Many of our adult clients struggle with the ability to control their thoughts and impulses. These weak self-regulation skills can damage relationships, decrease success at work, and lead to addictive behaviors. What if we could have intervened early on in their lives, even as early as grade school? What kind of changes would that have […]
How the Brain Works with the Vagus: Empathy and More
When someone’s frowning, or beaming, or gaping in surprise, they’re wearing their heart on their face. That’s because the muscles that control facial expression are linked to the smart vagus, says Stephen Porges, PhD. Thanks to the vagus nerve, the emotions we feel are displayed on our faces and in the sound of our voices. […]
Neuroplasticity and Trauma: Can Brain Science Give Us a New Perspective on Healing?
The brain can be a powerful ally. Our brains are always looking out for us. They’re 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 […]
60 Minutes of Mindfulness – How Anderson Cooper’s Meditation Experience Changed His Life (and His Brain)
It’s always exciting to me when I witness more and more people from all walks of life begin to see the value of mindfulness training. And just recently, Anderson Cooper and the folks at CBS just put out a 60 Minutes episode on that very topic. This really underscores just how mainstream mindfulness has become. […]
Using Mindfulness to Change the Brain: A Different Way to Deal with Pain
It’s probably safe to say that most people have experienced pain at some point in their lives, be it acute or chronic. . . . . . and many of us have heard the phrase “mind over matter,” but when it comes to pain, does it actually work? It turns out that there is a […]