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What if everything we thought we knew about children's mental health was incomplete? Dr. Christopher Kevin Slaton introduces a paradigm shift with Human Systems Science—a groundbreaking approach that transforms how we understand and address mental illness in children.

At the heart of this revolutionary framework is a profound realization: children don't simply develop mental illness; they evolve into it based on how they're received into the world. Dr. Slaton challenges the common tendency to blame children for their struggles, instead redirecting our attention to how adults communicate with and respond to them. "When you don't know how to handle a new technology child," he explains, drawing a compelling parallel between children's developing brains and complex systems, "brain, body, senses evolve into a complete performing process loop."

Human Systems Science represents the new frontier in brain talk, examining the complex interactions between brain responses, bodily reactions, and sensory transfers of energy and feelings. This comprehensive approach offers crucial insights for parents, teachers, coaches, and health professionals seeking to detect early signs of mental health challenges by observing children's contact and interaction patterns. The framework emphasizes the interconnectedness of family, education, and community systems, showing how children learn to "live with self, learn with other people, and think with supportive environments."

Perhaps most revolutionary is Dr. Slaton's assertion that "the brain is the body"—a concept that transforms how we communicate with children. Rather than addressing behavior (talking to the body), he advocates speaking directly to the brain in ways that cool, calm, and collect a child's sense of self. "You can't change the state of mind by adding to it with an attitude," he notes, rejecting punitive approaches in favor of genuine connection.

Want to be part of this transformative movement? Join Dr. Slaton at his book signing event on August 2, 2025, and discover how Human Systems Science can create healthier, more self-aware children. Subscribe to the Brain's Body Podcast for more insights that will forever change how you understand and support children's mental health.

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Education and Science: The Brain's Body, Help to Improve Brain, Body, and Sense Events. www.drchristopherkslaton.com *Brain's Body Consults: www.brainsbody.net * Brain Talk: Learning the Brain's Body with Dr. Slaton Live. www.drslatonlive.com Also: Dr. Christopher K Slaton: Amazon.com.

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Dr. Christopher K. Slaton's groundbreaking work in Human Systems Science opens up new possibilities for understanding and addressing children's mental health and development. This emerging field represents a paradigm shift in how we approach brain talk and cognitive development, especially for children experiencing crisis or developmental challenges. At its core, Human Systems Science recognizes that the brain and body are inseparable entities functioning together to create our lived experience, yet it places special emphasis on how we communicate with the child's brain rather than simply addressing behaviors.

The concept of the "sense path" forms a critical component of this science. Dr. Slaton explains that children are often born into dynamics that prevent them from reaching their full potential because caregivers are unaware of how to properly show signs of care for the developing brain. This lack of proper brain-focused care creates generations of children growing up without a well-developed sense of feel or care for themselves and others. The sense path, as Dr. Slaton describes it, serves as the brain's funnel for participation in contact, interaction, cooperation, and broader social engagement. When this path is disrupted or improperly developed, children struggle with fundamental aspects of human connection and learning.

One of the most compelling insights from Human Systems Science is the connection between sensory experience and cognitive development. Dr. Slaton illustrates how a child who cannot make positive contact with others will struggle to interact cognitively and neurophysically when cooperation is required. This cascading effect explains why children who feel uncomfortable in their own sensory experience may struggle with reading, writing, drawing, and overall academic performance. It's not merely about skill development but about creating comfortable neurological pathways that allow the child to fully participate in these activities without being hindered by internal discomfort or external irritants that trigger pain, hurt, or sadness.

The approach advocates for speaking directly to the child's brain rather than focusing solely on bodily behaviors. By informing the brain properly, we can reduce fear and anxiety of the unknown, while disciplining the body to focus the senses. This balanced approach makes it easier for children to accept and process energy, action, and feelings in healthy ways. Dr. Slaton's methodology includes self-research, help, and discovery components that help both practitioners and children comprehend the flow of emotion and thought processes, reflecting on the experience of brain, body, and sense messaging in an integrated manner.

With his upcoming book "Human Systems Science in the Best Interest of the Child's Mental Health and Self-Awareness" set for release in August 2025, Dr. Slaton continues to develop this field that promises to transform how we understand and support children's development. The ultimate goal remains clear: to create pathways for children to develop a genuine sense of feel for themselves by receiving proper care that acknowledges the brain within the body. As Dr. Slaton poignantly asks, "If you don't give a child care, then how do they develop a sense of feel for self?" This question lies at the heart of Human Systems Science and reminds us that true care must address the whole child—brain, body, and sense e

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Education and Science: The Brain's Body, Help to Improve Brain, Body, and Sense Events. www.drchristopherkslaton.com *Brain's Body Consults: www.brainsbody.net * Brain Talk: Learning the Brain's Body with Dr. Slaton Live. www.drslatonlive.com Also: Dr. Christopher K Slaton: Amazon.com.

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When does your brain need to take the lead over your body? In this profound conversation, Tony Slaton stands at a pivotal moment—preparing for hip replacement surgery after decades of pain dating back to his NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys. With remarkable vulnerability, Tony unpacks how early parental wisdom shaped his understanding of persistence, courage, and self-care.

Tony shares how his father's simple observation—"you got a lot of glue in your shit"—recognized his ability to complete tasks from an early age, while his mother's repeated phrase "all you got to do" taught him the power of taking first steps. These lessons created neural pathways that guided Tony through life's challenges, including the moment in 1990 when team doctors dismissed his hip pain as merely a pulled groin.

The heart of Tony's story reveals the battle between "program" (external expectations) and "process" (internal awareness). For years, Tony suppressed his body's signals to meet professional obligations, creating what Dr. Christopher Kevin Slaton describes as "the crisis of self." Only when football ended did Tony finally have the "free space" to discover who he truly was beyond the structured binders that mapped his every hour as an athlete.

Tony's journey illuminates how physical pain affects our ability to show up authentically in relationships, community work, and even simple interactions. His decision to finally address his hip pain stems from wanting to fully engage with life again—especially precious moments with his grandson where he found himself "having the best time of my life and the worst time of my life at the same time."

Whether you're facing physical challenges, career transitions, or simply trying to honor your internal wisdom over external pressures, Tony's story offers powerful insights about healing, character, and the courage to create space for transformation. What signals have you been ignoring? When might your brain take the lead?Refle

Support the show

Education and Science: The Brain's Body, Help to Improve Brain, Body, and Sense Events. www.drchristopherkslaton.com *Brain's Body Consults: www.brainsbody.net * Brain Talk: Learning the Brain's Body with Dr. Slaton Live. www.drslatonlive.com Also: Dr. Christopher K Slaton: Amazon.com.