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1. Alpha/theta: clinical application and historic roots 2. Outline of an Alpha/theta Session complete articles... |
1. Alpha/Theta training, history and client growth and development By John N Demos Historically, Neurofeedback has had two distinct branches or modalities. One branch can be traced to researchers including Barry Sterman who pioneered the neurotherapy for epilepsy. Afterwards other researchers including Joel Lubar and Margaret Ayers applied Neurofeedback to a host of other conditions. The other branch is more closely associated with the earlier research of Joseph Kamiya and the advent alpha training. His work was built upon by Green, Green, Walters, Budzynski and culminated with the landmark studies of Peniston & Kulkosky who designed the alpha/theta training protocol for veterans of the Vietnam war who suffered from PTSD and alcoholism. Jim Robins, the author of “The Symphony of the Brain” described alpha/theta training as deep states therapy. Alpha/Theta training or deep states therapy was widely applied by practitioners with the hopes that a single protocol would resolve the issues of addiction and posttraumatic stress disorder. Unfortunately, that hope was not realized for two important reasons: (1) Lack of formal assessments and (2) And appropriate psycho-structures that are crucial for the success of alpha/theta training. Clearly, alpha/theta training was not a cook-book protocol. The rebirth of alpha/theta training came with the clinical research spearheaded by practitioners such as Nancy White (private practice) and Bill Scott (institutional practice). Bill Scott demonstrated with his landmark study at CRI-HELP, that alpha theta training can be successfully applied to court-mandated-poly-substance abusers if and only if two conditions are met (1) pre-assessments and (2) supportive psycho-structures are established. Bill’s method when correctly applied becomes a crucible for healing and transformation. Its value is not limited to PTSD and addictions. Its application extends to those with personality disorders and psychodynamic issues. For example, one male “talk therapy” client of mine was “stuck” and no longer able to explore salient issues relating to his family. However, by adding deep states training to his therapy regimen the therapeutic process was restored. Moreover, researchers such as Soutar, Egner, Gruzelier and Boynton have demonstrated the value of alpha/theta training for peak performance training. Beginning with the early research by Herbert Benson (author of the “Relaxation Response”) it has become clear that long term mediators produce bilateral synchronous alpha waves that enhance parallel processing and superior brain dynamics. Alpha/theta training ramps the western mind much closer to the power of long term eastern meditation experts. Learning to implement alpha/theta training is crucial to its success. That kind of learning is best achieved in a workshop environment. Bill Scott has been one of the most effective teachers of alpha/theta training in our field. His research and experience is invaluable. Spend a few days with Bill Scott and you will become a better neurotherapist and a more effective psychotherapist. His hand-on workshop will introduce you to one of the powerful interventions developed in the field of neurofeedback.
2. A Snapshot of an Alpha Theta Session By Bill Scott The sensor is placed at Pz with the reference ear clip being placed on the left ear and the ground ear clip on the right. It’s done with the eyes closed with the client sitting at about a 45 degree angle. A snap shot of an alpha theta session: First 15 minutes is spent quantifying goals and processing what’s happened since the last session. About 3 minutes are spent placing the scalp sensor at Pz with the reference ear clip on the left ear and the ground ear clip on the right. The feedback sounds are started. The client is asked to close their eyes. They are asked to sit back at a 45 degree angle in a recliner chair They are told not to meditate and not to try to rehearse the guided visualization over and over in their minds. They are instructed to allow their minds to wander or daydream on whatever it spontaneously happens to. They are best not even told what the feedback sounds mean; that the sounds are reflections on changing states of interactivity or reactivity. The sounds are for their brain to learn to self regulate and not for the person’s mind to try to change them. Their 3-5 minute guided visualization is started which consists of:
Throughout the session, the following threshold are set for the given frequencies. They are only changed when a percentage has been outside the limit for more than a minute.
The feedback stops after about 30 minutes and the client is invited back and asked to describe their experience. They process for about 10-15 minutes and leave.
Below is a 2 hour audio link that illuminates much more texture of the alpha theta experience. http://brainpaint.com/ConferenceCall4-17-08.wav It covers:
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