Psychologist Marisa Franco explains how revisiting and reframing difficult past memories can help improve self-worth and reduce symptoms of trauma.
Key facts
- •Marisa Franco's book, 'Worth: The New Science of Self-Esteem and Secure Attachment,' was published in September.
- •Memory reconsolidation theory, which informs this technique, is based on the work of neuroscientist Karim Nader.
- •The reparenting exercise involves an adult providing comfort to their younger self to resolve troubling past events.
- •Research by psychologist Soljana Çili is cited as a basis for the memory reconsolidation exercises.
- •The practice aims to help individuals feel more valued and less affected by negative self-talk.
Psychologist Marisa Franco suggests that individuals can improve their self-esteem by practicing memory reconsolidation. This technique involves returning to a troubling past memory as an adult to provide the younger version of oneself with necessary reassurance. Franco, author of the book 'Worth: The New Science of Self-Esteem and Secure Attachment,' argues that this process can help individuals process difficult emotions and change how those memories impact their current sense of self.
The Science of Memory Reconsolidation
The approach is rooted in memory reconsolidation theory, which draws on the work of behavioral neuroscientist Karim Nader. According to Franco, memories do not merely record the past but also predict the future. By envisioning an adult self intervening in a difficult childhood memory to offer comfort, individuals may experience catharsis. This process is associated with changes in the hippocampus, the brain region responsible for memory storage, and can lead to reduced symptoms of trauma.
Applying the Reparenting Exercise
Franco describes a 'reparenting' exercise where an individual visualizes their current self interacting with their younger self during a painful event. In one personal example, Franco revisited a childhood memory of feeling ashamed and different while waiting for her mother at soccer practice. By visualizing her adult self arriving early to offer a hug and reassurance, she reported feeling more valued and less afraid. This practice, which also incorporates research by psychologist Soljana Çili, is intended to help people internalize positive experiences more deeply.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by NPR Health.
