Brain Change Therapy

You can permanently change your mental future merely by choosing to change your brain states. This is the core premise of Brain Change Therapy: Clinical Interventions for Self-Transformation by Carol Kershaw, EdD, and Bill Wade, EdD, co-directors of The Milton Erickson Institute of Houston. In this encyclopedic volume they synergize psychotherapy, Ericksonian Hypnosis, and biofeedback/neurofeedback as they explore a variety of aspects and dimensions regarding lasting transformation through intentional state change.

As already alluded to, their basic hypothesis is that all emotional states, such as rage/anger, fear, panic, lust/greed, curiosity, nurturing, and playfulness, are represented in a person's neurology in distinct patterns of neural networks and substrate activation. Taking this a little further, they are stating that all mental pathologies and even desired states, such as feelings related to thriving and happiness, can be very specifically related in neurological concepts, which can be detected and measured by neurofeedback devices. When a person decides to activate an alternate state, a competing structure will challenge the status quo. Furthermore, if the new state is given more attention, it will be strengthened thereby further deepening its impact.

Essentially, I welcome their contribution especially since these ideas are extremely similar to many of the articles that I have written and courses that I have designed over the past several years. Frankly, I feel that I have been a lone voice espousing these concepts. It is a relief to find that I am not alone. Moreover, what they do bring to the fold is a very august depth of experience and insight into these issues. I particularly enjoyed the cases that they presented, which are based upon their decades of clinical experience. And, I especially appreciated Dr. Wade's vast contribution when it came to explaining these concepts in neurological and neurofeedback terms. (This book has the best explanation of the neurological dynamics of trance state that I have ever read.) As they point out in their epilogue, the theory of human transformation is currently at a crossroad where neurological discoveries are changing how psychotherapy and coaching are being performed. While many of their colleagues tend to attempt to fit recent discoveries into the well-worn molds of rather obsolete theory, Brain Change Therapy refrains from this dogma-related failure. Rather, it is a well-documented work that gives considerable credibility to this new direction in thinking.

While the depth of information presented in the book is the primary reason that I would recommend it to dedicated mental health clinicians, I find that its encyclopedic nature is also its major shortfall. Even though I immensely enjoyed becoming immersed in the wealth of knowledge offered by the authors, I had to continually question whether the information on each page was relevant to their central theme (which I always found to be at least tangentially appropriate) or whether the material should have been spread out and included in several companion books. Furthermore, the less technical-minded clinician will most likely become just a little overwhelmed by the expanse of detailed neurological (which should have included rudimentary illustrations) and neurofeedback information.

Although I very much appreciated the content of this book – and felt that I deserved yet another masters degree for finishing it – I feel that something was missing. What I would have preferred is a workbook that explained the essential BCT concept and then led me through the steps of intake and applications for various scenarios. It appears that these features are available in the present format. However, a typical therapist would have to make a considerable effort to dig it out of the book so that they could practically apply it. Hopefully, the authors will take heed and follow up this excellent book with a companion workbook or "How-To" guide.

Brain Change Therapy is the best synthesis of psychotherapy – to include hypnotherapy – and neurofeedback available today. Anyone involved with any aspect of human transformation will most definitely benefit from reading and studying it. As a team and individually, the authors have highly credible experience and knowledge. And, they have preformed a valuable service for the clinical community by presenting a welcomed meta-analysis of leading-edge contemporary thought when it comes to the joint value of psychotherapy and neurofeedback.