Connection Therapy

Brenda Murrow
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Mental Health

Hello and thank you for joining the Connection Therapy podcast. This is a podcast about the craft of psychotherapy and we seek to support those who strive to improve their craft by sharing research about the science and stories about the art of psychology. Together we will explore these findings so you can decide how you want to apply them to benefit your practice.

  1. 3d ago

    Episode 110: When Talk-therapy Interventions Meet Their Limits

    Most therapy is reported as successful when the client feels a relatedness to their therapist. Yet, a lot of talk-therapy interventions are based on insight or the ability to cognitively react, and the relatedness between therapist and client largely goes un-assessed. In this episode, Dr. Murrow advocates for an increased awareness of non-verbal communication and specifically interpersonal synchrony between clients and therapists. Interpersonal synchrony is the idea that body movements, nervous system dynamics, and more tend to synchronize between beings, often below conscious awareness. She gives some possibilities of how this works and can improve the delivery of mental health services. Attend a Course at Connection Therapy: https://connection-therapy.com/courses-and-events We Want to Hear Your Feedback! Please Contribute to the Conversation: Share your thoughts on the podcast and how these concepts work in your practice, or ask a question and I’ll answer it in an upcoming episode: https://connection-therapy.com/contact-us Leave feedback or ask a question with a message on Instagram: @theconnectiontherapypodcast Enjoying the podcast? There are now playlists for you to navigate to your favorite topics: https://connection-therapy.com/playlist References: Embodied Cognition: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embodied_cognition Tschacher W (2026) Applications of synergetics in psychology: interpersonal synchrony in social systems. Front. Netw. Physiol. 5:1739213. doi: 10.3389/fnetp.2025.1739213

  2. Sep 2

    109: Is Interpersonal Synchrony a Therapy Goal?

    In this episode, Dr. Brenda Murrow shares insights from her own research and experiences that emphasize the reasons to be observant of interpersonal synchrony between mental health providers and their patients. Yet throughout these examples, she explains her own reflections that there are many times for there not to be synchrony, and that this is just as, and sometimes more helpful. Regardless, the awareness of this phenomenon is increasingly important to our understanding of mental health. Attend a Course at Connection Therapy: https://connection-therapy.com/courses-and-events We Want to Hear Your Feedback! Please Contribute to the Conversation: Share your thoughts on the podcast and how these concepts work in your practice, or ask a question and I’ll answer it in an upcoming episode: https://connection-therapy.com/contact-us Leave feedback or ask a question with a message on Instagram: @theconnectiontherapypodcast Enjoying the podcast? There are now playlists for you to navigate to your favorite topics: https://connection-therapy.com/playlist Reference: Brenda Murrow, (2013) A Quantitative exploration into the effects of the human and animal connection. (Doctoral dissertation). Pacifica Graduate Institute.

  3. Aug 26

    108. Reasons Coping Skills Don’t Always Work, and Ways to Help

    It is common for the field of mental health to emphasize the use of coping skills, yet so also is it common for them to be reported as ineffective. Dr. Murrow explains some potential reasons for this and ways to increase effectiveness. Attend a Course at Connection Therapy: https://connection-therapy.com/courses-and-events We Want to Hear Your Feedback! Please Contribute to the Conversation: Share your thoughts on the podcast and how these concepts work in your practice, or ask a question and I’ll answer it in an upcoming episode: https://connection-therapy.com/contact-us Leave feedback or ask a question with a message on Instagram: @theconnectiontherapypodcast Enjoying the podcast? There are now playlists for you to navigate to your favorite topics: https://connection-therapy.com/playlist Reference: Dr. Les Greenberg information: Southern California Institute of Emotion-Focused Therapy: https://www.eftsocal.com/

  4. Aug 19

    Episode 107. If Play Supports Learning, then How Does Mental Health Treatment Support Play?

    Safety and trusted social supports are what must be in place before mammals, especially humans, will be inclined toward play activities. And, social play is one way to significantly boost the capacity to learn. At this point in the year, when many children and their families return to school, there are a few things to remember: 1- Many activities pace with the academic calendar, so all patients tend to be affected at this time of the year 2- Play supports learning 3- It is normal for the inclination toward play to take time while the social supports are being established 4- Reciprocal play and interaction activities done as part of mental health treatment support patients in engaging in play and social activities with others 5- It is important to understand that sexual abuse of children impedes their ability to engage in play and social activities, especially with peers who would be safest. When this behavior of continually selecting peers who are risk-intensive is observed, sexual abuse may be a factor. Attend a Course at Connection Therapy: https://connection-therapy.com/courses-and-events We Want to Hear Your Feedback! Please Contribute to the Conversation: Share your thoughts on the podcast and how these concepts work in your practice, or ask a question and I’ll answer it in an upcoming episode: https://connection-therapy.com/contact-us Leave feedback or ask a question with a message on Instagram: @theconnectiontherapypodcast Enjoying the podcast? There are now playlists for you to navigate to your favorite topics: https://connection-therapy.com/playlist References: Panksepp, J. & Biven, L. (2012). The Archaeology of mind: Neuroevolutionary origins of human emotions. New York, NY: Norton (pp. 552-355). Stephen Porges (2011). Polyvagal theory: Neurophysiological foundations of emotions, attachment, communication, and self-regulation.

