Brain Science

“Brain Science” is my umbrella term for interpersonal neurobiology and how neuroplasticity works in therapy. When people learn new coping skills, they are literally building the neural connections that promote resilience. As habits build, so do neural pathways. These new inroads replace the old routes that lead to unhealthy behaviors and cognitive distortions.

Pain Pathways

Pain Pathways

Pain is individually experienced based on your unique state in the specific moment. Regardless of your disposition, all pain is experienced through the nervous system. In the case of chronic pain, messages can get stuck in a rut replaying endlessly in a “pain loop.”

Your Attention Was Stolen

Your Attention Was Stolen

Johann Hari’s book “Stolen Focus” is a must-read for parents, educators and anyone else who cares about the future. Our ability to be present is slipping away and it may not be what you’d expect.

Create Healthy Habits

Create Healthy Habits

Many of us want to be the best version of ourselves possible. We want to eat better, feel better and be better. The question of our own unique journey is whether or not we are willing to take it.

Hope for Trauma

Hope for Trauma

We now know that the only way to change embedded, painful memories is to access the “emotional brain.” While talking continue to play a crucial role in therapy, it keeps us in our rational mind. To create lasting change at the deepest level, we must access the limbic system.

Four Pathways to Joy

Four Pathways to Joy

Did you know that there are four independent brain circuits that influence our lasting well-being? While each circuit contributes beautifully on their own, when joined by the other circuits they create magic – broadening our everyday existence to include a wider and more vibrant range of experience.

Medicating Anxiety

Medicating Anxiety

When choosing a medication, you should not only consider the immediate effect of it on anxiety, but also whether the medication has the ability to change the brain in ways that will help it become resistant to anxiety.

Weed and Yoga, Maybe Not?

Weed and Yoga, Maybe Not?

There are many reasons for developing a yoga practice, spiritual growth is just one of them. How yoga can assist us spiritually depends greatly on which path we are following. Not everyone’s spiritual practice is affected in the same way through yoga, though everyone can benefit physically, mentally and emotionally from yoga.

Nerdo Science

Nerdo Science

Think of this system as a presidential election. If you change the number of votes in a few key states by a tiny percentage of points, you can dramatically change the course of the county. The same is true for the brain.

The “Feeling” Brain

The “Feeling” Brain

While there are many important elements involved in the limbic system, for the sake of simplicity, we’re going to focus on four key players: the hypothalamus, amygdala, hippocampus and the cingulated cortex.

The Importance of Practice

The Importance of Practice

Mindfulness changes the way we respond to things by strengthening the prefrontal cortex. Different types of practices activate our thinking centers in different ways, similar to muscle use with exercise. No matter the course, all forms of mindfulness practice strengthen the attentional circuits and reduce fight-or-flight responses.