About Books Neural Therapy™

 

Frequently Asked Questions:

  1. Q: What is so different about Books Neural Therapy™ from other therapies?
    A: Our motto is "first things first". We don't put the cart before the horse. We start with building a healthy foundation. Just like a building, that foundation needs to be built correctly and in stages or it won't be able to withstand stress and strain. By addressing various stages of brain development and correcting weaknesses (mechanical, neurological, emotional), Books Neural Therapy™ helps "upgrade" the entire system thus increasing efficiency with less wear and tear on the body.

    Books Neural Therapy™ addresses learning and health challenges by incorporating a multidisciplinary approach. For a house to function well, plumbers, electricians, carpenters, decorators all contribute to the final product. In human being, for all systems to be working optimally, it is important to get an overview of various systems.

  2. Q: Can you give me an example of how BNT checks out the "first things first"/basic functioning?
    A: in a house you wouldn't put down the carpeting before the foundation was strong and sturdy. You wouldn't put the curtains upuntil the foundation was laid, the walls were up and the windows were installed.

    Books Neural Therapy™ looks at the foundation level for causes. If someone notices a vision problem, most people would go first to the optometrist or ophthalmologist. However, a Books Neural Therapist would go back to foundational issues and would therefore check the housing of the eyes (the bony structure that encase the eyes) and the four cranial nerves that address eye movement and function.

    If the eye muscles are tighter one one side than the other, it will beimpossible for the eyes to track together and reading will be slower. Depth perception (so judging distances in sports or driving a car) may be affected. These are structural and neurological problems and need to be addressed at those levels. The person may still need eyeglasses. But the eye doctor will be addressing near and far vision, astigmatism, etc. and not the foundational component addressed in Books Neural Therapy.

  3. Q: How do you decide where to begin?
    A: First, a very thorough case history is taken, followed by neurological, structural, educational/cognitive testing. Each person is unique and the treatment takes into account the strengths and weaknesses as well as goals.

    A plan is developed and discussed with the patient before treatment begins; Pre and post testing yields measurable changes. Additionally, the patient's family is asked to report back to us quality of life improvements

  4. Q: You seem to emphasis addressing the nervous system Why?
    The nervous system, like Grand Central Station, has information coming in to the brain and going out to the body continuously.

    "The central nervous system," according to Webster's Dictionary "consists of the brain and the spinal column, to which sensory impulses are transmitted and from which motor impulses pass out, and which coordinates the activity of the entire nervous system".

    The nervous system coordinates body movements and brain function. Gross motor skills (e.g. running and jumping) need to be in good working order BEFORE fine motor skills (handwriting) can function at their best.

  5. Q: How do you know what part of the nervous system to address?
    A: Again, our motto is "first things first". Luckily, there is a design already built in to us. There are developmental sequences that have a particular order. If one is skipped or glossed over, the parts that come after it won't be able to connect properly. There will be "weak links in the chain."

    In biology, psychology and neuroscience, there is much information available on proper development. Books Neural Therapy™ keeps up to date on advances in neurosciences and incorporates new findings into the treatment protocol.

  6. Q: How do you work on the nervous system naturally, i.e., without drugs or surgery?
    A: Finding the communication/breakdowns in the circuitry (the nervous system) and then "rewiring" and "upgrading" the neurology via particular tracts (e.g. spinalthalamic tract) helps the entire person operate with more ease and efficiency and confidence.

    This is accomplished in a gentle, hands on, non-invasive treatment addressing various areas of the body and a lot of emphasis on the head. Eyes, ears, TMJ (jaw joint) allow the trained Books Neural Therapy™ practitioner to address sensory input and help "upgrade" the functioning and coordination of various senses.

  7. Q: Are there any "body clues" that I could benefit from Books Neural Therapy?
    A: Yes. Here are things to look for:
    1. Have you ever fallen on your head or your tailbone?
    2. Are your hips slightly uneven (is your belt buckle higher on one side?)
    3. Do you have an uneven gait (non-fluid or graceful walk).
    4. Any TMJ problems (grinding your teeth at night, braces, popping jaw)
    5. Ever been knocked unconscious?
    6. Any scoliosis (sideways curve in the backbone)

  8. Q. Is there any scientific basis for Book Neural Therapy? Or is one of those "fluff"/unproven techniques?
    A. Neurologic therapy as done in Books Neural Therapy™ addresses the neurobiological development of the human being. It is foundational work in that it provides often missing building blocks to a cohesive and smoothly integrated nervous system.

    The hottest area in brain research is currently the "basic brain", which Books Neural Therapy has zeroed in on many years ago. If this hindbrain, basal ganglia, cerebellum, etc. isn't in proper working order, higher order learning will have "glitches" in it. . See also Research section.

