Counselor Toolbox Podcast with DocSnipes Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes

### Video Summary

**Title:** A Guide to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Counselors: What Works, What Doesn’t, and Why  
**Presenter:** Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes  
**Link:** [Watch the video](https://youtu.be/tlR6T5jTCkM?si=Jjn2Wicv0EqvXJ-V)

---

#### Introduction
- Explanation of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Importance of CBT and its impact on thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
- Overview of the session's structure: what CBT is, what works, what doesn’t, and why

#### Understanding CBT
- CBT focuses on the interaction between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
- Cognitive schemas: mental shortcuts based on past experiences
- Importance of checking and updating schemas as they may not always be accurate

#### Effects of Stress on the Brain
- Persistent stress impacts brain structure and function
- Weakens the vagus nerve, which affects the body's relaxation response
- Causes changes in the nervous system, impacting sleep and circadian rhythms

#### What Doesn’t Work in CBT
- Jumping into cognitive processing without establishing rapport, safety, and empowerment
- Aggressive confrontation of beliefs and behaviors
- Failing to address all three points of the CBT triangle: thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
- Telling instead of exploring, using mechanistic approaches, and not individualizing therapy
- Forcing new beliefs or schemas that the client doesn’t believe

#### What Works in CBT
- Educating clients about the connection between feelings, thoughts, and behaviors
- Validating clients' experiences and feelings
- Helping clients develop emotional intelligence and distress tolerance
- Addressing behaviors that create vulnerabilities
- Using a personalized approach to explore and alter unhelpful schemas and beliefs
- Maintaining motivation and reinforcing new thoughts and behaviors between sessions

#### Application of CBT in Various Disorders
- **ADHD**: Developing organizational skills, addressing negative self-referential beliefs, and improving communication
- **Mood Disorders**: Identifying behaviors that create vulnerabilities, developing distress tolerance, and empowering clients to address problematic thoughts and behaviors
- **Addiction**: Developing mindfulness, reducing vulnerabilities, exploring cognitive distortions, and addressing distress tolerance
- **Personality Disorders**: Understanding the underlying thoughts and beliefs, addressing behaviors, and enhancing coping mechanisms
- **Schizophrenia**: Joining clients in their reality, reducing stress, and developing safety plans
- **Trauma**: Normalizing thoughts and behaviors, developing distress tolerance, and exploring schemas related to trauma

#### ABCDEs of CBT
- **A**wareness: Recognize thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and their communication
- **B**ehaviors: Reduce vulnerabilities and increase safety and empowerment
- **C**ognitions and Schema: Explore and restructure based on current and past contexts
- **D**istress Tolerance: Develop skills to manage distress
- **E**xplore: Explore experiences, beliefs, and coping mechanisms with curiosity

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### Time Codes for Major Points

01:30 Introduction to CBT and its importance
08:15 Effects of stress on the brain and vagus nerve
15:45 Common mistakes in CBT practice
25:30 Effective strategies in CBT
35:00 Application of CBT in ADHD and mood disorders
45:15 Use of CBT in addiction, personality disorders, and schizophrenia
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### Video Summary

**Title:** Forming a Foundation that Nurtures Secure Attachment at All Ages  
**Presenter:** Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes  
**Link:** [Watch the video](https://youtu.be/szThsSAmi1k?si=SeCbD5VyHP_yUp-N)

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#### Introduction
- Importance of secure attachment throughout life
- Explanation of the CARES approach to creating secure attachment
- Identifying challenges and promoting secure attachment in different age groups

#### CARES Approach to Secure Attachment
1. **Consistency**: Caregivers must be reliably present and dependable.
2. **Attention**: Providing necessary attention and presence to children.
3. **Responsiveness**: Addressing children's needs promptly and effectively.
4. **Empathy**: Validating and empathizing with children's feelings.
5. **Solutions**: Helping children learn to regulate emotions and solve problems.

