“The Power of the Right & Left Brain in Education”

In this blog post, I teamed up with Joy Buckner, M.Ed., to provide a better understanding of what it means to be “whole-brained.” We present this complex topic in a digestible way, providing helpful methods to find the brain's sweet spot—where the right-and-left side are in balance with one another.

Are you familiar with neuroplasticity? This term refers to the brain’s ability to learn, unlearn, and relearn. Our brain has two halves, and we are our best Self when both halves function as a whole. It is human nature to rely on one side more than the other. Often, life experiences, trauma, or even preferences can allow one side to be more dominant. We can learn to cope by practicing skills that will help our brains create new connections. Let’s explore how this knowledge can help youth, educators, and parents.

-Jill Baumgartner, LCSW, and Joy Buckner, M.Ed., 9/7/22

Jill, can you tell us about what you do and its relevance to the educational space?

Thanks, Joy. Yes, I am a licensed clinical social worker in private practice, and I provide psychotherapy to all ages. Working with different ages over the years, I became curious about the effectiveness of certain coping skills I was offering to clients. Many traditional therapy skills focus on cognition (thoughts) and verbal processing. This approach is valuable, but as I grew as a clinician, I learned more about the body and the nervous system. With a simple understanding of the brain, we can integrate natural body responses and rewire thought patterns. Whole-brained skills can have a positive impact for youth and adults. We function best when both sides of the brain are balanced. This can be especially helpful for learning and development within the educational setting. 

Can you talk about what Psychoeducation is and why it is important?

Sure! Psychoeducation means presenting information to provide context for someone’s experiences. It is a supportive way to develop an understanding about thoughts and emotions. The theory here is, if we don’t understand something to a certain extent, how can we change it? Receiving knowledge about our behaviors and how the brain operates can feel validating and empowering at any age. Validation is linked to the production of oxytocin in the brain; oxytocin helps us bond and feel “seen” by others. 

Neuroplasticity suggests that we can change and strengthen neural connections within the brain. Okay, but how do we do this? A basic understanding of each side may help. The right side is emotive, attentive, creative, imaginative, expressive, and rhythmic. The left side is practical, intellectual, verbal, logical, order, and reasoning. When our right-and-left brain communicate with one another, these connections pass over a “highway” of nerve fibers in the middle of the brain called the corpus callosum, or “CC” for short. We want the “CC” to be strengthened and have frequent back-and-forth, right-and-left activity. It’s whole-brained exercise. 

If there was one concept that you think every person should know when it comes to emotional awareness & coping skills, what would that be? 

There are many reasons to cultivate emotional awareness at a young age. If we can shift our thinking and start to view emotions as messages, then we can tune into these messages to navigate our experiences. The body provides clues into our emotions too, but sometimes we need a guiding hand along the way. 

As youth are still developing, it can be difficult for them to articulate their feelings, so their emotions are often communicated through behaviors. But often, as adults, we don’t fully recognize what’s happening or we don’t remember what it was like. This can lead to miscommunication, stress, or even shame. Coping skills can help in the moment and serve as a healthy dose of prevention. 

Jill, in this time when emotions are heightened for many reasons, what are some techniques that people can do to cope? 

Knowing what we’ve learned about the brain, it can be easier said than done to “just journal” or “let it go.” It may take some creativity to see which skills are effective and when. A good first step is bilateral stimulation (BLS). BLS is alternating back-and-forth between both brain hemispheres in a rhythmic pattern with touch, tone, or eye movements. BLS can calm the body and decrease looping thoughts. Now, the “CC” is truly getting some cardio.

Whole-brained strategies to try:   

1. Bilateral stimulation (with touch): Useful for emotional dysregulation, difficulty with reasoning/logic 

2.  Left-brained skills: Useful for big emotions, easily distracted, acting silly, after recess 

  • Label feelings (feelings chart, emoji faces) 

  • Name objects in the room

  • Writing, creating lists 

  • A scaling system from 0-10. A 0 is “Cool as a cucumber/Couldn’t be better” and a 10 is “Volcano erupting/System overload” 

 3. Right-brained skills: Useful when someone needs a  “brain break”, anxious, stressed

  • Use of descriptive words: colors, shapes, textures, sizes, or metaphors

  • Laughing, singing, dancing 

  • Identifying body clues (shaky, raised voice). Locating body clues (head, stomach).  

  • Deep breathing with hands placed on the abdomen. Inhaling through the nose for 4 seconds (smell the flower), exhaling through the mouth for 4 seconds (blow out the candle). Can repeat 4x. 

There is power in our right-and-left brain!

*Thank you for joining the journey of self-growth as we present information for educational purposes. Readers are encouraged to seek professional guidance for any specific concerns. For video demonstrations of bilateral stimulation, please visit links in the description.