How does Brain Integration Therapy work?
The concept behind Transformations Brain Integration Therapy is that certain physical activities have the capacity to integrate the parts of the brain and make them work in tandem with one another. Certain activities can stimulate parts of the brain and create electrical pathways between those parts. Proper repetition of those activities makes those pathways permanent, kind of like wiring, so that the brain can use them efficiently again and again. When the brain has good wiring between all parts, activities like reading, remembering, hearing, organizing, and expression become much much easier.
Where did these ideas come from?
The concepts of Transformations BIT began in the 1960's with Doctors Doman and Delacato, who were trying to figure out how to help adults with head injuries recover their abilities. They learned that certain physical activity helps create electrical pathways in the brain that make it easy for people to read, speak and organize, etc. Babies go through developmental stages as they grow that create six basic "patterns of development." If they miss any of these, they can have learning difficulties in later life. Adults with head injuries sometimes have some of these pathways broken by their injuries. By figuring out how to rebuild the electrical pathways through exercise, adults can regain many of their abilities. In the 1970's, Dr. Paul Dennison took these ideas further. In 1980, he developed Dennison Laterality Repatterning which demonstrated the connection between physical movement and the wiring of the Brain. Dennison's foundation offers services under the names Brain Gym(R) and Edu-K(R).
PLEASE TAKE NOTE: The Brain Integration Therapy process offered by Transformations BIT differs in philosophy and modality from Dr. Dennison's. In addition, TBIT employs the Acuspark(TM) to increase the efficacy of TBIT techniques. As a result, Transformations does not represent TBIT as a form of Dennison Laterality Patterning, nor does it have any affiliation with Dr. Dennison's organization. Those interested in such services should contact the Dennison organization.
What kind of success rate does BIT have?
Obviously, some people have more success than others, but it is fair to say that more than 90% of TBIT clients report tangible and lasting improvement in 6 to 10 weeks. Clients who do not see tangible benefit in 3 weeks are asked to reconsider whether or not they believe this therapy is for them. The first therapy session includes an evaluation process to determine whether TBIT has the potential to provide help. Generally, clients should begin to see tangible differences no later than the third or fourth session. Clients have no obligation to complete the therapy if they feel they are not being helped. This Website provides representative testimonials from clients. Success with TBIT relies on clients who are willing to participate actively in the therapy session and do the recommended exercises at home.
Are the results permanent?
Experience indicates that, for the most part, results are lasting. Over the years, fewer than 10% of clients have felt the need to return for additional therapy. When clients do return, it is generally because some physical activity, like playing football or falling, has disrupted some pathways. When this has happened, 1-2 sessions usually restore the connections.
What is Repatterning?
Repatterning is a specific set of physical activities designed to activate and set electrical pathways in the brain that will allow it to work efficiently. Let's take a simple example. A child has dyslexia -- words and/or letters reverse themselves. Generally, the reason for this is that the right side of the brain, which deals with the big picture, is not communicating well with the left side of the brain that deals with the details. The left side can perceive and understand the individual letters and sounds of a word, but when the left side sends the details over to the right side to come up with the whole word, the message gets garbled and comes back reversed. The exercises ask clients to move arms and legs in ways that cross the middle of the body. This gets both sides of the brain working together. At the same time, the client looks in a specific direction to stimulate certain thinking centers of the brain -- the direction chosen depends on the pathway that is to be rewired. Repetition teaches the brain to remembers these pathways and use them when certain kinds of work are to be done.
What is Muscle Checking?
Muscle checking is a technique that is used to see whether the physical activity is creating the desired result. It functions as "biofeedback" for the brain, and helps to change inefficient muscle memory patterns in the brain. You can try this out for yourself, but you need a partner or a friend. Say, "My name is (state your name)." Then hold out your arm to the side and try to keep it out straight. Have your friend push down on your arm. It should be easy to hold your arm out straight. Now say, "My name is (say some other name)." Repeat the arm process. You will see that it is much more difficult to hold your arm out straight; it will kind wobble. The idea is that when your body is working correctly, the electrical messages are efficient and the receivers of those messages work well. When your body is not working correctly, the messages are weaker and the response is worse. Muscle checking helps the educational consultant determine whether the physical exercise is succeeding in getting the parts of the brain to work together. In later sessions, muscle checking helps the consultant learn whether the work done in previous sessions is "sticking," or whether additional therapy is needed.
What are the exercises at home like?
The exercises consist of stretching and mild calisthenics that take about 20 minutes a day. It is recommended that the exercises continue for 2-3 months after the therapy sessions are completed. After that, the exercises can be used on an "as needed" basis to help people prepare for tests or situations when they want to be at their best.
Is Transformations Brain Integration Therapy "New Age"?
We believe that TBIT is based on scientific principles that have value and can be demonstrated to be effective regardless of a person's religious orientation. That being said, you may want to know that most of our consultants are evangelical Christians who believe God has built people to work in a certain way and that TBIT can help people work as God intended. However, the therapy itself is not based on, nor does it require, any specific religious views. There are many people who offer services similar to TBIT who do so from a New Age perspective, or from other religious viewpoints. Where religious orientation is an issue for a prospective client, the staff is willing to identify others who offer similar services.
If I want to do this as a business, what is the catch?
The objective of Transformations BIT is to help as many people as possible. This organization believes that help is delivered primarily through individual therapy. In order to achieve this objective across the country or throughout the world, there needs to be many people all over the country who can help 10-20 people per week. To that end, we provide training and support to those who want to provide therapy to others. It charges for that training. The materials provided in the training are copyrighted and cannot be redistributed to others except under the distribution agreement offered on this site. Transformations BIT has no standing to provide any sort of "accredited" certification or degrees. Those who learn from the training, see a benefit for others, and wish to go into business for themselves are free to do so. If those individuals want to use TBIT materials, we ask that they purchase distribution copies. If individuals want to associate themselves with our network through this Website or through use of the TBIT trademarks, such arrangements can be made on an individual basis.
Are there situations when the therapy doesn't work?
Certain kinds of health problems can cause body chemistry issues that will keep the therapy from being as effective as it could be. For example, if a child has had many courses of antibiotics, parents may need to do some reading and see the appropriate health professionals to correct problems related to yeast. Yeast issues produce toxicity in the body that can keep the therapy from "sticking." Consultants will supply parents with a bibliography of reading materials, and can suggest doctors and other health care professionals who can treat such problems. Allergies are another issue that can have an affect on success. This therapy is seen as a partnership among parents, the consultant, and other professionals who will help track down the issues. These problems can be complex and require patience and perseverance on everyone's part.