#### Effects of Secure Attachment
- Individuals feel lovable and worthy of support
- Learn that others are available and responsive
- Develop good emotional regulation skills
- Tolerate frustration and distress
- Gain a sense of self-efficacy and resilience
- Comfortable with ambiguity and changes
- Effective communication and problem-solving skills

#### Promoting Secure Attachment in Infancy
- Meeting biological needs (food, shelter, comfort)
- Protecting from overstimulation
- Ensuring safety and consistent presence
- Providing attention, affection, and unconditional positive regard
- Building trust and self-confidence

#### Promoting Secure Attachment in Toddlers and Preschoolers
- Encouraging self-esteem and self-efficacy
- Supporting autonomy and initiative
- Being consistent and responsive to needs
- Encouraging exploration and experimentation
- Helping them understand and regulate their emotions
- Developing empathy and problem-solving skills through play

#### Promoting Secure Attachment in Middle and High School
- Supporting exploration and independence
- Understanding and allowing secure attachments with peers
- Setting and maintaining consistent limits and rules
- Being empathetic and authentic during disagreements
- Modeling emotion regulation and distress tolerance
- Sustaining goal-directed partnerships and mutual respect

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### Time Codes for Major Points

02:00 Introduction to secure attachment and CARES approach
10:30 Effects of secure attachment at any age
20:00 Promoting secure attachment in infancy
30:45 Importance of consistency and responsiveness for toddlers
45:15 Encouraging exploration and self-efficacy in preschoolers
01:00:00 Supporting independence and peer attachments in adolescents
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### Video Summary

**Title:** Love Languages and Temperament  
**Presenter:** Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes  
**Link:** [Watch the video](https://youtu.be/W7uNYyGYLTE?si=M069KyNYc95yYlAe)

---

#### Introduction
- Focus on understanding oneself and partners to improve communication
- Discusses temperament characteristics and their impact on relationships
- Explores how love languages enhance relationships

#### Temperament Dimensions
1. **Environment and Energy (Extrovert vs. Introvert)**
  - Extroverts: Expansive, enjoy social interactions, draw energy from surroundings
  - Introverts: Intense, prefer solitude, need downtime to recharge
2. **Mental Conceptualization (Sensor vs. Intuitor)**
  - Sensors: Practical, detail-oriented, focus on the present
  - Intuitors: Imaginative, big-picture thinkers, focus on possibilities
3. **Motivation and Meaning (Thinker vs. Feeler)**
  - Thinkers: Motivated by facts and logic, value objectivity
  - Feelers: Motivated by harmony and compassion, value sentiment
4. **Time Management and Structure (Judger vs. Perceiver)**
  - Judgers: Structured, plan ahead, prefer predictability
  - Perceivers: Flexible, spontaneous, adapt as they go

#### Application to Relationships
- Understanding and respecting different temperaments improves communication
- Examples of how opposite temperaments can balance each other in relationships
- Importance of compromising and finding middle ground for effective partnership

#### Love Languages
- **Five Love Languages:**
 1. Quality Time
 2. Acts of Service
 3. Physical Touch
 4. Words of Affirmation
 5. Gifts
- Love languages are influenced by early attachment experiences
- Importance of identifying and speaking your partner’s love language
- Examples of how love languages interact with different temperaments

---

### Time Codes for Major Points

01:30 Overview of temperament and its impact on relationships
10:15 Characteristics of extroverts and introverts
19:45 Mental conceptualization: sensors vs. intuitors
30:30 Motivation and meaning: thinkers vs. feelers
42:00 Time management and structure: judgers vs. perceivers
54:00 Application of love languages in relationships
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### Video Summary

**Title:** Trauma Related Brain Damage, Glutamate, and Neurotoxicity  
**Presenter:** Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes  
**Link:** [Watch the video](https://youtu.be/AFsqzW8DBYc?si=Asi1zJlYqabK-Vn6)

---

#### Introduction
- Overview of trauma's effect on brain glutamate levels
- Discusses impact on HPA axis and neurotransmitter balance
- Importance of glutamate in learning and synaptic plasticity