  9. Q: What other therapies could I compare this to?
    A: One of the problems we've had so far is that the treatment is so different from other treatment available, it is hard to compare it to anything. It is actually an incredibly logical and sequential series of adjustments to the brain and nervous system which affect brain function. It's just that apparently no one thought of addressing the neurological system in a non-invasive, natural way. Our traditional western medical model focuses on medication and invasive surgical procedures. Books Neural Therapy™ is a totally natural and non-invasive way of dealing with natural cause and effect relationships in the brain and body.

    Sensory Integration, often performed by occupational therapists, would have some of the same components, since they deal with sensory input to the brain.

    Chiropractors and Osteopaths who deal with the spine and visceral relationships, various therapists who do cranial sacral therapy address parts, nutritionists,neurologists, psychotherapists, all address parts of this complex.

  10. Q: What do you do for brain injuries – from subtle to very serious head injuries?
    A: Subtle brain injuries, when a person wasn't knocked unconscious, for instance, can still carry enormous impact to the brain. These accidents, common in high school athletes, for instance, often are brushed off as insignificant. New evidence shows that if a person sustains a second "subtle" brain injury before the first one heals, chances of total recovery are endangered.

    We see many, many people in our office who look to the world to be just fine. And many doctors may have told them they are and that their problems are now psychological. But the person knows very well that they are not functioning the way they did before the accident. (see testimonials for head injuries)

  11. Q: Have you worked with very serious head injuries? What do you do?
    A: Patients have been rolled in from their hospital beds after serious car accidents. Other patients from very serious car accidents, who have been hospitalized for months, have come in 5-10 years after their hospitalization and received significant help (see testimonials)

    What we do is the foundational work that Books Neural Therapy is known for. We "rebuild" their neurological system starting at the very beginning with primitive reflexes dealing with balance and centering, progressing to hearing (auditory) and visual reflexes.

    Almost like an orchestra conductor, first we work with the one section. We work with the clarinets, then the saxophones, the flutes.Then we try playing the wind section together. ; then the same process with the drums and others in the percussion section; ; then the brass. When each instrument can play its part by itself and with others in it's section, we bring the parts to play together in harmony. And soon we have a full orchestra…with a breadth of possibilities for health and well being.

  12. Q: How do you work with the TMJ (jaw joint)?
    A: Interestingly, there is a strong and important reciprocal relationship between the jaw bones and the pelvic area. Both deal with primitive survival issues (eating to stay alive and procreating to stay alive); both deal with centering and balance. When a baby goes from crawling to standing, the pelvic area and low back help stabilize the person. The last "righting" or balancing mechanism in our bony structure as we stand upright is the jaw. It will attempt to "right" any imbalances from the spine.

    In Books Neural Therapy™, we address each area separately and then together. There are many, many steps to this fascinating TMJ component.

  13. Q: What do you do with the eyes and eyetracking?
    A: As human beings, we have several balancing and righting mechanisms in the body. Above the trunk itself, at the level of our head, our eyes and ears do a lot of the "righting" or correction to our perceptions.

    Actually, 94% of what we see is our perception of what we see. Only 4% is "real". As human beings, we take in so much information via our eyes.

    Many times, however, the eye muscles are not totally coordinated. This could be from a fall or trauma; or one of the four cranial nerves that deal with eyes might be malfunctioning. Or the sphenoid bones which form part of the eye socket might be slightly askew. The sphenoid bone has greater and lesser wings…which resemble airplane wings. If one wing is higher than the other, (mechanical or physical problem) the eyes will have great difficulty tracking together.

    If eyes aren't tracking in sync or if the eye movement and auditory channels are out of sync, reading will be much slower.

  14. Q: Is your treatment reversible? Or can the corrections fade away over time?
    A: One of the wonderful things about this kind of care is that once the body finally "gets" what normal is, it wants to stay there. The treatment usually consists of about 16 sessions over a two to three month period. And after the initial series of treatments, we have pre and post measurements that indicate the completion of phase one. At that point, the corrections hold beautifully. Recently, we have begun to monitor patients for an entire year and then retest them at the end of the year to see how much they have improved not just in the initial three months but in the next year.

    We have interviewed patients five, ten and even 15 years later, and the corrections are still holding.

  15. Q: Can the client get worse during treatment?
    No. Maybe three times over the last 18 years, a patient has been "out of synch" for a day while changes are going on inside the body. For the most part, people feel an increased sense of wellness, coordination of body and of brain function after the first few sessions. Some people feel changes after the first session. Others, who are less tuned in to their bodies, feel changes after several sessions.

    On a typical case, around the 12th visit (sixth week), we ask the patient and parents where applicable, what changes they have noticed so far; and what else they would like to see.

