The Healing Power of Emotion is a new 7-hour home study CEU course that draws on cutting-edge neuroscience to better understand emotion.

Clinicians have long debated the exact nature of the essential elements that bring about successful healing in psychotherapy. How do we regulate emotion in a healthy way? How can we foster environments that are conducive to positive relationships and optimal health? Specifically, how can we use our emotions to heal and mend emotional injuries? This course is an exploration of how we regulate our bodies, form healthy connections with others, and mend emotional ruptures when they occur.

We are “hardwired to connect with each another, we connect through our emotions,” say the authors. The unique aspect of this course is in the mix of leading neuroscientists, developmental psychologists, therapy researchers, and clinicians who work together to illustrate how we can regulate emotion in a healthy way. A variety of emotions, both positive and negative, are examined in detail, drawing on both research and clinical observations. Just as emotionally traumatic events can tear apart the fabric of family and psyche, the emotions can become powerful catalysts for the transformations that are at the heart of the healing process.

“It is not often that a book with such broad and far-reaching implications for success in psychotherapy comes along,” says Leo Christie, PhD, President and CEO of Professional Development Resources. “Sadly, it is rare for us to see professionals in the areas of neurobiology, physiology, and psychotherapy come together in a collaboration of this magnitude. When we work in a splintered fashion, it is easy to miss the big picture, such as the one that emerges in this extraordinary volume. We are, after all, biological beings, and it makes perfect sense that physical and emotional functions are inseparable from each other.”

The Healing Power of Emotion includes chapters on such topics as reciprocal influences between body and brain, the communication of sympathy and meaning, and possible answers to the essential question – What is emotion? Included also are examinations of the role of emotion in energy and vitality, pleasure and desire, emotion and mindfulness, and emotion in intimate relationships. Chapters focus on specific clinical applications with case examples, including work with individuals, couples, and families.

According to the authors, “our brains, bodies, and minds are inseparable from the emotions that animate them. Emotions are at the nexus of thought and action, of self and other, of person and environment, of biology and culture… Specific emotions include love, joy, pain, fear, anger, gratitude, grief, care, closeness, awe, shame, excitement, agony, passion, and compassion. At one end of the continuum, we find extreme emotional states such as helplessness, terror, despair, and immobility; at the other, faith, enthusiasm, curiosity, tenderness, aesthetic wonder, ecstasy, wisdom, awe, vitality, and even transcendence.”

The psychotherapies described in this course are moving beyond exploration of pathologies to the transformative experiences where joy, new energy, and delight become possible; that and helping people regulate their dysregulated nervous system. Learn more @ https://www.pdresources.org/course/index/6/1156/The-Healing-Power-of-Emotion

Professional Development Resources is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists; by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) to offer home study continuing education for NCCs (Provider #5590); by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB Provider #1046, ACE Program); by the National Association of Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC Provider #000279); by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (#PCE1625); by the Florida Boards of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling (#BAP346) and Psychology & School Psychology (#50-1635); by the Illinois DPR for Social Work (#159-00531); by the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker & MFT Board (#RCST100501); by the South Carolina Board of Professional Counselors & MFTs (#193); and by the Texas Board of Examiners of Marriage & Family Therapists (#114) and State Board of Social Worker Examiners (#5678).

What customers are saying:

“Wow–what a rich book! However, don’t expect to get through this book quickly (you won’t want to) because it’s chock-full of useful information. It is complete with up-to-date research presented by some of the most cutting edge scientists/clinicians.”

“I loved this book. It is an extraordinary 5 star buffet of articles by cutting edge neurobiology researchers and psychotherapy clinicians, a who’s who in the field. Both the articles on the brain and psychotherapy are consumately well written, and clinical articles have great case illustrations. The psychotherapies described here are moving beyond exploration of pathologies to the transformative experiences where joy, new energy, and delight become possible; that and helping people regulate their dysregulated nervous system. This book is a weaving together of two disciplines that demonstrate what this new frontier looks like. If you have one book to buy — make it this one.”

“The book is a fascinating collection of papers–all connected, yet each with its own distinct flavor reflecting the unique expertise of the individual author. As a clinician who does not have a neuroscience background, I found the book both accessible and highly relevant to clinical practice. I have read these authors separately so am thrilled the meta perspective presented explicitly in the introduction, as well as the weaving together of the concepts that occurs throughout the chapters.”

“I’m really impressed with the level and quality of material in this course. I come to your organization for this high-quality and have yet to be disappointed. Thank you!”