Integrating New Brain Science Into Psychotherapy

Course overview

In this course you will learn how to optimize therapy for a variety of clients by harnessing the latest knowledge from the intersection of neuroscience, genetics and psychology. Understanding how our brains work and how the brain is dynamically changing depending on our experiences (including therapeutic ones) can improve treatment outcomes with even the most resistant clients. You will also learn how your genes are not your fate, and how experiences can actually be inherited. The list of what is "hard-wired" is becoming shorter and shorter as research progresses. The neurodevelopmental changes cannot be ignored in successful therapy. There has been an explosion in research on the adolescent and aging brains. We will explore many of these changes, specifically the ones pertinent to therapy. Many clients come in therapy because of stress. Understanding how chronic stress initiates or exacerbates conditions such as depression or anxiety is crucial for successful treatment.