for over 20 years. He began his career as an Adolescent Psychologist. He worked in Bali treating ex-patriates experiencing PTSD following the Bali Bombing in 2002. He has worked as an educator and supervisor for most of his career. Michael lectured at Macquarie University for over ten years and was the International Student Counsellor at The University of Newcastle Counselling Service. Most of his career has focused on treating suicidal behaviours and complex trauma with EMDR, Schema Therapy, DBT and other strengths-based approaches. He currently works in private practice, where his primary clinical interest is treating Functional Neurological Disorders.
This is such a rich discussion as not only is Michael an expert on FND but has lived experience. Listen in for a wealth of information pertinent to both the practitioner and the individual who may be experiencing unexplainable neurological symptoms.
Some of the key points covered include:
- What is FND?
- Disconnection between the brain's hardware and the brain's software
- Neurological symptoms- brain stress response
- Why getting an accurate diagnosis is so important
- The diagnosis acceptance process
- Importance of engaging with therapy to reduce negative neuroplasticity
- Need for a team approach for FND- OT, PT, Yoga, Psychology, .......
- Energy Systems Hypothesis for Functional Seizures
- Stress Model and FND
- Children and Adolescents and FND
- Michael's personal journey with FND
- Virtual Reality for FND
- FND Resources
- Managing the boom and bust of FND
- Role of distraction in recovery
- Dispelling negative expectations and recovery
- SSP for FND- Michael's experience with the SSP- improved mood, energy, less brain fog, and a sense of calm.
Resources we spoke about include:
https://www.neurosymptoms.org/en/
https://fndhope.org/
https://fndaus.org.au/
SSP and FND Paper in Harvard Review of Psychiatry tells the story of MT, a 10-year-old girl with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) (Rajabalee, et al. 2022).
Neuromodulation Using Computer-Altered Music to Treat a Ten-Year-Old Child Unresponsive to Standard Interventions for Functional Neurological Disorder
SSP Course is designed for practitioners to implement the Safe and Sound Protocol in their therapy
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Please support my work by sharing this episode with a friend or colleague:)
Previous Episode
Episode 22- Polyvagal Theory and Yoga for Trauma with Dr Arielle Schwartz
Welcome to episode 22. I have the utmost pleasure of speaking with Dr Arielle Schwartz,
a licensed clinical psychologist located in Boulder, CO. Arielle offers training for therapists, maintains a private practice, and has passions for the outdoors, yoga, and writing. She is the developer of Resilience-Informed Therapy which applies research on trauma recovery to form a strength-based, trauma treatment model that includes Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), somatic (body-centered) psychology, mindfulness-based therapies, and time-tested relational psychotherapy. Arielle has authored a number of books, but today we are focusing our discussion on her work connecting Polyvagal Theory with yoga practice.
Some of the topics or points you will hear in our discussion include:
- Arielle's collaboration with Dr Porges
- Applied Polyvagal Theory and Yoga Course available via the Polyvagal Institute
- Arielle's personal experience with the iLs Focus System
- Neuromodulation and yoga practice
- "Less is More" the gentle input of yoga- felt sense of opening up and softening
- Cervical tightness and forward positioning due to looking down at devices and screen time- impact vagal tone
- Polyvagal speaks of the importance of co-regulation with a safe other but we need to be connected to our body...yoga provides that connection
- Trauma and stress often create less flexible thinking- yoga facilitates flexibility in the body that fosters flexibility in the mind
- Trauma and related conditions such as POTS and Dysautonomia- how yoga can help
- Researcher- Jo Miller - facia release and vagal tone
- Learn about the importance of our facial system connecting all internal organs, immune and endocrine systems
- Psoas muscle= fight/flight muscle - often holds tension from trauma
- Therapeutic yoga for trauma- release and unwind held defensive tension with safety
- Therapeutic Yoga for Trauma Recovery: Applying the Principles of Polyvagal Theory for Self-Discovery, Embodied Healing, and Meaningful Change
- New book by Arielle EMDR Therapy and Somatic Psychology: Interventions to Enhance Embodiment in Trauma Treatment
I hope everyone enjoyed this lovely discussion with Arielle. I feel even more inspired to hit the mat!
To find out more about Arielle's work I will include links to her website in the show notes and our Safe and Sound Protocol Podcast FB page. You can find a link to order her book Therapeutic Yoga for Trauma Recovery: Applying the Principles of Polyvagal Theory for Self-Discovery, Embodied Healing, and Meaningful Change on the Safe and Sound Protocol FB page too.
If you liked this episode please share it with a friend, family member, or colleague.
Link to Arielle's Website- https://drarielleschwartz.com/
Breathe slow and low,
Joanne
Please support my work by sharing this episode with a friend or colleague:)
Next Episode
Episode 25- It takes a village to help heal trauma with Dr Petria Thoresen
Welcome to episode 25.
Today I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr Petria Thoresen, psychologist, from STAND for CHILDREN/Stand Tū Māia based in New Zealand.
Integrated Listening Australia is the official Distributor of the SSP and Focus System for Australia and New Zealand and has been supporting STAND for a number of years. STAND began implementing the SSP in 2019 and has over 40 staff trained. They also support their community with the Focus system and IOM2 Interactive Biofeedback program.
New Zealand has experienced a number of traumas over the last few years- earthquakes, a mass shooting, pandemic lockdowns, and floods. Petria explains how STAND embeds native culture and a philosophy that it takes a village..... in supporting children and families who have experienced trauma. Their model may be a good reference for other organizations.
Some key points...listen in to find out more.
- It takes a village to help heal trauma
- Theraplay
- Music therapy as a post-SSP session to help wire in reciprocal interactions, mirroring, vocalizations, and creativity- important elements of the Social Engagement System
- Multi-model therapy to treat trauma- ISTSS best practices
- Intense therapy model for trauma
- SSP implementation refined in real time- driven by practitioner feedback
- Community heals- we are better together
- Phased sequenced approach to complex trauma
- We are "people alongside people' in healing trauma
Petria references 3 papers:
Adolescents | Free Full-Text | Trauma-Related Internalizing and Externalizing Behaviors in Adolescence: A Bridge between Psychoanalysis and Neuroscience (mdpi.com)
Multimodal Therapy: A Unifying Approach to Psychotherapy | Psychology Today
Dr Petria Thöresen, PhD is a fully certified Theraplay® Therapist/Supervisor and
Trainer. Petria completed her PhD in Psychology at Canterbury University,
New Zealand. Petria has a Post Graduate degree in Teaching & Learning, Post Graduate Diploma in Science- Child and Family Psychology, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Psychological Practice and is a New Zealand Registered Psychologist.
Petria is currently working as a Therapeutic Practice Leader Pou Heke with Stand
Children’s Services ensuring the ethical and culturally safe practice of Theraplay®
as well as other interventions such as Clinical Hypnotherapy, Brainspotting, Safe & Sound Protocol and HRV Biofeedback, Neurofeedback, and Poly Vagal Therapy etc.
The daily focus of Stand Tū Māia is to provide transformative services to tamariki,
mokopuna, and whānau that Support responsive relationships, reduce sources of
stress in their lives and strengthen self-regulation and core executive skills. Stand Tū
Māia has seven sites across NZ.
She can be contacted at [email protected]
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