Neuroscience, Psychotherapy and Neuropsychotherapy

Neuroscience, Psych separateapy and Neuro mental hygieneToni KillinTherapeutic strategies harbour been built from hundreds of years of experience. These strategies engage over time proved their effectiveness for event problems (Cozolino, 2010) (Grawe, 2007). The theater of operations of Neuroscience looks at foreland structures and functions it is a large sketch encompassing neurobiology, neurochemistry and aras of psychology. Neuropsych new(prenominal)apy blends the field of neuroscience and psychformer(a)apy unitedly. The emphasis being placed on the neuroscientific foundations of psychotherapy. Present profound neuroscientific research findings offer psychotherapy scientific support, putting forward a new and fresh perspective for therapists. Neuropsychotherapy tries to remove the invisible barrier in the midst of mind and forefront (Cozolino, 2010) (Grawe, 2007). Both the mind and encephalon are evenly important, focusing on either one at the cost of the other wou ld be to act as if one is irrelevant (Cozolino, 2010). My contact with clients and professionals much(prenominal) as therapists, psychiatrists and psychologists led to my interest in Gestalt Therapy. Although my procreation in Gestalt Therapy is a passion, the journey has been a difficult learning experience. The experiential nature of Gestalt therapy has proven difficult for me to intern solelyy intellectualize. It has been this difficulty that led me to readings on neuroscience, as a way to meet, more(prenominal) fully, the mechanisms behind psychotherapy in general, in particular experiential modalities. These modalities reflecting good successes in areas that other modalities were bug outing to be unaccompanied mildly successful (Cozolino, 2010)(Grawe, 2007). I read this as an opportunity to have a deeper and different perspective on the therapeutic process and the therapeutic relationship.Consequently, this literature review go away be divided into three sections. The scratch will give a rudimentary overview of what neuroscience is and the emergent findings within this field of psychotherapeutic interest.I will then relate neuroscientific findings broadly to the field of psychotherapy. Subsequently, I will relate some of these findings to some of the methodologies of Gestalt Therapy bringing findings from neuroscience together in the therapeutic relationship with a view to seeing Gestalt Therapy and psychotherapy in general from new and helpful vantage invests.Given that neuroscience is a diverse field encompassing many professions, it is important to make the government none that this paper will look at neuroscientific findings barely in the consideration of psychotherapy and neuropsychotherapy. at that place are standardised professional differences not cover as part of this paper between clinical neuropsychologists, clinical neuropsychotherapists and psychotherapists that have good experience of areas of neuroscience that are of interes t to the modality that they practice.Neuroscience is a multiplex area of study to define it h seniors its place within all the sciences that need with the nervous system such(prenominal) as Neurobiology, Neurochemistry, Neuropharmacology and Neuroanatomy. Neuroscience also draws on the knowledge found within many of the traditional disciplines such as Biology, which looks at the living matter in all its general anatomys and phenomena. Biochemistry, the chemistry of living matter. Physiology a branch of biology that deals with functions and activities of living organisms. Pharmacology that delves into the preparation, holds and effects of drugs and Experimental psychology which uses experimental methods to study mental and emotional activity in animals and universe (What is Neuroscience, 2012) (dictionary.com),(Stonehill College, Congregation of the Holy Cross, 2014).Neuropsychotherapy (NPT) is a term used to condense and coincide neuroscientific knowledge in a variety of appl ications and treatments (Neuropsychotherapy.org, 2014). Neuropsychotherapists come from a spacious range of medical and therapeutic backgrounds. A neuropsychotherapist is aware of the body-psyche interaction and uses their training and knowledge to carry out therapeutic assessments and treatments.Recent discoveries show that our experiences tack the shape of our school principal. Individual areas grow or channel by adding minuscule amounts of the brain aflutter circuitry and eliminating old ones(Aherne, 2012). Knowledge such as this will help the evolution of more effective therapies, healthier connections will get along recovery. This type of thinking challenges the metaphors of the past, visually perceiving brains as machines. Analogies made for computers with references to fixed circuitry and hardwiring (Doidge, 2011). lamentable beyond the 20th century where the brain was modelled as a placid perspective, we now see the brain as infinite in complexity. necessity region alised connections are well distributed and integrated throughout the brain. Functions that were thought to be yet in localised areas, now are known to participate with other parts of the brain(Fialkoff Jones, 2010) . New research includes exploring the interaction between neurochemical transmitters and brain cells, looking for at previously unknown functions of neurons and glials, the most common cells in the brain(Fialkoff Jones, 2010) . There are four principles that become apparent to our understanding of the brain centers. The brain is complex, connected, adaptable ( credit card) and evolved. The brain is adaptive, constantly rewriting itself. This ability to grow and change is referred to as plasticity. The brain not only creates new connections and develops greater carnal space based on need, it also has the ability to erase old and unused connections (Doidge, 2011). The notion of a brain that flowerpot re-design its own form and function through thought and activity i s profound. This is amongst the foremost important alterations of the brain since our understanding of basic anatomy and the functioning of its most elementary component, the neuron(Doidge, 2011). similar all revolutions, this has profound effects. The neuroplastic revolution has many implications, all areas that trade with military man nature, such as our understanding of relationships, addictions, culture, learning and psychotherapies all change our brain. The humanities, complaisant