Your Trauma Isn’t Just in Your Head—It’s in Your Liver, Your Gut, and Your Nervous System. Here’s How We Evict It.

You’ve tried therapy. You’ve journaled, meditated, screamed into a pillow, and maybe even tried EMDR while sobbing into your steering wheel post-session. But your body still flinches like it’s 2003 and the trauma just happened yesterday.
Let me be clear: Talk therapy has its place—but if you’re still spinning your wheels after months or years, your trauma isn't just a memory. It's embedded in your tissue, your fascia, your hormones, and your freaking spleen qi. You don’t need another vent session—you need an exorcism. A full-body, no-BS, trauma-clearing system that goes deeper than words ever will.
That’s where Bright Hope’s Trauma Trifecta comes in:

• Neuro Emotional Technique (NET)
• Nutrition Response Testing (NRT)
• Acupuncture

Let’s break this down like your nervous system depends on it. Because it does.

Step 1: NET—The Emotional Sniper

Forget rehashing your childhood until you're numb. NET goes straight to the subconscious and rips the emotional splinters out of your nervous system using muscle testing and meridian therapy. You don’t need to “talk it through.” You just need to let your body show you where the trauma is hiding and get the hell rid of it.
You’ll leave your first session stunned, not sobbing. This isn’t therapy—this is emotional reprogramming, and it’s fast.

Step 2: NRT—Your Trauma Eats Nutrients for Breakfast

If your diet is trash, your brain chemistry is trash. Period.

NRT is how we figure out what the hell is short-circuiting your healing: heavy metals, mold, sugar crashes, viral overload, or just too many damn seed oils. We identify the biochemical garbage gumming up your system and clean house. Then we use whole food-based Standard Process supplements to rebuild your brain and gut like a badass renovation team.
Anxiety? Depression? Rage? It might be your toxic liver screaming for help. We can fix that.

Step 3: Acupuncture—Needles That Save Lives

This isn’t your grandma’s “relaxation acupuncture.” This is warrior-level needlework that rewires your vagus nerve, calms the trauma loop, and tells your adrenal glands to chill the hell out.
You’re not just lying on a table. You’re stepping into ancient bioelectric warfare against chronic stress, frozen emotions, and that constant buzzing panic you can’t explain. Acupuncture is the reboot button your trauma-wrecked body has been begging for.

Why All Three? Because Trauma Doesn’t Die Easy.

Your trauma is multi-layered. So is our solution.
We’re not here to coddle your symptoms—we’re here to obliterate the root cause. This combo hits the subconscious (NET), the biochemistry (NRT), and the electrical circuitry (acupuncture). You’ll feel lighter, sharper, and for the first time in a long time—actually safe inside your own body.

This Isn’t for Everyone.
​
If you're looking for gentle affirmations and mindfulness apps, keep scrolling. But if you're fed up with half-assed healing, if you're ready to confront your trauma like it owes you money, then welcome home.
At Bright Hope Integrative Mental Health, we don’t do ordinary. We do transformational. Raw. Real. Rapid.

Call to Action:

Still waiting for therapy to “kick in”? Or are you ready to bulldoze your trauma into oblivion?
Book a session with us now—because healing doesn't have to be slow. And you don’t have to suffer quietly.
www.brighthopecounselingcenter.com

Let’s cut the crap: your anxiety, mood swings, depression, and full-body fatigue might not be a chemical imbalance in your brain—it might be the chemical assault happening to your body every damn day.

Pesticides in your food. Mold spores in your home. Heavy metals in your fillings. Endocrine disruptors in your skincare routine. And don’t even get me started on the garbage floating through your so-called “spring-scented” dryer sheets. Your nervous system is under siege, and the worst part? You’ve been told it’s “all in your head.”

At Bright Hope Integrative Mental Health, we call bullshit. Because we test. We treat. We detox. And we get results.

Toxic Overload: The Silent Saboteur

Environmental toxins don’t need your permission to wreak havoc. They slip past your blood-brain barrier like a Trojan horse, jamming your neurotransmitters, inflaming your brain, and draining your adrenals. If you feel like your fuse is shorter, your sleep is trash, and your emotions are bouncing between numb and nuclear—it’s not a character flaw. It’s a system failure.
And it’s happening at the cellular level.

You Don’t Need a Therapist. You Need a Filter.

Talk therapy is great—when your brain is firing correctly. But if your system is clogged with mercury, mold, and glyphosate, no amount of self-reflection is going to un-f*ck your frontal cortex. That’s where Nutrition Response Testing (NRT) comes in.
​
At Bright Hope, we use NRT to find out what’s really short-circuiting your mental health. Is it aluminum from your deodorant? Mycotoxins from your office ceiling? Fluoride frying your pineal gland? We don’t guess—we test.
Once we find the source, we hit it with targeted nutritional support, detox protocols, and in some cases, good old-fashioned acupuncture to help your liver, kidneys, and brain throw out the trash.

