In a way, I am grateful for the experiences I had in Bedford Stuyvesant, because I was able to witness first hand what would later be described in natural family systems theory, cognitive behavior therapy and in the research of Martin Teicher, Harvard University “neuro-plasticity.” What I witnessed was: how life patterns are passed down the generations, how our perceptions cause us to respond to our environment, creating the response in others that we anticipate, and how environment actually creates the structures of our brain.

Yes, positive or negative experiences of children can change the structure of the brain. Depending on the experience of the child, they can either be prone to extreme reactivity (a short fuse, or the desire to runaway and hide, to avoid), or be calm and generous. A person who has the brain that generates extreme reactions is not necessarily locked into living a life of chaos and suspicion. They can be changed into someone who is calm and generous to self and others, using the techniques that I employ in my work as a psychotherapist.

My work with clients is based on: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Natural Systems Theory, and what I call "deep cognitive behavior therapy." It uses techniques of non-judgment, paying attention, and practicing awareness of personal intuition. Cognition tells you what you perceive. Intuition causes you to feel the truth of what you perceive. As Carl Jung said, “Feeling is the other half of knowing."

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