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.
We learn long before we start school. All the neurological processing and developmental stages must be in order for reading and other learning to develop with ease. 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.
BOOKS NEURAL THERAPY™ (BNT) THEORY
Neurological Dysregulation is the Root of Learning Problems
The state of the brain and nervous system determines the way in which a person learns and can greatly impact behavior. The basis of a healthy brain begins in utero and development continues until early adulthood. Each layer of the brain is constructed upon the existing layer. Traumatic events may impact a certain layer of the brain during development. Also, because development does not stop, one trauma can disrupt the development and structure of subsequent layers of the brain, and its proper integration with the body, and other senses.
All trauma—physical, emotional, or chemical—can disrupt the proper development of the brain. Physical trauma can be obvious such as serious accidents, abuse, or repeated surgeries, but it can also be as subtle as a difficult birth or a toddler’s fall. Likewise, emotional trauma can include PTSD or surviving a natural disaster, or simply disappointment at a tender age. Finally chemical exposure can include chemotherapy, exposure to pesticides, suffering from severe allergies, vaccinations, or consuming too much sugar. According to this definition, we’ve all have experienced some sort of trauma during our lives and much of that trauma can be reversed by Books Neural Therapy™.
Role of the Brain, Skull, and Senses
The brain can be divided into three major areas: the reptilian brain, the limbic system, and the neocortex. The areas develop in sequence and govern different functions. The reptilian or basic brain develops first, and governs basic survival including the fight-or-flight response. The limbic system, or the emotional brain, is involved with emotion, motivation, and a sense of belonging. The limbic system is also responsible for effective communication of the reptilian brain with the higher brain, or the neocortex. The neocortex is the portion of the brain responsible for language, planning, and abstract thought. Many therapies for learning disabilities focus solely on the neocortex. But, as you can imagine, dysfunction in the other brain layers can impact the neocortex. If the reptilian brain has been impacted by trauma, the person may have an inappropriate fight-or-flight response in school, around certain subjects, or learning activities. It is hard to read aloud when your brain is telling your body it is in danger. Similarly, it is difficult to learn if there are traumas in the limbic system. This may result in inappropriate emotional responses to learning issues.
Other than the brain itself, the skull can greatly influence the ability to learn. It has been assumed that once the bones of the skull “fuse” in babies, the bones are fixed. But there is good evidence that the bones of the skull continue to move slightly throughout life. Any sort of cranial trauma, including slight bumps to the head, can cause the bones to adhere strongly to themselves. As a result, the natural movements or flexibility of the skull is affected.
As most know, the senses, particularly vision and hearing, are highly involved in learning. Also involved is the sense of proprioception which is the brain’s sense of the body and its movement through space. Proprioception relies upon the vestibular system and also kinesthesia, which receives input from the muscles (muscle spindles) and the tendons (Golgi tendons). Abnormal proprioception is often seen in those with learning difficulties as clumsiness and a feeling of disconnectedness with one’s own body.