The
Self-Liberating Power of the Mind: Brain, Biofeedback and
the Energy Body
|
|
|
Traditional spiritual
paths have always held out a promise of ìliberation
to the questing candidate. Paradoxically, however, internal
freedom may take enormous effort, as in the yogic quelling
of desires, Buddhist detachment, or the awesome austerities
practiced by shamans to acquire special powers. But most
people of our time and culture do not live in ashrams, temples
nor mountain caves, environments that support the extraordinary
periods of concentration necessary to make progress in these
paths.
Fortunately, the very electronic culture which bodes to
disquiet, or even enslave us, also has come up with a remedy
for our malady, a method for our madness: biofeedback; a
deceptively simple procedure using electronic devices to
read physiological signals, with profound effects.
In this talk Dr. Larsen moves from the traditional practices
of biofeedback--with simple examples of self-regulation
that can be used in everyday life, through a cook's tour
of the astonishing research that has
accumulated over the last fifty years of biofeedback, to
the cutting edge field of Neurofeedback, or EEG-based therapies
for maladies of the nervous system--which lead us back full
circle to the concept of the Energy Body and the Soul.
The talk will also explore the usefulness of LENS or the
ìlow-energy neurofeedback stimulation of Dr. Len
Ochs and this technology's implications for the future.
Clinical examples are presented of people using these techniques
to recover from the after effects of closed head injuries
(or TBI's), Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (or PTSD), receive
help with anxiety and depression, addictions, insomnia,
and learning disabilities, including attention problems
such as ADHD, ADD and dyslexia. Attention is also given
to Optimal Performance, (flow, or peak performance) and
how already well functioning people can use neurofeedback
to hone their skills to a fine edge.
The talk will be accompanied by a Power Point slides.
|
Dr. Stephen Larsen: Therapeutic
Training and Internships
B.A. Columbia College, psychology; M.A. Columbia University,
Developmental Psychology; Ph.D. The Union Institute, Counseling
Psychology.
Clinical Internship and Training: C.G.Jung Institute, Zurich,
1976
Didactic analysis/professional training E.C. Whitmont, M.D.,
1970-1999
Clinical Training Internship: Stanislav Grof, M.D. 1972-74
Guided Imagery Training: Bernard Aaronsen, Ph.D.
Internship: Mythic Studies, Prof. Joseph Campbell, Prof. 1964-87
Prof. Training Roger Woolger, Ph.D. Jungian Analyst: Focus on
Past Life (1983-2002)
Prof. Training William Baldwin Ph.D. and Judith Baldwin: Spirit
Releasement
Therapy
Biofeedback Training: Adam Crane, and Siegfried and Susan Othmer
Clinical Internship and Certification: Len Ochs, Ph.D
1996 Certified A.I.B.T.
1998 Certified BCIA-EEG |
The Self-Liberation
Practicum: An Experiential Workshop
A Workshop with Stephen Larsen,
with Robin Larsen and Larry Garwood
Saturday, June 7, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM, break, & 2:00
PM - 5:00 PM
Cost $100 at the door
$80 if paid by June 5
Location: Health
Space
Register and pay
for the workshop at the lecture on June 5 and save $20!
In this didactic and experiential workshop Stephen Larsen
will introduce some of the techniques he developed over thirty
years of consciousness programs and clinical biofeedback practice.
Topics will include the
brainwave ranges and their relationship to both clinical problems
and consciousness; the respective roles of the heart and the
brain, heartrate variability and RSA's or Respiratory-Sinus
Arrhythmias; classical
neurofeedback and its success and failures and the history
of EEG-driven stimulation, culminating in the current state
of LENS, which uses radio-waves instead of light to produce
subtle but powerful effects on both brain and energy fields.
Clinical topics include EEG slowing, the 'driven' nervous
system, repetitive loops such as obsessive-compulsive disorder
(OCD), stereotypy and self-limiting behaviors. The uses and
misuses of depression and anxiety,
coping with irritability, hypersensitivity and overarousal,
the relation of central neural plasticity to peripheral problems,
the use of photonic stimulation and qi gong in therapeutic
regimens, and the relationship of
neurofeedback to psychotherapy, meditation and spiritual development.
The workshop will offer a number of experiential exercises,
and equipment-mediated experience, including a chance to watch,
train, and/ or stimulate brainwaves. It will also offer a
chance to do photonic stimulator work and Heartmath protocols.
Biofeedback equipment will be on hand for hands-on experience.
|
|
Individual
Therapeutic or Counseling Sessions with Dr. Larsen $150/hr,
$250 for two-hour extended session.
Time and Location TBD
Realizing
that particular approaches might fill the needs of different
clients, Dr. Larsen is offering consultations in the following
areas:
LENS
neurofeedback brainmapping, or offset evaluation and/or
Heartmath, generic biofeedback either independently or together
in session, depending on nature of problems. For CNS problems,
esp. TBI, Fibromyalgia, depression, etc.
Full map, consultation and evaluation = two hours
Consultation, evaluation, offset = one hour
Consultation FNS session = one hour
Heartmath evaluation = one hour
Transpersonal/Mythic/Dream
Processing (One or two hour session)
Dreamwork or multiple dreams (longer session), creative or
mythological
impasse in life-story development.
Dr. Larsen invites clients to bring art work, writing, journals,
life/creative project plan to session; sandplay, if available.
(You be the judge of how much time you might need.)
Shamanic/ Spirit Releasement,
Ancestral /Past-Life Work (Two hour suggested)
Sometimes people have encounters with animals in dreams or
waking life, visionary experiences in nature, feel they have
invisible companions or hitchhikers, feel healthy or unhealthy
relationships to parents or ancestors further back in the
family tree, feel there is a dark energy in an obsession,
feel that history is repeating itself "Y'all come back
now, y'hear?" Thorough experiential recovery and processing
can be very healing of ancestral or past-life-related problems.
Most 'spirit-attachments'
or energy-body drains, can be relieved by diligent and skillful
inquiry. Dysfunctional energies or obsessions can be released
or engaged, depending on
the nature of the energy. Clients are encouraged to bring
a journal and meaningful personal talismans.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Doors Open:
6:30 PM
Lecture: 7:15
- 9:30 PM
Cost: $5
|
|
|
Healing Meditation
(See Below)
Time: 6:30 -
7:00 PM
Cost: Free
An
open guided meditation will be held at 6:30 p.m. in
the Bradow Room (on side of church that faces Dixie
Trail) at Community United Church of Christ.
The lectures
begins at 7:15 PM following the meditation. Light
refreshments will be served at the mid-point break
in the lecture. We look forward to seeing you on Thursday,
May 1.
|
|
Special
Healing Meditation
This month's early
meditation will be presented by Diana Henderson as her last
one in her capacity as SFF Healing leader. Following this
meeting, Diana will be taking on the role of SFF chairperson.
|
|
Bookstore
Lecture:
A Fire in the Mind
Stephen and Robin Larsen.
(One and one half hours with questions.)
Time and Location TBD
The Larsens worked with, and enjoyed
the friendship, of Joseph Campbell for twenty-five years.
They wrote his authorized biography, A Fire in the Mind, originally
published by Doubleday, and now, recently reprinted by Inner
Traditions International. The Larsens also edited Campbellís
Indian Journal (1954), Baksheesh and Brahman, published in
1999.
In this lecture they trace the biographical events, the intellectual
discoveries, and the spiritual breakthroughs, of one of the
greatest
mythologists of our time.
The Larsens accompany their slide-illustrated
lecture with storytelling and reminiscences of Campbell during
his own life-journey.
|
|