Inside your client's brain: neurobiology of depression and trauma
A course for psychologists and psychotherapists
The delicate machinery of the brain is the material link between the physical world and our reality as we experience it.

Psychotherapy alters the clients' subjective reality and behaviour, and the processes behind these changes are hidden as much from the eyes of the therapist as of the client.
Inside your client's brain: neurobiology of depression and trauma
A course for psychologists and psychotherapists
The delicate machinery of the brain is the material link between the physical world and our reality as we experience it.

Psychotherapy alters the clients' subjective reality and behaviour, but the processes behind these changes are hidden as much from the eyes of the therapist as of the client.
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Do you help your clients change their behaviour, thoughts and emotionals states?
Do you aim to keep up-to-date with the scientific basis of psychotherapy?
Do you explain to your clients how the brain works and would like to know more?
In this course we will explore:
• Neurobiological basis of depression and trauma
• How psycotherapy changes the brain
• How to explain these processes in simple language to your clients, in order to increase confidence and motivation to work.
6-8th of June 2022
Seven live webinars
(+ recordings permanently accessible)
Help to make complexity intelligible
Games

Help you blend neurobiology with your experience
Set of cards for clients

Help to explain to clients what happens in the brain
Six live webinars
(+ recordings permanently accessible)
Make complexity intelligible
Two games
Help you blend neurobiology with your experience
Set of cards for clients
Help to explain to clients what happens in the brain
White matter of the human brain. (Visualization made by prof. Derek Jones (Cardiff University))
This course was made for you if...
You work with clients with depression and trauma
You can't stop wondering how the 86 billion neurons in our brains create the whole variety of human behaviour
You love deep dives - getting to the core of the problem



Program
Pleasure, motivation and the neural circuitry of anhedonia
Anhedonia is not just a loss of pleasure. We shall review the brain systems that evaluate how good or bad something is, how the brain learns from experience and how it makes predictions about the future. Disruptions of those brain circuits can lead to anhedonia. We will overview the studies that unravel the brain changes underlying successful psychotherapeutic treatments.
Neurobiology of “malignant sadness”: mood, ruminations and cognitive symptoms

What changes in the brain make a person sad? What kind of malfunctions create the basis for cognitive symptoms of depression? What brain networks are most important for psychotherapy of depression?
Serotonin, neuroplasticity and antidepressants
Antidepressants restore the structure and function of certain brain areas. Their actions are mediated by serotonin. What exactly do they do? Depression is a chronic disorder which requires extended treatment, but how come ketamine-like substances can profoundly alter a client's mood in just a few hours? We will explore the ways antidepressants work on their own, how they increase the effectiveness of behavioral interventions and discover the similarities between antidepressants and physical exercise.
Transforming memories: imagery rescripting, exposure therapy and EMDR
The strength of connection between brain cells can be altered - this is one of the mechanisms of memory. As new experiences alter the strength of connections, previously unassociated groups of brain cells become a single ensemble. Recollecting past events makes that memory changeable, malleable. But in which circumstances? Can one erase memory? We'll talk about memory formation and transformation in the context of traumatic memories and techniques used to work with them - imagery rescripting techniques, EMDR and exposure therapy.
Neurobiology of trauma
In this lecture, we will focus on psychological trauma in adulthood and childhood. We will explore what brain networks are implicated in trauma and continue the conversation about the treatment mechanisms of traumatherapy.



