How To Become A Neuro-Physio-Psycho Therapist

• Three part (online) course video psychotherapy course approved for 6 hour of CEU’s
• Presenter: Beatriz Sheldon, LMHC (see below), Co-Creator of Complex Integration of Multiple Brain Systems Psychotherapy

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Complex Integration of Multiple Brain Systems Psychotherapy or CIMBS is a neurobiological and psychotherapeutic paradigm. In order to operationalize this paradigm we have developed treatment strategies and procedures to harness the power of neuroplasticity enabling the patient’s mind to change the structure of their brain. The term Neurophysiopsychotherapy describes the methods and strategies for providing treatment within the CIMBS paradigm. 

Neuro- refers to our active interventions to maximize neuroplasticity for long-term learning and also includes specific interventions to activate multiple neurotransmitters to facilitate the therapeutic process.

Physio- refers to our observations of psychophysiological phenomena for assessment and to adjust our therapeutic process, and to physiotherapy for the Brain Mind. The goals are both to strengthen those capabilities and to release (open up) emotional constraints from early neglect and/or trauma. Physio- treatments are also experiential, embodied and repeated many times in order for them to develop new adaptive neural circuits.

Psycho – refers to our focus on multiple psychological brain systems (Care, Fear, and so on) and on meeting the psychological needs of our patients (self-esteem, mastery and so on).

Therapy- refers to the therapeutic treatment we are providing moment by moment. 

The concepts included in Neurophysiopsychotherapy are very large so we have divided it in three parts. Each part will be about 2 hours each.

PART ONE : (2 hours)
This course will introduce you to three concepts:
• Neuro-Physio-Psycho-Therapy – see description above
• Building Resilient Brain Systems 
• Introduction to Brain Systems Dysfunctions

Resilient Brain Systems
The brain is made up of a hierarchy of individual neurons, circuits and systems. Brain systems are highly evolved, distinct neural circuits of such universal importance for survival that they where built into the brain independently to help us meet our needs to survive and thrive. In this course we will be introducing the concept on how we work directly with this neural circuits and how we can help in the integration of the neural networks building Resilient Brain Systems. Resilient Brain
Systems contribute to the fast pace and success of CIMBS A Resilient Brain Systems will help your patients to keep their equanimity even in the midst of multiple external stressors such as triggering situations and internal stressors such as anxieties, defenses, and grief from the death of love ones etc. Facilitating the development of Resilient Brain Systems could harness various forms of neuroplasticity to increase the efficiency and efficacy of your therapy.

Introduction to Brain Systems dysfunctions 
After years of experimentation, we have discerned that there are at least three types of brain system dysfunctions: Hyperactive, Hypoactive and Hyperconnected. These dysfunctions where caused by trauma and neglect in the first years of life. These Brain Systems dysfunctions can cause constraints in the BrainMind and may be the source of symptoms: Observing the psychophysiological phenomena will give you clues to reveal which brain systems may be hyperactive, hypoactive, or hyperconnected.

PART TWO: (2 hours)
In part two; we will delve more deeply into how to work with the Brain Systems Dysfunctions and how to do the Differentiating, Training and Integrating of these Brain systems in order to build Failsafe Neural Networks. A Failsafe Network is made up of multiple resilient and complex integrated brain systems that can process large amounts of emotional energy and information, especially in a crisis. Using an electric power grid analogy, these systems all function “in parallel”. When one or more of these brain systems shuts down or gets triggered, the other integrated brain systems are able to assume the load of energy and information. Complex Integration of Multiple Brain systems can provide your patients with a Failsafe Network.

PART THREE: (2 hours)

Horizontal and Vertical Differentiation of Brain Systems 
In order to learn about Horizontal and Vertical differentiation there will be an introduction on the extensive neurobiological research of Panksepp. He describes three levels of emotional processing in the central nervous system (Tertiary, Secondary and Primary levels). Each level of processing occurs in different brain structures. Horizontal Differentiation, refers to Facilitating, Differentiating, and Integrating one or more brain systems but limited to the same level of the nervous system and mental processing. For example, you may simultaneously Differentiate and connect the Attention, Awareness and Authority Brain Systems. All of these brain systems are on the tertiary level of the nervous system and mental processing. To illustrate these let’s look at the depressed patient. Often with depressed patients, the secondary level brain systems of fear, shame, guilt and grief are all tangle up within themselves in undifferentiated way. So much so, we could say that there is an “entangled ball of neural networks”.

It is often difficult to work with depressed patients because first we will need to differentiate in a horizontal way the secondary level brain systems from each other; the fear from the shame, the shame from the guilt and or grief, etc. In another example a patient with PTSD. The fear Brain system is hyperactive and it is also entangled with the shame, guilt and grief all together in an undifferentiated ball that we can call a trigger mechanism. In order to work with the PTSD patient we will need to do a Horizontal Differentiation first and that means differentiating the shame from the guilt and from the fear, and then proceed with a Vertical Differentiation.

COURSE HIGHLIGHTS
This course will emphasize the following:

1. Having clear knowledge about Brain Systems Dysfunctions will give you specific strategies when working with difficult patients and help smooth your therapy with emotions that are often turbulent.
2. Learning how to do Neurophysiopsychotherapy and following the neurobiological principles can help you be more precise and secure in yourself as a therapist.
3. Learning how to help build Resilient and Failsafe Neural networks will help you get unstuck and speed up your therapy to enable the successful completion of therapy.
4. Learning how to Horizontally and Vertically differentiate the Brain Systems can be a very useful treatment that emphasizes directing the therapeutic process towards facilitating the nervous system’s innate emotional resources.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

1. Participants will be able to explain how to help build Resilient Brain Systems.
2. Participants will be able to describe how to work with three Brain Systems Dysfunctions.
3. Participants will be able to describe how to do a Horizontal Differentiation.
4. Participants will be able to describe how to do a Vertical Differentiation.

The content of the course will include a mix of PowerPoint presentations by the presenter, new illustrations and video-recording of a session to illustrate the concepts.

CIMBS approach integrates recent neuroscience research on neuroplasticity, brain development, and therapeutic change. The Sheldons have been developing new teaching approaches to enable
therapists to incorporate (even embody) this wisdom into their own therapeutic work.

Our goal is to enable our patients/clients to become the author of their own lives, capable of making the best of any situation, continuously learning and growing to the full extent of the neuroplasticity of their brains and minds.

Course registration and fees: The course can be purchased from the website: complexintegrationmbs.com.

The cost of this 3-video training course is $290 and is eligible for 6 hours of Continuing Education Credit (CEUs) by completing a short post-course test.