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Doctor talks brain research at Rabun Gap

The Clayton Tribune - 1/11/2017

RABUN GAP - Psychologist Dr. JoAnn Deak helped Rabun Gap students, parents and faculty better understand the adolescent brain during a two-day visit recently.

With more than 30 years in the education and psychology fields, Deak shared the latest research and methods students can apply to help their brains grow.

She met with Upper and Middle School faculty for a two-hour session one day to share how the latest brain research can be applied in the classroom. That night, Deak held a talk for parents on how to understand their teen's brain. Students had the opportunity to hear from Deak the next day.

In each of her three talks, Deak emphasized the importance of the adolescent years in brain development. She referred to adolescence as "the magic decade," and said it is the time when the most brain development occurs.

"Your brain is you," Deak told students, encouraging them to train their brains by challenging themselves with subjects that don't come easy. Deak also stressed the importance of keeping the brain healthy by getting plenty of sleep and talked about the physiological differences in the brain between genders.

Deak has spent more than three decades as an educator and psychologist, helping children develop into confident and competent adults. The latter half of that period has also focused on working with adults, parents and teachers in their roles as guides or significant ?brain sculptors' of children. She is the author of four books - "The Driver's Manual for Your Adolescent Brain," "Your Fantastic Elastic Brain," "How Girls Thrive," and "Girls Will Be Girls: Raising Confident and Courageous Daughters."