Connection Therapy Podcast

Connection Therapy Podcast

This is a podcast about the craft of psychotherapy. We share research about the science and stories about the art of psychology. Together we explore topics so you can better understand psychology, and if you are a therapist, we share ways you might want to apply these findings to benefit your practice. Listen to the Connection Therapy Podcast today to broaden your skills and community.

Looking for something specific? We cover a wide range of topics, so we’ve created playlists to help you find what interests you.

Recent Episodes

Typical mental health interventions to support someone who is understood as “resistant” to making necessary changes include attempts to encourage and motivate the needed behavior modifications. However, for someone who is overwhelmed with fear, these interventions may further inhibit action. This episode considers the nonverbal communication signals that can assist mental health therapists in determining...
At this time of the year, it is common for patients to be interested in New Year’s Resolutions or other goals and aspirations. Mental health therapists are typically skilled in interventions to support crises and problems, but what about when things are calm for the moment and the main need is to observe and endorse...
It is so natural to want changes at this time of the year, and as mental health therapists we are very likely going to support someone with a significant change that makes them anxious. Knowing how to support their exploration of possibilities while intervening non-verbally can help keep the momentum going in a way that...
As mental health therapists, it is common to hear someone speak of New Year’s Resolutions or other big changes they hope to see in the New Year. The challenge is sometimes people are not fully bought into the anticipated changes, despite their discussions of wanting them to happen. Learning to view nonverbal signals, such as...
Brenda reflects on the highlights from the year on the podcast, including guest interviews and her own explorations. This year, episodes integrated the works of scholars including Stephen Porges, PhD and Jaak Panksepp, PhD, as well as reviewed many clinical research articles in the pursuit of improving the practice of mental health. As she reviews...
Kinsey Rone returns to the podcast for some reflections on the year. She and Brenda consider what interventions worked in their own practices. Brenda also shares feedback she has heard, particularly in the discussions across disciplines with the practice of equine-assisted services. And, the invitation is enthusiastically extended for listeners to share their feedback and...
This episode begins by normalizing difficulties over the holidays by sharing national statistics that demonstrate the commonness of this experience.  Supporting patients with concerns over the holidays can be a challenge, in part because of the difficulties themselves and also because of the strong tendency to isolate these concerns at this time.  Brenda then considers...
In this episode, Dr. Brenda Murrow goes back to one of the foundational studies in psychology that still has resonance today.  The Pygmalion or Rosenthal effect is from research that explored how when teachers viewed their students as having high-potential, the students did better.  It speaks to the uncanny experience that when we expect greatness...
Brenda continues the discussion about the research on mental health treatment with veterans, as referenced in earlier podcasts in order to assist practitioners in understanding the implications for practice.  She provides historical context to some of the current treatments for PTSD and invites consideration for future possibilities. Enjoying the podcast? There are now playlists for...
Dr. Brenda Murrow reflects on recent experiences of spending time with specialized professionals including interviewing Adam Magers, MA, LPC and presenting at the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH), International conference. In this episode, she shares an understanding about how to tie clinical practice to the existing research in support of veterans.  This is done...

Supporting Veterans Effectively with Adam Magers, MA, LPC – Episode #66

Adam Magers, MA, LPC joins the podcast to discuss his work with veterans, first responders, and frontline medical professionals.  He has experience both as a clinician and as a veteran receiving support, and he draws from both perspectives to share his expertise.  This unique and candid discussion offers many engaging insights, and is likely to widen your perspective on the treatment of veterans.

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What if Someone Does Not Want to Look at Themselves? – Episode #65

In this episode, Brenda reviews the links researchers found between self-disgust and avoiding self-gazing, in studies with both veterans and older adults.  While the research is nascent in the ability to make significant conclusions, it does seem to have implications for clinical practice, especially in light of all the other factors associated with gaze and eye-contact.  

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We Knew It! There are Connections Between Brains – Episode #64

As a mental health therapist, you probably have had the intuition that there is some type of shared experience between brains, in the therapy session, in a community setting, perhaps in the world.
Today’s research review confirms this notion and even opens up more possibilities in that it appears the shared connections are enhanced by cooperation and amplified with eye contact.

Episode Details

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