We cannot find peace in restlessness. How the neuroscience supports psychotherapeutic practice

Abstract

In this article, I explore how some of the more recent developments in the neuroscience based understanding of human brain and body functioning both illuminates and underpins aspects of psychotherapeutic practice. Psychotherapists have accumulated much wisdom about people and their relationships, based on observation and fine-tuned feedback from therapy practice. Psychotherapists have always known that relational stress and high levels of arousal impact intimate communication in difficult relational moments – it slows information processing, makes it harder to read facial cues and makes it more likely we become preoccupied with our own affective state, along with a self-defensive impediment to listening. Our increased knowledge of these brain and body states helps to guide the therapist and client to effective action. It is my contention that systemic training needs to include human physiology and anatomy as a core part of learning.