Dissociation
Dissociation is one of the least understood phenomena related to the mysteries of personality and consciousness. In this lecture, we will explore what is known about the neurobiology of dissociation.
Pleasure, motivation and the neural circuitry of anhedonia
Anhedonia is not just a loss of pleasure. We shall review the brain systems that evaluate how good or bad something is, how the brain learns from experience and how it makes predictions about the future. Disruptions of those brain circuits can lead to anhedonia. We shall overview the studies that unravel the brain changes underlying successful psychotherapeutic treatments.
Neurobiology of “malignant sadness”: mood, ruminations and cognitive symptoms
What changes in the brain make a person sad? What kind of malfunctions create the basis for cognitive symptoms of depression? What brain networks are most important for psychotherapy of depression?
Serotonin, neuroplasticity and antidepressants
Antidepressants restore the structure and function of certain brain areas. Their actions are mediated by serotonin. What exactly do they do? Depression is a chronic disorder which requires extended treatment, so how comes ketamine-like substances can profoundly alter a client's mood in just a few hours? We will explore the ways antidepressants increase the effectiveness of behavioral interventions and discover the similarities between antidepressants and physical exercise.
Transforming memories: imagery rescripting, exposure therapy and EMDR
The strength of connection between brain cells can be altered - this is one of the mechanisms of memory. As new experiences alter the strength of connections, previously unassociated groups of brain cells become a single ensemble. Recollecting past events makes that memory changeable, malleable. But in which circumstances? Can one erase memory? We'll talk about memory formation and transformation in the context of traumatic memories and techniques used to work with them - imagery rescripting techniques, EMDR and exposure therapy.
Neurobiology of trauma
In this lecture, we will focus on psychological trauma in adulthood and childhood. We will explore what brain networks are implicated in trauma and and continue the conversation about the treatment mechanisms of traumatherapy.


Dissociation
Dissociation is one of the least understood phenomena related to the mysteries of personality and consciousness. In this lecture, we will explore what is known about the neurobiology of dissociation.

Ekaterina Vinnik, MD, PhD

  • Neurobiologist, MD, PhD in cognitive neuroscience


  • Lecturer, speaker at international conferences


Since her first years of medical school, neuroscience has been providing the most satisfying answers to Ekaterina's important questions about life, universe and cognition. Brain studies are inseparable from studies of behavior, and studying human behaviour naturally grew into an interest in cognitive technologies and a coaching practice.
Ekaterina Vinnik
MD, PhD

  • Neuroscientist, MD, PhD

  • Discovered an auditory illusion, author of scientific papers on systems neuroscience and neurobiology of sensory perception

  • Lecturer, speaker at international conferences in Latvia, England, Portugal and Russia

"... Since the first years of medical school, neuroscience has been providing the most satisfying answers in my quest to understand human nature, life, universe and everything. Brain science is inseparable from behavioral science, and studying them naturally grew into an interest in cognitive technologies and a coaching practice."
Participants of the course receive:
New insights about the brain
Materials for explaining how psychotherapy works on the level of the brain
Brain Coping Cards - cards for clients about the brain and the effects of psychotherapy
Opportunity to reflect on their experience in the light of scientific data
Example of Brain Coping Card
New insights about the brain
Materials for explaining how psychotherapy works on the level of the brain
Brain Coping Cards - cards for clients about the brain and the effects of psychotherapy
Opportunity to reflect on their experience in the light of scientific data
Brain Coping Cards - These are cards are the size of a credit card. On the back, the clients can write down instructions for action.
Reviews
More reviews here
Participation options
Participation options

Attention: these are not separate courses, these are options for participating in the same course :)

Attention: these are not separate courses, these are options for participating in the same course :)
"Karl Wernicke"
Listen
  • Seven live lectures online
  • Recordings and slides permanently available to participants;
  • Course exercises;
  • Group work: reflections of other participants on their experience in the context of neuroscience bring additional insights;
  • Course certificate*
75 € 95 early price

Register
"Peter Anokhin"
Systematize
  • Same as " Karl Wernicke" plus:
Six weekly sessions exploring course materials in depth in a small group meeting once a week with the lecturer

