My Journey as a Doctor Treating Pain

What causes chronic pain when the area that hurts hasn't been physically impacted? We suspect that childhood trauma, adult trauma, prolonged exposure to opioids, and prolonged exposure to pain are just some of the triggers. We know that pills or surgery can't fix this — but behavioral therapy can...

Tips for Living the Life You Want

By Andrea Brandt - In this second part of a three-part series adapted from the upcoming book Mindful Aging: Embracing Your Life after 50 to Find Fulfillment, Purpose, and Joy, author and clinician Andrea Brandt looks at how to increase awareness of what brings you joy.

Treating Chronic Pain

Creating a Mindset to Have the Best Years Yet

By Andrea Brandt - In this first of a three-part series adapted from the upcoming book Mindful Aging: Embracing Your Life after 50 to Find Fulfillment, Purpose, and Joy, author and clinician Andrea Brandt looks at how to nurture realistic positivity past 50.

Trauma-Informed Meditation

It’s important to understand that traumatic experiences can significantly affect our perceptions and our sense of self, and can sensitize us to sensations, thoughts, and emotions. Fortunately, there are helpful ways to ensure that meditation instruction is trauma-informed, with an emphasis on grounding and physical…

Supercharge Change with Values

Living a values-driven life involves getting out of your head and stepping into the world. Help your clients define what their next steps will be with the Purposeful Life activity.

Oppositional Defiance or Faulty Neuroception?

Over the years I have come to believe that oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is not a label that should be used to describe young children. As a developmental psychologist, I view oppositional defiance as a child’s response to stress. Viewing children’s challenging behaviors on a continuum of stress and stress…

Lizard Brain: How it impacts EVERY trauma treatment plan

When a child with behavior challenges enters our office, we instantly go into teach mode to tell them how to change their behaviors. Why? Because we don't know what else to do.