  16. Q What could cause learning problems?
    A: Sometimes the origin of these neurological problems is hereditary, sometimes due to an old fall to the head or tailbone, sometimes biochemical, sometimes severe allergies. Many times, when the problem has some genetic predisposition, I ask "who in your family looks like you". Even if the problem in cross generational, there is help available.


  17. Q: Could this problem really be caused by some old injury in the brain?
    A. Many times, people have had previous injuries which they didn't consider very serious. When a second injury comes before the first one is totally repaired, the recovery time is severely slowed down.


  18. Q: For severe brain injuries, Down's syndrome, Autism, etc: Will he ever be "normal" again?
    A: Good question and of great concern to many people. Unfortunately, there isn’t an easy answer on this. Each case is individual. After a thorough case history and evaluation, the doctor will tell you reasonable goals in your particular case.
    After many years experience, Dr. Books will give you hope where it is realistic and be truthful when current evidence indicates otherwise.

    After many years experience, Dr. Books will give you hope where it is realistic and be truthful when current evidence indicates otherwise.

  19. Q: After the initial phase of care, then what?
    A: The initial phase is the most dramatic phase for the majority of people. However, we all know that it is easy to slip into old patterns or get with friends or family who don't honor our new changes. That is why Books Neural Therapy™ likes to monitor patients for an entire year. That way, we can keep fine tuning the progress and catching any destructive patterns quickly.

    Just like going to the gym, it is important to exercise on a regular basis to stay in good shape. We take our cars in for tune ups. We need to take our bodies and brains in for tune ups too.

  20. Q: What else can I be doing?
    A: After we review your particular situation, we will discuss other things you can be doing to help strengthen the work we do. Nutrition, life style, and daily patterns are addressed. We try to assess your strengths as well as weaknesses and then find ways of allowing the strengths to help the weaknesses.


  21. Q: Is there anything I can be doing with diet and nutrition?
    A; Many times, diet could use major improvement. And many times neutraceuticals can help the biochemical end of treatment. Those will be discussed on an individual basis.


  22. Q: Will Books Neural Therapy™ improve my reading?
    A: Yes. Improved reading speed and comprehension is one of the things Books Neural Therapy™ does best.

    Q: Will this help with "focus"?
    A: There is a structural and neurological component to focusing problems. Allergies can also play an important role. Allergies and nutrition are also part of the "big picture" approach to treating focusing and behavioral problems.

    It has been gratifying over the years to hear all the stories about how people's entire lives come into focus once Books Neural Therapy™ is done. People change jobs and get promotions, go back to school, stand up in front of crowds and speak.,etc.

  23. Q: Is dyslexia really reversible?
    A: Absolutely. The current thinking is that it is something you have to learn to live with and compensate for. Books Neural Therapy™, by addressing the problem at neurological and developmental levels, has an 85% success rate of correcting dyslexia. We work towards a permanent correction.


  24. Q: "Getting out of survival." What do you mean by that?
    A: Many, many people, at some level are locked in survival. Something may have happened in the past, which is "locked in" to the nervous system. The person at some level is waiting for something similar to happen again; and they are at the mercy of their nervous system which keeps replaying this tune like an old record. And the person can't by their own conscious control reset the dial. Very frustrating for the person…and often for the people around him/her.

    For many adults in our "hurry up culture", stress keeps them locked up in a stressful, almost survival state. For overly stressed people, the sympathetic (fight/flight or emergency) part of their nervous system is definitely on overdrive; The parasympathetic (restorative and replenishing) part of the nervous system isn't allowed to come in and balance out the system.

    Children or adults with ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) seem to have two speeds: fast and stop.

  25. Q: Why do you call Books Neural Therapy™ "foundational work"?
    A: Books Neural Therapy™ addresses the foundation of our biological and neurological development.

    The foundation, at the level of the brain, includes the reticular activating system, cerebellum, basal ganglia and other "hindbrain" functions. Once these basic balance, vestibular systems and survival systems function are addressed, we graduate to the limbic system and then the various neocortical/cognitive functions….all in a precise, developmental sequence.

  26. Q: Is Books Neural Therapy™ safe? What are the downsides to Books Neural Therapy™?
    A: The goal in Books Neural Therapy™ is to integrate and normalize various systems in the body and brain. People don't get worse or develop new symptoms. The worst thing that can happen is that nothing happens (in about 15% of cases). No harm can be done with this treatment.


  27. Q: Who responds to Books Neural Therapy™?
    A: People with learning problems, neurological problems (learning has a neurological component to it!), brain injuries, physical coordination problems, too much stress….In short, almost anyone can benefit from Books Neural Therapy™.

    It is particularly dramatic, however, for people with learning problems and brain injuries.

