Based on the original article "Using a Brain-Based Foundation for Preparing and Supporting Families," featured in NACAC's quarterly newsletter, Adoptalk I have worked in the world of foster care and adoption since 2004. One of the most heart-breaking parts of my work has been seeing everyone trying, I mean really trying, and feeling like a failure. It happens with all members of the community: kids, parents, professionals. I am guessing you can relate. My world...
The Brain-Building Power of “Serve and Return”
To my nerdy little heart’s delight… It’s Brain Awareness Week!!! Brain Awareness Week is a global campaign to increase public awareness of the progress and benefits of brain research. I have seen time and time again just how profoundly life can change when we apply a little user-friendly brain science, so I want to share that with YOU!! Brain science essentials to make your life easier… Let’s start with this podcast episode where I talk...
Name It to Tame It
I know we therapists talk about feelings a lot, but there's a reason! Did you know that just putting a name or label to what you are feeling reduces the activity in the emotion center of your brain? Sounds like magic! But it’s just user-friendly brain science. Maybe you’ve heard the phrase "What's mentionable is manageable." Drs. Dan Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson boiled down this complicated neurobiological process to a strategy they called Name...
What to do when life is hard
As I have been connecting with people lately, one theme keeps coming up... Life is hard right now. There’s an exercise I have been doing in workshops lately that has been really meaningful - and it changes your brain chemistry! If at all possible, will you pause with me for 3 minutes? [smartslider3 slider="1"] If that’s all you have time for, keep going with your day knowing that you just activated the caregiving part of...