Addiction Science for Counselors: How to Make Neuroscience Actually Make Sense (and Maybe Even Funny) Ever tried to explain dopamine to someone who thinks “brain science” is just what happens when you drink too much caffeine or energy drinks? If you’ve ever watched a client’s eyes glaze over when you say “neurotransmitter,” or you’ve fumbled through a metaphor about habit loops that landed about as well as a burly Northwoods person at a yoga retreat, this post’s for you. I’m not here to hand out a neuroscience lecture or to shame anyone for not knowing the difference between a synapse and a sandwich. I’m tired of seeing “brain talk” scare people off or make them feel broken. It doesn’t have to be that way. Let’s make addiction science feel as real as wet boots in November. Let’s give people something they can actually use. Why Brain Science Matters (But Only If You Can Use It) We owe our clients the truth—about the struggle, about hope, about what’s actually going on under the ho...