Fostering Intrinsic Resilience: A Neuroscience-Informed Model of Conceptualizing and Treating Adverse Childhood Experiences

An increasingly common dialogue among mental health professionals revolves around adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and developmental trauma. ACEs can occur in a number of ways with a myriad of potential outcomes, often making treatment choices difficult. During critical stages of neurodevelopmental growth, trauma makes a mark on the brain and body at a physiological level. Although the National Institute of Mental Health’s Research Domain Criteria have been used to address this brain–body impact, the far-reaching scope of implications needs grounding in a theoretical framework. The current paper discusses developmental trauma and proposes a new reciprocally determinant model that advocates for neuroscience-informed counseling interventions such as neurofeedback therapy. Clinical implications and considerations for counselors are discussed.