Neuroscience of God and Faith: It’s Not Just in Your Head

Date course created: February 2020

In clinical practice the topics of faith, God, and spirituality are commonly explored, and can be sources of healing and resilience for clients. However, mental health conditions such as PTSD can interfere with clients’ sense of connection to God, or more broadly, their spiritual identity. This seminar teaches attendees the neural bases of God and faith, and cites neuroimaging evidence from neurotheology suggesting that our capacity to connect to a higher power is both wired in the brain, and at the same time not “just in our heads.” Ways to reconnect with God and the spiritual self through brain-based treatment after trauma will be discussed.

**This is a 2.5-CE noninteractive, self-paced online video course delivered in home study format via an industry-standard online learning platform**

Agenda:

00:00 – 00:35: Intro and Basic Neuroscience
00:35 – 01:40: Neuroscience of Trauma; Traumatic Grief
01:40 – 02:30: Spiritual Practices and Impacts

Objectives:

a). After completing this training, participants will be able to name at least one area of the brain involved in prayer, and one area of the brain involved in spiritual communication.

b). After completing this training, participants will be able to discuss how trauma can disrupt clients’ connection to God and/or their spiritual self.

c). After completing this training, participants will be able to state at least one tool that can help clients reconnect with God and/or their spiritual self.

Target Audience:

The target audience for this event includes psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, licensed counselors, MFT’s, and other clinical mental health professionals.

Instructional Level: Intermediate

Instructor(s): Jennifer Sweeton, PsyD, MS, MA

Material Author(s): Jennifer Sweeton, PsyD, MS, MA

Dr. Jennifer Sweeton is a licensed clinical psychologist, best-selling author, and internationally-recognized expert on anxiety and trauma, and the neuroscience of mental health. She completed her doctoral training at the Stanford University School of Medicine, the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology (now Palo Alto University), and the National Center for PTSD. Additionally, she holds a master’s degree in affective neuroscience from Stanford University, and studied behavioral genetics at Harvard University. Dr. Sweeton resides in the greater Kansas City area, where she owns a group private practice, Kansas City Mental Health Associates (trade name for Mind Works Consulting and Psychological Services, PLLC). She formerly served as the President of the Oklahoma Psychological Association, and holds adjunct faculty appointments at the University of Kansas School of Medicine and the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. She is the current President of the Greater Kansas City Psychological Association. Dr. Sweeton offers psychological services services to clients in Oklahoma, Kansas, and internationally, and is a sought-after trauma and neuroscience expert who has trained more than 10,000 mental health professionals in her workshops.

For additional information about this course, the instructors, or the material authors, please contact Content Assistance at content@onlinececredits.com.

Course Materials & Delivery Method:

• Course materials – The course is composed of a recorded presentation and written materials (e.g. a slide deck and/or other worksheets, manuals, or handouts as provided by the instructor). The slide deck and any additional worksheets or handouts (as provided by the instructor) are made available inside the Lesson module after a course is purchased.
• Delivery Method – this course is a recorded asynchronous, self-paced webinar training, and there is no access time limit or due date to complete it once enrolled. The enrolled learner will stream the recorded presentation and view the materials from their internet connected device via an industry-standard online learning platform.

CE Approvals:

Online CE Credits has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6795. Programs that do not quality for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Online CE Credits is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Mind Works Professional Education, Inc. DBA Online CE Credits, #1974, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: July 23, 2024 – July 23, 2025. Social workers completing this course receive [see advertisement] asynchronous distance learning continuing education credits.

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