Rewire Your Brain Practical Implications of Brain Research Presented by Mary Sise, LCSW, DCEP
What do we really know? The bad news Brain focuses on what is wrong we are hardwired that way! It looks for bad news not set up to be or act rational Negative interactions have more impact on the relationship than positive ones We are like velcro for negative teflon for the positive Impulse and inclination precede conscious thought
What do we really know? The good news Brain is not fixed it has plasticity (Norman Doidge) You can use the mind to change the brain You can retrain your brain Brain loves routine/habits it takes 30 days to change a habit Basic organizer of the brain is habit (We are creatures of habit) Have to repeatedly retrain it not once in awhile/ not once a week
It s really not this simple.. Brain research is very new Brain research is changing rapidly It really isn t this simple. Most of us (including clients) glaze over with the details
Simple Neurobiology AMYGDALA Smoke Detector Clinicians job is to help re-set it
Brain in the Palm of Your Hand Dan Siegel, MD Neo-cortex Brain Stem www.drdansiegel.com
Dan Siegel, MD continued Limbic Region
I just pushed your buttons (I didn t install them!)
What About Beliefs? Where did they begin? Under the age of 7? In a traumatic event we move into a theta state (Anything said here is programmed)
Implications for Practice: Educate our clients it is never about today What does this remind you of.when have you felt this way before? There is nothing WRONG with them, it is what happened to them This does not imply they are not responsible for their behavior What you observed or were told under the age of 7 is what you will believe about yourself Children Dad s reaction is because DAD was triggered Domestic Violence partners reaction/behavior was because the partner was triggered Focused sustained attention - imagery, role play not talk & logic Distress Tolerance not problem solving Rewire them - not held hostage by automatic reactions
Trauma Game Changer
The Brain on Trauma Brain freezes you go into fight, flight or freeze Time expands, theta state anything said here registers as a program with the same intensity as the trauma (terror/rage) If you can t fight or flee you freeze and leave the body Dissociation, Fragmentation.. Overload too much to handle I ll deal with this later Depending on the AGE of the person, will depend on how well they can dissociate..(under 7 very easy) Nightmares, Intrusive thoughts, & trauma re-enactment is about the person trying to master/heal the trauma
Fragmentation of Consciousness Fight Flight - Freeze Age of incident and body damage are factors in fragmentation Split off part has the memory with all the emotions as if it is happening over and over Once the pattern is set, that becomes the default.
Owned & Disowned Parts of Self
Use Metaphors for Understanding Trauma & Fragmentation Leave A man behind
Implications for Practice Educate your clients they are not crazy Underneath all of their bravado is a loving heart It is not who they are, it is what they did to cope Don t fall for the costume they are wearing Safe to be angry now, not hold it inside and be triggered Anger turned inward is depression Cutting, addictions are so they do not feel this Find the missing dis-owned parts, and re-integrate KEY: Work on building a safe relationship mirror neurons
Treatment of Trauma Four Staged Model
Treatment of Trauma Different Types of Trauma: 1. Small t trauma eg. If you see a car accident, violence - images might be frozen or if you hear a car accident, violence sounds might be frozen 2. Big T trauma eg. If your body is hurt in the car accident violence much more fragmentation, dissociation. Too much coming in Four Stages of Treatment: 1. Assessment 2. Stabilization 3. Trauma Processing 4. Reconnection
Growth of Brain Neurons Newborn 3 mo. old 2 yr. old
B A S K Model Behavior AFFECT SENSATION KNOWLEDGE Neuropath Moment of Trauma
Defenses of Trauma Memory Memory Defenses Hurt spot
Treatment of Trauma Memory 1. Access neuropath 2. Work through defenses 3. Bridge neuro-gap Bridge 2 3 1 Defenses Hurt spot
Nightmares/Flashbacks? How does the brain process trauma? What is the purpose of dream sleep? Why do flashbacks occur? Why do clients re-enact the trauma?