You’re Not Broken. You’re Bioaccumulating.

Let’s call it what it is. You’re not “genetically predisposed to anxiety.” You’re absorbing stress on a molecular level from a society that’s been poisoning your air, water, food, and mind since birth.
And maybe no one told you this before, but your body is trying to save you. That panic attack? Your brain’s desperate red-alert. That brain fog? A warning sign. That chronic fatigue? Your mitochondria waving a white flag under the weight of toxins they never evolved to handle.

Clean Body = Clear Mind

Once we start clearing out the garbage, patients often say the same thing:
“Holy hell… I feel like me again.”

It’s not magic. It’s biology. Detox the brain, nourish the body, and the mind follows. You don’t need another prescription. You need a protocol that understands your body isn’t defective—it’s drowning in a toxic soup.

So What Now?

f you’re tired of treating symptoms and ready to get to the root of what’s jacking up your nervous system, it’s time to get tested. Nutrition Response Testing at Bright Hope can help pinpoint what your body’s fighting—and give you a plan to win the war.
Because you’re not overreacting. You’re overloaded. And we know exactly how to help.

Ready to detox your brain and take back your mental health?

Click here to schedule your first appointment. And prepare to meet the version of you that’s been buried under chemicals and chaos.

Talk Therapy Is Great—Until It Isn’t.

Let’s get one thing straight: I’m not here to bash therapists. I am one. I’ve sat in the chair. I’ve asked the questions. I’ve nodded compassionately while people poured out their trauma for the 94th time and still left feeling stuck. Why? Because sometimes talking about your emotional wounds is like rearranging furniture in a burning house.
If you’re still spiraling after years of therapy, it might be time to look somewhere no one taught you to look--your body.
Your nervous system.
Your meridians.

Your freaking Liver Qi.

Because guess what? No amount of self-reflection is going to clear emotional trauma that’s literally stored in your tissues. That’s where acupuncture, Nutrition Response Testing (NRT), and Neuro Emotional Technique (NET) come in. And no, this isn’t woo-woo. This is how you actually heal.

The Limitations of Traditional Talk Therapy

Let’s call it out: therapy works... until it doesn’t.
Here’s why:

• Your body doesn’t speak English.
  Trauma is stored somatically. Trying to fix it with words is like trying to fix a car engine by singing to it.
• Rehashing trauma can re-traumatize you.
  You don’t need to relive the worst day of your life 50 times. NET allows you to release the emotional charge without even needing to talk about it.
• Your subconscious is running the show.
  NRT gets around your mental roadblocks by asking your body what it actually needs. Spoiler: it’s probably not more journaling.

Why Acupuncture, NET, and NRT Blow Therapy Out of the Water

Acupuncture doesn’t just relax you. It moves blocked energy. That rage you’re sitting on? That grief that clings like a fog? That freeze response you can’t shake? Acupuncture unjams the flow so your body can start processing what your mind can’t.
NET is therapy for your nervous system.

It’s fast. It’s weird. It works. We pinpoint the emotional stress, trace it back to the origin, and then clear it using a combination of muscle testing, meridian theory, and spinal reflex points. Most people leave a session saying, “What just happened—and why do I feel lighter?”
Nutrition Response Testing brings the physical body back online.

If your gut is inflamed, your adrenals are fried, or your liver is hoarding toxins like a doomsday prepper, no amount of mindset work is going to stick. You’ve got to clear the biological static before emotional healing can land.

You’re Not Broken—You’re Energetically Clogged

That persistent anxiety? Could be Spleen Qi Deficiency.

The unexplained depression? Could be Kidney Jing collapse.
The hair-trigger mood swings? I’m looking at you, Liver.
Western psychology doesn’t talk about Qi, meridians, or organ-emotion relationships. But Chinese medicine has been shouting this truth for over 2,000 years:

Mental health and physical health are the same damn thing.


Therapy Gave You Insight. Now Let’s Give You Relief.If you’re tired of being the most self-aware person in the room and still feeling like hell, you’re not alone. The mind can only go so far without the body. It's time to go deeper. It’s time to stop talking about it and start moving it.

I see you. I get it. And I’ve got needles, muscle testing, and energetic firepower ready to go.



Come see me at Bright Hope Integrative Mental Health. Let's get weird. Let's get free.

💥 Because you’re not “crazy”—you’re just stuck. And I know how to get you unstuck.

Welcome to the wild frontier of mental health, where we don’t just scratch the surface—we dig deep, unearth hidden emotional wounds, and tackle them head-on.

At Bright Hope Integrative Mental Health, we don’t do conventional talk therapy. Why? Because sitting in a chair, talking in circles about your problems for months on end, is NOT the fastest way to heal. Instead, we use cutting-edge techniques like Neuro Emotional Technique (NET) and Nutrition Response Testing (NRT)—powerful tools designed to help you process emotions, heal from past traumas, and optimize your body’s ability to recover.

