Enhance your practice as a South African psychologist with this talk on mindfulness and brain function for emotionally dysregulated clients. Dr. Ella Brent unpacks Daniel Siegel's 'Handy Model' to explain prefrontal cortex integration and emotional regulation. Learn practical mindfulness exercises to expand the Window of Tolerance and support families facing intense emotional interactions.
In the fifth and final module of the Emotionally Dysregulated Clients: Supporting Families series, Dr. Ella Brent offers a clear and accessible explanation of brain development and function across the lifespan, highlighting its relevance to emotional regulation and mindfulness practice.
Using Daniel Siegel’s “Handy Model of the Brain”, this video explores how the prefrontal cortex functions as the “conductor” of the brain - is responsible for integration and self-regulation. The concept of “flipping your lid” is used to illustrate what happens when integration is lost under stress. Dr. Brent provides practical mindfulness-based exercises to strengthen brain integration and expand the Window of Tolerance (aligned with DBT’s Wise Mind), offering invaluable support tools for both emotionally dysregulated individuals and their families.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this talk, participants will be able to:
Explain the role of the prefrontal cortex in emotional regulation using Daniel Siegel’s “Handy Model of the Brain.”
Understand the neurobiological basis of mindfulness and integration.
Apply simple mindfulness practices to strengthen self-regulation and expand the Window of Tolerance.
Equip family members with tools to remain grounded during emotionally intense interactions.