Neuroscience for counsellors: practical applications for counsellors, therapists and mental health practitioners

290 Pages·2014·1.299 MB·English

by  Wilson, Rachal Zara

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If you are looking to reinvigorate your practice and enhance your understanding of
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clients’ needs, this is the perfect place to start. Rachal Zara Wilson provides jargon-
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free explanations of all the latest discoveries in neuroscience and offers guidance on
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how to put this knowledge to practical use in the therapy room. She covers a range
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of psychological and neurological diagnoses, from Bipolar Affective Disorder to
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attachment and addiction, and includes recommendations backed by neuroscience E
for how to maintain optimum mental health. N
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‘For a rich and pluralistic perspective on how neuroscience informs counselling
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practice, this is an exceptional book. Firstly, it draws on a range of psychotherapeutic
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theories, including cognitive behavioural, narrative and creative approaches; secondly,
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it takes a uniquely holistic view. Finally, this book offers some practical applications

of neuroscientific findings from first-hand experience of therapy, and a very useful C
glossary to explain scientific terms.’ O
– Jeannie Wright, Director of Counselling and Psychotherapy U
Programmes, University of Warwick, UK
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‘This superb resource presents new discoveries in the field of neuroscience that will
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help counsellors make a difference in their work with clients. Accessible, practical L
and timely, this beautifully written book is underpinned by the author’s belief that L
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change is possible. Her palpable humanity lies at its heart.’
– Nan Blanchard, Counsellor, Wellington, New Zealand R
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‘In this work, Rachal Zara Wilson has made the complexity of neuroscience research
accessible to practising counsellors, seamlessly weaving in the evidence base at the
same time. She then manages to distil practical strategies for counselling practice
that are at once readable, logical and understandable. Neuroscience for Counsellors
is essential reading for experienced counsellors and students alike.’ NEUROSCIENCE
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– Brent Gardiner, Postgraduate Programme Leader, Counselling A
and Guidance, Massey University, New Zealand C
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Rachal Zara Wilsonpractises as both a Counsellor and a Social Worker for Family

Z COUNSELLORS
Works Northern, Auckland, NZ, and is currently working with children as well as adults. for
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Jessica Kingsley Publishers S
73 Collier Street O Practical Applications for Counsellors,
London N1 9BE, UK N
Therapists and Mental Health Practitioners
400 Market Street, Suite 400
Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA
www.jkp.com
Cover design: Black Dog Design

Neuroscience for Counsellors
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Neuroscience
for Counsellors
Practical Applications for
Counsellors, Therapists and
Mental Health Practitioners
Rachal Zara Wilson
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
London and Philadelphia
First published in 2014
by Jessica Kingsley Publishers
73 Collier Street
London N1 9BE, UK
and
400 Market Street, Suite 400
Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA
www.jkp.com
Copyright © Rachal Zara Wilson 2014
Illustrations copyright © Pagan Tawhai 2014
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material
form (including photocopying or storing it in any medium by electronic means and
whether or not transiently or incidentally to some other use of this publication)
without the written permission of the copyright owner except in accordance with the
provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 or under the terms of a
licence issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd, Saffron House, 6–10 Kirby
Street, London EC1N 8TS. Applications for the copyright owner’s written permission
to reproduce any part of this publication should be addressed to the publisher.
Warning: The doing of an unauthorised act in relation to a copyright work
may result in both a civil claim for damages and criminal prosecution.
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Wilson, Rachal Zara.
Neuroscience for counsellors : practical applications for
counsellors, therapists and mental health
practitioners / Rachal Zara Wilson.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 978-1-84905-488-1 (alk. paper)
1. Neurosciences. 2. Mental health counseling. I. Title.
RC341.W56 2014
616.89--dc23
2013032691
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 978 1 84905 488 1
eISBN 978 0 85700 894 7
For my children and my grandchildren,
who I will love forever,
no matter where or what.

Contents
Chapter 1 Introduction 11
About this book 11
Personal factors 13
A field in its infancy 15
Integration of complexity 16
Where does counselling fit in? 17
Classification systems 19
Making a difference 19
The challenge of new knowledge 20
A cultural note 22
Interconnection 23
Chapter 2 Plasticity and How the Brain Works 24
Plasticity and BDNF 24
Neurons that fire together wire together 28
Plasticity/rigidity paradox 31
Damage to the brain 33
Gene transciption 35
Myelination and white matter 40
Left brain/right brain 42
Chapter 3 Learning and Memory 45
Learning and attention 45
A map of ourselves 53
Memory 57
False memory 68
Memory and self 74
Chapter 4 Other Workings of the Brain 80
Mirror neurons 80
Emotion 93
Attachment 97
Addiction 104
Stress 112
Chapter 5 Specific Dysfunctions 117
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder 117
Dissociation 124
Depression 130
Bipolar Affective Disorder 140
Anxiety 145
Attention Deficit (Hyperactive) Disorders 153
Autisic spectrum disorders, including Aspergers 162
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Tourette’s syndrome 173