If you’ve been stuck in therapy for years with little to show for it, or if you’ve tried medication after medication only to feel like a numb, zombified version of yourself, this post is for you. It’s time to revolutionize the way you approach your mental health.
Let’s dive into why NET and NRT are game-changers—and why you should consider ditching outdated mental health treatments that don’t actually heal you.

Neuro Emotional Technique (NET): The Emotional Exorcism Your Body Needs

Ever feel like your body is holding onto trauma? Maybe your stomach knots up when you think about an old memory, or your shoulders ache under the weight of unresolved stress. That’s not a coincidence—it’s neuro-emotional baggage, and it’s wreaking havoc on your body in ways you might not even realize.

What is NET?Neuro Emotional Technique (NET)

is a scientifically-backed method that helps release trapped emotional stress stored in the body. Unlike traditional talk therapy that focuses on analyzing emotions, NET cuts straight to the source, identifying unresolved emotional patterns and physically clearing them out.

How NET Works

Muscle Testing: Your body doesn’t lie. Using applied kinesiology (muscle testing), we pinpoint where emotional blocks are stored.

1. Identifying Triggers: Through this process, we uncover subconscious stress patterns that are feeding into your anxiety, depression, or physical pain.
2. Emotional Release: By making subtle corrections (using techniques like tapping or spinal corrections), your body releases stored trauma, allowing for instant relief and clarity.
3. Lasting Results: Unlike traditional therapy, which requires endless rehashing of trauma, NET works FAST—you don’t just talk about your emotions; you physically eliminate the root cause.

Who Can Benefit from NET?✔️ People with Anxiety & Depression – If traditional methods aren’t working, your emotional stress may be locked deep in your nervous system.

✔️ People with Chronic Pain – If you’ve been to every doctor, taken every pill, and still feel awful, emotional stress could be the missing piece.

✔️ People Who Feel Stuck – If you keep repeating the same self-sabotaging patterns, NET can help rewire your emotional responses.

Nutrition Response Testing (NRT): The Biohacker’s Guide to Mental Health

Your brain is not separate from your body. If you’re eating garbage, are nutrient-deficient, or are loaded with toxins, no amount of therapy will fix your mental health. This is where Nutrition Response Testing (NRT) comes in—it’s like a lie detector test for your body, telling us exactly what your brain and nervous system need to function optimally.

What is NRT?

NRT is a non-invasive method that uses muscle testing to determine:

🔹 What nutrients your body is missing
🔹 Which organs are under stress
🔹 Whether you have food sensitivities or toxic overload
🔹 How to correct these imbalances naturally

How NRT Works

1. Muscle Testing: We test specific acupuncture points on the body to see which organs and systems are struggling.
2. Food & Toxin Sensitivity Scan: We determine if heavy metals, chemicals, or inflammatory foods are wrecking your mental health.
3. Customized Nutritional Plan: Based on the findings, we create a targeted nutritional protocol using whole-food supplements to restore balance.

Why NRT is a Game-Changer✔️ Pinpoints Deficiencies That Blood Tests Miss – Standard lab tests don’t always catch subtle nutrient deficiencies that impact mental health.

✔️ Eliminates the Guesswork – Instead of wasting money on random supplements, NRT tells you exactly what your body needs.

✔️ Addresses Root Causes – If gut imbalances, liver stress, or adrenal fatigue are draining your energy and mood, NRT finds the problem and fixes it.

Why You Need More Than Talk Therapy to Heal

Let’s get real for a second--talk therapy alone doesn’t always cut it. Sure, it can be helpful for self-reflection, but if you want to actually heal, you need to address the mind-body connection.

✅ Your Nervous System Holds the Key – Emotional trauma is stored in your body. Until you release it (through techniques like NET), your symptoms will keep resurfacing.

✅ Your Gut Controls Your Mood – 90% of serotonin is produced in your gut. If your gut health is a mess, your mood will be too.

✅ Your Body’s Electrical System Can Be Blocked – If your body’s energy flow is out of whack, you’ll feel off, no matter how much therapy you do.

This is why Bright Hope Integrative Mental Health focuses on combining NET, NRT, and acupuncture—because real healing happens when you address all aspects of your health.

Why Settle for Ordinary Mental Health Treatment?

You’ve already wasted enough time on approaches that don’t get to the root of the issue. If you’re tired of feeling stuck, exhausted, or just "not yourself," it’s time to try something different.

At Bright Hope Integrative Mental Health, we don’t do band-aid fixes. We find the real reasons you’re feeling the way you do and correct them at the source. Our patients don’t just "manage" their mental health—they heal.

💥 No more endless therapy sessions
💥 No more numbing yourself with medications that don’t work
💥 No more feeling like your body and mind are at war with each other

Take the First Step Toward Real HealingIf you're ready to break free from the cycle of stress, anxiety, and unresolved trauma, we’re here to help. Your mental health is too important to waste time on half-measures.

