‘Tangible Science’ Provides Tools That Last a Lifetime
The EXPANDED Method
The EXPANDED Method
The Brain-Behavior Connection, Now & Then
Our brains are designed to keep us safe by responding to stress or discomfort through one of four reactions to our environment: fight, flight, freeze or fawn.
Long ago, this was advantageous. For example, being chased by a cheetah is not a time for a peaceful nervous system. But in modern life, our brains have not evolved as quickly as our circumstances.
When we experience a toxic boss, a bad relationship, a limiting subconscious belief or an tantrumming child, our brains register this as life threatening danger, and react accordingly.
How This Manifests In Reality:
Going Around vs Going Through
In our attempt to stay safe (and long ago, alive), we take one of two routes to avoid the threat or discomfort: we may over-consume (the Excess Escape) or withdraw/engage in distraction (the Estrangement Escape).
These states include behaviors such as: overeating, making unnecessary purchases, inertia, rumination, negativity, sedentary behavior, anxiety, removing ourselves from social settings, depression, high reactivity, irritability, chromic pain, and much more.
Research shows that we can become so accustomed to these states that our brains become addicted to stress hormones, keeping us locked in this reactionary state. At best, we are returned back to where we started when we realize our bypassing did not provide a sustainable fix or healing (the Wounded Return).
EXPANDED adds a new process — Inquiry, Intention, Intervention, Illumination and Integration — for coping with the many stressors and challenges of modern day life by teaching a more useful response in place of our once evolutionarily-advantageous fight/flight reactions. This helps students to not only become more aware of our escapes and avoidance, but to face them.
This is how we build not only resilience, but confidence and power for when new challenges or discomfort ultimately arise in the future.
‘Tangible Science’: A Practice That Lasts a Lifetime
Throughout the EXPANDED experience, students are guided through practices to first regulate the nervous system with the goal of openness, curiosity and forming a non-judgmental approach to stressful or uncomfortable stimuli. Then, they are guided through the non-linear framework outlined above.
After weeks or months, these practices ultimately lead to improved psychological flexibility, opening doors for creativity, perspective-taking and quality of life, while reducing symptoms of unhappiness, stuckness/inertia, anxiety, and depression. Students not only leave with relief, but the resilience and confidence to face the future, knowing they can call on this process during any point of pain or discomfort throughout their lives.
These practices are further supported and enhanced through the integration of expanded states of consciousness, such as meditation, theta wave work, or the naturally-occurring substance psilocybin found in certain mushrooms.
Meet Gianna
Beyond her clinical practice, Gianna is a sought-after speaker, writer and educator, sharing her insights on wellness, challenging conventional wisdom, corporate culture, conscious living, and the transformative potential within each individual.
Gianna Biscontini, M.A.Ed.H.D., BCBA is a visionary force at the intersection of science, social innovation, and the new paradigm of wellness. Her transformative journey is a narrative of resilience, exploration, and the relentless pursuit of self-discovery.
With a background in psychology, counseling, human development and behavior analysis, Gianna has spent the last 20 years studying the intricate tapestry of wellbeing, challenging societal norms and sparking conversations on redefining ourselves beyond the boundaries of social conditioning. Her groundbreaking book, F*ckless: A Guide to Wild, Unencumbered Freedom, not only explores the fluidity of identity and gender but also serves as a beacon for those navigating the bold, nuanced act of evolving past our socially-conditioned selves.
A scholar and a trailblazer, Gianna further honed her skills through studies in social entrepreneurship at Stanford University. This academic pursuit became a catalyst for her passion to merge innovative thinking with compassionate action, propelling her into the realm of transformative social impact.
Gianna's journey is not devoid of personal struggles. After years of intense challenges, she found solace and new depth in the wayfaring of nomadic life. This break from conventional living became a canvas for her re-wilding and reconnection to herself, as she navigated the landscapes of both external and internal terrains, allowing every shift along the way. The turning point in Gianna's odyssey was a 100-day sabbatical—an immersive experience that became a container for personal and spiritual growth. In the depths of solitude and self-reflection, Gianna crafted the foundation of what would later become the Expanded Method—an innovative approach to wellness that integrates elements of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), mindfulness, evolutionary biology, plant medicine and neuroscience.
The culmination of Gianna's journey is manifested in EXPANDED Nashville, a modern wellness space that transcends traditional paradigms. Rooted in the ethos of the EXPANDED Method, this sanctuary provides a space for individuals to embark on their health and betterment journeys, facing challenges with intention, resilience, and a deep understanding of oneself. Beyond her professional endeavors, Gianna remains a nomad at heart, a seeker of wisdom, and an advocate for conscious living.
Her story is a testament to the belief that embracing one's authenticity and finding wisdom and equanimity amongst life's challenges can lead to not only personal transformation but also to the expansion of those around us. Gianna stands as a teacher and luminary in the evolving landscape of wellness, inviting others to join her on a path of expanded consciousness, equanimity and wellbeing.
Using ‘Tangible Science’ for Mental Health & Wellbeing
Wellness is reaching new heights as plant medicine and new neuroscience-supported modalities meet a resurgence in the West. Never before have we known so much about the connections between behavioral science, thoughts and past experience, our physical bodies, and energetics; however, affordable, high quality services are often out of reach due to a lag in educational programs and current healthcare practices in the U.S.
The EXPANDED Method can be viewed as a tangible science — a framework that goes beyond traditional mental health and coaching models to provide a multidimensional wellness experience with the best science has to offer, integrated within a sacred and spiritual container, welcoming students of all backgrounds and beliefs.
Using an advanced framework with the student’s desires, unique story, preferences and focus as the driving force, students report receiving benefits beyond previous traditional talk therapy experiences.
It’s essential that you receive personalized and present-moment attention that treats you like a person, not a diagnosis. Trust, psychological safety, enjoyment of the process, and a little bit of luxury are the foundations of this experience.
The EXPANDED Method views individuals as students with interesting stories, histories and unique behaviors, as opposed to a more traditional, patient perspective, which tends to focus on labels or symptoms.
I believe those investing in their own betterment deserve to walk away from each session feeling seen and heard, a little pampered, and like they are walking away with something useful. Each session includes a “prescription” — an insight, metaphor, quote or other resource or practice — to continue momentum and committed action in between visits.
An EXPANDED Approach
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