Additional Resources
NOTE: People who create brain-rewiring programs and/or coach their clients charge money for their products and services. It is up to you to decide if this is something you want to pay for, how much you want to pay, and whether or not any particular program is a good fit for you. Certainly, everyone looking for help and healing can benefit greatly from reading a few well-chosen books and listening to podcasts (and Faith Squared Music!), while making every effort to apply what they learn. That may be enough for you. However, if you are truly suffering, if you REALLY want to get well, and if you can afford it… choose a program, spend the money, and follow it. There is perhaps no better investment you can make in your personal well-being. Note also that the following links are Alison’s personal recommendations based on her own research, and we receive no remuneration from any of these resources. And please remember that we don’t necessarily have to agree with every single thing shared by anyone referenced in this website to glean something of value from them.
This page is divided into the following sections. Click on one of the following to jump to that section:
Christian Brain-Rewiring Programs, Books, and Proponents
Secular Brain-Rewiring Programs, Books, Websites, and Resources
Scientists, Doctors, Authors, Practitioners, etc., with Books / Videos / Programs
Misc. Articles and Information
Uplifting and Inspirational Art
Uplifting Music
Christian Brain-Rewiring Programs, Books, and Proponents
When it comes to the world of brain-rewiring from a Christian perspective, I will begin with my favorite personality. Brea Katrin is a Dynamic Neural Retraining System success story (more about DNRS later) who eventually moved on to Bible-based coaching on her own. I’ve had several personal interactions with her – including a free thirty-minute consultation when I was considering signing up for her coaching – and I can’t say enough good things about her. She is sincere, articulate, personable, caring, knowledgeable, deeply spiritual, and speaks from a breadth of experience that I can’t begin to match. That she is so healthy and productive now after being sicker than you can possibly imagine has all the hallmarks of a straight-up miracle… one that she has helped many others to experience as well.- Her Web site: https://www.breakatrin.com/
- Her YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@breakatrin
- Her Web site: http://www.limbicsystemrewire.com/
- Her YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@limbicsystemrewire3716
- His Web site: https://www.timfletcher.ca/
- His YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TimFletcher
I don’t know enough about the following programs, books, articles, and individuals to personally recommend them, but I was intrigued enough by what I saw to include them on this list:
- Healing Begins with Sanctification of the Heart (free downloadable book)
- TRANSFORM: A Bible-Based Program to Renew the Mind and Retrain the Brain
- Rochelle Walsh, LSCSW, Clinical Trauma and Anxiety Therapist & Transformational Coach:
- Stacey Dicks and Christina Carlton are Christ-centered brain-rewiring coaches.
- Jen (last name unknown) is another formerly limbic-system impaired person who shares a multitude of online resources, especially relating to the Mind-Body Connection, including her own podcast:
- A very insightful article on Irene Kraegel’s website about Christian mindfulness and neuroplasticity: The Renewal of the Mind (& Neuroplasticity) .
- Relevant videos by Mindset Coach Maria.
- Web site with assorted Bible verses relating to quantum physics.
- Brain-talk Meets God-talk: How Neurology and Theology Merge to Rewire Your Brain and Restore Your Peace by Steven Baker (pub. 2019)
- Christianity and Quantum Physics by Samuel Padilla Roas, PhD. (pub. 2022)
- W.R. Klemm of Texas A&M University gives a marvelous presentation on neuroscience and religion. Bravo for leading the charge to bring these discussions into our colleges and universities.
Secular Brain-Rewiring Programs, Books, Websites, and Resources
The program that I am most familiar with is called the Dynamic Neural Retraining System (DNRS). It was created by Annie Hopper and is an excellent program. I had a very spiritual experience listening to the testimonials on her website and knew for a surety that God was telling me brain rewiring was the answer I’d been searching for. Her book, Wired for Healing (self-published, 2014), provided me with a wealth of life-changing information AND tremendous hope.Emma McAdam is a licensed marriage and family therapist with one of the very BEST YouTube channels you could ever hope for. It goes under the name of Therapy In A Nutshell. She often says things that lead me to believe she believes in God, but she doesn’t approach her work from a particularly religious perspective. And that’s okay… everyone deserves healing.