🔹 Schedule your first NET or NRT session today!
🔹 Experience relief you didn’t think was possible.
🔹 Start feeling like yourself again—FAST.
​
Your healing journey starts NOW. Are you ready?
📍Visit us at Bright Hope Integrative Mental Health to book your session.

Why Your Crippling Stress Might Be a Trapped Trauma Response

Let’s get something straight: your stress isn’t just stress. It’s not just a “bad day” or “too many responsibilities.” It’s not something you can meditate away or drown in a bottle of wine. If you’ve been running on empty, snapping at your loved ones, or feeling like your body is in a constant state of fight or flight, guess what? You’re not just stressed—you’re carrying trapped trauma in your nervous system. And if you don’t clear it, no amount of self-care is going to fix you.

Trauma Isn’t Just in Your Head—It’s in Your Body

Here’s what nobody told you: trauma doesn’t just live in your memories. It gets stored in your body—in your muscles, in your organs, and even in your subconscious mind. This is why people with PTSD experience physical symptoms like headaches, gut issues, and chronic pain. Their body is literally keeping the score, running a background program of fear, tension, and overreaction.
Maybe you don’t even remember the event that triggered it. Maybe it wasn’t a huge, obvious trauma like an accident or abuse. It could have been something “small” that your nervous system interpreted as life-threatening—being yelled at as a child, being rejected, or even a medical procedure. Your nervous system does not care if it was logical or not. If your brain marked it as “DANGER,” it’s in there.
And it’s running your life.

The Therapy Trap: Why Talking About It Isn’t Enough

Traditional therapy is great—if you want to relive your trauma over and over again without actually clearing it.
If you’ve spent years talking about your past and still feel the same old emotional pain, it’s because trauma isn’t healed by logic. Trauma lives in your nervous system, and you can’t outthink it. That’s why people have panic attacks even when they “know” they’re safe. The body still believes it’s under threat.


NET: The Cheat Code for Releasing Emotional Baggage

NET is a game-changer because it doesn’t require you to rehash your trauma to heal it. Instead of endlessly analyzing your pain, we communicate directly with your body using muscle testing.
Here’s how it works:

• Your body has a built-in memory system—every trauma, every emotional shock, every unresolved issue is stored in your nervous system.
• We use muscle testing to find where the emotional stress is hiding.
• Once we locate it, we use a combination of breathwork, acupressure, and neurological rewiring to neutralize the stored trauma—without you needing to relive it.

One session can clear years of emotional baggage in a fraction of the time it would take with talk therapy alone.
Signs You’re Carrying Trapped Trauma

• Chronic anxiety that doesn’t respond to logic
• Feeling triggered over things that “shouldn’t” bother you
• Unexplained chronic pain or tension (neck, shoulders, jaw, gut issues)
• Constant overthinking and inability to relax
• Feeling emotionally numb or disconnected from your body
• Recurring nightmares or intrusive thoughts
• Reacting to situations with WAY more intensity than necessary

Sound familiar? That’s because your nervous system is still stuck in survival mode.

Healing Is Possible—And It’s Faster Than You Think.

You don’t have to be stuck in a loop of anxiety, overreaction, and exhaustion forever. Trauma isn’t permanent—your body just needs the right reset. NET helps clear the emotional static so your nervous system can finally relax.

Your body already knows how to heal—you just have to give it the signal.

If you feel like a burnt-out zombie, mindlessly scrolling through your phone, eating trash food, and wondering why your motivation has disappeared into the abyss--congratulations! You’ve officially short-circuited your dopamine system.

Dopamine is the “reward” neurotransmitter, responsible for motivation, focus, and pleasure. But thanks to modern life—social media, ultra-processed food, endless entertainment, and constant stimulation—your brain has been hijacked. Your reward system is so overloaded that nothing feels rewarding anymore. This is why you can’t focus, feel unmotivated, and need more and more stimulation just to feel anything.
So, what’s the fix? A dopamine detox. And no, it’s not just some trendy TikTok challenge. It’s a hard reset for your brain that will help you regain focus, motivation, and actual joy in your life. Let’s break down why your dopamine system is fried and what to do about it.

You’re a Dopamine Junkie (And So Is Everyone Else)

Your brain was not built for constant hits of dopamine. It evolved to get small bursts from things like eating nutritious food, completing a task, or socializing with real humans (not just double-tapping their selfies). But in today’s world, you can get instant dopamine dumps from:

🔥 Social media (endless scrolling, likes, comments, notifications)

🔥 Junk food (hyper-palatable, ultra-processed, and addictive)

🔥 Video games and binge-watching TV (constant instant gratification)

🔥 Porn (hijacks your brain’s reward system worse than actual drugs)

🔥 Sugar and caffeine (hello, blood sugar rollercoaster)

Each time you engage in these activities, your brain releases a surge of dopamine. Sounds good, right? WRONG. Because the more you overstimulate dopamine, the less sensitive your brain becomes. Your dopamine receptors burn out, and now, regular life—reading, working, exercising, even simple conversations—feels like a chore.
Your brain has been trained to crave only extreme stimulation. And that’s a problem.