Stage 1: Assessment Assessment Stage: Assess patients coping strategies today addictions, cutting, eating disorders, suicidal? Most trauma patients are suicidal the thought of it gives comfort When did their coping strategy start? (clue to age of trauma) When asking questions re trauma, instruct them not to give details, just an overview. Watch them closely, go slow & give them permission to stop Do they have a support system now? Key factors: Age of trauma (younger = more dissociation) Damage to the body Relationship to the perpetrator Single incident or multiple traumas?
Stage 2: Stabilization & Safety This stage can last for years Retrain the brain Teach patients how to have a feeling and to reduce their distress Not mental - have to be on the circuitry to change it Stay in present time: Use future imaging to deal with current stressors (job, being alone in the house) a life worth living Give a measure of relief before beginning trauma processing Teach self-empowering, techniques used at home for nightmares, flashbacks Relationship is KEY to doing the work
Stage 2: Stabilization & Safety Medication if needed Sleep Body work Meditation mindfulness (practice 3-5 min a day) Focused sustained attention Music, dance, movement Yoga, karate, breathwork Neuro-feedback, bio feedback KEY: If they are not in the body nothing will help 5 min a day of gratitude strengthens circuits Guided Imagery Belleruth Naparstek tapes Role Play EMDR or Energy Psychology for positive visualization Monroe Institute Brain Gym Tomatis Method
BSFF: Energy Psychology Method to destress or enhance a visualization 1. To reduce distress when upset, angry, afraid: Notice where your body is holding the distress Rate it from 0-10 Rub the sore spot over the heart or the back of your neck and say: Even though I am upset (angry, afraid etc) I accept myself 2. To enhance a visualization: Picture something you would like to do Rate it s clarity 0-10 Rub sore spot over the heart or the back of your neck: Even though I cannot picture this clearly I accept myself Larry Nims: www.besetfreefast.com
1. Tap Inner Eyebrow point: I am releasing all the sadness in all the roots and the deepest cause of all of this problem 2. Tap Under Eye Point: I am releasing all the fear in all the roots and the deepest cause of all of this problem 3. Tap Little Finger point: (side of the nail, next to ring finger) I am releasing all the anger in all the roots and the deepest cause of all of this problem 4. Tap Inner Eyebrow point: I am releasing all the trauma in all the roots and the deepest cause of all of this problem 5. Tap Index Finger point: (side of the nail, next to thumb) I forgive myself for having this problem (3 times) Note: For visualization substitute words deepest cause of why I cannot picture this yet
Implications for Practice Educate your clients we have to build strengths before we talk about your trauma Small progress is still progress Addictions are how they coped, they are the solution to the problem not the problem itself Off of the addiction, the trauma will surface Have to feel it to heal it not talk Don t go logical on them.listen with both ears Can you tolerate emotions? Do you feel safe? Are you triggered? Do you need support? They are not hopeless trauma is treatable
Stage 3: Trauma Processing Do not talk about the trauma until you are ready to process it Get training in a trauma processing method EMDR, TFT, TAT, IET, IFS, Sensory Motor Processing, Somatic reprocessing, CBT - flooding You access the neuropath and help them to see/face/be with the emotions, sensations, behavior and knowledge that they couldn t take in during the trauma. Safety concerns: Be sure you have enough time in the session (longer session) Never before going on vacation Emergency contact, ride home
Stage 4: Reconnection In this stage, the client begins to face life without the terror, shame & unworthiness This is frightening because it is new (Remember -brain likes what it knows!!) Use visualization to create a new life Can talk about God in this stage if you do this before trauma processing it can be spiritual bypass and anger continues to be dissociated Often wish to serve others give back make meaning They are more than anything that has happened to them or anything they have done this is the Gift
For Further Info, Supervision & Training Mary T. Sise, LCSW, D.CEP 596 New Loudon Rd. Latham, New York 12110 (518) 785-8576 marysise100@aol.com www.marysise.com (Next training: April 12 & 13, 2014)
TAB I: General Public TAB II: Professionals Saturday, April 12, 2014 Sunday, April 13, 2014 9am - 5pm Fee: $ 125 9am - 5pm Fee: $ 175 Prerequisite: TAB I Special ACE conference discount: $ 25 off each workshop, must register at MarySise.com by March 11, use the code spring