Davorka Marovic M.Ed., LPC

06/16/2025

Another book I brought on my vacation, and am rereading for the third time, is by one of my favorite authors, Dr. Dan Siegel, M.D. I have to say, Dr. Siegel is a true parenting guru and one of the world’s leading experts in child and adolescent development, emotional regulation, and brain-based parenting. He’s a Harvard-trained psychiatrist, a clinical professor of psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine, and the executive director of the Mindsight Institute.
Since I just returned from spending three wonderful weeks with my son Aleks and his girlfriend, I was reminded once again how much the parenting wisdom of Dr. Siegel — alongside my clinical practice and personal growth journey — has shaped the way I show up as a mother. Dr. Siegel’s work has provided me with invaluable tools to better understand how our brains work, how our emotions are regulated, and how relationships shape our resilience, adaptability, and sense of belonging.
The particular book I revisited, The Whole-Brain Child, is ideal for parents of younger children. It explains the difference between the right and left hemispheres of the brain and how to help children process difficult or even traumatic experiences by teaching them emotional regulation skills early in life.
Rather than avoiding difficult conversations, Dr. Siegel encourages parents to help their children tell their story — sometimes more than once — and to support them in labeling their emotions in order to process experiences and move forward.
One of his most important insights is that in moments of conflict or distress, parents must first learn to calm and regulate themselves. Children naturally mirror their parents' emotional states and learn how to regulate their own emotions by observing how we manage ours. Of course, emotional regulation is influenced by more than just parental feedback and responsiveness. Factors such as sleep, gut health, exposure to electronics, environmental stressors, and even exposure to endocrine disruptors all play important roles in a child’s mental, emotional, and physical well-being, ultimately affecting brain function and cognitive-emotional balance.
For those raising teenagers, I highly recommend Dr. Siegel’s Brainstorm, another fantastic book. It offers a compassionate, neuroscience-informed understanding of the adolescent brain and provides tools for parents to support their teens through this intense and formative period of development.
👉 Here’s the link to Brainstorm: https://drdansiegel.com/book/brainstorm/
If you’re a parent, no matter where you are on your journey, Dr. Siegel’s work is a wonderful, practical, and deeply compassionate resource for creating more connected, emotionally resilient families. I’m grateful for how it’s shaped my approach as a mother — and how it continues to enrich my clinical and personal journey.

06/03/2025

This year I brought several books to read while visiting my homeland, Montenegro 🇲🇪. One of them is a book I have been intending to read for many years, and I guess the timing for it is right. It is called Many Lives, Many Masters by Dr. Brian Weiss, MD. It is a true story about his experience with one of his patients, who, under hypnosis, began recalling her past lives. I am curious, what do you think about this? Do you believe we have been here before? Do you believe that some souls choose to return, while others move on to another plane of existence? I often struggle to make sense of this, especially when I think about souls who have truly suffered in this lifetime. Why would anyone choose such a difficult existence? Is it karma? Or something else? What do you think? ❤️

02/02/2025

I just completed Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) certification training with a colleague of mine in Austin, Texas. It was fun and incredibly interesting.

NLP explores how our thoughts (neuro), language (linguistic), and behaviors (programming) shape our experiences and interactions. By understanding these patterns, NLP offers powerful techniques to reframe negative thoughts, enhance communication, and unlock personal potential. It’s used in therapy, coaching, business, and everyday life to improve confidence, break bad habits, and foster meaningful connections. Imagine rewiring your brain for success, resilience, and deeper relationships. NLP is the toolkit that helps make that happen! By the way, can you find me in this photo 🙂?

01/18/2025

Are You in a Growth-Fostering Relationship?

Take a moment and think: Who are the five people you spend the most time with? These relationships matter more than you might realize! Research from relational neuroscience highlights four key pathways that make healthy, supportive relationships thrive.

Want to find out who in your life keeps you calm, accepts you just as you are, resonates with your experiences, truly sees you, and leaves you energized? Then dive into this fun and insightful assessment!

Why does this matter? Because your relationships are literally shaping you—from your mirror neurons to your heart, microbiome, energy levels, and beyond. When you're surrounded by energizing, supportive people, your brain releases more dopamine, the feel-good chemical that fuels your motivation, zest, and drive to chase your goals. Dopamine isn’t just about feeling great—it’s your secret sauce for living with passion and purpose!

Oh, and here’s a cool tidbit: Did you know the longest-running study on happiness, started at Harvard in 1938 and still ongoing, found that the quality of your relationships is one of the biggest contributors to your mental health, well-being, and overall happiness? Yep, it’s that important!

So, take the C.A.R.E. Relational Assessment to gain deeper insight into your relational experiences. It was developed by Harvard-trained neuroscientist and psychiatrist, Dr. Amy Banks, who specializes in the science of relationships. Let’s explore how to build stronger, more meaningful connections—or enhance the ones you already have.