Signs Your Dopamine System is Wrecked🚨

You feel restless, bored, or anxious when you're not being entertained

🚨 You need constant background noise (music, TV, podcasts) to function

🚨 You refresh social media compulsively, even when nothing new is there

🚨 You struggle to finish tasks and feel unmotivated

🚨 Nothing in real life feels as exciting as your phone or junk food

🚨 You can’t focus for more than five seconds without distraction

If this sounds like you, your brain is in trouble. But don’t panic—you can fix it.

How to Do a Dopamine Detox (And Actually Stick to It)

A dopamine detox is about removing overstimulation so your brain can reset. It’s like sending your dopamine receptors to rehab. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Cut Out Instant Gratification (Temporarily)For 24 to 48 hours, eliminate anything that gives you instant dopamine spikes:

❌ Social media

❌ Junk food and sugar

❌ TV, video games, and mindless entertainment

❌ Porn and excessive stimulation

❌ Excessive caffeine

Yes, this will feel like absolute hell at first. You’ll be bored, restless, and maybe even angry. But that’s the withdrawal talking. Push through it.

2. Do Harder, Boring Things Instead

Once you strip away overstimulation, your brain needs to relearn how to get dopamine from natural sources. Try:

✅ Reading an actual book

✅ Exercising (yes, movement actually boosts dopamine naturally)

✅ Meditating (teaches your brain to sit with discomfort)

✅ Eating whole, nutrient-dense foods

✅ Doing creative work (writing, playing an instrument, painting)

✅ Spending time in real social interactions (not just online)

This will suck at first, but over time, your brain recalibrates. Tasks that used to feel boring will become enjoyable again.

3. Support Your Brain with Natural Treatments

If you really want to speed up the healing process, use holistic mental health treatments that actually support your brain’s dopamine system:

💥 Acupuncture: Helps balance neurotransmitters, improves focus, and boosts motivation naturally. It’s like a dopamine reset button.

💥 Nutrition Response Testing: Your brain is starving for real nutrients, and deficiencies in dopamine-building nutrients (like tyrosine and B vitamins) can wreck motivation.

💥 Cold Therapy: Ice baths and cold showers trigger a massive natural dopamine release, without burning out your receptors.

💥 Adaptogenic Herbs: Certain supplements (like Rhodiola, Mucuna Pruriens, and Ashwagandha) help restore dopamine balance.

Reclaim Your Brain, Reclaim Your Life

Look—modern life is designed to keep you distracted, unmotivated, and overstimulated. If you don’t take control of your dopamine, someone else will (and trust me, Big Tech and Big Food are betting on that).

A dopamine detox is NOT about deprivation—it’s about giving your brain a chance to function properly again. The first few days will be rough, but once you push through the withdrawal, you’ll think clearer, feel more motivated, and actually enjoy real life again.
​
Are you ready to take back control of your brain? Or are you just gonna keep scrolling? 👀

🔥 Want real support to reset your dopamine and fix your mental health naturally? Acupuncture and Nutrition Response Testing at Bright Hope Integrative Mental Health can help you get out of this cycle FAST. Book an appointment and start healing for real. Click here to schedule. 🔥

The Role of Gut Health in Anxiety and
​
Depression: What Your Diet is Missing

When it comes to mental health, most people focus on brain chemistry, stress levels, or emotional well-being—but what if the key to reducing anxiety and depression lies in your gut? The gut-brain connection is a powerful and often overlooked factor in mental health, influencing everything from mood stability to energy levels. If you’ve been struggling with anxiety, depression, brain fog, or chronic stress, your digestive system may hold the answers.

The Gut-Brain Connection: Why Your Gut is Your "Second Brain"

Your gut and brain communicate constantly through the gut-brain axis, a network that links your digestive system to your nervous system. The gut produces about 90% of the body's serotonin (the "feel-good" neurotransmitter) and a significant amount of dopamine, which influences mood and motivation. If your gut is unhealthy, your body may not produce enough of these crucial neurotransmitters, leading to mood imbalances.

In addition, the vagus nerve, which connects the brain to the digestive tract, plays a major role in sending signals between the gut and the central nervous system. If the gut is inflamed, overloaded with toxins, or lacking beneficial bacteria, it can trigger stress responses that worsen anxiety and depression.
Signs That Your Gut is Affecting Your Mental Health

If you experience any of these symptoms, your gut health may be impacting your mood:

• Frequent bloating, gas, or indigestion
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Food intolerances or sensitivities
• Brain fog and difficulty concentrating
• Chronic fatigue
• Skin issues (acne, eczema, rosacea)
• Sugar or carb cravings
• Mood swings, irritability, or low motivation
• Anxiety or depression that doesn’t improve with traditional treatments

How Gut Imbalances Contribute to Anxiety and Depression

1. Inflammation in the Gut Creates Stress in the Brain

When the gut lining becomes damaged due to poor diet, stress, or toxins, it can lead to a condition known as leaky gut syndrome. This allows undigested food particles, toxins, and bacteria to enter the bloodstream, triggering chronic inflammation. Inflammation has been directly linked to anxiety and depression, as it affects the brain’s ability to regulate neurotransmitters properly.

