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Amanda Lenox Amanda Lenox

Who is Harry guntrip?

Harry Guntrip's work heavily influenced psychoanalytic thought and theory. His work continues to influence psychoanalysts and psychotherapist’s today.

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Amanda Lenox Amanda Lenox

Who is Ronald Fairbairn

Ronald Fairbairn was a Scottish psychiatrist and psychoanalyst who played a crucial role in developing the Object Relations Theory of psychoanalysis.

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Amanda Lenox Amanda Lenox

Unlocking Calm with Polyvagal Exercises

In a society that often feels overwhelmingly chaotic, finding balance and calm for our mind and body can be a challenge. Fortunately, understanding the role of our nervous system can lead to profound changes in our well-being. Enter polyvagal exercises—a series of practices designed to help regulate the nervous system, providing a pathway to peace and resilience.

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Amanda Lenox Amanda Lenox

Mastering Patience: Understanding What We Can Control and How to Use Time Effectively

In today's fast-paced world, impatience is a common trait. The desire for instant gratification can often lead to frustration when things don't go our way. However, understanding that we cannot control outcomes but can use our time effectively is crucial. This mindset shift not only reduces stress but also empowers us to focus on what truly matters.

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Amanda Lenox Amanda Lenox

Fostering Open Dialogue: Expressing Needs and Encouraging Communication in Relationships

Spotnitz highlights that relationships require effort, understanding, and communication. To maintain a healthy partnership, it's important to be transparent about your needs—and to help your partner do the same. This blog encourages expressing yourself effectively and fostering a supportive environment for open dialogue that works to understand the dynamics in the dyad.

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Amanda Lenox Amanda Lenox

Inspired Action vs. Acting Out: Understanding the Difference

In the realm of self-improvement and personal development, actions are pivotal. They shape our paths, define our successes, and often determine our failures. But not all actions are created equal. Two common types of behavior that often get confused are inspired action and acting out. Understanding the difference between these can make a significant impact on your personal growth and mental well-being.

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Amanda Lenox Amanda Lenox

Gradual Progress in Therapy: Why Slow and Steady Wins the Race

Therapy is often misunderstood. People sometimes believe it's about plunging into the deepest recesses of their minds right from the start. They come in for one or two sessions, expecting to unearth all their hidden traumas and achieve quick fixes. But therapy is not about going deep fast and suddenly; it's a gradual process.

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Amanda Lenox Amanda Lenox

Why It's Okay to Repeat Yourself in Therapy

When it comes to therapy, many people worry that bringing up the same topics over and over again is a sign of failure or lack of progress. However, this couldn't be further from the truth.

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Amanda Lenox Amanda Lenox

Beyond Therapy: Gratitude as Your Daily Pillar

In a world filled with constant stressors, finding moments of peace and contentment can feel like a herculean task. While therapy sessions provide invaluable support and metabolization, the benefits of practicing gratitude extend beyond the therapist’s office.

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Amanda Lenox Amanda Lenox

The DSM is Not as Good as the PDM

There's a growing sentiment among psychoanalytic lovers, mental health professionals, psychology students, and psychiatry enthusiasts that the DSM may not be the best tool available.

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Amanda Lenox Amanda Lenox

Building Self-Confidence in the Face of Doubt

In the labyrinth of our minds, doubt often emerges as one of the most persistent and challenging obstacles. For mental health enthusiasts and anyone striving to improve their well-being, learning to eliminate doubt is a crucial step towards building a healthier, more confident self.

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Amanda Lenox Amanda Lenox

Can a psychoanayst practice polyvagal theory?

Yes, a psychoanalytic therapist can use polyvagal theory (PVT) knowledge in their work. PVT is a collection of psychological, neuroscientific, and evolutionary constructs, that relate to the vagus nerve's role in fear response, emotion regulation, and social connection. 

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Amanda Lenox Amanda Lenox

Schore Insights: Delving Into the Work of Allan Schore.

Allan Schore is a clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist who has made significant contributions to the field of attachment theory, developmental psychology, and neuropsychology. Some key takeaways from his work include:

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Amanda Lenox Amanda Lenox

The Resilient Brain: Building Strength in the Prefrontal Cortex

Resiliency, the ability to recover quickly from difficulties, is a crucial trait to build as it enables people to manage stress, overcome challenges, and maintain mental well-being. In "The Emotional Life of Your Brain," Richard Davidson discusses building more resilience by stimulating the prefrontal cortex, namely on the left side (Schore, 2015).

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Amanda Lenox Amanda Lenox

Exploring the Intersection of Polyvagal Theory and Psychoanalysis

Mental health is a complex tapestry woven from various threads, each representing different theories and approaches. Among these, Polyvagal Theory (PVT) and psychoanalysis are two strands that offer profound insights into human behavior, emotions, and relationships. In this post, we will explore how these theories intersect and complement each other, providing a richer understanding of mental health.

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Amanda Lenox Amanda Lenox

How Psychoanalysts Shaped the Development of Polyvagal Theory

While Porges' work is interdisciplinary and draws from multiple fields, he has consistently acknowledged the significance of psychoanalytic thought in shaping his ideas about early attachment, emotional regulation, and the autonomic nervous system.

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