About Brenda

Brenda pic

Stockdale is the Director of Mind-Body Medicine at RC Cancer Centers and a national pioneer in the practical application of psychoneuroimmunology. Her programs are endorsed by leading specialists and have been implemented in hospitals, cancer centers and primary care practices. She was the clinical assistant for the national psychoneuroimmunology program, Getting Well, and later as the National Program Director for ECaP (founded by Bernie Siegel, MD) Brenda designed ECaP’s first hospital-based psychooncology program (instituted at The Helen & Harry Gray Cancer Center) and co-created ECaP’s national retreats for person’s with life-challenging illness. In addition to her private practice, Stockdale is a consultant for corporate and health care organizations and developed a health psychology program for primary care settings specializing in preventive medicine, autoimmunity and stress-related conditions.  [Read or listen to interviews with Brenda]

Her 6-week program in mind/body medicine, outlined in her recent book, You Can Beat the Odds, has been praised by Harvard scientists, physicians and epidemiologists as “as a prescription, in and of itself, for maximizing one’s health” and “the health book to read this year.” Brenda has been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show, NPR, ABC radio and in a variety of print media including Bottom Line Health, Good Housekeeping, ‘O’ The Oprah Magazine and Natural Health.

From presenting at international medical conferences for physicians and health professionals (oncology and cardiology conferences, The National Wellness conference, etc.), to corporate and special interest groups (including Bell South, G.E., and philanthropic organizations), hospitals and cancer centers (Duke University’s Integrative Medicine Department, the Helen and Harry Gray Cancer Center, and Mississippi Baptist Hospital) Stockdale serves as a consultant and speaks on a variety of topics related to health and wellbeing. (For a sampling of local and national speaking events please see “Upcoming Events.”) While Stockdale is a clinician in the field of behavioral medicine,  it is her own experience with life-altering and catastrophic illness that anchors the subject in an intimate way.

Brenda’s Undergraduate and Graduate degrees in Behavioral Science and Health Psychology are from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She completed a clinical training program in Mind/Body Medicine at Harvard Medical School, is a Registered Expressive Arts Consultant and Educator (Professional Standards Committee), Certified Wellness Practitioner, and is the recipient of a Hambidge Fellowship.

PUBLICATIONS

You Can Beat the Odds: Surprising Factors Behind Chronic Illness & Cancer—the 6-Week Breakthrough Program for Optimal Immunity, Sentient Publications, 2009. Please see Editorial Reviews.

“Writing in Physical and Concomitant Mental Illness: Biological Underpinnings and Applications for Practice,” In Research on Writing Approaches in Mental Health, (2011). Eds. Luciano L’Abate & Laura Sweeny. Emerald Group Publishing Ltd, Bingley, UK.

“Facing Pollyanna: When Positivity Hurts–Finding a Balance in Psychoeducational Programs,” Wellness Management: A Publication of the National Wellness institute, January, 2011.

Coauthor of Headline News in Health and Medicine, a quarterly integrative medicine newsletter.

Professional Memberships:

Society for the Arts in Healthcare

American Psychological Association, Health Psychology Division

International Expressive Arts Therapy Association

The Author’s Guild

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3 Responses to “About Brenda”

  1. bernie milton says:

    Dear Brenda, I love your new website. Bernie Milton xoxoxo

  2. Christine Holcomb says:

    Dear Brenda,
    I wanted to thank you for your kindness and wisdom. I read your book and took your two week seesion at RC Center. After all the books I have read, doctors I have seen and treatments I have had. ..you were the only one that uplifted my spirits and made me believe I will be fine. Your depth of knowledge in this area is incredible and I know someday will be part of the hospital of the future.
    Thank you and have a blessed year.
    C

  3. Brenda says:

    It is individuals like you, Christine, that show us what to make of this science and how to put it into play. Thank you for the inspiration!

Leave a Reply

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    Read Chapter One!

    "A prescription for maximizing one's health," and "The health book to read this year," --Harvard Scientists
    "A tested, inspirational must for any health collection," --Midwest Book Review

  • From the Blog:

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                  [post_content] => And the key question to ask if you find yourself obsessing! First published on Sprout Savvy.
      
       
      
      As a blog subscriber you already know the first secret ingredient is to Ditch the Spanx. 
      
      Dr. Andrew Weil and I were interviewed for an article  in Oprah magazine and we were each asked what best “one thing” someone could do for their health. We both answered, “Breathe correctly.” Our cultural heritage of whalebone corsets, girdles and now Spanx—not the mention the military posture—has created a nation of chest breathers. This pattern of breathing catapults us into “fight or flight” whether or not we are facing any particular problems or adversity. We can be perfectly content and happy but if we are breathing this way our body is surging with chemicals that hurt rather than heal. On the other hand, our world could be falling down around our ears and if we breathe in a healthy fashion (diaphragmatic breathing) we can protect our physiology.
      
      Autogencis
      
      A second tip is to practice something called “autogenics” –you can download the audio for free on my website. It’s only 5-minutes but can totally smooth out your day and retrain body and mind to respond differently to stress. The audio also features a technology of sound called psychoacoustics. If you use a headset you will hear a different beat each ear and the brain will create a phantom beat, called a binaural beat and nudge your brain into a more relaxed state, one associated with healing and repair.
      
      Pay Attention to the Words you Use
      
      And of course, the third tip is to pay attention to the words you use when you speak to yourself and ask if it is a message you want to receive. “Is this helping me now”? is a question we can train ourselves to ask and if the answer is no then we have the power in that moment to choose a frame of reference that is in our best interest. This simple question can redirect obsessive worry, self-criticism and channel precious energy into creating a new narrative, one rich with meaning that supports your goals and desires. It's so simple that it's power is often overlooked--all it takes is practice.
      
      Photo compliments of Getideaka
      
       
      
       
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