Being Seen & Dopamine: The Neurobiology of Vitality & Recognition

with Diana Fosha, PhD

A 2 hour video seminar originally presented in Lexington, MA on April 8, 2016.


Dopamine plays a central role in motivation, new learning, and memory reconsolidation.  It also underlies the zest and exuberance fueling play and exploration, as well as the vitally important felt sense of aliveness. Yet the role of dopamine in trauma treatment, especially in the treatment of dissociation, has not yet been explored. In this course, Diana Fosha does just that. She unfolds her original, cutting-edge understanding of how recognition and the exploration of glimmers of core self can make a powerful contribution to the treatment of dissociation, systematically harnessing dopamine-mediated experiences.

In this course Fosha reviews the neurobiology of vitality and the importance of recent advances in the understanding of the neurobiological core self (Damasio, Panksepp), and its being intimately linked with dopaminergic pathways. Together with AEDP work on the co-creation of relational safety and recognition processes (Fosha), these constitute powerful elements for a neurobiologically based psychotherapeutic process that aims to work with dissociative phenomena. It is how, in the course of trauma processing, vitality and energy can be brought into the previously depleted system. Feelings of exuberance and curiosity and the motivation to act on behalf of the self are dopamine mediated experiences and they can power both new learning and greater memory reconsolidation. You will also be able to understand how recognition processes can be used to bypass the experience of fragmentation of self. By making the most of experiences marked by “the click of recognition,” therapists can help clients who usually rely on dissociative mechanisms to access, even if briefly, a new “whole self” experience accompanied by positive affect.


Meet the Presenter

Diana Fosha, PhD

Diana Fosha, PhD, is the developer of AEDP™ psychotherapy, a healing-based, transformation-oriented treatment model. And she is Founder and Director of the AEDP Institute. For the last 20 years, Diana has been active in promoting a scientific basis for a healing-oriented, attachment-emotion-transformation focused trauma treatment model. Fosha’s work focuses on integrating positive neuroplasticity, recognition science and developmental dyadic research into experiential and transformational clinical work with patients. Her most recent work focuses on promoting flourishing as a seamless part of the AEDP therapeutic process of transforming emotional suffering. Drawing on affective neuroscience, attachment theory, mother-infant developmental research, and research documenting the undreamed-of plasticity in the adult brain, AEDP is an experiential clinical practice which reflects the integration of science, (Read More…)


Fees, Credits and Registration:

$60
$50  Members only (must be logged in)

Upon completing registration you will be given the link and a password to a protected website page where you can watch the 2 hour seminar video online at any time.
Please do not share this link or password


Only paid seminar registrants will be eligible to purchase CE credits through R. Cassidy Seminars.

This is a pre-recorded on-demand Distance Learning Video, which is considered a home study course. If you would like to earn 2 CEs for the course a test must be taken after watching the video.

There is a $15 fee associated with taking the test to earn your certificate. Upon completing the video there will be a link to take the test for CE.

Listed below are the continuing education credit(s) currently available* for this recorded On Demand Training. Each local and National professional board has its own specific Rules and Regulations for Continuing Education Credit Approval and Acceptance. Check with your State Regulatory board if you have questions or concerns not clarified by the information provided below. If your profession is not listed, please contact your licensing board to determine your continuing education requirements and check for reciprocal approval. For other credit inquiries not specified below, please contact our CE and Registration Partner, R. Cassidy Seminars Karen Newell, karen@rcassidy.com, 866-992-9399 x 105 before the event.

*Individual Board Rules are subject to change

The NYSED has asked its providers to remind New York Licensees that only 12 Home Study contact hours are allowed per license renewal period. The remainder of your required contact hours must be live courses.

Satisfactory Completion
Participants must have paid course fee, submitted signed verification statement, completed evaluation, and completed post-test with passing grade of 75% in order to receive a certificate. Failure to complete and submit these materials will result in forfeiture of credit for the entire course. No exceptions will be made. Partial credit is not available.

Psychanalysts
NY: R. Cassidy Seminars is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychoanalysts. #P-0005.  2 clock hours.

Social Workers
CA: The Board of Behavioral Sciences has deferred CE course ASWB for its licensees. See those approvals under Psychologists and Social Workers
NY: R. Cassidy Seminars is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0006. This program is approved for 2 contact hours self-study.
OH: R. Cassidy Seminars is an approved provider by the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board for 2 clock hours, #RCST110701

Counselors/Marriage and Family Therapists:
Other States: If your state is not specifically listed, nearly all state Counselor and MFT boards are reciprocal with other state licensing board approvals, such as those listed below. Check with your board to be sure. The Ohio Board includes Counselors and MFTs.
IL:  R. Cassidy Seminars is approved to offer continuing education to Marriage and Family Therapists by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation provider #168000141.  2 Continuing Education Credits/Hours.
NY-LMHCs:R. Cassidy Seminars is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board of Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0015. 2 contact hours.
NY-LMFTs:R. Cassidy Seminars is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board of Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists. #MFT-0011. 2 contact hours.
OH: R. Cassidy Seminars is an approved provider by the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board for 2 clock hours, #RCST110701
TX: R. Cassidy Seminars is approved by the Texas Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists to provide CE offerings for MFTs.  Provider Number 151.  2 Continuing Education Credits/Hours.

Creative Arts Therapists
NY: R. Cassidy Seminars is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board of Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed creative arts therapists. #CAT-0005. 2 contact hours.

Disability Access –If you require ADA accommodations please contact our office 10 days or more before the event. We cannot ensure accommodations without adequate prior notification.

Please Note:Licensing Boards change regulations often and while we attempt to stay abreast of their most recent changes, if you have questions or concerns about this course meeting your specific board’s approval, we recommend you contact your board directly to obtain a ruling.

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