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In this episode, host Alex Greene engages in a conversation with LCSW and psychotherapist Devin Coogan, who brings a unique perspective combining mindfulness, Somatic Experiencing, and Internal Family Systems (IFS). Tracing Devin's journey from introspective days in a Zen Center in Santa Fe through his engagement with Theravada Buddhism, and ultimately to his calling in psychotherapy, the discussion delves into the nuances of Somatic Experiencing, the transformative process of pendulation, and the crucial role of emotional discharge. Devin shares his passion for art as a means to explore internal patterns and criticisms, highlighting the episode's central theme of the mind's power to confront challenges and foster personal growth. This episode offers a captivating exploration of psychotherapy, mindfulness, and the arts, emphasizing the importance of empathy and understanding in therapeutic practices.

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Devin's Introduction to Buddhism and His Journey

Devin's path into psychotherapy was paved by a collage of experiences, paramount being his introduction to Buddhist philosophy and his time at the San Francisco Zen Center and Green Gulch Farm. He reflected on how his college experience stirred a curiosity that upturned prior focuses on deconstruction and postmodernism. The older Southeast Asian traditions in Buddhism, Terravada, and his immersion in a five-day young adult retreat eventually led him to consider longer-term practices and opened him up to transformations in his understanding of self and experiences.

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Pivot towards Psychotherapy at a Silent Retreat

Devin recounted his initial aversion toward psychotherapy but how a silent retreat encouraged this pivot. It was in the solitude of the retreat where he began realizing the benefits of psychotherapy and got insights about embodiment and the inability to control others’ thoughts. An old school flyer for John Kabat-Zinn's son, a therapist, opened his eyes to the value of therapy and landed him a five-month therapy stint with Zinn's son.

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Experience with Somatic Experiencing

As practitioners of SE, both Alex and Devin delved into how it has become a useful tool in organizing human experiences and finding timely interventions. The concept of pendulation emerged as a key principle- the continual shift of attention from distressing to neutral or pleasant experiences. Devin praised the way SE accommodates touch therapy and the conscious movement between activation (red) and pleasure (blue), aiding in balancing both positive and negative experiences in therapy.

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Stay at Zen meditation Center and Decision to Pursue Psychotherapy

Captivated by the rigorous practice and deep chanting at Upaya, a Zen center in Santa Fe, Devin chose to dedicate almost a year of his life living there. His decision to pursue psychotherapy as a career was catalysed by the realization of mental illness spawning global issues, a decision that led him to graduate school at Madison, deeply suffused with a fusion of mental health and contemplative practices.

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Internal Family Systems (IFS) Approach

Delving into IFS, Devin explains his draw towards the model owing to its non-pathologizing approach and its deference to the inherent goodness of humans. Alex and Devin examined the transformative and empowering nature of IFS, while situating the self as the foundational element of a person's existence. The discussion circled around the parallelism between Carl Jung's concept of self and IFS and how Devin resonates more with the idea of true self or no self.

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Art as a Form of Expression

An unmissable part of Devin's identity is his lifelong passion for art. He connects his art to expression, inner criticism, and pattern formation. Incorporating various mediums - drawing, painting, mixed media, and sculpture in creative expression, Devin shared his Instagram account for his artwork, traversing the ebbs and flows of his artistic journey.

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This episode, featuring Devin Coogan, is rife with deeply insightful revelations about the journey of an individual from personal inquiry to professional practice in psychotherapy and the intersectionality of varied discourses like Buddhism, psychotherapy, and art. Overall, it extends an intimate portrait of Devin's personal and professional journey, while simultaneously unraveling nuanced understandings of psychotherapy. Listen in and treat yourself to a deep-dive exploration of SE, IFS, and the transformative power of mindfulness.

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