and physical sciences will all have to come to terms with the circumstance of the self changing brain. From person to person the brains architecture is unique and changes the argumentation of individuals lives (Doidge, 2011). One of neurosciences most extraordinary discovery is that thinking, learning and acting base turn our genes on or off, thus sharpening our brain anatomy and our deportment (Doidge, 2011). Brain plasticity is a very general term, applied to all ways that the brain is flexibl e and can process information in different ways (Buczynski,). A simplified example of steps in neural plasticity would begin with an inability in neurological functioning, this would perish to the founding of a secondary route. With use this secondary route finds shorter pathways and gets faster and better at using these secondary neural pathways. With prolonged use and exposure these pathways continue to strengthen (Doidge, 2011). In the brain, there is an optimal point of plasticity at moderate ranges of arousal. Neural growth hormones and many of the processes that look sharp plasticity turn off at low levels of arousal, turn on at moderate levels, and turn off again at luxuriously levels (Buczynski,). This is important information when looking at encouraging new neural pathways. Creating an experience in therapy that results in neuroplasticity are to some degree a marker of successful therapy(Buczynski,). Another prominent discovery in neuroscience that is console getting a ttention is that of reflect neurons.Mirror neurons are smart cells(reference) laying crush inner depictions within our brain and possibly our bodies. Mirror neurons permit us to comprehend the actions, intentions and feelings of others. These neurons, held in many parts of our brains, fire not only when we perform an action, such as holding hands, but also when when see others perform actions. Mirror neurons are not limited only to action, they are also stimulated when we experience an emotion and when we visually perceive others experiencing an emotion, such as pleasure, sorrow or distress(Lacoboni, 2008). Within the neuroscientific community mirror neuron research in humans has been polemic, no one piece of demo being categorically accepted as proof that mirror neurons experience within humans. This however does not detract from the plethora of evidence backing mirror neurons in humans (Keysers Gazzola, 2010) given technological reasons have frustrated the finding of indivi dual mirror neurons (Vivona, 2009) supporting evidence has come from the pneumoencephalogram (EEG) recordings, behavioural experiments and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) studies (Keysers Gazzola, 2010). In short research has shown that mirror neurons exist somewhere in the human brain and are not restricted to premotor and inferior parietal cortex. Research has also shown that certain neurons appear to have anti-mirror properties. When these neurons work in combination with mirror neurons they could help the brain perform internal simulations of other peoples actions, simultaneously selectively blocking perspicuous motor output and remove ambiguities from who performed the action (Gallese, 2008) (Keysers Gazzola, 2010).Implications in psychotherapyNeuroplasticity does not always espouse uplifting discussion our brains may be more resourceful, but are also more susceptible to outside impacts . Neuroplasticity can produce more flexibility, but also more rigid behaviours, this is called the plastic paradox(Doidge, 2011, p. 6), some of our most tenacious habits and disorders are products of plasticity. Once a particular plastic change occurs and becomes well established, it can prevent other changes from from occurring. Considering both the positive and negative properties of plasticity help us understand the extent of human possibilities (Doidge, 2011).In text referenceBibliography Neuropsychotherapy.org. (2014). NPT Neuropsychotherapy. online Retrieved from http//www.neuropsychotherapy.org/index.html Accessed 14 Apr 2014.ReferencesAherne, D. (2012). medicament or psychotherapy in the treatment of depression and anxiety. Retrieved from http//inside-the-brain.com/tag/dr-declan-Buczynski, R. (). The Neurocience of Psychotherapy, duplicate of a teleseminar session, Louis Cozolino, PhD, conducted by Ruth Buczynski, Phd of NICABM./Interviewer Ruth Buczynski. The National Institute for the clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine, www.nicabm.com.Cozol ino, L. J. (2010). The Neuroscience of Psychotherapy Healing the Social Brain (2nd ed.). ergocalciferol Fifth Avenue, New York N.Y. 10110 W.W.Norton Company Inc.Doidge, MD, N. (2011). The brain that changes itself, stories of personal triumph from the frontiers of brain science. Retrieved from http//www.slideshare.net/krishnamohangorle/thebrainthatchangesitselfFialkoff, L., Jones, N. (2010). Brain based research, overview of recent neuroscience. Retrieved from http//www.slideshare.net/Lfialkoff/brain-based-research-overview-of-recent-neuroscienceGallese, V. (2008, September). Empathy, Embodied Simulation, and the brain Commentry on Aragno and Zepf/Hartmann. American Psychoanalytical Association, 56(3), 769-81,803,805-9. http//dx.doi.org/10.1177/0003065108322206Grawe, K. (2007). Neuropsychotherapy How the Neurosciences Inform Effective Psychotherapy. 270 Madison Avenue New York, NY 10016 Mahwah Routledge outgrowth of the taylor and Francis Group.Keysers, C., Gazzola, V. (2010, Ap ril 27th). Social Neuroscience Mirror Neurons Recorded in Humans. Current-Biology, 20(8), 353-354. http//dx.doi.org/http//dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2010.03.013Lacoboni, M. (2008). Mirroring people The New erudition of How We Connect With Others. In Mirroring People The New Science of How We Connect With Others. Retrieved from http//online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB121191836113423647Stonehill College, Congregation of the Holy Cross. (2014). What is Neuroscience. Retrieved from http//www.stonehill.edu/academics/areas-of-study/neuroscience/what-is-neuroscience/.Vivona, J. M. (2009, June). Leaping from Brain to Mind a criticism of Mirror Neuron Explanations of Countertransference. Journal of the American Psychoanalytical Association, 57(3), 525-550. http//dx.doi.org/10.1177/0003065109336443What is Neuroscience. (2012). Retrieved April 16, 2014, from http//www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/248680