ALOT is committed to teaching the highest quality research based cultural psychology, for everyone.
Psychology & Culture
Currently, our world has loads of psychological professionals for people to choose from. However, choices become next to non-existent for people who come from outside the Euro-American cultural umbrella. Many folks from different cultures find conventional psychology, largely unhelpful and sometimes even detrimental.
ALOT provides a wider culture-based psychology to meet diverse needs.
Psychology is the study of human behavior. Culture is a unique value system for a group of people. It is only logical to conclude that psychology would have an entire field dedicated to cultural and cross-cultural psychology. They do and the field has published mountains of scientific research. Unfortunately, psychology as a whole, sees cultural psychology as “fringe,” at best. Conventional researchers are not challenging their work with the abundant cultural research out there. This is part of the systemic racism still lingering in the psychological field today.
ALOT has thoroughly and continues to review the latest scientific research coming out.
Conventional psychology started nearly 150 years ago when Wilhelm Wundt opened his school/lab, back in 1879. Conventional psychology is rather new in comparison to Indigenous approaches. Indigenous approaches have been around for countless generations. It was meticulously refined for efficacy and efficiency. On top of this, there are now mountains of scientific research as well.
ALOT has jumped on this vast amount of evidence, knowledge, wisdom, and put something together for a wider variety of cultures.
Cultures outside the Euro-American umbrella, often have several common threads and essential elements in what they would anticipate in healing from a psychological issue:
Spirituality or religion is typically incorporated.
Everything has an energy.
Concepts of Oneness.
Stagnation of energy causes sickness.
Each person is unique and so is their treatment.
ALOT has included these elements, which are largely absent from conventional psychology. People are encouraged to bring their unique spiritual background to their healing work.
Ties to the Lineage
Lipan, Apache, Stalking Wolf did most of the cultural ground work back in the early 1900’s. He found common spiritual tools from tribe to tribe throughout South, Central, and North America. The tools only varied because of culture. He stripped the tools down to their essential bones. What was left, was the energetic movement of the tools. It was essentially a tool that adapted easily to any culture. This refining work of Stalking Wolf, provided a solid platform for cultural psychology across cultures.
Stalking Wolf's work was modified slightly to be incorporated into todays clinical setting. For example, most work would be done in solitude in the middle of a forest. While we haven’t taken this out of the equation but we learn how do this work while at a crowded basketball game. Traditionally, it was always encouraged to take what is learned in the forest, to our everyday lives.
ALOT continues Stalking Wolf’s vision and brings these ancient tools to modern day psychology. Essentially, there are now more psychological tools from more cultures.
Read more on the lineage here.
Is ALOT Right for You?
ALOT is not doing assessments or managing your treatment; therefore, it is not considered a replacement for psychological treatment. We teach tools for self-care. It is required that students continue all healthcare treatment regiments recommended by their healthcare provider.
Here's a list of appropriate reasons and values:
People from different cultures can gain access to psychological tools that don’t insult their culture.
Folks from the Euro-American cultures can also benefit if they are open to a different approach.
It is encouraged that we don’t share our life story or anything about our issue.
‘Saving face’ can be maintained.
We are not re-traumatizing ourselves by reliving our life difficulties.
It is not a medication quick and temporary fix.
This will take some time to heal.
While it is spiritually based, the tools utilized are tangible and based in the physical.
Tools are meant to be simple, convenient, and easy to learn.
Courses lack the long arduous on-going sessions of conventional psychology.
We don’t have to worry about being emotionally vulnerable in front of someone.
These tools were traditionally intended for everyday life.
We don’t have to have a psychological disorder to benefit.
These tools were often consistently utilized for those on a deeply spiritual path.
We learn to respond to life rather than react.
Healing is not based solely on symptom relief.
We are focused on finding the cause of the issue.
Every person is seen as unique and has a unique purpose in the world.
Tools are designed to bring to life our unique gifts to the world.
