More than 6,000 practitioners from 59 different countries – including Ireland, Costa Rica, and Lebanon – tuned in to Peter Levine’s webinar on Wednesday night. And many of those folks left some really remarkable feedback. The comments section was full of insightful, perceptive thoughts on my webinar with Dr. Levine. And we’re just getting started. […]
Preventing post traumatic stress disorder with immediate trauma therapy
We see clients who were traumatized as children, and yet their experiences may only be bubbling to the surface now. And sometimes, the longer traumatic experiences lie in the subconscious, the more disruptive they can be to our clients’ lives. But an interesting study conducted by Emory University researchers raises an important possibility. What if […]
Helping Survivors Feel Safe Again With Trauma Treatment
One of psychological trauma’s most insidious effects is how radically and completely it can take away someone’s sense of safety. That’s often why job number one for many practitioners is making sure to create a safe space for trauma survivors within the confines of treatment, which is essential . . . . . . but […]
What Does Beethoven Have in Common with Jimi Hendrix?
A while ago, I went to a concert at the University of Connecticut. An orchestra from Germany was playing the music of Beethoven, but I came away with an appreciation of . . . . . . Jimi Hendrix? It might sound rather unlikely, but stay with me here. Because as it turns out, even […]
A new beginning for mindfulness
Mindfulness can be a foundation for something big. If you have a mindfulness practice, you know how motivating and energizing it can be. But as I read through people’s thoughts on the comment boards, I noticed a powerful theme. . . . . . new beginnings. Practitioners from around the world were sharing their hopes […]
How to Improve the Brain – Rewiring the Brain Through Storytelling
Most of us probably graduated many years ago from the fairy tales of our childhood into the popular novels or biographies of adulthood. But one thing remains the same, regardless of age . . . . . . we all appreciate a good story. And aside from the pure enjoyment it gives us, and the […]
Building a brain science community
We put a lot of work into our series. There’s a lot of research, preparation, writing and editing, filming – you name it. But as the New Brain Science series winds to a close, and we pause to catch our breaths, I want to take a moment to appreciate one important thing that we can’t […]
Brain health and interoception: Getting in touch
“Listen to your heart.” That might sound overly romantic, but it could also be one way to improve your mental health. . . . . . at least, according to a study by researchers at the University of London. Led by Manos Tsakiris, PhD, researchers set out to see how paying attention to the rhythms […]
Neuroplasticity and trauma: Can brain science give us a new perspective on healing?
We owe the brain a lot. The brain is always looking out for us. It’s wired to help us survive – alerting us to threats and ramping up our amygdala to help us take action. But that same survival trigger makes healing from trauma difficult, says Pat Ogden, PhD. In fact, the very systems that […]
Brain health: You don’t need to be a neuroscientist to make it possible
You don’t need to be a neuroscientist to make brain change possible. When we set out to put together the New Brain Science series, that was our “big idea.” We wanted to prove that anyone can unlock the brain’s potential to change. And it’s because of my friends Joan Borysenko, PhD and Ron Siegel, PsyD […]