Attachment styles describe how clients relate to those closest to them. They form in childhood but influence lifelong behavior in several ways, including coping with stress, psychological wellbeing, and health (Gunnar et al., 1996; Maunder et al., 2006; Ravitz et al., 2010). But how do we know what type of attachment style a client has? […]

Ongoing research suggests that a better understanding of the vagus nerve could revolutionize how we treat various physical and mental health conditions, including epilepsy, obesity, inflammatory disorders, depression, and anxiety (Wade, 2023; Neuhuber & Berthoud, 2022). Not only that, but according to the polyvagal theory, lowering “autonomic states that support threat reactions” and boosting ones

Have you ever been scarred by a damaging label? If so, you know the discomfort, shame, and dehumanization that occurs. Labeling others separates people based on actual or perceived differences. The stigma associated with being labeled aims at one’s identity and divides us and them. The label linked to certain assumptions lingers, impacting impressions of

Life entails a wide tapestry of different experiences. Some of those are pleasant, some sad, others challenging. Coping mechanisms are the ways we respond to difficult experiences. We can think of our coping mechanisms as our emotional and behavioral toolbox. But what happens when our responses to our experiences are not helpful? What do we

Groundbreaking research in the 1990s discovered that “mirror neurons” fire whether monkeys perform an activity themselves or observe others engaging in it (Rizzolatti & Fabbri-destro, 2010). In the decades since, studies suggest humans also have mirror neurons, and they are fundamental to what it means to be human (Penagos-Corzo et al., 2022). In fact, neuroscience

A cultural paradigm shift is happening in awareness of the mind-body connection. Ordinary people are talking about nervous system regulation. People are using “dysregulation” as a catchall to describe how they feel when they are not on top of their game. Or to explain the behavior of their children or partner. What is so wonderful

Have you ever watched in amazement as a family member or acquaintance overcame seemingly insurmountable obstacles with strength and courage? Coping with life’s challenges is what epic history is made of. Abraham Lincoln overcame crippling depression – then called melancholia – to become President of the United States. What choices did Lincoln make that changed