Interpersonal Neurobiologically-Informed Narrative Therapy

Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB) is a branch of medicine that addresses people’s propensity to create personal narratives influenced by life experiences, relationships, and contexts. Might there be valuable practices that could arise from combining the wisdom of narrative therapy with ideas from this scientific discipline so that we can continue improving our work? There are many. 

In this workshop, Marie-Nathalie will share some practices she has developed over twenty years of examining the rich intersection between narrative practices and IPNB.  She will propose four sets of practices inspired by IPNB’s model of integration and well-being.  In a nutshell, there are ways of mobilizing different areas of the brain to facilitate clients’ movement from distressing emotions and problem stories to an experiential space where preferred experiences are more likely to emerge.  With a little knowledge of physiology, we can dampen intense emotional experiences, often impeding clients’ possibilities of engaging in ways of being they clearly prefer but struggle to sustain. For example, using the IPNB model of integration, questions can be crafted to more specifically engage areas of the brain associated with reasoning, perspective, and deconstruction. In contrast, other questions can more readily engage areas involved in meaning-making, preferred experiences, and emotion regulation. Similarly, some embodied emotional experiences such as helplessness or shame need powerful embodied counterstates to be activated to increase possibilities that the preferred self can triumph in moments when despair is lurking. The process of intentionally recruiting different areas of the brain and body to deconstruct problem stories and intensify preferred experiences of self opens a treasure chest of clinical possibilities with trauma and intense problem experiences.

Participants in this event will learn four categories of brain processes, including many powerful questions to expand our repertoire of practices.  Those questions will be organized by type and purpose, practiced through exercises, illustrated by videos, and exemplified in inspiring stories of transformation.

You can register for the entire series at a discount, including the Book Launch. Re-Authoring Teaching members get further discounts. Registration for this event is now open for those who prefer not to register for the entire series. Earn 13 CE credits for the entire series.

Norton has donated three complimentary copies of the newly published Narrative Practices & Emotions book that we will raffle off during this workshop. You can also get a 20% discount and free shipping on your book copy.

We are delighted to sponsor this workshop with Marie-Nathalie Beaudoin. Watch here how she incorporates affect and emotion in narrative therapy.

Marie-Nathalie is featured in our new online course, New Horizons in Narrative Therapy, Affect & the Body as well as a contributor to the course currently in development, Contemporary Narrative Therapy. In addition, she is a prolific writer.

BOOKS and CHAPTERS

• Beaudoin, M.-N. And Monk, G. (In press). Narrative practices and emotions: 40+ ways to support the emergence of flourishing identities. WW. Norton.
• Beaudoin, M.-N. & Maki, K.  (2020).  Mindfulness in a busy world: Lowering barriers for adults and youth to cultivate focus, emotional peace, and gratefulness.  Rowman & Littlefield. NY
• Beaudoin, M.-N. & Duvall, J. (2017).  Collaborative therapy and neurobiology: Evolving practices in action. Routledge, Taylor & Francis, NY
• Beaudoin, M.N. & Moureaux-Nery, F. (2015).  Les mille et une compétences en chaque enfant:  Prévenir et résoudre les difficultes sociales et émotionnelles a l’aide des découvertes en neurosciences. L’Harmattan, Paris, France.
• Beaudoin, M.-N. (2014). Boosting ALL children’s social and emotional brain power: Life transforming activities.  Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press Publications.
• Beaudoin, M.N. (2013).  Cómo hacer de cada niño un millonario en habilidades.  Madrid, Spain: EOS Instituto de Orientation de Psicologica Asociados and in Mexico: Editiones Zeus.
• Beaudoin, M.N. (2010).  The SKiLL-ionaire in every child:  Boosting children’s socio-emotional skills using the latest in brain research.  San Francisco: Goshawk Publications.

ARTICLES

• Beaudoin, M.N. (2022 in press). Revisiting agency and choice in the face of trauma: A narrative therapy map.  Journal of Systemic Therapies, 41(4), 67-87.
• Beaudoin, M.N. (2020). Affective double listening: 16 dimensions to explore affect, emotions and embodiment in narrative therapy. Journal of Systemic Therapie,39 (1), 1-28.
• Beaudoin, M.N. & MacLennan, R. (2020).  Mindfulness and embodiment in family therapy: Overview, nuances, and clinical applications in poststructural practices.  Family Process, dot:10.1111/famp.12624.
• Beaudoin, M.N. (July, 2019).  Intensifying the preferred self: Neurobiology, mindfulness, and embodiment practices that make a difference. The international journal of narrative therapy and community work, 2, 1-10.
• Beaudoin, M.N (Fall, 2018).  Thinkitis vs Mindfulness.  Family Therapy Magazine, AAMFT, Sept-October, 36-40.
• Beaudoin, M.N., Tan, A., Gannon, C., Moersch, M. (2018). A comparative study of the effects of 6,12, and 16 weeks of narrative therapy on social and emotional skills: An empirical analysis of 722 children’s problem solving accounts.  Journal of Systemic Therapie,36 (4), 57-73.
• Beaudoin, M.N. (2016). Broadening the scope of collaborative therapies: Embodied practices arising from neurobiology, neurocardiology and neurogastroenterology, Journal of Systemic Therapie, 34(4), 1-12.
• Beaudoin, M.N, Moersch, M., & Schnare, B.  (2016).  The effectiveness of narrative therapy with social and emotional skills development: An empirical study of 835 children’s stories. Journal of Systemic Therapies, 35(3), 42-60.
• Beaudoin, M.-N. (2015).  Flourishing with Positive  Emotions: Increasing clients’ repertoire of Problem Counter-State.  Journal of Systemic Therapies. 34(3), 1-13.
• Beaudoin, M.-N. (Jan, 2014).  Can new discoveries in brain research help us better prevent bullying?  Patio: Revista Pedagogica, 68, 10-13.
• Beaudoin, M.N. & Zimmerman, J. (2011).  Narrative therapy and interpersonal neurobiology: Revisiting classic practices, developing new emphases.  Journal of Systemic Therapies, 30(1), 1-13.
• Beaudoin, M.-N. (2008).  Therapeutic Movement and Stuckness in Family Therapy. Journal of Systemic Therapies, 27(2), 58-73.
• Beaudoin, M.N. (2005).  Agency and choice in the face of trauma: A narrative therapy map.  Journal of Systemic Therapies, 24(4), 32-50.