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Advocacy, Counseling,
and Education Services

We care about real change and the neuroscience that backs it up.

What We Offer

We specialize in treating trauma and its associated conditions, including addiction, depression, anxiety, and social isolation.

Our goal is to cultivate and support extended, healthier, and more joyful lives, especially for individuals facing behavioral health conditions. We achieve this by leveraging the potential of neuroplasticity and implementing effective interventions that foster lasting behavioral transformations. ACES adopts a comprehensive strategy encompassing prevention, intervention, treatment, recovery, and research. This approach aims to promote healthier lifestyles, targeting at-risk public health behaviors and ultimately contributing to the development of resilient individuals, families, and communities.

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Telehealth & In-Person

Evidence based practices

Experienced & Professional Counselors

Available at a Click of a Button

Why neuroscience is at the core of our approach to healing.

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The NeuroMap Method

At ACES, we harness the incredible power of neuroplasticity and tap into our brain's natural chemistry, specifically focusing on our "happy brain chemicals," to facilitate behavior change. These happy brain chemicals are essentially controlled by neural pathways shaped by past experiences.

 

The exciting part is that you can create new pathways by introducing your brain to fresh experiences consistently – this process is what we call neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity is your brain's incredible ability to adapt and change throughout your life. It entails the restructuring of neural pathways, the connections between neurons, in response to learning, experiences, and the influences of your environment.

 

We recognize that many individuals engage in harmful behaviors because they may not know how to help their brains experience happiness and safety. Our brains tend to take the path of least resistance, often opting for quick and easy ways to feel better, even if these aren't necessarily optimal for our overall well-being.

 

At ACES, our focus is on guiding you to understand and practice new behaviors that actively promote and build fresh, healthy neural pathways. By doing so, we empower you to reshape your brain's responses, fostering positive change and contributing to your overall wellness journey.

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The Science

Dopamine, Serotonin, Oxytocin, Endorphin (#2 of 7) - Happy Brain Chemicals
08:06

Dopamine, Serotonin, Oxytocin, Endorphin (#2 of 7) - Happy Brain Chemicals

This episode describes the special job of each happy chemical in the state of nature, and why these chemicals are not meant to flow all the time. FULL VIDEO SERIES WITH A FREE ACTION GUIDE: https://innermammalinstitute.org/happypower/ These 7 short videos show you how to build new neural pathways to turn on your happy brain chemicals in new and healthy ways. Anyone can do it by following these simple steps. You'll learn: - What turns on each happy chemicals in the state of nature, and why they're not on all the time. - Why do our unhappy chemicals turn on so easily. - Three simple steps to wire in new self-soothing skills, so you can replace an old habit that you're better off without It’s hard to accept the fact that our happy chemicals can’t surge all the time. DOPAMINE only spurts when you approach a new reward. OXYTOCIN only spurts when you enjoy safety in numbers. SEROTONIN only spurts when you assert your social importance. You will not have peace if you rush to trigger more of these chemicals as soon as a spurt is over. You’ll have more peace in the long run if you get comfortable with the neutral feeling between these spurts. FREE ACTION GUIDE: https://innermammalinstitute.org/actionguide/ BOOKS: https://innermammalinstitute.org/books/ PODCAST: https://www.mentalhealthnewsradionetwork.com/our-shows/the-happy-brain/ Find more resources for making peace with your inner mammal at: https://innermammalinstitute.org/ _ Want to find Inner Mammal Institute and Loretta Breuning elsewhere on the internet? Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/LorettaBreuningPhD Twitter - https://twitter.com/InnerMammal LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorettabreuning/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/inner.mammal.inst/ Please like and share these valuable resources, and tell us how they worked for you! #energy #cortisol #brain #brainanatomy #brainchemical #dopamine #serotonin #oxytocin #endorphin #InnerMammalInstitute
How Trauma and PTSD Change the Brain
10:40

How Trauma and PTSD Change the Brain

Check out my free course, Grounding Skills for Anxiety and PTSD, here:👉 https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/grounding-skills-for-anxiety-stress-and-ptsd/?utm_medium=YTDescription&utm_source=YouTube Trauma and PTSD isn't just "all in your head" it's literally in your head. Trauma and PTSD change the brain in four very specific ways. Traumatic experiences like abuse, assault, or witnessing violence or tragedy can leave people feeling constantly on edge. PTSD can impact your emotions, your stability, your relationships. And trauma can have an impact on your physical and mental health. These are really common experiences for many, and they are in part due to four ways that your brain changes after experiencing trauma. But the good news is that when you understand how trauma impacts the brain, these symptoms can often be reversed. You can learn to heal. When trapped in a constant trauma response people with PTSD experience four types of difficult PTSD symptoms including: 1. Painful thoughts 2. Intense emotions 3. Bodily changes 4. Behavioral changes These “symptoms” show up because after experiencing trauma, your brain changes on a physical level. This isn’t simply “damage” as people would perhaps think, but it’s your brain adapting to the experience that the world isn’t safe, and in my opinion, taking measures to help you avoid future dangers. So essentially it makes you more danger avoidant. Your brain is super moldable, and it adapts and shapes due to what we experience and how we use it. So when we experience trauma, here are four ways the brain changes, or adapts, after experiencing trauma: Looking for affordable online therapy? My sponsor, BetterHelp, connects you to a licensed professional from the comfort of your own home. Try it now for 10% off: https://betterhelp.com/therapyinanutshell Learn more in one of my in-depth mental health courses: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/?utm_medium=YTDescription&utm_source=YouTube Support my mission on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/therapyinanutshell Sign up for my newsletter: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/free-resources Check out my favorite self-help books: https://kit.co/TherapyinaNutshell/best-self-help-books Check out my podcast, Therapy in a Nutshell: https://tinpodcast.podbean.com/ Therapy in a Nutshell and the information provided by Emma McAdam are solely intended for informational and entertainment purposes and are not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although Emma McAdam is a licensed marriage and family therapist, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health. In therapy I use a combination of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Systems Theory, positive psychology, and a bio-psycho-social approach to treating mental illness and other challenges we all face in life. The ideas from my videos are frequently adapted from multiple sources. Many of them come from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, especially the work of Steven Hayes, Jason Luoma, and Russ Harris. The sections on stress and the mind-body connection derive from the work of Stephen Porges (the Polyvagal theory), Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing) Francine Shapiro (EMDR), and Bessel Van Der Kolk. I also rely heavily on the work of the Arbinger institute for my overall understanding of our ability to choose our life's direction. And deeper than all of that, the Gospel of Jesus Christ orients my personal worldview and sense of security, peace, hope, and love https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/believe If you are in crisis, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or your local emergency services. Copyright Therapy in a Nutshell, LLC ---- Music licensed from www.Bensound.com or Artlist.io Images from Freepik.com (premium license), Pixabay, or Wikimedia commons

Choose the Program That Fits You Best

At ACES, we go beyond generic treatment programs; we believe in tailoring our approach to suit your unique needs. Our commitment is to work collaboratively with you to customize a treatment plan that aligns with your individual goals and circumstances. If you're ready to take the next steps toward improved mental and emotional well-being, we invite you to schedule a free consultation. During this session, we'll explore your specific needs, challenges, and aspirations. Together, we'll chart a personalized course of action that addresses your concerns and empowers you on your journey to wellness. Don't settle for one-size-fits-all solutions. Call us at your convenience to arrange a free consultation, and let's embark on a path designed just for you. Your well-being is our priority, and we're here to support you every step of the way.

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