New Online Continuing Education (CE) Course from HealthForumOnline on Brain-Based Psychotherapy: Clinical Biopsychology
Philadelphia, PA (PRWEB) June 30, 2015 -- HealthForumOnline (HFO), a nationally-approved (APA, ASWB, NBCC) provider of convenient, cost-effective online continuing education (CE), is pleased to add a new course entitled, Psychotherapy Integration from a Brain-Based Perspective: Clinical Biopsychology.
The concept of a “Grand Unified Theory” was born when Georgi and Glashow (1) first suggested the possibility of a unified theory of all elementary-particle forces in physics. Stricker (2) applied this term in relation to true “theoretical integration” in psychotherapy, suggesting a grand unified theory would necessarily have the ability to explain all current single-school approaches that have basic philosophical differences, such as those of psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and humanistic/experiential approaches. Stricker indicated that such a theory would require the ability to explain both the stability of behavior and the ready changeability of behavior. He noted the fact that, to date, both physicists and psychotherapists have failed to provide such a theory in their respective fields.
There has been a growing interest in the field of neuroscience as to its applications to psychotherapy (3-4). Psychotherapy integration involves an attempt to transcend the confines of any single theoretical view in order to discover what can be learned from other perspectives. Some have approached this by looking for common factors, while others have proposed conceptualizing from a particular school of thought while using techniques from other therapeutic approaches. In the absence of any coherent, unifying model to date, the Clinical Biopsychological Model is felt to represent a significant step toward that elusive unified theory for psychotherapy (5).
This new online CE course by noted Clinical Neuropsychologist Robert Moss, Ph.D., ABN, ABPP, attempts to further bridge the conceptual divide between a neurophysiological theory and an applied clinical model for mental health practitioners. General concepts of the Dimensional Systems Model are presented, followed by an overview of the Clinical Biopsychological Model, focusing on the connection and interaction between the two sides of the brain and resultant cognitive and emotional patterns and symptoms. In addition, using the Clinical Biopsychological Model, two specific interpersonal relationship patterns, Givers vs. Takers, are discussed along with how these patterns vary with regard to the socialization dominance continuum and common relationship issues. A new schema for the treatment of mental health disorders (e.g., such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD) and relationship issues is presented. In addition, detailed information is provided in the course appendices to guide clinicians interested in integrating these brain-based psychotherapy techniques into their assessment, conceptualization, and treatment of clients.
This is the newest addition to HFO’s Neuropsychology category, just one of our more than 20 topic categories in our extensive library of over 100 online CE courses for mental health professionals.
1. Georgi, H., & Glashow, S. l. (1974). Unity of all elementary-particle forces. Physical Review Letters, 32, 438-441.
2. Stricker, G. (2013). An introduction to psychotherapy integration. Independent Practitioner, 33, 81-84.
3. Cozolino, L. (2010). The neuroscience of psychotherapy: Healing the social brain (Norton series on interpersonal neurobiology). New York: WW Norton & Company.
4. Ecker. B., Ticic, R., & Hulley, L. (2012). Unlocking the emotional brain. New York: Routledge.
5. Moss, R. A. (2010). Clinical Biopsychology: Could A Grand Theory Actually Exist To Allow True Psychotherapy Integration? Independent Practitioner, 30, 67-71.
Michelle Rodoletz, Ph.D., HealthForumOnline, http://www.healthforumonline.com, +1 (215) 887-6669, [email protected]
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