The Modern Therapist's Survival Guide with Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy

What is Our Fascination with Anything Vaguely Neuroscience?


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What is Our Fascination with Anything Vaguely Neuroscience?

Curt and Katie chat about our profession’s fascination with neuroscience. We explore the myths about the brain, why therapists lean on neuroscience (even when they really shouldn’t), and how “neuro” is misused and can actually be harmful to our clients.   

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about neuroscience

Curt has started to get frustrated with all of the ways that neuroscience is misused. Curt is frustrated with the ongoing use of “neuro” information that may be myth.

What are the most common neuromyths?
  • Humans only use 10% of our brains
  • Left/Right Brain preference
  • Learning style (i.e., auditory, visual, or kinetic learners)
  • If you don’t drink enough water, your brain will shrink
  • Why do therapists often privilege “neuroscience” over everything else?
    • The fascination with brain scans
    • The belief that explanations including neuroscience are more effective (even if they are not)
    • Interest in data and the scientific explanations
    • The Misuse of “Neuro” to increase the credibility of other concepts
      • The “neuroscience” of the power of attraction
      • Overusing neuroscience explanations for interventions that don’t help
      • The potential for clients to feel incompetent due to trying to access parts of the brain versus understanding the interventions in a basic and complete manner
      • Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

        We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

        Article: The Seductive Allure of Neuroscience Explanations by Deena Skolnick Weisberg, Frank C. Keil, Joshua Goodstein, Elizabeth Rawson, and Jeremy R. Gray

        Article: Dispelling the Myth: Training in Education or Neuroscience Decreases but Does Not Eliminate Beliefs in Neuromyths by Kelly Macdonald, Laura Germine, Alida Anderson, Joanna Christodoulou and Lauren M. McGrath

        Article: Brain Images Make Cognitive Research More Believable

        Article: Neuroscience and education: myths and messages

        Article: Brain images make the article seem more reliable

        The manifested article that has not been vetted for scientific accuracy, but I can’t believe I found it: The Neuroscience of The Secret

        Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

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        Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

        Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

        Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

        Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/

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        The Modern Therapist's Survival Guide with Curt Widhalm and Katie VernoyBy Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT

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