Research

I believe that science is a powerful tool that can help us better understand ourselves as human beings. I am passionate about finding ways research findings can be applied in real life to improve wellbeing. This means I deeply care about clinical translation, specifically with respect to science involving the brain. I created the below schematic representing a spectrum of translational neuroscience based on the different types of research conducted by scientists who share my enthusiasm for making brain science useful for improving people's lives. This effort was primarily motivated by the desire to better understand the different perspectives this research takes on and how they link to clinical work. I hope it can be helpful to others, too. Go here for the interactive version of the below schematic.

One of the things that stood out to me about this framework is that neuroscience-informed psychoeducation is a tool that is ready for application in the clinic but may not be frequently used by clinicians in everyday clinical practice. Motivated by this observation, I took the lead on writing an article for a Special Issue of the Behavior Therapist, an ABCT publication, which was organized by NTTR SIG leadership. In this article, Integrating Neuroeducation into Psychotherapy Practice: Why and How to Talk to Patients About the Brain, my co-authors and I discuss the value of neuroscience-informed psychoeducation when working with patients experiencing psychological distress.