Raelan Agle is an author (Finding Freedom: Escaping from the Prison of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, self-published, 2019) and host of a popular YouTube channel. Her battle with chronic fatigue syndrome led her to walk away from the doctors who couldn’t help her… exploring new ways to forge her own healing path, which was centered in the principles of brain rewiring. Her success has led her to provide a platform for many others who also have remarkable healing stories to tell. Each of her videos has a wealth of additional resources listed in the blue drop-down box.
Dan Buglio’s YouTube Channel Pain Free You is another favorite of mine. He is practical, talks sense, and speaks compassionately from experience.
Ashleigh DiLello has a very professional podcast and rewiring program, and I gained a lot from the interactions we had a year or so ago as a result of a personal connection. Her masterclass would be of great benefit to anyone who decided to check it out. Ashleigh’s career as a dancer (she appeared on “So You Think You Can Dance”) was broadsided by multiple illnesses and challenges which were ultimately found to be limbic system injury based. Her complex but stunning recovery gives her an exceptional voice of experience. I know her to be a woman of faith. Though it is not the focus of her programs, it is an obvious influence on her overall philosophy and approach.
Kim Fiske – I also enjoy a personal connection to Kim, and greatly respect her methods and passion for what she does. Her videos and Zoom and Facebook groups demonstrate her deep faith and spirituality, though, like Ashleigh, she hasn’t made it a point to appeal only to other people of faith. I always appreciate an approach that recognizes the value of anyone in need having access to helpful information and resources regardless of their commitment to a religion or profession of personal faith. She has many followers and success stories that speak well of what she does.
Finally, I really enjoy and appreciate what Dr. Joe Dispenza shares with the world. His meditations aren’t for everyone, and his weekend seminars are undeniably pricey. But I could read his books and watch his YouTube videos all day… and often have! There is no denying that his methods achieve phenomenal results… and he is leading the field in demonstrating how brain scans provide us with scientific evidence of how the intentional use of our thoughts, words, and emotions causes measurable physical changes in our brains, and ultimately, in our bodies. I recently met someone who was completely healed of her autoimmune disease after attending his seminars and employing his meditations. I have no reason to doubt her. His book You Are The Placebo (Hay House, 2014) truly opened my eyes to the power and influence of our brains, our emotions, our expectations, and our beliefs.
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Scientists, Doctors, Authors, Practitioners, etc., with Books / Videos / Programs
- Dr. John Sarno (See also https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qwFjKYlbf4) was a pioneer in the field of mind-body health; his books and practices have saved many people suffering from back and neck pain. However, since his death, a few of his theories have been discovered to not be 100% accurate. Several of his associates/proponents have done further research, shedding light on exactly why, while still supporting and expanding upon the basic tenants he taught and the foundations he laid. (The next three people in this list fall into that category.)
- I also recommend Dr. Howard Schubiner very highly:
- I can’t count the number of times Dr. Alan Gordon’s book The Way Out is referenced in the brain-rewiring testimonials I listen to. When a medical doctor heals his own chronic pain with a mind-body approach, and wants to share the good news, we should listen. The book description on his website shares the following:
“Frustrated with conventional pain management, he developed Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT), a mind-body protocol that eliminated his own chronic pain and has transformed the lives of thousands of his patients…PRT is rooted in neuroscience, which has shown that while chronic pain feels like it’s coming from the body, in most cases it’s generated by misfiring pain circuits in the brain. PRT is a system of psychological techniques that rewires the brain to break out of the cycle of chronic pain.” - Dr. John Stracks
- Dr. David Hanscom – I have a dear friend who purchased his program and has reason to hope that this might finally be the answer. She loves that he understands what it means for someone to question whether or not their issues are mind-body related. She also appreciates that he left his practice as a spine surgeon because he believes so strongly that most back surgeries are unnecessary and shouldn’t be done. His personal experience with brain rewiring has taught him that it is a more effective cure for back pain.