2. Poor Gut Bacteria Leads to Low Serotonin and Dopamine

Your microbiome—the collection of bacteria in your gut—plays a direct role in your mental health. A lack of beneficial bacteria (probiotics) and an overgrowth of harmful bacteria (dysbiosis) can reduce serotonin and dopamine production, leading to mood disorders.

3. Blood Sugar Swings Cause Mood Swings

An unhealthy gut often leads to blood sugar instability, which can create energy crashes, irritability, and increased anxiety. Diets high in sugar and processed foods contribute to gut imbalances, leading to these mental health fluctuations.

4. Nutrient Deficiencies Affect Brain Function

A damaged gut may struggle to absorb essential nutrients, including B vitamins, magnesium, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids, all of which are crucial for brain health. Deficiencies in these nutrients have been linked to anxiety, depression, and cognitive decline.

What Your Diet is Missing: How to Heal Your Gut for Mental Health1. Increase Gut-Friendly Foods

A gut-healing diet should focus on whole, nutrient-dense foods that promote good bacteria and reduce inflammation. Try incorporating:

• Fermented foods (sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, miso, yogurt) to boost probiotics
• Bone broth to repair the gut lining and support digestion
• Leafy greens (spinach, kale, Swiss chard) for fiber and B vitamins
• Healthy fats (avocado, olive oil, coconut oil, fatty fish) to support brain function
• Grass-fed and pasture-raised proteins for essential amino acids
• Prebiotic foods (garlic, onions, bananas, asparagus) to feed good bacteria

2. Cut Out Inflammatory Triggers

Eliminate foods that damage your gut and contribute to inflammation:

• Processed sugar – Feeds harmful gut bacteria and causes blood sugar spikes
• Gluten and dairy – Common irritants for people with gut imbalances
• Artificial sweeteners and preservatives – Disrupt gut bacteria
• Excess caffeine and alcohol – Can contribute to gut permeability and stress the nervous system

3. Support Your Gut with Supplements

If your gut is already damaged, you may need extra support to restore balance. Some effective Standard Process supplements I recommend include:

• Zypan – Supports digestion and stomach acid balance
• ProSynbiotic – A blend of probiotics and prebiotics to restore gut flora
• Gastrex – Helps heal leaky gut and reduce inflammation
• Min-Tran – Provides essential minerals to calm the nervous system
• Cod Liver Oil – Supports brain function and reduces inflammation

4. Manage Stress and Support Digestion

Since stress plays a major role in gut health, reducing stress can improve both digestion and mental health. Consider:

• Acupuncture – Balances the nervous system and supports gut function
• Neuro Emotional Technique (NET) – Helps process emotional stress that affects digestion
• Breathwork and Meditation – Activates the vagus nerve for better gut-brain communication
• Gentle Movement – Walking, yoga, or Tai Chi can support digestion

Conclusion: Heal Your Gut, Heal Your Mind

If you’ve been struggling with anxiety or depression despite medications, therapy, or lifestyle changes, it may be time to look at your gut health. By improving your diet, restoring your gut microbiome, and reducing inflammation, you can create a healthier foundation for both your digestive system and your mental well-being.
​
If you're interested in a personalized gut health evaluation with Nutrition Response Testing, acupuncture, or supplements, Bright Hope Integrative Mental Health can help. Contact us to schedule an appointment and take the first step toward healing from the inside out.

At Bright Hope Integrative Mental Health, we don’t just scratch the surface when it comes to mental health—we go deep, tackling the root causes of imbalance. One of the biggest game-changers? Your gut.

That’s right—your digestive system is way more than just a food-processing machine. It’s your second brain, a powerhouse that directly impacts your mood, energy, and emotional resilience. If you’re struggling with anxiety, brain fog, or low motivation, your gut might be calling for a serious upgrade.

The Gut-Brain Axis: The Control Center of Your Mood

Your gut and brain are constantly talking to each other through a complex highway of nerves, hormones, and neurotransmitters. Your gut microbiome—the trillions of bacteria living in your digestive tract—plays a massive role in producing mood-regulating chemicals like serotonin and dopamine. In fact, over 90% of serotonin is made in the gut.

So, if your gut is inflamed, imbalanced, or overrun with bad bacteria from junk food, stress, and toxins, your mental health takes a hit. The result? Brain fog, anxiety, irritability, depression, and even cravings for more of the foods that are wrecking your system.
What You Eat Controls How You FeelFood is fuel, but it’s also information. It tells your body how to function—or how to fail. Here’s how different foods impact your mental state:

🔥 The Good Stuff (Brain Boosters):

✅ Fermented foods (kimchi, sauerkraut, kefir) – Feed the good bacteria that enhance mood and brain function.

