Neuroscience

How to Stop Worrying

“That the birds of worry and care fly over your head, this you cannot change, but that they build nests in your hair, this you can prevent.” – Chinese Proverb For many of us, worry can feel like an uncontrollable force streaming through our lives. We devote a great deal of time to our worries, either… Read more »

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PTSD: Why Does It Happen? How Survivors Can Heal

A traumatic event is something no one is prepared to deal with. You may feel your mind and body are in a state of shock from the experience. You may have nightmares, feel jumpy, or find yourself re-playing the event in your mind. You may even feel disconnected from the world around you. What happened… Read more »

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Why the Women’s March Felt SO Good: A Neurochemical Perspective

Before Reading Note: I ask you to read this article with an open mind. The neurochemical reactions described here apply to you and your brain, regardless of any political ideation. I don’t hide my political views, but I also don’t ask you to agree with them. I simply ask that, if you choose to read… Read more »

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Dr. Dan Siegel on Neuroplasticity: An Excerpt from Mind

Excerpted from Mind: A Journey to the Heart of Being Human by Daniel J. Siegel, copyright © 2017 by Mind Your Brain, Inc., printed with permission of the publisher, W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. An old teaching in neuroscience was that the brain had very localized functions and basically stopped growing with adulthood. We… Read more »

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The Healing Power of Gratitude

“You were given life; it is your duty (and also your entitlement as a human being) to find something beautiful within life, no matter how slight.” ~Elizabeth Gilbert There is perhaps no better tool to live in the present and find joy than gratitude. Knowing what we appreciate in life means knowing who we are, what… Read more »

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The Secret to Happiness and Well-Being

Like love, happiness is often treated like a physical object we must find and snatch up. Yet, also like love, happiness is something we are more likely to cultivate within ourselves than stumble upon in our wanderings. As the Dalai Lama said, “Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.” Determining… Read more »

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VIDEO: Dr. John C. Norcross on Neuroscience and Psychotherapy

Dr. John Norcross discusses new findings in neuroscience and their impact on psychotherapy. The following transcript contains part of an exclusive interview with Dr. Lisa Firestone and Dr. John C. Norcross. LF:      And what do you think about all the new findings in neuroscience?  Are they really informing psychotherapy or are they not so important?… Read more »

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What Parents Need to Know About the Teenage Brain

Adolescence is a challenging time for both the kids going through it and their parents. It is a period of exploration and growth, opportunity and vulnerability. In his new book Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain, Dr. Daniel Siegel describes four essential features to adolescence: 1) emotional spark, 2) social engagement, 3)… Read more »

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Music Therapy: The Healing Power of Song

Hello darkness, my old friend. Like a bridge over troubled water. That’s me and Julio down by the schoolyard. Music takes us back to a formative time, to a younger potentate version of ourselves. Music reminds us of who we were, who we are, and who we still want to be. Music captures a zeitgeist,… Read more »

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How You Can Change Your Brain

Watch Dr. Dan Siegel explain how you can change your own brain. See More of Dr. Dan Siegel’s Interview Contrary to what we used to believe we now know that the brain is open to change throughout the lifespan. And what some people don’t realize is that not only can the brain change, but we… Read more »

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