Humans are stubborn. This applies not only to our personalities and opinions, but also to the way the brain functions. However, changing your brain’s functionality—through the process of creating new neural pathways—is often the key to achieving significant change in your daily life. The birth of new neurons and the forging of new neural pathways is known as neuroplasticity.
This process can be either adaptive or maladaptive; either way, it plays a major role in our understanding of Personality Disorders, Mood Disorders, Addiction Disorders, and other Mental Health Conditions. Consider the role of neuroplasticity in mental health treatment and how Licensed Clinical Psychologists can leverage neuroplastic changes to create permanent treatment models for patients.
What is Neuroplasticity?
Neuroplasticity encompasses a broad range of processes, including neuron formation, synapse formation and elimination, and dendritic remodeling. Neuroplasticity allows the brain to adapt to significant changes and challenges.
Neuroplastic changes can stem from many different events or obstacles. For example, any kind of brain injury or any kind of adverse impact on the brain functionality, including childhood neglect, childhood abandonment, and childhood trauma can weaken synapses and reduce dendrites, leading to weakened communication in that area of the brain. However, cognitive rehabilitation can restrengthen the brain by re-establishing connections and restoring functioning. Both of these situations are examples of neuroplastic changes.
Neural Pathways and Their Role in Mental Health
In the field of psychology, the study of how new neurons form, mature, and integrate in the adult brain is a promising one; it hints at the ability to create significant and lasting change regarding patients’ thought patterns, behaviors, and personality traits. By restructuring neural pathways, Licensed Clinical Psychologists can offer full, permanent recovery for clients with Mental Health Disorders. Furthermore, understanding how maladaptive neuroplastic changes occur gives psychologists deeper insight into how harmful thought patterns, associations, and behaviors develop in the first place.
Neuroplasticity as a Permanent Treatment Model
The ultimate goal of evidence-based treatment modalities is to not only treat Mental Health Conditions but to cure them entirely. The ability to help patients restructure their thought patterns and change associations on a neural level gives hope for permanent treatment and recovery. This is why treatment modalities that combine neuroplasticity and mental health treatment are so effective.
Cognitive Behavioral Treatment (CBT) is one of the most well-known examples of this type of treatment/treatment. Individuals living with Mental Health Disorders develop distorted thought patterns that harm self-esteem, sense of self, thought patterns, associations, initiative, motivation, relationships with others, and other aspects of daily life. The goal of CBT is to restructure those thought patterns and create stronger neural pathways that support healthier thoughts, associations, and behaviors. This form of treatment is particularly useful when addressing Personality Disorders, Mood Disorders, and Addiction Disorders, all of which have significant detrimental effects on an individual’s thought patterns and can weaken synapses and neural pathways.
Retraining the brain in this way takes time and effort. Patients must undergo significant learning and growth to form new neural connections and experience positive neuroplastic change. With complete patient treatment compliance and the expertise of a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, you can find thorough recovery and permanent treatment from the challenges and symptoms of your Mental Health Disorders.
When it’s time to seek help for your Mental Health Condition, choose a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who can offer scientific, evidence-based treatments and treatment modalities. Dr. Blair, a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in Irvine and its surrounding areas, offers expert treatment plans tailored to your unique situation and needs. Find the help you need when you reach out to Blair Wellness Group today.
