Summary:
From a Judeo-Chrisitan worldview, God designed people for connection—to experience the security that comes from deep bonds with Him and with others. Yet both nature and nurture can disrupt this design. Neurodevelopmental challenges such as ADHD, childhood neglect by caregivers, and experiences of physical or sexual violence can significantly interfere with the development of emotional regulation and the capacity for healthy relationships. In this workshop, psychologists, licensed mental health professionals, medical personnel, and ministry leaders will identify key areas of the brain, such as the limbic system, prefrontal cortex, and reward circuitry, and how they adapt to adversity. Participants will learn how targeted therapeutic interventions can help reverse patterns that no longer serve clients well with specific, practical tools for clinical use. At the end of the session, participants will develop their own personalized toolbox of interventions to strengthen regulation skills and support relational healing, with specific interventions geared towards a willing Christian client to integrate their faith into their therapy.
Learning Objectives:
Identify the impact of attachment experiences and interpersonal history on the activation of various brain regions.
Describe the impact of traumatic experiences on specific regions of the brain and patterns
Summarize how ADHD and attentional deployment challenges impact the brain and relationships.
Apply a Toolbox of resources to help promote dopamine, attention regulation, attachment, and regulation of the emotional brain.