The Upward Spiral: Using Neuroscience to Reverse the Course of Depression, One Small Change at a Time
Learning Objectives:
- Clear and engaging explanation of the neuroscience behind depression
- Newest research on the neuroscience of depression and its treatment
- Practical guide to strategies that can reshape the brain
- Concrete steps to lead your client in the upward spiral out of depression
Note: One of the sessions in this course is repeated in Dr Korb’s short online course The Upward Spiral for Managing Stress: Using Neuroscience to Reduce Stress and Enhance Wellbeing
CPD Information For Mental Health Professionals
Enjoy complete flexibility with 100% self-paced learning you can access anytime, anywhere, and on any device. Pay once for lifetime access.
Course Duration: 12 learning hours
Certificate and CPD hours: On completion you’ll receive a Certificate of Completion to support your CPD records.
Assessment: Complete a short quiz at the end (80% pass mark), which you can resit as many times as needed.
Lifetime Access: Your access to the course does not expire, so you can revisit key concepts anytime you want a refresher for practice.
CPD Eligibility: This program may be suitable for CPD for professionals such as:
- Psychologists
- Counsellors and Psychotherapists
- Social Workers
- Community Workers
- Mental Health Nurses
- General Practitioners (GPs)
- Occupational Therapists
CPD requirements vary between professional bodies, so please check with your association or credentialing body to confirm you can claim CPD hours/OPD points for this program and what evidence they require.
Course Content
Meet Your Instructor
When clinicians need practical, brain-based strategies to help clients break free from depression and anxiety cycles, they turn to Alex Korb. His evidence-backed approach shows practitioners how small neuroplasticity shifts can create lasting change for their most challenging cases.
With over 20 years in neuroscience research at UCLA's Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Korb is the bestselling author of The Upward Spiral, the definitive guide that translates complex depression neuroscience into actionable clinical tools. His decade-long coaching practice has refined methods that help clients rewire stress responses and unlock resilience - insights he now shares with mental health professionals through his signature training programs.
Korb's clinical focus spans depression, anxiety, and mood disorders, with special expertise in neuromodulation and wellbeing interventions. His approach combines rigorous neuroscience with practical mindfulness techniques, giving clinicians concrete protocols they can implement immediately. Rather than abstract theory, he teaches practitioners how brain circuits actually change through targeted interventions, making treatment planning more precise and outcomes more predictable.
What sets his training apart is real-world application. Korb has coached hundreds of clients while maintaining active research at UCLA, so he understands both the science and the messy realities of clinical work. His methods help clinicians identify which neural pathways to target for specific symptoms, how to sequence interventions for maximum impact, and ways to help clients maintain progress between sessions.
For your practice, expect to gain specific techniques for interrupting rumination cycles, practical tools for building client resilience, and clear frameworks for explaining brain-based healing to clients in ways they understand and embrace.
Quick Win: Korb's "neural momentum" principle teaches that tiny consistent actions create more lasting brain change than major sporadic efforts—a game-changer for client motivation and treatment compliance.
Qualifications
- Ph.D., Neuroscience, UCLA, 2010
- B.S., Neuroscience, Brown University, 2002
- Adjunct Assistant Professor, UCLA Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences
- Over a dozen peer-reviewed publications in depression and neuromodulation research
Authored Books
- The Upward Spiral: Using Neuroscience to Reverse the Course of Depression, One Small Change at a Time (2015)
Featured & Recognition
- Psychology Today blog columnist (PreFrontal Nudity)
- Curable Health podcast guest (2019)
- LawyersWithDepression interview (2022)
Teaching & Roles
- Adjunct Assistant Professor, UCLA Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, 2010–present
- Coach and Founder, Upward Spiral Coaching, Los Angeles, 2015–present
- Consultant, Parent Lab Inc., 2018–2025
Feedback & Reviews
This course includes:
- Lessons 2
- Topics 18
- Duration 12 hours
- Quizzes 1
- Language English