So, our brain is the most complex organ in our bodies. We house 14-16 billion neurons in our thinking brain. Each cell carries neurochemical signals from one to another, giving action to our thoughts and feelings. Many signals are automatic, where our bodily functions operate. Many also are targeted by our conscious thought. These are the signals in our brains that we can control…that we can change.
          Actually, changing your brain neural pathways is the positive outcome of counseling and psychotherapy. Mentalligent psychotherapy is a means of getting there.
For example, let me give voice to 10-year-old Brandon’s brain. His 7-year-old brother, Jordan, got home from school first and started gaming on their desktop computer. Brandon saw (prefrontal cortex, vision) what his little brother was doing. “Hey,” he thought, “He’s messing with my stuff (transfer to the hippocampus for memory comparison) just like he always does. Well, (hippocampus sorting) he won’t get away with it this time (hippocampus choosing fight option). I’ll show him (transfer to the amygdala, firing up anger).” Brandon then stomped over to the computer, yanked Jordan out of his chair, and shouted, “My turn, twerp. Get lost (transfer to the prefrontal cortex, analysis, poor executive function, verbal and tactile responses).”
         Now, fast forward 20 years, and Brandon is addressing his anger management issues in outpatient psychotherapy.
“You know,” he begins to recount with his therapist an exchange he had had with a coworker, “this new hire, Davidson, has only been with our marketing firm for a month. We were discussing re-hashing ideas for a new ad campaign at the water cooler yesterday morning. I came up with an original approach, and we joked and laughed about how well it might be received in the staff meeting.”
         “Well,” Brandon continued, “don’t you know that later that very afternoon, during our staff meeting, this jerk pitched my idea without giving me any credit, and the boss loved it (prefrontal cortex, auditory).”
            “Wow! How did you handle that?” I asked.
           “Well, I’ll tell you what I wanted to do (transfer to hippocampus). I wanted to jump across the table, wrap my hands around his neck, and choke the truth out of him, that it was my idea and he was taking credit that was meant for me (hippocampus sorting, 10-year-old memory flashed, fight option, transfer to the amygdala, rage chosen, transfer to the prefrontal cortex, analysis, unhealthy executive functioning, visual, auditory, tactile response).
         “Now, instead, I heard his bootlicking (prefrontal cortex, auditory), took several deep breaths (transfer to hippocampus, freeze option), gave myself a pep talk (transfer to the amygdala, reassurance, calm, commitment to change), and smiled at Davidson across the table (transfer to the prefrontal cortex, analysis, healthy executive functioning, visual, tactile response).”
      This therapeutic outcome, borne out of multiple sessions of mentalligent psychotherapy, sheds light on how concerted therapeutic intervention can generate new neural pathways for specific circumstances, the expression of neurogenesis.
              Over time, and with much concerted practice, the former neural pathways wither for lack of use. The new ones strengthen, generating reinforcement, and then they thrive as the new normal for the patient.
          In my book, The Healing Journey: Overcoming Adversity on the Path to the Good Life, I share with you the process of changing your brain to reach your goals.
Blessings,
Jon

​Blessings come in all shapes, sizes and forms. While the reference has a spiritual connotation, generically a blessing is a positive spin on an event that benefits you in some way.
          My patients seek me out in part because they are dealing with extreme and confusing emotions, life-altering trauma, or relational issues and are just out of sorts. I have even had some folks tell me they feel cursed. So, my job is to help them find the blessing in their upside- down life.
          Mentalligent psychotherapy (MPT) is my vehicle as they travel the path of their healing journey. I tell folks that I’m not a “why” doctor. I’m not going to just help them feel better. I’m not going to just help them get over their difficult past.
          Rather than “Why did this happen to me?”, I’m a “what” doctor, not a “what” doctor. “What’s going on here? Over what can I exercise control? What’s the path forward?” Universally, we have no control over events that have happened to us. However, we have every control over how we respond to them. I assure folks that I will act as their guide on their healing journey, helping them make positive, self-affirming, better choices and creating their own good life.
          “So, Robert, I’m glad you made this first appointment with me. How can I help?” I started his first session with me. From the jump I want to be affirming. My subliminal message to him is simply, “I can help.”
          “Well, Doc, I’ve been battling depression, it seems like my whole life,” Robert exhaled deeply slumping his shoulders and casting his gaze downward.
