Improving Brain Fitness   

Our cognitive abilities are also affected by our environment, life experiences and genetics. Trauma has a huge impact on cognitive function and according to the National Council for Behavioral Health, “Seventy percent of adults in the U.S. have experienced some type of traumatic event at least once in their lives.”

As a part of United Way of Yavapai County’s Educational Workshop series, I will be presenting the workshop, “Improving Brain Fitness,” Feb. 21. This workshop will feature important elements involved in keeping our brains fit for life. We’ll highlight five keys to optimizing brain function and introduce an objective cognitive function assessment designed to pinpoint areas to target for improvement. We’ll also introduce Cognitive Function Development Therapy as a clinically effective modality available in Yavapai County. We’ll share how it improves cognitive processes, such as memory, attention, problem-solving skills and nervous system regulation for individuals ages 6 to 96! We’ll also demonstrate fun, practical brain-building activities and techniques you can use and share in your daily life.

Cognitive Function Development (CFD) therapists work one-on-one with clients to increase brain function and help clients improve their overall quality of life by identifying and targeting areas of the brain to work on. Whether clients need help improving their focus and attention, strengthening their memory systems or developing their executive functioning – which helps regulate decision-making and impulse control – CFD can help clients achieve improved brain functioning.       

CFD’s unique approach to working with clients – by exercising the brain through a variety of activities – has been shown to help clients address conditions such as ADHD, anxiety, depression, trauma, PTSD and substance use disorder.

Many clients report an improved quality of life and a reduction of the symptoms that originally brought them to the CFD program. One grateful mom wrote, “My 14-year-old son has ADHD, and he was really struggling in school. He was underachieving and kept getting into trouble with his teachers. When he was referred to Cognitive Function Development Therapy, I quickly signed him up because I was desperate to get him some help. My son wasn’t very excited about it initially, but he liked his therapist right away and told me about all the fun he was having in his sessions. The changes in my son are amazing! Over the course of three months of working with his CFD therapist, my son went from failing out of school to being a class leader and an ‘A’ student. The changes in his overall demeanor are profound. I highly recommend CFD therapy to anyone who wants to improve their life, do better in school or just get unstuck. My son is a different person and he’s back to being a happy kid!” QCBN

By Jen Beyst

To register for the “Improving Brain Fitness” workshop, 1-3p.m., at Prescott Founder’s Library, 215 E Goodwin St, Prescott, AZ), visit https://www.yavapaiuw.org/event/cognitive-function-mental-health-first-aid/ or call United Way of Yavapai County at 928-778-6605.

Jen Beyst, MCFDT, is co-founder of the Cognitive Function Development Institute and director of Cognitive Function Development at Polara Health. For more information, please contact Jen at j.beyst@polarahealth.com or 928-848-9766.