#### Effects of Glutamate Imbalance
- Role of glutamate and cortisol in brain function
- Goldilocks principle: need for balanced neurotransmitter levels
- Symptoms of too little and too much glutamate
 - Too little: difficulty concentrating, fatigue, apathy
 - Too much: excitotoxicity, anxiety, neurodegeneration

#### Glutamate and Dopamine Interactions
- Dopamine potentiates glutamate, increasing neurotoxicity
- Impact of stimulants on glutamate release

#### HPA Axis and Stress Response
- Explanation of HPA axis function and stress response
- Chronic stress leads to pathophysiological changes and neuronal death
- Hypervigilance and its effects on cortisol and glutamate levels

#### Impact of Trauma and PTSD
- Trauma disrupts sense of safety, causing hypervigilance
- Persistent hypervigilance leads to chronic high glutamate and cortisol
- Stress-induced changes in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus affecting cognitive functions

#### Neurotransmission Dysfunction
- Glutamatergic dysfunction linked to stress-related mental and physical illnesses
- Systemic inflammation associated with depression, anxiety, autoimmune diseases

#### Interventions and Recovery
- Glutamate antagonists and their effects
- Importance of nutrients in normalizing glutamate levels
- Role of adaptogens, neuro lipids, and essential oils
- Behavioral strategies: creating safety, addressing intrusive thoughts, and flashbacks
- Cognitive and acceptance-based therapies for trauma
- Benefits of meditation and exercise in neurogenesis and stress reduction

#### Summary
- Glutamate is crucial for brain function but must be balanced
- Chronic stress impacts glutamate regulation, leading to various health issues
- Multiple interventions can help in managing glutamate levels and improving overall brain health

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### Time Codes for Major Points

02:00 Overview of glutamate's role in the brain and effects of imbalance
07:45 Interaction between dopamine and glutamate, and impact of stimulants
13:30 Explanation of the HPA axis and its role in stress response
20:15 Impact of trauma and PTSD on glutamate and cortisol levels
25:50 Neurotransmission dysfunction and its link to mental and physical illnesses
35:30 Interventions for managing glutamate levels and improving brain health
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### Outline Summary

**Introduction**
- Presenter: Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes
- Topic: Neurobiology of Depression
- Audience: Counselors and social workers
- Purpose: Understand neurotransmitters and hormones' impact on mood, causes of imbalance, and strategies for healing

**Understanding Neurotransmitters and Hormones**
- Neurotransmitters: Serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, glutamate
- Hormones: Testosterone, estrogen, thyroid hormones
- Functions: Arousal, mood, motivation, sleep, energy, insulin regulation, inflammation, immunity

**Causes of Neurotransmitter Imbalance**
- Biological factors: Age, vitamin D deficiency, thyroid hormones, blood sugar levels
- Sleep Apnea: Stress on the body and nervous system
- Nootropics: Risks of imbalance
- Physical and emotional stress: Trauma, chronic stress, pain, inflammation

**Neurotransmitter Functioning**
- Basic Neurobiology: Synaptic transmission process
- Excitatory Chemicals: Response to distress and happiness
- Functions of Hormones and Neurotransmitters: Involvement in multiple bodily processes

**Depression and Neurotransmitters**
- Serotonin system dysfunction: Activation, reuptake, receptor issues
- Dopamine system dysfunction: Common in addiction and early recovery
- HPA, HPT, HPG axis dysfunction: Stress response, thyroid and gonadal hormone issues
- Inadequate supply: Nutrition and lifestyle impacts

**Strategies for Healing**
- Blood work: Check vitamin and hormone levels
- Sleep: Quality and quantity, circadian rhythm
- Nutrition: Balanced diet, reducing inflammatory foods
- Relaxation: Physical relaxation, vagal tone improvement
- Addressing Addictive Behaviors: Reducing harmful behaviors
- Setting Boundaries: Learning healthy boundaries and communication skills
- Emotional and Cognitive Interventions: Mindfulness, distress tolerance skills, radical acceptance

