Brain Science: Application is the Key to Changing the Brain

The New Brain Science 2012 series is off to an amazing start.

We are humbled and gratified to report that more than 6,000 listeners from 44 countries all around the world have signed up for the series.

(I’m sorry, due to a fluke in our system, I don’t have the number of people who actually watched. Will get that for you next time)

People all around the world are signed up, including:

If you came to the New Brain Science series a year ago, you would have noticed several changes on our first call the other night:

1. For the first time ever, we posted video instead of just audio link to the call. (You still have the option to listen-only if you have a slow internet connection.)

2. Instead of just “talking heads” (which is much better than audio only but still kind of dull), we added a lot of slides and animations so that when you watch, there will be a lot of variation to keep you engaged. No cleaning your desk and multitasking while watching – your complete attention during the video will help you get the most out of it.

3. We added an application section – the TalkBack Segment. This was something we introduced last fall. At the end of each call, I’ll be talking with my good friends Joan Borysenko and Bill O’Hanlon about how you can apply what you just heard. Applications to your practice – that will be our entire focus during this segment.

4. To better accommodate you and to be of greater service throughout the world, we are holding a parallel track geared for a general, non-practitioner audience. It will have the same calls but I’ll be talking with Rick Hanson during the TalkBack segment and we’ll be focusing on how anyone can apply this to their life today. No patient talk – just immediate, practical application. If you have an inquisitive family member, friend, or patient, invite them to join that track of the series.

Many of the comments on the comment board inspired me, so that I wanted to share a few of them with you to hopefully inspire you, too:

Elizabeth Scheide, a retired Clinical Psychologist from Pennsylvania, wrote:
This was the best. I loved the way Dr. Doidge pulled things together and the breadth of his background. His treatment of transference as it relates to plasticity was a new connection for me and I would have enjoyed hearing more. From that point of view, the therapeutic relationship reactivates circuits and thus provides the opportunity for change and growth (learning and unlearning!). His spontaneous brief critical incident of mother teaching the baby about internal control, labeling, management and nonverbal communication of emotions was a wonderful kernel of information. Thank you for bringing him to the table.

Nesrin Hisli Sahin, a Psychologist from Turkey, wrote:
Great conference!!!!. Thank you, Thank you.. Thank you all, who have made it possible. I was so impressed by Dr. Doidge’s mastery in connecting all those, seemingly distantly related issues (psychotherapy of different types, love, exercise, transference, therapeutic relationship, stress, etc.), at the brain/neurological level. Everything he said was so illuminating and not a repetition of the last conference at all. Thank You again.

Catherine McGeachy, an Occupational Therapist in Ireland, wrote:
Hi Ruth – great interview again! Thank you SO much for hosting such inspirational material which prompts me to make immediate adjustments in my interaction processes with others. Being able to SEE the speakers somehow makes the content even more accessible!! Thank you! Best Wishes, Catherine

Susan Taylor-Conner, Counselor/Director Cornerstone Center For Change in Pennsylvania, wrote:
Ruth- I am so impressed with what you have put into this program. A huge contribution to the healing professions. As a Jungian based counselor who uses both traditional and alternative ways of working with people and their life struggles, I am forever grateful to all your thoughtful and hard work! I’m speaking not only to the clinical/informational aspects of the tele-conferences, but to the huge amount of technical/cyberspace skill that allows access for so many. This is so needed. THANK YOU!!!!!

Chris Zaslawski, a Physiotherapist from Australia, wrote:
Great overview of the mechanisms of neuroplasticity and suggestions for their application. Loved the followup talkback with Rick! What I am going to do? Inject some novel experiences into my relationship with my wife of 27 years!

Patricia Rendon, a School Counselor from Arizona, wrote:
I feel this information is very pertinent to anyone who is working with students and their families. It gives us tools to use to support the people with whom we work and to give us insight into what might be going on with them. It is also very applicable to myself and family. Thank you.

Kelly, a Public Health Manager from Iowa, wrote:
My interest in this webinar series was born out of conversations I’ve had with my own therapist. I found this afternoon’s discussion about neuroplasticity fascinating and intuitive. The post-lecture commentary about the use of therapeutic story was quite powerful. I find storytelling and transformative listening equally packed with benefits. As I type this, I realize how much of this I can carry over into my work as a manager of people. Thank you for making this open to the general public.

Yehoshua Dashiff, a teacher and trauma therapist in Israel, wrote:
I absolutely loved the presentation. I felt like I was listening to a highly developed human being, honest and careful. His perspective on the brain’s learning capacity offers me an entirely new realm of interaction with life as a developmental process. My hope is that his attitude towards how to synthesize psychotherapeutic principles and practices with this knowledge of neuroplasticity is becoming or at least is making its way towards becoming an accepted mainstream attitude. I find it refreshingly revolutionary.

Tessa Brohart, a Counselor in Canada, wrote:
I enjoyed the reporting of the case studies. The discussion of the dark and light side of Neuroplasticity was helpful. There were practical tools to take away regarding the need for sleep, dreams, critical period, novelty in relationship. Thank you for the learning and unlearning experience.

If you haven’t already signed up, learn more about our New Brain Science Webinar.

Please leave a comment below on how brain science has influenced your work.