Category: LINDA C J TURNER – Trauma Therapist

Great Sex vs. Love — and Can You Live with Bad Sex?

1. Great Sex ≠ Love Category Great Sex Love / Healthy Partnership Duration Intense but temporary Stable, long-term Brain Chemistry Dopamine high, reward circuits Oxytocin, safety, long-term bonding Attachment Often insecure or inconsistent Secure, safe, predictable Communication Not required Absolutely essential Conflict Resolution Often avoided Handled with maturity Long-term Stability Unstable; high highs & lows… Read More Great Sex vs. Love — and Can You Live with Bad Sex?

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Neuroscience Behind Reduced Mirror-Neuron Activity (Expanded)

©Linda C J Turner

Reduced mirror-neuron activation doesn’t mean someone is “bad” — it means their brain processes emotional signals differently.Below is a fuller breakdown of how this happens and why. 1. Avoidant Attachment Styles People with avoidant attachment learned early that emotional closeness felt unsafe or overwhelming. Brain mechanisms: Behavioural effects: Avoidance is a protective reflex, not a conscious decision.… Read More Neuroscience Behind Reduced Mirror-Neuron Activity (Expanded)

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Mirror Neuron System & Empathy: Why Some People Don’t “Feel” What You Feel

By Linda C J Turner, Therapist & Advocate — Linda C J Turner Trauma Therapist | Neuroscience & Emotional Intelligence Practitioner | Advocate for Women’s Empowerment

What Are Mirror Neurons? Mirror neurons are brain cells that activate both when you perform an action and when you observe someone else doing it.They also activate when you see: This system helps your brain simulate what another person is experiencing. In simple terms:Mirror neurons are the foundation of natural, automatic empathy. When Mirror Neuron Activity Is Reduced People with reduced… Read More Mirror Neuron System & Empathy: Why Some People Don’t “Feel” What You Feel

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Neuroscience Behind People Who Leave You Hanging

By Linda C J Turner, Therapist & Advocate — Linda C J Turner Trauma Therapist | Neuroscience & Emotional Intelligence Practitioner | Advocate for Women’s Empowerment

1. Avoidant Attachment & Threat Perception People who disappear, delay responses, or keep you waiting often have an avoidant attachment style.To them, closeness feels threatening — their amygdala (fear center) misinterprets emotional intimacy as loss of control or loss of independence. Brain mechanism: So the silence or unpredictability is not deep thinking — it’s avoidance triggered by fear.… Read More Neuroscience Behind People Who Leave You Hanging

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Neuroscience and Psychology of Re-Learning Healthy Relationships After Abuse

1. Trauma Rewires the Brain Result: Survivors may feel anxious or mistrustful even in genuinely safe situations. This explains why instinctive judgement about what is “right” or “healthy” in relationships can be impaired. 2. Confusing Safety with Danger 3. Neuroplasticity and Healing Key point: Cognitive understanding (“I know this is safe”) is insufficient; the nervous system must physically… Read More Neuroscience and Psychology of Re-Learning Healthy Relationships After Abuse

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The Hidden Nature of Perpetrators

By Linda C J Turner, Therapist & Advocate — Linda C J Turner Trauma Therapist | Neuroscience & Emotional Intelligence Practitioner | Advocate for Women’s Empowerment ©Linda C J Turner

1. The “Mask of Normalcy” This is sometimes called “the façade of normalcy”, which conceals abusive behaviours behind closed doors. 2. Why People Don’t Believe It 3. Psychological Tactics That Hide Abuse 4. Neuroscience and Behavioural Explanation 5. Implications Summary Many perpetrators appear normal, competent, and likable externally while engaging in severe abuse in private. Cognitive… Read More The Hidden Nature of Perpetrators

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Neuroscience and Psychology Behind “Walls” and Letting Go

1. The Closed-Off Partner – Emotional Walls 2. The Persistent Partner – Reaching Out 3. Letting Go – Choosing Yourself 4. Emotional Freedom 5. Love Needs a Home, Not a Fortress Summary When someone “won’t let you in,” their behaviour is often: Letting go is not failure — it is a conscious, adaptive choice to protect your… Read More Neuroscience and Psychology Behind “Walls” and Letting Go

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