The workshop guided participants though discussions on how neurobiology conceptualizes the brain’s structure and a concept of mind, its relationship to memory and emotional systems, and the role of mindfulness in clinical practice. Drawing from the current literature and utilizing clinical examples, Jeff compared and contrasted ideas from the neurosciences with those from Narrative Therapy.
“The online medium has opened up vast new possibilities for sharing and learning that could be adapted by nearly any teacher, in almost any topic, but seem to be particularly suited for teaching narrative and other post-modern therapies. In fact, when I introduced the online aspect to my teaching, the interactive website became “the tail that wagged the dog.” Rather than just being an interesting and somewhat useful adjunct, it has opened up entire new [...]
Neurologist V.S. Ramachandran looks deep into the brain’s most basic mechanisms. By working with those who have very specific mental disabilities caused by brain injury or stroke, he can map functions of the mind to physical structures of the brain.
I just read the New York Times article by Marsha Linehan, “Expert on Mental Illness Reveals Her Own Fight ” (and watched the video where she describes her deeply personal and transformational religious experience). For several days, this article – where Marsha Linehan of “DBT” fame shares her story - was the #1 most emailed article in the New York Times. Here she describes how she was able to create such a comprehensive [...]
Regina recommended this TED talk by Elizabeth Gilbert (the author of Eat, Pray, Love). Thank you, Regina, for this this video about genius, the muse, life’s mysteries, the Divine, and the capriciousness of the creative process. Elizabeth externalizes and deconstructs genius and creativity. She speaks about “disembodied genius” and talking to the Creativity- and then puts creativity into an historic context, moving from ancient Greece, through the Renaissance and into rational humanism. She speaks about “taking [...]
(reprinted from Inside Stories) Here's a Vicki Dickerson conducted in 1999 with Dr. Kaethe Weingarten about her work as a postmodern narrative family therapist. Dr. Weingarten is a clinical psychologist, peace psychologist, family therapist, as well as an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychology in the Harvard Medical School Department of Psychiatry at Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA). She has been up to a lot since our interview, and her most recent work focuses on "reasonable hope, [...]
Here is the link to an excellent TED talk by Temple Grandin. I recently saw the HBO film about her life, and now I am a fan. She really has some thought provoking things to say about being on the autism spectrum and in particular, drawing distinctions between the specialist mind, pattern thinkers, music and math minds, thinking in pictures/visual thinking, the verbal mind, and sensory-based/categorized thinking. I love how she speaks to difference in [...]
Someone just sent me a very thought provoking quote by Toni Morrison in her 2011 commencement speech at Rutgers University. You can watch it here. It’s about not settling for the pursuit of happiness. She puts words to what I have wanted to say for a long time. Here is the quote as addressed to new graduates: …. the narrative of a worthy life is yours to write. I have often wished that [...]
Guest post by Patricia. Since I was a child I discovered that the words were very important because all religions are made by stories. And nowadays I still thinking the same. I share with you a radio program about words. Click here to listen. I hope you enjoy it.
Guest post by Will Sherwin. I’ve been interested in Spinoza and Deleuze’s question, “what can a body do?” and the potential it has to focus attention away from the usual “what’s an ideal body?” and “how do I become an ideal body?” Here’s a conversation between Judith Butler and Sunaura Taylor on walking, disabilities, social oppression, etc. Here’s another video from a woman with autism standing up for her way of communicating with the [...]
Dilbert is an American comic strip known for its satirical office humor about a white-collar, micromanaged office. Watch this wonderful clip, The Fact.
I want to share the song that touches me as none other. It is called "Anthem" by Leonard Cohen. I have been watching/listening to it again and again. I even looked to see if I could load it as the ringtone for my Iphone. I shared it with someone dear to me in the midst of a family crisis and she said, "oh my, this was the cry that was waiting. how beautiful. I'll pass it [...]