  5. Aug 12

    106. Play as an Indicator of Therapeutic Alliance

    Compliance in therapy does not mean that there is a therapeutic alliance, and it can be difficult to discern the difference. In this episode, Dr. Murrow speaks about the ways play can be an indicator of the therapeutic alliance, and she shares ways therapists can observe and assess this to understand more about how their alliance is working in the session and beyond. Play is an important capacity all throughout the lifetime, and it can be a signal of improvement because in order to be able to play, people have to feel safe and stressors needs to be manageable. At any age, when someone begins to play more in session, this is a good sign for the therapeutic alliance as well as overall therapeutic outcomes. Attend a Course at Connection Therapy: https://connection-therapy.com/courses-and-events We Want to Hear Your Feedback! Please Contribute to the Conversation: Share your thoughts on the podcast and how these concepts work in your practice, or ask a question and I’ll answer it in an upcoming episode: https://connection-therapy.com/contact-us Leave feedback or ask a question with a message on Instagram: @theconnectiontherapypodcast Enjoying the podcast? There are now playlists for you to navigate to your favorite topics: https://connection-therapy.com/playlist References: Panksepp, J. & Biven, L. (2012). The Archaeology of mind: Neuroevolutionary origins of human emotions. New York, NY: Norton (pp. 552-355).

  6. Aug 5

    105. Physiological Synchrony Practice Considerations

    Today’s study reminds us that everything we do as mental health practitioners, whether in the office or the barn, has an effect on the session. Dr. Murrow reviews a research study that examines physiological synchrony, the idea that there is interaction in nervous systems, physical movements, and more between beings. She shares insights from the study that make clear there is more happening than we might realize with physiological synchrony, and she offers practical reflections on how to handle when something unexpected happens. Attend a Course at Connection Therapy: https://connection-therapy.com/courses-and-events We Want to Hear Your Feedback! Please Contribute to the Conversation: Share your thoughts on the podcast and how these concepts work in your practice, or ask a question and I’ll answer it in an upcoming episode: https://connection-therapy.com/contact-us Leave feedback or ask a question with a message on Instagram: @theconnectiontherapypodcast Enjoying the podcast? There are now playlists for you to navigate to your favorite topics: https://connection-therapy.com/playlist References: Koole, S. L., & Tschacher, W. (2016). Synchrony in psychotherapy: A review and an integrative framework for the therapeutic alliance. Frontiers in Psychology, 7. Wienhold, S., Bär, L., Ringleb, Z., Zirpel, V., Gomolla, A., Denk, B. F., Volkmer, N., Gaertner, R. J., Klink, E. S. C., & Pruessner, J. C. (2025). The relationship of early life adversity and physiological synchrony within the therapeutic triad in horse-assisted therapy. Journal of Neural Transmission, 132(9), 1291–1312. https://doi-org.pgi.idm.oclc.org/10.1007/s00702-025-02947-7

  7. Jul 29

    104. Observing Interpersonal Synchrony in Therapy

    In this episode, Dr. Murrow is continuing the discussion that observing interpersonal synchrony in therapy is, to the author’s assertion, a “trans-theoretical construct” meaning that no matter the style of therapy, this idea is helpful to understand the outcomes of therapy. While theoretical in nature, this discussion ends with a summary of practical applications for the working clinician to consider in their practices. Attend a Course at Connection Therapy: https://connection-therapy.com/courses-and-events We Want to Hear Your Feedback! Please Contribute to the Conversation: Share your thoughts on the podcast and how these concepts work in your practice, or ask a question and I’ll answer it in an upcoming episode: https://connection-therapy.com/contact-us Leave feedback or ask a question with a message on Instagram: @theconnectiontherapypodcast Enjoying the podcast? There are now playlists for you to navigate to your favorite topics: https://connection-therapy.com/playlist References: Koole, S. L., & Tschacher, W. (2016). Synchrony in psychotherapy: A review and an integrative framework for the therapeutic alliance. Frontiers in Psychology, 7. Zarbo C, Tasca GA, Cattafi F, Compare A. Integrative Psychotherapy Works. Front Psychol. 2016 Jan 11;6:2021. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.02021. PMID: 26793143; PMCID: PMC4707273.

  8. Jul 22

    103. The Levels of Synchrony in Therapy

    In this episode, Dr. Murrow reviews an integrative framework for the therapeutic alliance by authors Koole & Tschacher (2016). Among many things, this framework encourages the therapist’s awareness of multiple facets in the therapy session and it even makes space for these to be assessed in different time horizons. This episode will validate your experience in terms of the wide variety of factors that affect your session, and it will also encourage your awareness of and abilities in attending to them. Attend a Course at Connection Therapy: https://connection-therapy.com/courses-and-events We Want to Hear Your Feedback! Please Contribute to the Conversation: Share your thoughts on the podcast and how these concepts work in your practice, or ask a question and I’ll answer it in an upcoming episode: https://connection-therapy.com/contact-us Leave feedback or ask a question with a message on Instagram: @theconnectiontherapypodcast Enjoying the podcast? There are now playlists for you to navigate to your favorite topics: https://connection-therapy.com/playlist References: Koole, S. L., & Tschacher, W. (2016). Synchrony in psychotherapy: A review and an integrative framework for the therapeutic alliance. Frontiers in Psychology, 7. Wienhold, S., Bär, L., Ringleb, Z., Zirpel, V., Gomolla, A., Denk, B. F., Volkmer, N., Gaertner, R. J., Klink, E. S. C., & Pruessner, J. C. (2025). The relationship of early life adversity and physiological synchrony within the therapeutic triad in horse-assisted therapy. Journal of Neural Transmission, 132(9), 1291–1312. https://doi-org.pgi.idm.oclc.org/10.1007/s00702-025-02947-7

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Hello and thank you for joining the Connection Therapy podcast. This is a podcast about the craft of psychotherapy and we seek to support those who strive to improve their craft by sharing research about the science and stories about the art of psychology. Together we will explore these findings so you can decide how you want to apply them to benefit your practice.

Information

  • Creator
    Brenda Murrow
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    110
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2023
  • Show Website
    Connection Therapy