159 €

Register
"Paul Pierre Broca"
Tell others
  • Same as "Peter Anokhin" plus:
  • Throughout the course, you can develop neurobiological part of your own course/training/book, relying on the help of the lecturer. To know more about this format see the link below.
308 €
More information
"Karl Wernicke"
- Listen -
  • Seven lectures online;
  • Videos and slides permanently available to participants;
  • Course exercises;
  • Group work: reflections of other participants on their experience in the context of neuroscience bring additional insights;
  • Electronic certificate*
75 € 95 € early bird price


Register
"Peter Anokhin"
- Systematize -
  • same as "Wernicke", plus:
  • Six weekly sessions exploring course materials in depth in a small group meeting once a week with the lecturer

159 €

Register
"Paul Pierre Broca"
- Tell others -

same as "Anokhin", plus:

  • Throughout the course, you can develop neurobiological part of your own course/training/book, relying on the help of the lecturer. To know more about this format see the link below.
308 €
More information
How does the course work?
Lecture block: 6-8th of June 2022

Following 6 weeks:
Every week we go through a part of the material. The course materials and exercises are published, participants share their thoughts and we discuss the material in depth.

If you want, you can watch all the seminars at your own pace. Participants can ask questions after watching the webinars, and I will answer them in the group. They will also be able to access recordings of webinars and sessions of answers to questions at any time. Course materials (slides, recordings of webinars, tasks, cards for clients) will remain accessible to participants. There's an option of participating in small group discussions every week where we go over the material, play mini-games about the brain and practice talking about the brain using the Brain Coping Cards for clients. Example of course materials can be found here.

Webinars and recordings
The course takes seven weeks. After the initial block of live webinars (2.5 hour a day, June 6-8th, 2022), every week we focus on a particular topic. The course takes place in a private Facebook group. The link will be shared via an email.

Q&A sessions
Participants are welcome to ask questions during all the live sessions and following weeks.


Dates of the course
June 6-8th 2022 ; + the follow up 6 weeks


Exercises
The exercises help participants connect neuroscience concepts to their own experience so one can take exactly what is needed from the course. Most of the participants choose to share their exercises in a group, which created a nice atmosphere, but it's also possible to send them over by email.

Certificates
Certificates can be issued if a participant completed 80% of the exercises. For the paper certificate, it will be sent to the participant by mail.

*in the Wernicke option, an assistant will track the exercises done.

Course extras
Throughout the course, participants can create a mini-lecture on a chosen topic. Topics are of participant's choice and can go well beyond the scope of depression and trauma. For example, if you especialize or would like to especialize in working with OCD, during the course you can add materials about neurobiology of OCD to your basic materials. More details



Learn more about the course here
Frequently asked questions
- When is the start of the next course?
- 7/03/2022

- My background is humanities, not any sort of biology. Would the course suit me?
- Yes. The course was made for people with a background in psychology.

- I'm afraid it will be difficult
- It will be interesting and complex, but clear. No special background knowledge is needed for this course.

- What do the exercises of the course look like?
- The exercises help participants to blend neurobiology with practical experience. There are no quizzes, only thought-provoking questions. Working in a group with other participants provides support, inspiration and food for thought.

- What kind of certificate is given after the completion of the course?
- The certificate of participation is a confirmation that the participant listened to the webinars, completed exercises and thus delved into the details of the course. The certificate is not from any particular institution, it is signed by author of the course. It looks nice on the wall, and It is a good achievement reminder :)
- I practice a particular form of psychotherapy. Will the course be useful for me?
- Any effective psychotherapy changes the brain. The course sheds light on a wide range of methods, including, but not limited to cognitive behavioral therapy, EMDR, IFS and psychodynamic psychotherapy.

- What if I don't like it?
- Within the first week of the course the participants are eligible to full refund (minus the payment system's fee). The materials of the first week of the course will remain with you.

- I am not a psychologist, but I am very interested. Should I join?
- I believe that knowing how the brain works is important for people finding their way out of depression and trauma experience. This course is designed for psychologists and psychotherapists, but most of my lectures and courses have been and will continue to be open for people who are simply interested.
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