Affective Neuroscience in Psychotherapy

Most psychological disorders involve distressful emotions, yet emotions are often regarded as secondary in the etiology and treatment of psychopathology. This book offers an alternative model of psychotherapy, using the patient's emotions as the focal point of treatment. This unique text approaches emotions as the primary source of intervention, where emotions are appreciated, experienced, and learned from as opposed to being regulated solely. Based on the latest developments in affective neuroscience, Dr. Stevens applies science-based interventions with a sequential approach for helping patients with psychological disorders. Chapters focus on how to use emotional awareness, emotional validation, self-compassion, and affect reconsolidation in therapeutic practice. Interventions for specific emotions such as anger, abandonment, jealousy, and desire are also addressed. This book is essential reading for clinicians practicing psychotherapy, social workers and licensed mental health counselors, as well as anyoe interested in the emotional science behind the brain.

Dr. Francis L. Stevens works as a psychologist in Worcester, MA. He has taught a variety of classes in psychology and neuroscience. His research focuses on affective neuroscience applications to psychotherapy.

Part I Introduction and Scientific Background 1.The Need for a New Approach to Therapy 2. Affective Science 3. Affective Neuroscience Part II The Practice of Clinical Affective Neuroscience: Emotion-Based Interventions 4. Emotional Awareness/Mindfulness 5. Emotional Validation 6. Self-Compassion 7. Understanding Emotion 8. Emotional Regulation/Coping with Emotion 9. Working with Specific Emotions 10. Notions of Self 11. Affect Reconsolidation 12. Conclusion