✅ Omega-3 fatty acids (wild-caught salmon, walnuts, flaxseeds) – Reduce inflammation and boost cognitive function.

✅ Dark leafy greens (spinach, kale, Swiss chard) – Packed with folate, a critical nutrient for mood stabilization.

✅ Protein-rich foods (grass-fed beef, eggs, legumes) – Provide amino acids essential for neurotransmitter production.

✅ Prebiotic fiber (garlic, onions, bananas, asparagus) – Feeds the gut bacteria that help regulate emotions.

💀 The Bad Stuff (Brain Drainers):

🚫 Processed junk foods – High in artificial ingredients, sugar, and inflammatory oils, which disrupt gut health and fuel anxiety.

🚫 Refined sugars – Causes blood sugar spikes and crashes, triggering mood swings and fatigue.

🚫 Artificial sweeteners – Wreak havoc on the gut microbiome and disrupt neurotransmitter balance.

🚫 Excess caffeine and alcohol – Mess with your gut lining and spike cortisol, the stress hormone.

How to Biohack Your Gut for Maximum Mental ClarityWant to level up your mental health naturally? Follow these gut-hacking steps:

💪 Start your day with gut-healing foods – Swap sugary cereals for eggs, avocado, and a fermented food like kimchi or sauerkraut.
💪 Ditch processed garbage – Cut out ultra-processed junk and replace it with whole, real foods. Your brain will thank you.


💪 Balance your gut bacteria – Take a quality probiotic, eat fiber-rich veggies, and include fermented foods every day.

💪 Reduce stress – Chronic stress destroys your gut health. Use breathwork, acupuncture, and Neuro Emotional Technique (NET) to rebalance your nervous system.

💪 Hydrate like a pro – Your gut needs water to function. Aim for half your body weight in ounces per day.

💪 Get tested – If you suspect gut issues are wrecking your mental health, consider Nutrition Response Testing to identify hidden imbalances.

Final Word: Your Gut = Your Superpower

If you’re serious about rewiring your brain and optimizing your mental health, start with your gut. You can’t have a strong mind without a strong gut. At Bright Hope Integrative Mental Health, we specialize in natural, holistic solutions to break the cycle of stress, inflammation, and poor mental health.
​
Ready to heal from the inside out? Let’s do this. 🔥

In today's fast-paced world, mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, and chronic stress have become increasingly prevalent. While conventional medicine often turns to pharmaceutical interventions, many individuals seek natural alternatives that address the root causes of their mental health struggles without the side effects of medication. Integrative therapies, such as Neuro Emotional Technique (NET), Nutrition Response Testing (NRT), and acupuncture, offer powerful, holistic solutions for achieving lasting emotional and psychological balance.
Understanding Integrative TherapiesIntegrative therapies focus on treating the whole person—mind, body, and spirit—rather than just managing symptoms. These approaches are based on the idea that emotional and physical health are deeply interconnected, and that true healing involves restoring balance to all aspects of a person's well-being.

1. Neuro Emotional Technique (NET): Releasing Emotional Blocks
What is NET? Neuro Emotional Technique is a mind-body therapy that identifies and clears unresolved emotional stress that can manifest as physical symptoms and mental health imbalances. Unlike traditional talk therapy, NET works on a subconscious level to release emotional blockages stored in the nervous system, offering faster relief without the need to relive traumatic events.
How does NET help mental health?

• Reduces anxiety and depression by addressing emotional triggers
• Helps resolve past emotional trauma without extensive verbal processing
• Enhances emotional resilience and coping mechanisms

2. Nutrition Response Testing (NRT): The Role of Nutrition in Mental Well-BeingWhat is NRT? Nutrition Response Testing is a non-invasive method that assesses the body's nutritional needs and identifies underlying imbalances contributing to mental health challenges. Many people do not realize how deficiencies in essential nutrients can affect mood, cognitive function, and overall well-being.
How does NRT support mental health?

• Identifies food sensitivities and nutritional deficiencies that impact brain function
• Supports the gut-brain connection, which is crucial for emotional stability
• Recommends targeted supplements to restore balance naturally

3. Acupuncture: Restoring Energy Flow for Emotional BalanceWhat is acupuncture? Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medicine practice that involves inserting fine needles into specific points on the body to regulate energy flow, known as Qi. This technique has been used for centuries to address emotional imbalances and improve mental clarity.
How does acupuncture improve mental health?

• Regulates stress hormones, promoting relaxation and emotional stability
• Enhances the body's natural ability to heal from anxiety, depression, and PTSD
• Balances neurotransmitter activity to improve mood and cognitive function

The Benefits of Choosing Natural Therapies Over MedicationWhile medications may be necessary in some cases, many individuals find that holistic approaches offer numerous advantages, including:

• Fewer Side Effects: Unlike antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications, natural therapies do not come with risks such as dependency, drowsiness, or weight gain.
• Addressing Root Causes: Rather than masking symptoms, integrative therapies work to uncover and correct the underlying causes of emotional distress.
• Personalized Care: Holistic approaches are tailored to each individual's unique needs, allowing for a more effective and customized healing process.
• Long-Term Healing: Natural treatments support the body's innate ability to restore balance and prevent future mental health challenges.