          “You certainly seem to be at rock bottom,” I responded with empathy, and then continued. “Tell me how your depression has impacted you today.”
          “Well, let’s see,” Robert paused to put his thoughts together. “The alarm went off and I slammed it and threw it across the bedroom. I then went back to sleep, ending up being late for work. My boss tapped his wristwatch as he silently passed me in the hall. I thought, oh crap, here we go again.” Robert fell silent.
          “Wow!” I exclaimed. “Rough start for the day.” I paused thoughtfully, “I’m going to ask you something that may be farthest from your mind, so take a moment before you answer me.”
          Robert took a deep breath and, letting it out slowly he replied, “Okay…Let me have it.”
          “For just a moment, and just for me for now, tell me something, however small or remote, that happened today that gave you a small sliver of hope that your life is not completely going to hell in a hand basket.”
          He sighed again, sitting quietly before joking sarcastically, “You don’t ask for much, do you?” I gave him time to think.
          “You know, I didn’t ask nor expect Carol to pop in my office and offer me a cup of coffee later this morning. That was nice.”
          I leaned forward in my chair before acknowledging, “Great! Good for you, Robert. Take that coffee with a heartfelt thank you every time it’s offered.” I then concluded, “Ya know, a wise man once told me that what you pay attention to grows. Pay attention to the bad, it grows. Pay attention to the good, and it grows. Which do you think is going to help you lift your weighty depression?
          In my new book, The Healing Journey: Overcoming Adversity on the Path to the Good Life, I introduce mentalligent psychotherapy to elegantly weave together mindfulness, positive psychology, and cognitive behavioral strategies to help patients change their life course from downward spiraling to upward spiraling. Robert began his first session with me by telling me part of his downward spiraling life story. I asked him to stay in the moment (“tell me something that happened today…”), change his focus to something positive (“that gave you a sliver of hope…), and find the good (grow it) as a cognitive behavioral strategy.
          MPT is an elegant strategy to help your patients find the blessing on their path to the good life.
Blessings,
Jon

​To those who live life on the edge, your world can be exciting, adventurous, exhilarating, but also exhausting, addicting, and overwhelming. Always on the lookout for the next greatest thing. Be careful or it might pass you by. Relaxing, enjoying the moment, chillin’ are not on your mind. On balance, do the positives outweigh the negatives? I don’t think so.
          Many years ago, my father imparted powerful wisdom to me, which he borrowed from Greek philosophers. The golden rule of Greek philosophy was this: Moderation in all things.
          In our newer world of counseling and psychotherapy, this golden rule has become the mantra of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). In my new book, The Healing Journey: Overcoming Adversity on the Path to the Good Life, I introduce mentalligent psychotherapy (MPT). Most adversity that we encounter involves some version of living on the edge. With MPT, we challenge the extremes that are filtering into our client’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Albert Ellis, with his rational emotive therapy first identified the importance of extreme words to our emotional health. Later, Donald Meichenbaum expanded the lexicon with cognitive behavioral therapy.
          So, what extreme words and beliefs put us living life on the edge? Such words include should, could, must, need, only, ever, never, and the like. You can see how these words limit the options to our responses.
          “Doc, you just don’t understand. I have to knock three times at every door I enter. “If I don’t bad things will happen,” my patient concluded after explaining an anxious situation to me.
          “Well, Matt, I see how your conclusions put you in a mental box.”
          Matt wrinkled his brow, not really knowing what I meant. I continued. “What would happen if you only knocked twice each time?”
          “What do you mean?”
          “Well, would your heart stop?”
          “No, that’s silly.”
          “Not to you, Matt,” I countered. “That box is so tight around you that you might suffocate if you don’t knock three times.” I saw Matt begin to hyperventilate and began a calming sequence with him.
          As Matt regained his composure, I concluded, “Now, Matt, I’m not suggesting that you give up your irrational ritual altogether. Start slowly. Every once in a while, why don’t you knock only two times and see what happens. Make it a personal experiment before you decide to moderate your behavior.”
          “Okay, I’ll give it a try,” Matt reluctantly conceded.
          The goal of CBT is moderation. With MPT, I use mindfulness and positive psychology along with cognitive behavioral strategies to reach that goal.
          When you step away from the edge and embrace moderation, you develop the possibility of changing your trajectory from downward spiraling to upward spiraling. You start your healing journey toward overcoming your adversities and finding better stress management and a stronger sense of resilience.
Blessings,
Dr. Jon