Neuroendocrine System and Epigenetics: Improving focus, stress, motivation, and trauma treatment

The convergence of research on the neuroendocrine system, the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) Axis, and epigenetics has led to new insights on stress. Chronic and acute use of our fight, flight, or freeze system creates changes in our brain that are related to mental health disorders in ways we’ve never understood as well as we do now.

This course will review new evidence in order to teach participants how to more accurately diagnose and enhance treatment techniques. This is a comprehensive course that will review research and breakthroughs provided by novel data as well as changing past misconceptions about our neuroendocrine system. Practice on more effective techniques of providing psychoeducation to clients will be provided. The course also focuses on understanding how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) shape our threat response and stress systems, hormones, prime us for how we experience and cope with stressful events, and more. The course will complete an overview of the most common questions and misconceptions people have about how our brain perceive and interpret stressors.

Learners will be prepared to respond to client questions and present information in digestible and useful terms that is clinically relevant. Case vignettes and clinical examples as well as educational videos will also be provided as discussion and practical application in the course. Useful videos and digital handouts will also be provided.

Course Objectives:

• Be able to identify the function of the HypothalamusBeable to identify the function of the Anterior Pituitary Gland
• Be able to identify the function of the Adrenal Cortex
• Be able to explain the interaction between the pieces of the HPA Axis.
• Be able to understand how past research on the HPA Axis informs care.
• Be able to understand how current research on the HPA Axis informs care including brain imaging information.
• Be able to explain the interactions between the HPA axisincluding negative feedback.
• Be able to provide psychoeducation on the HPA axis in verbal or visual format.
• Be able to understand purpose and function of HPA in formation of trauma
• Be able to understand how the HPA axis plays a role in the treatment of trauma

EPDC CE Hours: 5.5

Presenter: Leo DeBroeck

Leo DeBroeck, MS, LMHC, CMHS, MHP  received his BA in Psychology from Gonzaga University and his Masters in Psychology from Eastern Washington University.   Leo is currently a Child and Family Therapist at Sea Mar Community Health.  He is the Founder/CEO of Counselor’s Choice Award, LLC, and a Quarterly Faculty Member at Eastern Washington University, Bellevue where he teaches undergraduate and graduate classes and seminars. Mr. DeBroeck has written several articles and books about Suicide, Trauma, Abuse and Neglect, and children dealing with parental drug and alcohol dependency. Leo also has volunteered for Everett School District, Boy Scouts of America and Compass Health