Brain Bias: The Binary Nature of Filters & Associations, How They Interfere in Relationships, & Ways to Help

3 CEs Recorded: Spring, 2023

Sitting in front of you are a couple, locked in heated debate. Last Friday night, they attended a party together with about fifteen or twenty others. Both of them socialized the entire night, but when the evening was over, on the way to the car, one of them looks deflated and says, “No one talked to me tonight!”

The other is left dumbfounded after having watched their partner talk at length with most people there.

What is happening here?

The answer may surprise you. In many instances, this is a brain issue and not just a social one! The truth is, our brains are wired for safety & efficiency – NOT necessarily for accuracy. Various functions cause us to ignore certain info while paying attention to others or to tell ourselves stories that do not reflect the truth of the present moment.

In this session, we will approach this phenomenon from a practical vantage point, looking first at how the brain works with respect to language and social rules. We’ll see some common “brain faux pas” and end with learning some skills and techniques that will raise awareness and empower clients to gain more clarity in their relationships, therefore reducing tension, anxiety, and depression for many. We’ll also learn important ways to recognize the infiltration of past trauma into current-moment communication.

OBJECTIVES:

• Explain the binary brain and understand its impact on perception and communication
• Analyze top-down/bottom-up brain processing and how these collaborate to distort the stories we tell ourselves
• Acquire easy-to-teach and apply techniques to raise client awareness and empower them to make more accurate and healthy communication choices
• Recognize the four ways trauma impacts present moment situations and communication

EPDC CE Hours: 3

Presenter: Hannah Smith

Hannah Smith, MA, LMHC, CGP (She/Her), is the founder of Potential Finders Network and is a book author and blog writer, coach/consultant, international board-certified group leader, and nationwide trainer from the Seattle area. She has extensive study and practice in neuroscience- informed clinical treatment and is certified in Interpersonal Neurobiology by the Mindsight Institute. Her experience, both personally and professionally, in the US and abroad, has allowed her to develop multi-modal, culturally competent, cutting-edge & relevant training programs. Hannah guest lectures in academic, clinical, and corporate settings around the US and globally. She has developed an engaging presentation style, making the learning of difficult information both accessible and fun! Her passion is to educate others on practical, whole-person approaches to life with the aim of helping those she works with reach their greatest potential!