Our world is filled with fake news, fake testing, fake promises…. What do we believe?

Yet, are you willing to investigate unconventional approaches?

As my former boss Joanne McIntosh emphasized, more than ever in today’s world we need to exercise discernment. Many of you know that I am open to looking at unconventional strategies in problem solving. An example is my training and support of Dr. William Glasser’s Choice Theory. Dr Glasser was not a proponent of drug therapy but took a behavioral approach. In addition, I have been very interested in energy healing and the current writing/research on brain plasticity. In today’s fast paced world of innovative approaches to problem solving, we need to keep an open mind while cautiously discriminating with wisdom.

Recently, while visiting a natural health store I wandered over to the bookshelf and was drawn to Dr. Amen’s Healing the Hardware of Soul. I have just completed it and was quite impressed with robust practical behavioral strategies he offers to support mental health issues. I was also intrigued with his use of SPECT scans to determine brain activity. I have witnessed many parents’ exhaustion and frustration in coping with mainstream psychiatry in trying to understand ADHD/ADD, ODD and OCD. Does this Dr. offer hope and reprieve? How legitimate is his unconventional approach?

Before blogging I decided to dig deeper and see what the critics have written. See below two articles. Some say that Dr. Amen uses the SPECT scan to justify medicating children. Dr. Amen suggests that the SPECT scan helps to identify appropriate medications for specified areas of the brain. In other words, it takes away much of the nontangible guess work that typical psychiatrists use when diagnosing disorders exclusively based on the DSM V. Moreover, Dr Amen is a huge proponent of natural supplements, physical activity, improved dietary intake, meditation/prayer, self-reflection (engaging the power of the prefrontal cortex) and dedication to positive relationship development. Has he made a ton of money on his clinics, testing and nutrition supplements? Yes, and many patients stand by him. A complex placebo effect? Maybe but if it is working for thousands upon thousands is it that bad? 

As a children’s writer I was impressed with his acronym ANT (Automatic Negative Thinking). He dissects this habit of thinking and offers solid strategies for both adults (see a distilled article below) and a brilliant children’s book which you can experience with Dr Amen’s reading. I highly recommend this story for any parents dealing with children struggling with anxiety and negative thinking. 

Dazzle’s Challenge:  

So, I ask, will you be willing to read Amen’s book … an M.D who has been on a best seller list, sold millions of copies of his books, established four highly successful clinics has a proven successful track record by patients yet is criticized by mainstream science?

Quick Take Away Links:

Our world is filled with fake news, fake testing, fake promises…. What do we believe?

Yet, are you willing to investigate unconventional approaches?

As my former boss Joanne McIntosh emphasized, more than ever in today’s world we need to exercise discernment. Many of you know that I am open to looking at unconventional strategies in problem solving. An example is my training and support of Dr. William Glasser’s Choice Theory. Dr Glasser was not a proponent of drug therapy but took a behavioral approach. In addition, I have been very interested in energy healing and the current writing/research on brain plasticity. In today’s fast paced world of innovative approaches to problem solving, we need to keep an open mind while cautiously discriminating with wisdom.

Recently, while visiting a natural health store I wandered over to the bookshelf and was drawn to Dr. Amen’s Healing the Hardware of Soul. I have just completed it and was quite impressed with robust practical behavioral strategies he offers to support mental health issues. I was also intrigued with his use of SPECT scans to determine brain activity. I have witnessed many parents’ exhaustion and frustration in coping with mainstream psychiatry in trying to understand ADHD/ADD, ODD and OCD. Does this Dr. offer hope and reprieve? How legitimate is his unconventional approach?

Before blogging I decided to dig deeper and see what the critics have written. See below two articles. Some say that Dr. Amen uses the SPECT scan to justify medicating children. Dr. Amen suggests that the SPECT scan helps to identify appropriate medications for specified areas of the brain. In other words, it takes away much of the nontangible guess work that typical psychiatrists use when diagnosing disorders exclusively based on the DSM V. Moreover, Dr Amen is a huge proponent of natural supplements, physical activity, improved dietary intake, meditation/prayer, self-reflection (engaging the power of the prefrontal cortex) and dedication to positive relationship development. Has he made a ton of money on his clinics, testing and nutrition supplements? Yes, and many patients stand by him. A complex placebo effect? Maybe but if it is working for thousands upon thousands is it that bad? 

As a children’s writer I was impressed with his acronym ANT (Automatic Negative Thinking). He dissects this habit of thinking and offers solid strategies for both adults (see a distilled article below) and a brilliant children’s book which you can experience with Dr Amen’s reading. I highly recommend this story for any parents dealing with children struggling with anxiety and negative thinking.

Dazzle’s Challenge:  

So, I ask, will you be willing to read Amen’s book … an M.D who has been on a best seller list, sold millions of copies of his books, established four highly successful clinics has a proven successful track record by patients yet is criticized by mainstream science?

Quick Take Away Links: