Dive into the brain science behind EMDR with Dr. Jennifer Sweeton, a neuroscientist-turned-psychologist. In this webinar, explore the neuroscience of trauma and treatment, focusing on key brain areas like the amygdala (“The Fear Center”), hippocampus (“The Memory Center”), and prefrontal cortex (“The Thinking Center”).

Learn how trauma memories consolidate incorrectly, creating rigid, fragmented neural networks that are easy to trigger but hard to change. Dr. Sweeton will explain how EMDR restructures these networks, making them less dangerous and more adaptive. Understand the role of neuroplasticity in healing, including Hebb’s Rule—“neurons that fire together wire together”—and practical ways to boost neurogenesis through exercise and diet. This session offers a foundational understanding of why EMDR is effective, empowering you with brain-based insights to enhance your trauma treatment. 

What You’ll Learn:

1. Understand Trauma’s Neural Imprint:
   Gain insight into how traumatic memories are stored and maintained in neural networks, influencing emotion, cognition, and behaviour long after the original event.
2. Explore EMDR’s Neurobiological Mechanisms:
   Examine how eye movements and dual attention stimulate adaptive information processing, supporting the rewiring of trauma-related pathways in the brain.
3. Integrate Neuroplasticity into Trauma Treatment:
   Learn how to harness the brain’s capacity for neuroplastic change through EMDR to promote healing and restore healthy affect regulation.
4. Bridge Research with Clinical Application:
   Translate cutting-edge neuroscience findings into practical strategies for EMDR sessions, enhancing client outcomes and building confidence in evidence-based practice.

Agenda:

Lecture & Chat-Based Q&A (60 min): Explore how trauma alters the brain and why EMDR works to rewire fear-based neural pathways. Learn about key brain regions, neuroplasticity, and how EMDR promotes healing by reshaping memory networks.