**Practical Considerations**
- Blood tests: Importance for identifying imbalances
- Sleep hygiene: Maintaining regular sleep patterns
- Nutrition: Small improvements, professional guidance
- Relaxation techniques: Vagus nerve stimulation
- Addressing trauma: Cognitive distortions, schema reprocessing
- Developing resilience: Coping strategies for stress and triggers

**Conclusion**
- Emphasis on long-term strategies over quick fixes
- Encouragement for professional guidance and comprehensive approach to healing

### Major Points with Time Codes

0:00 Introduction
- Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes introduces the topic and purpose of the video.

1:30 Understanding Neurotransmitters and Hormones
- Explanation of neurotransmitters and hormones involved in mood regulation.

10:00 Causes of Neurotransmitter Imbalance
- Discussion on biological and environmental factors leading to imbalance.

18:30 Neurotransmitter Functioning
- Basic neurobiology of synaptic transmission and neurotransmitter action.

26:00 Depression and Neurotransmitters
- Detailed look at serotonin and dopamine system dysfunctions.

35:00 Strategies for Healing
- Comprehensive strategies including blood work, sleep, nutrition, and relaxation techniques.

50:00 Practical Considerations and Conclusion
- Practical steps and emphasis on long-term healing strategies.
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### Bullet Summary of the Video: "Early Relapse Prevention for Pornography Addiction" by Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes

#### Introduction
- Introduction to early relapse prevention for pornography addiction.
- Importance of having basic skills and tools in early recovery.

#### Initial Phase of Recovery
- Overview of the physical symptoms and challenges during withdrawal.
- Importance of not substituting one addiction for another.

#### Monitoring Solutions
- Focus on monitoring positive progress rather than symptoms.
- Using a scale to rate mood, sleep, and energy levels.

#### Triggers and Vulnerabilities
- Identifying destructive and constructive triggers.
- Recognizing personal vulnerabilities that increase the risk of relapse.

#### Relapse Prevention Plan
- Understanding that relapse prevention is not the same as being cured.
- Importance of having a plan to cope with stress and avoid relapse.

#### Healing the Stress Response System
- Reducing unnecessary stress to allow the HPA axis to heal.
- Increasing awareness of triggers and vulnerabilities.

#### Practical Strategies
- Maintain a regular schedule and address sleep hygiene issues.
- Eat a healthy diet to support brain and body healing.
- Recommendations for managing sexual releases and limiting access to triggers.

#### Interpersonal Strategies
- Having compassion for oneself and seeking regular support.
- Being honest with support persons and utilizing support forums.

#### Emotional Strategies
- Recognizing and managing anger and irritability.
- Techniques for distress tolerance and downregulating stress.

#### Cognitive Strategies
- Practicing mindfulness and using the wise mind to make better decisions.
- Engaging in positive self-talk and focusing on progress.

#### Environmental Strategies
- Using nanny apps and blocking triggering sites.
- Removing sensory triggers and adding competing stimuli.
- Changing bedtime routines to avoid triggers.

#### Conclusion
- Early relapse prevention is about preparing to begin the recovery process.
- Developing tools to improve distress tolerance and create a safer environment.

### Major Points with Time Codes

### Major Points with Time Codes

0:00 - 0:30 Introduction to early relapse prevention for pornography addiction.
0:31 - 6:00 Overview of the physical symptoms and challenges during withdrawal.
6:01 - 10:00 Identifying destructive and constructive triggers and recognizing personal vulnerabilities.
10:01 - 16:00 Importance of having a plan to cope with stress and avoid relapse, and reducing unnecessary stress to allow the HPA axis to heal.
16:01 - 24:00 Practical strategies for maintaining a regular schedule, addressing sleep hygiene, and eating a healthy diet.
24:01 - 30:00 Interpersonal, emotional, and cognitive strategies for relapse prevention.
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