- Kien Vuu, MD – I love his book, Thrive State so much we gave copies of it to all five of our children for Christmas. Finally, an MD who understands the power of the human brain in healing!
- Dr. Gabor Mate
- Dr. Bessel Van Der Kolk, MD – I recommend his book The Body Keeps the Score (Penguin Books, 2014)
- Dr. Bruce Lipton
- Dr. Dawson Church
- Dr. Dan Ratner
- Dr. Lissa Rankin is an MD who wants to revolutionize the way the medical system treats patients in the U.S. She sees the damage that approaching symptoms strictly with prescriptions is doing to us. Lissa is a valuable leader in the grass roots movement to help us all understand the role that our minds, attitudes, relationships, spiritual practices, and EXPECTATIONS (especially those handed to us by healthcare professionals) play in determining our health, our life spans, and our chances of healing from significant illnesses. Her book Mind Over Medicine is a New York Times best seller, and is published in 28 languages.
- Jim Prussack (See also https://www.youtube.com/@thepainpt)
- John Assaref’s book Innercize
- Normon Doidge’s book and video – The Brain that Changes Itself. See also this video.
- Ben Ahrens was a semi-professional surfer who suddenly found himself bedridden with Lyme Disease, a story chronicled in his TED talk entitled One Deep Breath. I have a tremendous amount of respect for who he is, what he has gone through in his healing journey, and what he is doing to help others. Learn more here:
- Colette Streicher has developed something she calls the MAP Method (Make Anything Possible) which isn’t promoted specifically as a brain-rewiring program, but the emphasis on brain science and mindfulness to help people heal and overcome trauma seems like a good reason to include it here.
- Carnelian Sage’s book The Greatest Manifestation Principle in the World
- EFT, a.k.a. “tapping”
- Somatic Experiencing
- Thought by Thought Healing
- I’ve heard so many good things about Curable. Their own website explains it best:
“Curable is an online program and app designed to help people with persistent pain reduce their symptoms and calm their nervous system.
“Pain is a multifactorial experience, which is why Curable takes a biopsychosocial approach to helping people heal. Curable helps people with pain identify and address the ‘missing pieces’ that are often excluded from treatment plans, including the role of the brain and conditioning of the nervous system.” - The Tiny Buddha website often posts articles that directly relate to brain-rewiring practices. This one will resonate with type-A personalities struggling with chronic fatigue: Healing from Chronic Fatigue: The Amazing Impact of Self-Compassion
Miscellaneous Articles & Information
- The Backwards Brain Bicycle – an amazing experiment that illustrates neuroplasticity and rewiring brain pathways.
- For Maximum Health Optimize Your Optimism
- How to Help Depression By Healing Your Limbic System
- Limbic Brain Repatterning for EMF Sensitivity
- Limbic Revision – Love Heals Your Traumatized Brain
- What POTS Really Is & Why It Happens
- Guided meditations
- Article on Temecula Center: The Limbic System: A Little-Known System that Can Cause Huge Dysfunction
- PBS / NOVA video Your Brain: Who’s In Control?
- NOVA video Memory Hackers
- Article from Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience: The Quest for the Hippocampal Memory Engram: From Theories to Experimental Evidence
- Article from Psychology Today: How Do Neuroplasticity and Neurogenesis Rewire Your Brain?
- CBS News video “Blind Learn to See with Tongue.”
Uplifting and Inspirational Art
Back to Section HeadingsUplifting Music
The links listed below are not specifically Christian or secular. Overall it’s a mix, and sometimes each resource is a mix. Not every genre is going to appeal to every listener, and that is okay. Personally, I thrive on variety and have very eclectic tastes in music. Teaching hip hop for a couple of decades gave me an appreciation of the beats that my young students enjoy… while I also learned to be wary of destructive messages they sometimes carried.First of all, just about any sacred music of any era, especially contemporary Christian music, is going to be your friend. However, in order to make a point or tell a compelling story, lyricists work hard to paint a picture of contrasts…as in “Look at the horrible place I once was and then look at the great place I am now.” This is valuable and important!
