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. 2h ago

    Episode 114: What does Heart Rate Variability have to do with Mental Health?

    The research is becoming more and more clear that the line between mental and physical is not so distinct. The practicing mental health practitioner is in a bind though, because our training is only for mental health, and yet we lose a lot of assessment information if we do not observe physical health indicators. This episode highlights some more reasons why it is imperative for mental health clinicians to be aware of physical health implications. It also provides some guidance on how to collaborate with medical professionals in support of patient overall outcomes. For more Heart Rate Variability (HRV) Episodes: https://feeds.captivate.fm/connection-therapy/physiology-psychology-heart-rate-variability-affective-systems-and-more/ 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 References: Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) Information: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/research/research-funded-by-nimh/rdoc Woody, M. L., McGeary, J. E., & Gibb, B. E. (2014). Brooding rumination and heart rate variability in women at high and low risk for depression: Group differences and moderation by COMT genotype. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 123(1), 61–67. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0035450

  2. Sep 30

    Episode 113: Eye Contact as an Indicator of Intervention Potential Effectiveness

    Mental health practitioners need to be aware of patients’ somatic experiences as indicators of their ability to have success in treatment, particularly when the timing of an interventions might be most effective. Working across disciplines, Dr. Murrow demonstrates how being observant of somatic and nervous system states, and the way they present during session, will support the effectiveness of interventions and treatment overall. 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: Peper, E., Yoshino, A., & Harvey, R. (2026). Hope for dry eyes and eye strain: How breathing-blinking patterns influence dry eye experience. Biofeedback, 54(1), 25–30. https://doi.org/10.5298/1081-5937-54.01.25

  3. Sep 23

    Episode 112: GRIT as a Psychology Construct: Practice Considerations

    Did you know there is a scale for Guts, Resilience, Integrity, and Tenacity (GRIT), and there is interest in learning about these factors as they relate to academic potential? So, what does this have to do with the practice of therapy? Dr. Murrow considers how we see these concepts display in session. She provides ways to utilize the concepts in support of patients, whether or not a practicing clinician explores the GRIT assessments. Also, the Connection Therapy Podcast is celebrating 3 years of publishing this month! Thank you for your support! 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: American Psychological Association Dictionary https://dictionary.apa.org/grit Britto, D. R., Rizvana, A. M. S., George, N., Subramaniyan, D., Narayanan, D., Mani, D. K. R., Annadurai, E., & Prakas, E. J. (2023). Guts, Resilience, Integrity, and Tenacity (GRIT) Among Mid Adolescent School Students in a District of South India: A Cross-Sectional Study. Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, 45(3), 243–249. https://doi.org/10.1177/02537176231151709 Sanchez, L. L. (2019). The psychology of the colonized mind: The relationship between grit and ethnic identity among among Puerto Ricans [ProQuest Information & Learning]. In Dissertation Abstracts International: Section B: The Sciences and Engineering (Vol. 80, Issue 8–B(E)).

  4. Sep 16

    Episode 111: Considering Interpersonal Synchrony as Somatic Transference

    There are so many terms to describe human experience and by extension ways to describe how to do mental health treatment. The number of terms can be overwhelming, especially to new professionals. In this episode, Dr. Murrow integrates some of these terms by going back to the original definitions of them in earlier centuries. This translation is offered in order to support both new and experienced psychotherapists in finding resonance with new terms and to re-establish their confidence. 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: Freud, Introductory Lectures on Psychoanalysis, 1977/1917, p. 443 Freud, The Dynamics of Transference, 1990/1912, p. 8 Jung, Memories, Dreams, Reflections, 1989/1963, p. 212 Jung, The Practice of psychotherapy, 1985/1929, p. 61 McWilliams, Psychoanalytic Diagnosis, 1999, p. 106

  5. Sep 9

    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

  6. 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.

  7. 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/

  8. 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.

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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
    114
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2023
  • Show Website
    Connection Therapy