I feel fortunate to be a psychotherapist in this day and age. Aside from the change we and our clients can report anecdotally, there is increasing evidence to support the potential for true change within the brain via the therapeutic relationship. I’m no expert in neuroscience and relationships – but am excited about the notion that people’s brains can be rewired within their intimate relationships and within the therapist-client relationship.
In the “Clinician’s Digest” section of the November/December 2009 issue of Psychotherapy Networker, Garry Cooper discusses a study led by psychiatrist Jakob Koch of Christian-Albrechts University in Kiel, Germany suggesting that “effective psychotherapy with depressed clients is associated with changes at the brain’s cellular level,” increasing the production of a key brain protein that assists in creating neural pathways. In this study they used Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) which looks through the lens of both cognitive and interpersonal issues. It would be interesting to know how other theoretical orientations would fare.
There is a lot known about the power of oxytocin (the hormone of love) to bond people together but oxytocin can also be an ally to encourage therapeutic change. According to Linda Graham, MFT and trainer on the integration of relational psychology, mindfulness and neuroscience, it is “the neurochemical basis of the sense of safety and trust that allows clients to become open to therapeutic change.” It was a class I recently took with Linda, “The Neuroscience of Attachment,” that left me feeling so inspired about the implications of this in my practice. As a therapist, it’s nice to have something solid and research-based to hang my hat on.
Daniel Siegel, MD, one of the pioneers in this field has been saying for years that there is potential for the growth of new brain cells via relationships. I remember seeing him speak at a conference about five years ago but got derailed somehow and didn’t follow up on any further research on the matter. I’m glad to have made my way back to these concepts so I can further learn how to provide the most fertile soil possible for therapeutic change within the four walls of my own psychotherapy office.
The power of the “relationship” is not to be underestimated. Important relationships can do monumental damage – or they can facilitate profound healing. Many psychotherapists have known that the therapeutic relationship is one that can provide a “safe container” for emotional and psychological healing. Many of us believe that by providing a stable, nurturing model of something “different,” there is the potential for a corrective experience that the client can integrate into his life.
Now we know there is the potential for changes within the brain as well — which is only more encouragement for the lasting, deep shifts that we hope for our clients — and they hope for themselves. Perhaps the commonly held belief that “people can’t change” will finally, truly be a thing of the past.
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6 Comments to
“Can Therapy Really Change Your Brain?”
Yes! Yes! Yes! It’s about time. I very much believe in this because I am quite sure it happened with me. The relationship can be very healing.
probably very little change in comparison to meditation or the influence of someone in a higher state of consciousness, i.e. a guru …
huge literature about this in the “eastern” parts of this planet..
We know that early experiences have a profound effect on later behavior. Complex Trauma’s effects on later development and functioning are but one example. Effective treatments must take these factors into consideration. For example, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, which is an evidence-based, effective, and empirically validated treatment addresses many of these issues through the creation of a sensitive, attuned, responsive therapeutic relationship.
I read the same report in the NETWORKER, which took pains to point out that this is a correlative, as opposed to a causative, relationship:
“Koch’s study can identify only an association between IPT and increased pCREB production and can’t definitively state that IPT caused the increased production. But those whose depression wasn’t alleviated by IPT showed no increase in pCREB.”
http://www.psychotherapynetworker.org/magazine/currentissue/689-clinicians-digest?start=1
It is certainly possible that those whose pCREB production increased were those in the study who responded to the therapy. Far more research is needed, including explanations of relapses of depression even in those under psychotherapeutic care.
Go forth, researchers, and do thy thing!
Beth – Nice to hear you had such a good experience with your therapist!
Gregory – Yes, the power of meditation is undeniable – as a solitary experience (and resonating with the group). Relationship experiences can also be incredibly healing. Not sure how the two would compare – and if they really can be.
Dr. Becker-Weidman – I’m not personally familiar with Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy – but I might do a little exploring. Thanks for sharing the info.
TGP – Thanks for noting that. More research is certainly needed!
Anyone who supplies the information ‘happily married’ in their public profile is either a) too pollyanna for me to possibly relate to or b) lying.
Which one are you LB?
(Both is a possibility)
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Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 25 Nov 2009