  28. Q: If I decide to do Books Neural Therapy™, how long before I see results?
    A: Many times, after the first session or the first few sessions, behavior, sleep patterns, and physical coordination changes are apparent. Different people respond differently, in their own time schedule, however. For some people, the changes are more subtle. Often others around us see changes before we notice them ourselves. That's why, after the first six weeks, we ask what you're noticing and what others around you are noticing.


  29. Q: How long will the changes last?
    A:. The wonderful thing about bodies is that they are so willing to change. Once a person finally discovers what "normal" is, it want s to stay there. One of the wonderful things about this work, is that after the initial phase of three months, the results are very, very long lasting. This means you don't have to come in forever…

    After three months and again at a year, we like to retest people to see the longitudinal effects of this work (and questionnaires yearly after that). We have lots of reports of this work "holding" 5, 10 and 15 years later.

  30. Q: "I'm skeptical. Why would I believe this would work when I've already spent a lot of money on other things that didn't work?"
    A: Many people who come in say they wish they had tried this first. Don't despair though. Many times, work that you have done in the past suddenly "synchs in" (like puzzle pieces fitting together) once we do Books Neural Therapy™. That previously unprocessed information is still roaming around inside you waiting for someone (Books Neural Therapy™) to organize you enough for it to know where to go.
  31. Q: I don't live anywhere near a Books Neural Therapist. And I can't come for three months to you. How can I get help?
    Many people from long distances fly or drive in and stay for five days. Books Neural Therapy™ is administered three to four times a day. So the patient, in effect, gets three months of therapy in five days. Many people actually prefer that and can results faster that way.

    Follow up care is still required, and sometimes we have to be creative on how that can be accomplished.

  32. What Is A Learning Difference?
    • Difficulty with reading, writing or math
    • Delayed Auditory Response (frequent asking to repeat a sentence of phrase)
    • Poor sense of direction (confuses right and left)
    • Inability to concentrate when studying or playing a game.
    • Poor motor skills (clumsy/accident prone)
    • Lack of concentration and focus
    • Inability to comprehend and retain reading material
    • Problems with carrying out multiple instructions
    • Eye-hand coordination problems (hand writing, depth perception, etc.)
    • Confusing or reversing instructions
    • Difficulty making decisions
    • Low self-esteem and distorted self-image

    A learning difference can manifest itself in various ways, often escaping detection because of the variety of symptoms. It can account for a bright child or adult not performing as well as expected.


  33. How Is Your Approach Different?
    WE OFFER A UNIQUE AND COMPREHENSIVE Program that starts with the very foundation of the learning process – the body itself. Our brain and our body develop in stages. Books Neural Therapy™ follows those natural stages.

    Foundations need to be built in stages so they are strong and resilient. By addressing the various stages of neurological development and correcting any weaknesses, Books Neural Therapy™ helps "upgrade" the entire system; thus increasing efficiency and reducing wear and tear on the whole person.

    Human beings are complex. Addressing a problem from only one viewpoint often corrects only part of the problem. Books Neural Therapy™ utilizes a wide range of therapies including the latest advances in neuroscience as well as common sense and natural, non drug methods of enhancing learning, coordination, and self esteem.

    Our goal is not compensation (treating learning differences as a permanent condition you must learn to live with), but rehabilitation. We work towards a permanent correction of the problem. Contrary to popular belief, learning differences can be temporary conditions that are treatable.

    OUR APPROACH IS DRUGLESS

  34. What Exactly Will You Do?
    FIRST, the body is gently positioned so the nervous system can perform one of its basic functions—holding the head and body upright. Walking becomes more coordinated and posture improves; right and left hemispheres of the brain begin to communicate with each other as intended.

    SECOND, the jaw joint is addressed. An imbalance in jaw muscles can pull the skull bones out of their normal position and cause abnormal pressure on the central nervous system. This causes perceptual problems associated with learning differences.

    THIRD, the cranial bones are realigned since malposition of these bones in the head can cause disorganization in the central nervous system. This is especially important after head trauma, whiplash or accidents to the head or tailbone.

    FOURTH, eyetracking, which refers to the coordination of the eye muscles when reading and writing as well as for balance and orientation, is evaluated and corrected. Reading speed, comprehension and overall academic performance often improve dramatically after this correction.

    FIFTH, individualized corrections and strategies are implemented for reading, writing, math, spelling, memory, and auditory processing.

  35. How Long Does It Take in the Initial Phase?
    TYPICALLY, DR. BOOKS SEES PEOPLE FOR about 16-20 sessions (two 30-minute sessions per week) over two to three months. Follow-up care is recommended once a month for nine months.

    Because many people fly in from long distances, she also offers an "intensive" series consisting of 3-4 appointments per day for 4-5 days with a re-evaluation in six weeks.

    Once the initial phase of treatment is complete, the corrections hold. That is one of the most exciting things about this process. The "active phase" of treatment takes approximately three months, and the effects last forever.

 

 

 

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