Your brain in relationship therapy
A Guide to Interpersonal Neurobiology and Relationship Therapy
Interpersonal neurobiology (IPNB) is a multidisciplinary field that integrates insights from neuroscience, psychology, biology, and other disciplines to explore how relationships shape the developing brain and the mind. IPNB posits that the brain is a social organ, and that interpersonal interactions play a crucial role in shaping neural development, emotional regulation, and social behaviour.
What does IPNB consist of?
The main theoretical tenets of IPNB include the following:
The brain is a dynamic system that is shaped by experience and interpersonal interactions.
The mind emerges from the activity of the brain and is shaped by both the internal and external environment.
Relationships shape the development and functioning of the brain and mind.
The mind and body are intimately connected and influence each other.
Integration is a key aspect of healthy brain functioning, and a lack of integration can lead to dysfunction.
The main theorists in the field of IPNB include Daniel Siegel, Allan Schore, Louis Cozolino, and Bonnie Badenoch. These theorists have developed a range of interventions and techniques that aim to promote integration and healing in individuals and couples.
One example of an IPNB intervention is mindfulness meditation, which has been shown to promote neural integration and emotional regulation. Another example is the use of narrative therapy, which helps individuals to construct coherent narratives of their experiences and promote neural integration.
According to Allan Schore, "The brain is a social organ and the interpersonal interactions we have with one another shape the neural architecture of our brains." Similarly, Daniel Siegel states that "We are social creatures, and our relationships shape us in fundamental ways. Interpersonal neurobiology is about exploring how these relationships shape our brains and our minds."
PACT - an IPNB grounded approach to working with relationships
Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy (PACT) is a therapeutic approach that is based on the principles of IPNB. PACT is grounded in the idea that the mind and body are interconnected, and that healthy relationships require mutual regulation and integration. PACT focuses on helping couples to identify and address patterns of dysregulation and disconnection in their relationships.
In PACT, couples can expect to work collaboratively with a therapist who is attuned to their emotional and physiological responses. The therapist may use techniques such as eye gazing, staging, and physical touch interventions to help couples promote integration and connection in their relationship. Couples who may benefit from PACT include those who struggle with communication, intimacy, and emotional regulation.
IPNB offers a valuable framework for understanding the relationship between the brain, mind, and interpersonal interactions. Therapies that are based on the principles of IPNB, such as PACT, can help individuals and couples to become more skilled at attuning to and regulating themselves and each other and promote secure functioning, mutual regulation and more effective ways of managing their relationships.
….Read about our approach to relationship therapy.
References:
Schore, A. N. (2019). Right brain psychotherapy. Norton Professional Books.
Siegel, D. J. (2012). The developing mind: How relationships and the brain interact to shape who we are. Guilford Press.