Introduction to theHuman Givens Approach

Investigation of Human Nature shows that nature anticipated human creativity often

by millions of years

How the brain functions:-Three parts of brain

• Reptilian•Limbic

•Neo-cortex

Objectives To increase awareness of the

‘neuropsychological’ basis of the human condition - ‘what makes us (& others) tick’

To better understand behaviours as coping mechanisms, a way of ‘controlling’ emotions

To develop ideas for practical strategies and options for ‘ways forward’

To understand the potential for the Human Givens approach

‘To fall into a habit is to begin to cease to be’

Miguel de Unamuno

‘It is more important to know the person who has the disease than

it is to know the disease’ Sir William Osler

Outline Introduction:

Basic emotional needsBrain function and pattern-

matching (what makes us tick)

The REM state (dreaming and learning)

The significance of anxiety & depression

Practical implications for more effective care and support

Basic emotional needs

To give & receive attention The need for intimacy The need for social connection to the

wider world The need for meaning, purpose and

goals The need for status & emotional

connection The need for creativity & stimulation The need for a sense of autonomy and

control

Resources Complex, long-term memory Ability to empathise & connect with

others Imagination A conscious, rational mind (left brain) To understand the world unconsciously

through metaphor and pattern-matching (right brain)

An ‘observing self’ (the ability to ‘step back’ – frontal lobe activity)

A dreaming brain

About the brain ... Skills are based on knowledge - innate or

learned Primitive vs. evolved brain function The brain works principally through an

infinitely rich pattern-matching process Emotion comes before thought; all thought is

‘fuelled’ by emotion The higher the emotional arousal, the more

primitive the emotional/mental pattern that is engaged

= locked attention….PTSD…… can’t think our way out of a situation…..….why CBT is limited in trauma

‘A.P.E.T’

A activating agent

P pattern-matching

E emotion

T thought

The role of the ‘amygdala’ in everyday life(the ‘danger sensor’….real or imagined)

Symptoms of Clinical DepressionDiagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

Five or more of the following (inc. either of the first two) for a period of two weeks = major depression

Depressed mood Loss of pleasure or interest in usual activities Disturbance of appetite Sleep disturbance Psychomotor retardation or agitation (apathy or

restlessness) Loss of energy Feelings of worthlessness/guilt Difficulties in thinking Recurrent thoughts of death/suicide

‘Attributional style’ and depression

‘Black & white’ (‘perfectionist’) thinking and the way we make sense of the world …the ‘meanings’ we attribute to events….

How personally we take events How pervasive we view events to

be How permanent

we think an event is

REM & dreaming ... Instinctive templates programmed

during REM in foetus and neonate - incomplete templates

Activation of instinct-driven pattern deactivated by carrying out behaviour - impractical

Dreaming - metaphorical translations of waking introspections

REM - internally focused trance state (attempt to complete template)

The Cycle of Depression

Setback + too much emotion + pessimistic/perfectionist outlook = catastrophising!

Emotional arousal = ‘black & white’ thinking = more emotion = less ‘intelligent’ thinking

Excessive introspection = more pressure on dreaming process (= distorted REM sleep) = physical exhaustion & more depression ...

Problem-Focused Cycles

What is the problem?

I/we have a problem

Who/what is causing it?

Blame

Less co-operation

Less emotional energy

Less change

Solution-Focused Cycles

What do we see as being the answer?

Notice the solution

happening

Who/what helped?

What did you

do?More co-operation

More emotional

energy

More change

Ways Forward … I

Separate the person from the problem

Lower emotional arousal- define something relaxing ...- diaphragmatic (‘7/11’) breathing- muscle tension/relaxation- formal ‘trance’ induction

Ways Forward … II

Awareness of ‘nominalisations’ Reflective re-framing

(‘widening, deepening and enriching existing patterns of perception’)

Use language which presupposes positive change

Reframing

How to look at something differently Use of language Use of story Telling the story in the third person

(Thus breaking the trance/emotional arousal/black and white rigid thinking)

Ways Forward … III

Evidence change - ‘SUDS’ (‘subjective units of distress’ scale!)

Rehearse success: set a goal and agree a strategy - at every opportunity

Metaphor & storytelling Humour!

a holistic view...

Working Definition of Insanity …

Doing the same things day after day

and expecting things to be different tomorrow ...