Research has shown that nonspecific factors such as relationship and personality have a stronger correlation to outcome than method. The basic argument of Through Windows of Opportunity is that skilled psychotherapists do similar things while describing them differently, and that psychological healing is created in the context of relationship. This book presents the work of four therapists: Peter Levine from the USA (working with with Somatic Experiencing on trauma states); Jukka Makela from Finland (with Theraplay, working with disorganized attachment); Haldor Ovreeide from Norway (with a therapeutic conversation in a disrupted son-mother dyad); and Eia Asen from the London Marlborough Clinic (with systemic and mentalization-based family therapy working on a dependent attachment pattern). The closing chapters of the book summarize the high points of the discussions among the four therapists about nonspecific but shared aspects of their interventions, moderated by the authors.

Research has shown that nonspecific factors such as relationship and personality have a stronger correlation to outcome than method. The basic argument of Through Windows of Opportunity is that skilled psychotherapists do similar things while describing them differently, and that psychological healing is created in the context of relationship. This book presents the work of four therapists: Peter Levine from the USA (working with with Somatic Experiencing on trauma states); Jukka Makela from Finland (with Theraplay, working with disorganized attachment); Haldor Ovreeide from Norway (with a therapeutic conversation in a disrupted son-mother dyad); and Eia Asen from the London Marlborough Clinic (with systemic and mentalization-based family therapy working on a dependent attachment pattern). The closing chapters of the book summarize the high points of the discussions among the four therapists about nonspecific but shared aspects of their interventions, moderated by the authors.

Reveals how meditation can be used for emotional growth, releasing trauma, and accessing inner wisdom Drawing on her 25 years of research into brain development as well as decades of meditation practice, psychotherapist Marianne Bentzen shows how neuroaffective meditation--the holistic integration of meditation, neuroscience, and psychology--can be used for personal growth and conscious maturation. She also explores how the practice can help address embedded traumas and allow access to the best perspectives of growing older while keeping the best psychological attitudes of being young--a hallmark of wisdom. She explains that there is a sequence to emotional maturation, just as there is for the development of cognitive or athletic skills, and details the central developmental processes of childhood and adolescence and the adult stages of psychological development. She then explores the biopsychological effects of meditation on the human brain, including how it affects us at the autonomic, limbic, and prefrontal levels. The author shares 16 guided meditations for neuroaffective brain development (along with links to online recordings), each designed to gently interact with the deep, unconscious layers of the brain and help you reconnect to yourself, your relationships, and the world around. Each meditation explores a different theme, from breathing in "being in your body" to feeling love, compassion, and gratitude in "the songs of the heart" to balancing positive and negative experiences in "mandala." The author also shares a 5-part meditation centered on breathing exercises designed to balance your energy. Presenting an authentic, stepwise approach to spiritual growth, emotional maturation, and brain development, this guide explains the science behind neuroaffective meditation and offers detailed practices for a truly personal and ever-evolving experience of inner wisdom and growth.

'Essence of Mind' outlines the author's approach to Dzogchen, the natural primordial state of human consciousness that is timeless and untouched by suffering. He describes different methods for pointing out the essence of consciousness and the techniques related to them. Then he outlines key principles of a training system suited to Western students that can lead to realisation. The final section outlines the significance of continuous exercises, and describes the way spiritual practice slowly permeates daily life.

Contributions from early childhood educators, teachers, psychologists, music therapists, occupational therapists, and psychotherapists highlight the crucial role that early relationships and interactions in group settings play in the development of children's personal, emotional and social skills. The book features the latest research and methods for successfully encouraging the development of these skills in groups of children aged 4-12. It explores how play within children's groups can be facilitated in order to foster emotional and empathic capacities, how to overcome common challenges to inclusion in schools and introduces practical, creative approaches to cultivating a sense of unity and team spirit in children's groups.