Brain Based Interventions, Melbourne

When people work on eliminating harmful thoughts and behaviour patterns, the therapeutic process can feel like a battle against their own brain due to multi-directional interactions which are going on between negative past experiences, existing behaviour, thoughts & emotions, gene expression, and the brain.

Brain-based interventions view the therapeutic process as a channel to re-wire specific pathways in the brain in order to positively change mood and behaviour; synthesizing neuroscience, memory research, developmental psychology, and evidence-based treatments into a hybrid therapeutic model. By bringing an awareness of neuroscience into the treatment practitioners can teach clients to work with their brain’s innate processes to reinforce progress and achieve healthier, more positive outcomes regardless of their age, gender or situation.

Some of the key content areas John will discuss include:

Brain architecture and the roles that different parts of the brain can play in both the creation and resolution of emotional distress.

Brain based principles for working more effectively with Anxiety Disorders, Depression, Addictions and stress.

The latest science on the long term impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on the social and emotional brain and what can be done.

Which traditional therapeutic interventions are counter therapeutic from a brain based perspective and why.

Ideas for client education that assist to frame problems and behaviours in a neuroscience context with the goal of increasing insight and facilitating positive change.

Dr John Arden is the Director of Training in Mental Health for Kaiser Permanente in Northern California. He oversees the training programs in 24 medical centres, where over 130 postdoctoral residents and interns are trained each year. His work incorporates what is currently known about the brain and its capacities, including neuroplasticity and neurogenesis, with psychotherapy research, mindfulness, nutritional neuroscience and social intelligence. John is an award winning author of multiple books, including the recently released Brain2Brain – Enacting Client Change through the Persuasive Power of Neuroscience as well as Brain-Based Therapy for Children and Adolescent, Brain-Based Therapy for Adults and The Brain-Bible.