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Cognitive
Restructuring
Cognitive
restructuring
has been proven to
enhance various
aspects of emotional
and cognitive
changes sought
throughout the
process of eating
disorder
psychotherapy.
Interesting and
entertaining
exercise/puzzles
created by expert
and author Donalee
Markus, PhD offer
participants
alternative
opportunities to
create remediated
cognitive systems,
while offering new
options and
perspectives for
problem
differentiation,
problem-resolution
and a more realistic
self perspective.
Dr. Markus offers
the following
description of her
work and its
benefits for people
with eating
disorders.
“Designs
for Strong Minds is
a cognitive
restructing program
that changes the
structure and the
function of the
brain. A myriad of
carefully designed
exercises, puzzles,
and games strengthen
alternate neuro
pathways which alter
the brain. The
participant alters
their perception
which changes self
perception,
attitudes and
behavior.
My work is part of
the new science of
“teachable
intelligence.”
In the past 25
years, I have had
the wonderful
opportunity to work
with a wide spectrum
of clients. This
includes
post-traumatic head
injuries, children
with learning
disabilities,
corporate
executives,
individuals with
eating disorders,
the aging
population,
eating
dysfunction
and for the past six
years, NASA’s top
scientists. My
in-house laboratory
has allowed me to
explore and create
programs that alter
the mind—literally.
The explosion of
recent research from
all areas of
neuroscience is
consistently
pointing to the
benefit and
importance of mental
exercise throughout
our entire lives.
Norman Doidge MD has
written a wonderful
book which details
the theoretical
framework and the
science that
validates neuro-plasticity
. Visual imagery
puzzles spark the
construction of new
connections between
brain cells. These
new connections
provide enhanced
critical thinking
skills and build
"brain reserves" to
maximize
intellectual
behavior and the
capacity to learn.
These brain reserves
allow the individual
to alter their
behavior and even
combat the
destructive effects
of the aging
process.
There are two
equally important
parts of my work.
There are the tools
and there is the
treatment-mediation.
The most effective
kind of teaching,
and subsequent brain
restructuring is
mediation. The
mediator is a kind
of external frontal
lobe, selecting and
highlighting what is
significant while
downplaying or
concealing what is
distracting.
The paper and pencil
puzzles are the
tools I use during
mediation. I have
created over 10,000+
exercises that are
organized
progressively,
around different
logical structures.
This arsenal of
tools allows me to
choose exercises
that address
specific weaker
areas of the brain.
It is our weaknesses
that hold all of us
from maximizing our
intellectual
potential and the
capacity to learn.
The puzzles are not
merely optical
illusions. To solve
them the learner has
to visualize the
conditions that make
some answers logical
and others
illogical. In this
way the learner
experiences both the
depth and breadth of
neurocognitive
restructuring.
For more information
about Donalee Markus
Ph.D. and her
programs
about
the new science of
teachable
intelligence and
emotional
intelligence please
visit
www.DesignsforStrongMinds.com
and
www.dsmexercises.com
(free exercises
available at these
websites).
Abigail Natenshon,
MA LCSW, GCFP is a
psychotherapist who
has specialized in
the treatment of
eating disorders
with individuals and
families for the
past 36 years.
Natenshon is the
founder and director
of Eating
Disorder Specialists
of Illinois, and
the author of When
Your Child Has An
Eating Disorder: A
Step-by-Step
Workbook for Parents
and Other Caregivers.
For free resources
or to have Abigail
speak at your next
parental or
professional group
go to
http://www.empoweredparents.com
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