After trauma, it can seem like the lower brain – the parts responsible for our emotional reactions and our defense system – has been severed from the upper thinking brain. This can leave clients feeling the heat of their emotions, but without insight or cognitive reflection. So when we think about treating trauma, our clinical […]
How to Reframe a Client’s Relationship with an Inner Critic
A toxic inner critic can often trap our clients in painful patterns of shame, or sometimes leave them frozen in fear. But according to Rick Hanson, PhD, the inner critic can also serve an important function. So how can we help clients counteract a harsh inner critic in order to experience healing and growth? In […]
How Anger Affects Your Brain and Body [Infographic – Part 3]
Anger is an important and sometimes necessary emotion. But all too often, anger can quickly escalate and become destructive once it’s been triggered. Uncontrollable anger can often create problems in relationships both at home and in the workplace. But beyond that, it can have devastating physical consequences. So just how and where does anger impact […]
How Anger Affects Your Brain and Body [Infographic – Part 2]
In the heat of anger, we often don’t use our best judgment. We may say and do things we later regret, or lose track of what we’re arguing about. Why is that? Well, it has to do with cortisol. You see, anger can spark an overload of cortisol in the brain. So where does the […]
How Anger Affects Your Brain and Body [Infographic – Part 1]
Anger can be a challenging emotion to work through. Sometimes our anger can be frightening. Or, maybe we consider it inappropriate to even feel this way at all. Not only that, when anger is misdirected, it often leads to poor choices, damaged relationships, and even violence. So what’s really going on in the brain and […]