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We are not seeing psychological and pharmacological treatments lead to better treatment outcomes for depression and anxiety because they are not targeting the many lifestyle, dietary, and biological causes of these problems.
Dr Adrian Lopresti
PI Therapy Founder
Our psychology involves our thoughts, beliefs, and coping skills. How we think and the actions we take to deal with thoughts, memories, and emotions are often learned in our early years. For people with anxiety and depression, these coping responses can be ineffective, and may worsen our emotions over the long term. In PI Therapy you will learn how your 'personal psychology' may be impacting on your mood and will be taught alternative, effective coping strategies. These strategies comprise techniques derived from Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Behavioural-Activation Therapy, and other scientifically-validated psychological therapies.
There is increasing research to show that our diet can have a significant effect on how we think and feel. As a result, in PI Therapy you will learn how diet affects our mood, what foods you should eat to improve mental health, and which foods you should avoid. You will also learn about the many mood-lifting nutrients that you must consume to improve your mental well-being. You will also learn about evidence-based supplements that you can take to improve your mental health.
The environment we live in and our lifestyle habits affect both our mental and physical well-being. In fact, without healthy and balanced habits, achieving good mental health is virtually impossible. In PI Therapy, you will learn about the role of sleep, physical activity, daily routines, technology and media exposure; alcohol and other drug use; and even sunlight, nature, and toxin exposure, on anxiety and depressive symptoms. We will cover realistic and sensible steps you can take to make important changes in these areas.
The people we spend time with can have either a positive or negative effect on our mental health. As a result, in PI Therapy we cover the importance of developing healthy social relationships and the steps you can take to reduce the impact of social pressures on your mental health. The 'spiritual' component of PI Therapy is not necessarily about religion, but about living a valued, meaningful life; a life with purpose and direction, and one that supports good mental health. In PI Therapy we will identify your personal values and consider how you can make changes in your life so that it is one full of meaning and purpose.
There are several medical and physical factors that can influence depressive and anxiety symptoms. If these influences are not improved, good mental health is difficult. In PI Therapy you will learn about some of the common biological/medical causes (or contributors) to depression and anxiety and changes you can make to improve these. Some common examples of biological/medical factors that can affect our mood include, gut/digestive health (gut-brain relationship), thyroid function, sex hormones, and blood sugar balance. You will also learn about the pros and cons of pharmaceutical medications (e.g., antidepressants) for depression and anxiety, and many medications that can have an adverse effect on our mood and general well-being.
If you are suffering from depression, low-mood, or anxiety and are interested in a treatment that includes components of the most-effective available treatments, then PI Therapy is for you!
Check out the video below to learn more about PI Therapy
There are many helpful treatments for depression and anxiety. However, most of these treatments are 'singular' in their approach. This means that they primarily target one area (e.g., psychological coping skills). This treatment approach can be limited as we humans are complex and research shows that the causes of depression and anxiety are multi-factorial. As result, PI Therapy promotes changes in several different areas. By making changes in several different areas, there is a greater likelihood of successful recovery from depression and anxiety
About Dr. Adrian Lopresti
Dr. Adrian Lopresti, the founder of PI Therapy, is a registered clinical psychologist and senior researcher at Murdoch University, Western Australia. He is a member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS) and has over 20 years of clinical experience helping children and adults, suffering from a range of mental health conditions.
Dr. Lopresti has experience in a range of psychological therapies and has received extensive training in nutritional and lifestyle treatments for mental health disorders. Dr. Lopresti completed his PhD and has published several articles in peer-reviewed journals on the effects of diet, nutraceuticals, sleep, and exercise on biological pathways associated with depression, ADHD, and bipolar disorder. He has also completed clinical trials examining the therapeutic effects of curcumin, saffron, and ashwagandha in adults and children with depression, low mood, fatigue, and ADHD.
Dr. Lopresti regularly conducts training workshops to mental health professionals both nationally and internationally.
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