In 2005, a group of educators and therapists participated in an Interpersonal Neurobiology immersion workshop with Daniel J. Siegel, creator of the principles of Interpersonal Neurobiology, and author of The Developing Mind, Parenting from the Inside Out - with Mary Hartzell, The Mindful Brain, and, most recently, Mindsight. Out of our enthusiasm for the capacity of these principles to change lives, GAINS was born.

Over the next 18 months, leaders from several fields joined our Advisory Board:  theorist, author, and clinician Daniel J. Siegel, MD; theorist, author, and clinician Allan Schore, PhD; mirror neuron investigator and author Marco Iacoboni, MD, PhD; sensorimotor psychotherapist and author Pat Ogden, PhD; author and Pepperdine professor, Louis Cozolino, PhD; theorist, clinician, and author Diana Fosha, PhD; Harvard professor Carl Marci, PhD; Harvard professor Eugene Beresin, PhD; poet, essayist, and naturalist Diane Ackerman; polyvagal theorist Stephen Porges, PhD; child/parent advocate Patty Wipfler; and pediatric cardiac specialist Ross Ungerleider, MD. We are privileged to have their wisdom about Interpersonal Neurobiology and their support, as well as their offer of articles about their current interests.

In 2006, we began publishing Connections & Reflections, the GAINS Quarterly - part scientific journal, part in-depth discussion of applications in various fields, part magazine with humor and personal reflections.  We have been told that it is a unique creation, and we know that it will continue to evolve along with our membership.  You can sample some selections by choosing the "Articles" button to the left.

In 2008, our Austin affiliate, Austin IN Connection, became part of a group undertaking research based on IPNB principles.  The unique perspective of Interpersonal Neurobiology is that our brains and minds are not contained only within our own skin, but continue to develop structure and function through their interaction with other brains and minds - for good or ill. This project will seek to help at-risk mothers and infants develop secure attachment, with part of the research design being to understand how the brain, mind, and attachment status of the teacher/facilitator influences the outcome for mother and infant.  A report on this research will appear in each Quarterly.

We invite you to think about how you want to employ the principles of Interpersonal Neurobiology in your daily life and your work life.  As you find your unique way to contribute, GAINS can be a place to explore, expand, and offer your vision to a wider audience.

Empathic attachments throughout our lifespan provide security, meaning, and a sense of goodness in life.   GAINS seeks to be a community that lives that principle - and would welcome your participation.

Our Mission

As members of GAINS, we promote and support the application of the scientifically-grounded principles of Interpersonal Neurobiology to the art of human relationships, across disciplines, in both our personal and professional lives, in the service of a more awake and compassionate world for individuals, families, and communities.

Our Vision

We envision a world in which people cultivate a working knowledge of the principles of Interpersonal Neurobiology in order to develop the capacity to engage in thoughtful self-reflection and well-intentioned actions, leading to meaningful and compassionate connections within ourselves, our families, and the world at large.

"Scientifically speaking, kindness

is the only way to save the planet"

Daniel J. Siegel, MD