Applying Brain Research to Couple Therapy

ABSTRACT

Recent advances in brain research offer opportunities for developing greater insights and more impactful interventions to enhance therapy with couples. Research that has focused on exploring brain structure and the dynamic connection between emotional experiences and cognitive processes is presented. Based on these fascinating discoveries into individuals' emotional and cognitive reactivity to stimuli, existing assumptions regarding gender differences in emotion, impact of stress on interpersonal dynamics, and the process of remembering positive and negative memories are briefly presented. A new methodology for opening dyadic systems to change, referred to as emotional restructuring, is discussed and an example of applying this method to a clinical case study is offered.

Key Words:

• Brain research
• neuroscience
• neuropsychology
• couple therapy
• emotional restructuring
• rationality and emotionality