But when it comes to brain rewiring, you do not want to give energy and emotion to the dysfunctional times, circumstances, and feelings. So, if the majority of the song is about the suffering, or the before (“boo-hoo!”) vs. the after (“yippee!”), beware! Your focus must be on putting negative patterns firmly in the past and replacing them with new neural pathways. The emphasis must be on feeling the expectation of hope and wholeness now. Just as therapists too often linger far too long in the land of processing and examining pain and trauma, reliving your challenges repeatedly is NOT your friend.
This advice in choosing music applies to your whole life’s journey. Keep your eyes and your heart on the hope, faith, and joy. You will never reach your destination if you spend an inordinate amount of time looking in the rearview mirror.
Now for the list! (It will be ever evolving, so check back often!)
Instrumental
My top pick of all time for musical brain rewiring instrumentals is artist/composer Tim Janis. I credit his extensive library of beautiful orchestral music with playing a very crucial role in my recovery AND in my current state of living in peace and happiness. I do not exaggerate. He is the king of creating inspiring crescendos that speak to the soul. The songs I’ve grown to love all feel like epic film scores written specifically to tell the story of my life – with happy endings every time! His music is truly a gift. It opened the door for the Holy Spirit to speak truth and hope to my heart again and again, especially in the context of my focused brain-rewiring practices.
Be advised that though I love his hymn arrangements, they are calculated to soothe and create feelings of peace and calm. I often use them for that purpose. But to my mind, the rise and fall of the climactic moments of his original compositions are THE vital ingredient for creating the powerful connecting emotions needed in effective brain-rewiring practices.
When it comes to instrumental music, I can also heartily recommend:
However, you’ll want to customize your selections here, as some of the tunes, though AMAZING for just listening to, may not create the mood you’re looking for during brain rewiring. You make the call.
Here’s one more track that you may find comforting to play in the background during brain-rewiring activities or just any time. It is a mix of bird songs and running water that I recorded by a mountain stream in Washington’s North Cascades. It’s a 30-minute MP3 recording, so it’s a BIG file. Be aware of that before you click to download…. it is just over 43 Mb. Listening to it helps me to find the peace that I experience when I’m in that “Safe Place.” Just right-click on the following link, and choose “Save Link as” to download it to your computer: SafePlace.mp3.
Music to Make You Smile
I created a YouTube playlist recently, and I decided to share! Originally intended as a tool for getting me pumped up in the morning, it has grown to include a variety of tunes that make me feel grateful, motivated, and joyful. It is a FUN mix of vocal and instrumental, vintage and brand new, classical and pop, old-school gospel and contemporary Christian, and a few choice Broadway tunes. I hope you find some old favorites and some new and exciting discoveries.
- So here it is – recreated on the Faith Squared Music YouTube channel.
- The same playlist is available on Pandora, with the exception of a half-dozen songs that aren’t available on that platform.
- Spotify play list coming soon – stay tuned!
Postscript 2 – With regards to my very eclectic tastes in music, I shall borrow a term I recently saw on Facebook… I am polyjamorous! How about you?!
Postscript 3 – Check back often. I’ll be adding new stuff all the time.
Postscript 4 – If you have any suggestions of similar happy music you’d like added to the playlists, I’d love to hear from you. Email me! (The email link is at the top of every page).
These next three were recommended to me by a dear friend, for which I am grateful.
- Geminelle Rollins – This contemporary uplifting music includes a series of repeated affirmation songs called Mantra Loops. Some of the other songs included in the play list speak of Christian messages. (Divine Assignment is one example.)
- Toni Jones – Wise narratives set to fun and funky music, sometimes spoken and sometimes sung, come under the title of I See Me Mantras. The themes revolve around authenticity, abundance, and self-respect.
- Beautiful Chorus – This beautiful ethereal music comes from the perspective of seeking alignment with the universe and the infinite love that dwells therein.