The C.A.R.E. Relational Assessment:

https://amybanksmd.com/CARE/

Got questions or thoughts? Drop them in the comments—I’d love to hear from you! 😊

01/18/2025

Personality might seem like a fixed part of who we are, but emerging research reveals a fascinating connection between what we eat and who we become. Studies in neuroscience, nutrition, and psychology show that our diet interacts with the brain, gut, and immune system in ways that influence our emotions, behaviors, and even core traits like openness, neuroticism, and conscientiousness. The gut-brain axis, often called the "second brain," plays a key role, with a healthy gut, nourished by fiber-rich, nutrient-dense foods, linked to reduced anxiety, greater emotional resilience, and openness to new experiences. Meanwhile, brain-boosting nutrients like omega-3s and antioxidants enhance neuroplasticity, helping the brain adapt and grow, which can subtly shift personality over time. By stabilizing blood sugar, reducing inflammation, and supporting brain and gut health, diet offers a powerful tool to shape not just our bodies but our minds. Every bite becomes an opportunity to align our nutritional choices with the person we aspire to be, unlocking resilience, creativity, and emotional balance in the process.

Could Diet Alter Your Personality?Emerging research in neuroscience and nutrition suggests that diet and personality may be more closely lin

01/09/2025

We know from research that in-utero experiences can alter a baby's brain, impacting attachment, social, and cognitive functions. This article is particularly interesting as it discusses how early stress alters s***m DNA, affecting offspring's brain development. The article points out that childhood stress can alter the epigenetic profile of s***m, potentially impacting future generations.

Early Stress Alters S***m DNA, Impacting Offspring's Brain Development

Childhood stress can leave lasting effects on s***m by altering its epigenetic profile, potentially impacting future generations.

A recent study found that men who experienced high levels of childhood maltreatment had reduced DNA methylation in specific regions and changes in non-coding RNA levels in their s***m.

These epigenetic markers are linked to brain development, suggesting a pathway through which early life stress might affect offspring.

The findings highlight the possibility of epigenetic inheritance, where acquired traits or environmental effects can be passed to the next generation without changes to the DNA sequence.

Researchers emphasize the need for further studies to confirm whether these changes are inherited and how they may influence children’s health and development.

This groundbreaking work underscores the complex interplay between environment, genetics, and multigenerational health.

https://neurosciencenews.com/childhood-stress-epigenetics-neurodevelopment-28340/

01/06/2025

This workshop is truly one of the best experiences for couples! Led by one of my highly experienced colleagues, Dr. Courtney Baker, an expert in the field, it offers transformative insights and tools for relationship growth. As Dr. Baker points out, this workshop provides “a roadmap to repair and connection”. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone looking to deepen their relationship and navigate challenges with renewed clarity and understanding ❤️.

10/30/2024

Nature and the changing seasons offer profound lessons. Fall, in particular, invites us to pause, reflect, and release. Just as trees shed their leaves 🍁, it’s a chance for us to ask: What no longer serves me? What am I holding on that keeps me stuck? This season can inspire both inner and outer decluttering. Letting go creates space for fresh energy, growth, and transformation. Much like the earth prepares for renewal, we too need to clear the old to welcome new opportunities and personal rebirth. What might you release to make room for the next chapter of your journey?

10/28/2024

My colleague and I are conducting research on the protective factors that immigrants use to cope with adversities, so we are looking for individuals who may be interested in participating in our study. If you know anyone who might be a good fit or would be interested, we would greatly appreciate it if you could forward this information to them. I am attaching both a flyer and a letter for agencies with further details. Thank you and please reach out if you have any questions.

10/28/2024

Did you know that for every hour you're awake during the day, you need a full half-hour of sleep time to process the new information you've learned? A lack of sleep impairs the ability to remember and make sense of what you've learned.

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08/10/2024

This is one of my favorite studies and one of the most significant when it comes to understanding our happiness and well-being. The Harvard Study of Adult Development, which began in 1938, is one of the longest-running studies on adult life ever conducted. For over 80 years, it has followed two cohorts of men to explore what truly contributes to health, happiness, and longevity.

The Harvard Study of Adult Development describes the profound impact that relationships and emotional well-being have on our health and longevity. It highlights that while genetics and
lifestyle choices are important, the quality of our relationships and our ability to navigate life’s challenges with resilience and adaptability are paramount.

The findings from this remarkable research offer deep insights into what shapes our lives and highlights the importance of relationships, purpose, and emotional well-being in our overall happiness.

What keeps us happy and healthy as we go through life? If you think it's fame and money, you're not alone – but, according to psychiatrist Robert Waldinger, ...

08/09/2024

Can you believe that right in our own neighborhood, Washington University, has been at the forefront of Alzheimer’s research for nearly 20 years? They’ve been running clinical trials for two decades, making incredible progress against this disease. Scientists there have been developing affordable and highly accurate blood-based biomarkers for Alzheimer’s, which are game-changers. While these biomarkers—molecules in the blood that indicate someone’s medical condition—aren’t treatments themselves, they’re revolutionizing Alzheimer’s therapy by detecting the disease before symptoms and brain damage begin. This breakthrough opens the door to potential treatments that could delay or even prevent Alzheimer’s altogether!

Scientists are closing in on biomarkers that reflect the progression of Alzheimer’s disease and could improve treatments.