Therapy Changes Your Brain Structure

Experiences change our brains. Not just in some vague way, but the structures and functions of our brains.

It’s true that our earliest experiences cast the longest shadows on our lives. But we can still heal and change our brains in positive directions throughout our lifetimes.

Yes, medications affect brain function directly, but “talk” therapy can also change your brain. For example, the more you practice thinking in a certain way, the more it becomes automatic.

If you were raised with conditioning (traumatic experiences, chaotic or abusive household) that led to depressive and anxious thoughts, you can practice new ways of thinking that will help to re-condition your brain. This is certainly not to say “just think cheerful thoughts and everything will be fine.” This is about targeting certain patterns of thoughts that you may not even realize you experience.

Thoughts are not the only part of your mental conditioning that can be re-trained, but they are often a good place to start.

Even severe conditions such as schizophrenia can show improvement in brain functioning through “talk” therapy, as research continues to show.