Anthony Townsend specialises in neuro- and forensic psychology. In addition to his work at the Sandton Psychology and Wellness Centre, he is also a consultant for multiple hospitals in the broader Johannesburg region and serves as a guest lecturer for under- and postgraduate courses in psychopathology, cognitive neuroscience and personality theory at the University of Pretoria.

Abstract:

Regardless of whether it is viewed through the neurochemical pathways of the brain or the emotional oscillations of the unconscious, psychosis in all its varied iterations has,  throughout history, remained a terrifyingly complex manifestation of 'madness'. The impact of conditions such as schizophrenia has become so pervasive in our society that many commentators have resigned themselves to the view that the best that can be done is to provide those suffering from psychosis with palliative care and to make them as comfortable as possible in their inexorable march deeper into madness. While this approach is valid in some cases of psychosis, recent advances in neuroscience and psychotherapy have shown that hope exists that it may be possible, even for the most fragmented minds, to rebuild reality and find functionality.

In an intriguing talk, Anthony Townsend explores the nature and function of psychotic experiences in an attempt to debunk the myth that schizophrenia and other psychotic conditions are fundamentally untreatable through psychotherapy. By utilising a unique synthesis of neuroscientific literature and psychological theory, he presents an integrated model of psychotherapy for psychosis to demonstrate a means by which psychotherapists can navigate the primitive defensive strategies utilised by psychotic patients and help them to survive seemingly intolerable realities. An exploration of the biological origins of the condition aims to explicate the fundamental role of dopamine in the manifestation of psychosis, and special attention is given to breakthrough research in which Oxford scientists have cracked the genetic code for schizophrenia. Contributions made by relational psychoanalysis and ecosystemic paradigms to our understanding of the interpersonal origins of psychosis will illuminate the disorganising qualities of double-bind communication in childhood trauma and highlight the symbolic value of hallucinations and delusions in understanding the psychic roots of the mind's abandoning of reality. Drawing upon an in-depth study of case material, Anthony presents psychotherapeutic strategies to assist in treating rare psychotic disorders, such as erotomanic delusions, in which love and hate are often tragically confused, and considers the controversial diagnosis of childhood schizophrenia. The unique qualities of the therapeutic relationship with fundamentally mistrustful paranoid patients are also explored to demonstrate instances in which an emotionally corrective relationship can heal a mind apart and provide a journey out of madness.

Date: Tuesday, 3 May 2016

Time: 17:30-19:00

Venue: Sanlam Auditorium, Hatfield Campus, University of Pretoria

RSVP: at [email protected] by Tuesday, 26 April 2016

CPD: 1.5 CPD points (accreditation pending)

Join the conversation by using the hashtag #AMindApart on Twitter, via @ARTownsend311