Rita Milios – Neuroscience and Brain-Based Therapy: Transformational Techniques for Your Practice

Outline

The How and Why of Brain-Based Interventions

• 3 brain regions most relevant to psychotherapists
• Role of pattern, association, habit
• Brain plasticity and re-wiring the brain
• Memory, trauma and depression

Put it into Practice: Experiential Exercise # 1: Two Brain-Based Imageries to Increase Your Brain’s Plasticity

Taking the Brain Off Auto-Pilot

• Conscious/unconscious conflict and “stuck” patterns
• Impulsiveness and anger
• Re-framing from “fire alarm” to alarm clock” messages
• A “Brain Re-Boot”

Put it into Practice: Experiential Exercise # 2: Re-Boot Your Brain Technique for Impulsiveness, Fear and PTSD reactions

Brain States and Inner Mind Access

• 4 brain states; behaviors associated with each
• Visualization and imagery to rewire auto-pilot responses
• Meditation: “One focus” for reducing anxiety
• Meditation: “Open focus” to reframe deeply entrenched beliefs

Put it into Practice: Experiential Exercises # 3: One Focus Meditation for Anxiety; Open Focus Meditation for Depression and Negative Self-Beliefs

Strategic Mindfulness

• Brain science behind mindfulness
• Emotions as “activators” of internalized patterns
• “The Power of Now”
• Mindfulness to address anxiety and panic

Put it into Practice: Experiential Exercises # 4: Reducing Anxiety Worksheet; Going Deeper into My Fears Worksheet

Negative Self-Beliefs

• “Life Theme Issue” patterns
• Reclaim the truth that can set you free
• Inner awareness self-help technique

Put it into Practice: Experiential Exercise # 5: “Unhook” from Habit & Rewire an Auto-Pilot Response for Anger, Depression and Negative Self-Beliefs

The Brain-Heart Connection

• How the brain and heart work together
• The intuitive heart and heart intelligence
• Heart-based mindfulness to re-wire the brain

Put it into Practice: Experiential Exercises # 6: Heart-Focus Exercise for Depression, Anxiety and Anger