There are now so many ‘Cultural Competence’ courses out there that you can throw a rock in any direction and you’re likely to hit one. These courses tend to focus on how to be culturally respectful and gives providers a direction in referring these clients to a cultural practitioner. There isn’t too many options when it comes to learning a culture based theory and treatment strategy.
Many may have recognized that their clientele is largely coming from a Euro-American cultural umbrella. They may also notice that people from outside cultures tend not to stick with treatment and quit in 2 to 4 sessions. If this is your issue, then these continuing education courses are going to be critical in your ability to work across cultures.
ALOT is one of the few organizations providing continuing education for professionals based on treatment strategies within the client’s cultural framework. We are providing continuing education to begin to make up for the massive deficit found in cultural psychological treatments today. Get CEU's that matter.
What can I expect?
Courses are typically once a week to give participants time to practice the tools between classes. We come back with questions before we move onto the next skill/tool. It is very experiential based learning, just as it was originally taught. No teaching method is more effective than the wisdom gained from experience.
When we truly and completely heal something, it will no longer bother us. Here at ALOT, we not only focus on healing but we go beyond. We work to empower the things that keep us from regressing.
What if I have a Severe Psychological Illness?
Those with severe mental issues are required to consult with their health care provider and provide a written letter of permission from their psychological provider. Psychological work can be emotionally intense and these tools are no exception. If you have a psychological provider, let them know you need to be stable psychologically for an extended ongoing period of time. Suicidality must also be stabilized. It is required that students maintain all prescribed medication(s) and treatment plans throughout the course.
What if I have a Mild or Moderate Psychological Illness?
The same applies as severe psychological illness, only we are not required to provide a letter. We must be stabilized psychologically, stabilized with regards to suicidality, and we must maintain all medication(s) and treatment plans as prescribed. You are also required to consult with your health care provider or preferably your psychological provider about the course.
What if I don’t have a Psychological Illness?
Come join us. These are tools for life. Just be aware that the courses can bring up emotionally intense memories. Some memories may even be long forgotten. This can be shocking when we realize we’ve been through a traumatic event. This is certainly not to scare anyone away but come prepared to do some healing work, which requires courage.
What if I just want to learn the spiritual side of things?
Come join us. The tools taught at ALOT are the same tools this lineage would utilize to grow their spiritual journey. Most folks find that these tools fit nicely within their religion and it has enhanced their religious values and path greatly. Or maybe your path is to become a potent shaman. The shamanic path is rigorous and unrelenting. It is not for everyone. It requires that we heal not only the deepest issues in our personal life but this expands to global healing. It is advised that such a journey take courses under the instructor edition, even if we don’t plan to teach.
What if I can’t make the scheduled time of the course?
It is advised that we attend the course so we can ask questions if needed. However, if your schedule doesn’t work out, all registered participants will receive a recording of the course for their review.
Who teaches the courses?
All continuing education is taught by a psychological professional with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree or higher. General courses are often taught by a psychological professional but this is not a requirement. However, mastery of the traditional and the clinical skills being taught are required. Keep in mind that general courses are not a replacement for psychological treatment. We do not provide assessments or manage treatment.
Any requests for refunds must be made 24 hours prior to the start of a course. This allows us enough time to bring in another student that may be sitting on a waiting list. A full refunds will be made if the request meets these requirements. Requests for refunds after the specified time will not be granted.
What if the course is canceled?
If a course is canceled because of a lack of registration, emergency, technical issues, or anything of the like, it will be rescheduled. If it cannot be rescheduled, a full refund will be offered to all registered participants.
What if the course I want to take isn’t scheduled?
Click the ‘Request this Course’ link and let us know what course you want. If enough request it, we’ll prioritize it into our schedule.
What's the difference between the videos and the live instruction of a course?
A video of a course is the same as a live course but there is no opportunity for questions and answers. Not only do questions bring clarity but unique teachings come from questions.
What's the difference between the Instructor Edition and the original course?
There is very little difference. The Instructor Edition includes the traditional teachings as passed down through the lineage. This additional instruction is free of charge. This is done to assure that the purity of the lineage is passed down as originally intended. For more information, click here.
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