Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Carlos Alvarez to the Restorative Works! Podcast.

 

Carlos speaks with us about right-brain restorative practices, which focuses on an individual's right-brain neurobiological and psychological capacity. These brain regions influence the balance of self-regulation and motivation. Carlos discusses the importance of self-regulation as it is necessary when addressing strong emotions and discomfort. These feelings may arise in times of conflict, highlighting the importance of understanding these neurological systems. To build relationships and trust, a sense of safety must be created. Safety positions the brain to be in an optimal position to embrace and contribute constructively to relationship-building conversations and restorative conferences where healing and restoration can occur.

 

Carlos has worked delivering comprehensive clinical forensic psychological services and is a pioneer of right brain restorative practices. He has developed a right-brain relationship quadrant model that highlights individual somatic cognitive self-regulation during conflict. This model is being used to help restorative practitioners around the world understand how to begin to heal while being sensitive to the individual's experiences that shape their brains. Carlos is the founder of the Los Angeles Institute for Restorative Practices, a research consulting institute designed to educate communities and officials on right-brain restorative practices. Carlos has presented around the world and trained hundreds of professionals in the implementation of social-emotional restorative systems.

 

Tune in to learn more about Carlos’s work and perspective on the future of right-brain restorative practices in the criminal justice system.