Is an Integrative Approach Right for You?If you are looking for alternatives to medication for managing mental health concerns, integrative therapies like NET, NRT, and acupuncture can provide powerful, effective solutions. Whether you are struggling with anxiety, depression, or chronic stress, these therapies work in harmony with your body's natural healing mechanisms, offering a pathway to long-term emotional wellness.
At Bright Hope Counseling Center, we specialize in natural, holistic approaches to mental health that prioritize your well-being without the use of pharmaceutical drugs. If you are interested in exploring integrative therapies, we invite you to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward a healthier, more balanced life.
For more information, visit www.brighthopecounselingcenter.com or contact us today to learn more about how our services can help you achieve optimal mental and emotional wellness.

When it comes to healing emotional trauma, there are many therapeutic approaches available. Two well-known methods are Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Neuro Emotional Technique (NET). While both can help resolve emotional distress, they take very different approaches. Having been trained in both techniques, I found NET to be significantly more effective, faster, and far less emotionally painful than EMDR. Here’s why NET stands out as a superior option for emotional healing.
Understanding EMDREMDR is a structured therapy designed to help people process traumatic memories. It involves recalling distressing events while following a therapist's guided eye movements. The goal is to reprocess these memories so they lose their emotional charge. EMDR is widely used for PTSD, anxiety, and other trauma-related conditions.
Pros of EMDR:

• Backed by research for treating PTSD and trauma-related disorders
  
• Helps reprocess traumatic memories
  
• Can be effective over multiple sessions
  

Cons of EMDR:

• Requires the patient to relive traumatic experiences, which can be emotionally painful
  
• Often requires multiple sessions to achieve full resolution
  
• Some individuals experience heightened distress before feeling relief
  

While EMDR can be effective, the process of recalling past trauma can be overwhelming for some patients. This is one of the main reasons I shifted my focus to Neuro Emotional Technique (NET).
What is Neuro Emotional Technique (NET)?NET is a mind-body approach that helps identify and resolve unresolved emotional stress stored in the body. Unlike EMDR, NET does not require patients to relive their trauma. Instead, it uses muscle testing to pinpoint the root cause of emotional distress, allowing the body to release it naturally. This technique is based on principles of applied kinesiology and traditional Chinese medicine.
Pros of NET:

• Fast and efficient: Emotional blockages can often be resolved within minutes
  
• No need to relive trauma: Patients do not have to recall painful memories in detail
  
• Gentle and non-invasive: Works with the body's natural stress response without overwhelming the patient
  
• Addresses the root cause: Helps release emotional stress stored in the body rather than just reprocessing memories
  
• Integrates well with other holistic treatments: Works in conjunction with acupuncture, chiropractic care, and nutritional therapy
  

Why NET is a Better Alternative to EMDR

1. Faster Results: NET works much more quickly than EMDR. Instead of spending multiple sessions reliving trauma, patients often experience relief within a single session.
   
2. Less Emotional Pain: Since NET does not require individuals to vividly recall traumatic events, the healing process is much gentler.
   
3. Treats More Than Trauma: NET not only helps with trauma but also emotional patterns linked to stress, anxiety, chronic pain, and physical health issues.
   
4. Works with the Body’s Natural Intelligence: Unlike EMDR, which focuses on cognitive reprocessing, NET taps into the body's stored stress patterns and helps clear them effortlessly.
   

Who Can Benefit from NET?NET is ideal for anyone struggling with:

• Anxiety and stress
  
• Phobias and unresolved fears
  
• Physical symptoms linked to emotional distress
  
• Relationship issues and self-sabotaging behaviors
  
• Chronic pain with an emotional component
  

Because NET is so effective and minimally invasive, it is an excellent alternative for individuals who find EMDR too overwhelming or slow.
Final ThoughtsBoth EMDR and NET offer valuable tools for emotional healing, but based on my experience, NET provides faster, gentler, and more comprehensive results without requiring patients to re-experience their trauma. If you’re looking for a way to heal emotional stress without unnecessary suffering, NET is the way to go.
If you're interested in experiencing the benefits of NET firsthand, schedule an appointment at Bright Hope Counseling Center today!

Mental health is a crucial component of overall well-being, yet many people struggle to find lasting relief from stress, anxiety, and emotional trauma. While conventional approaches like therapy and medication can be beneficial, there is growing interest in holistic methods that address the mind-body connection. Two powerful techniques that support emotional health from a natural perspective are Neuro Emotional Technique (NET) and Nutrition Response Testing (NRT).
At The Point. The Place for Acupuncture, we are committed to helping individuals achieve emotional balance by integrating traditional and modern holistic methods. In this blog, we’ll explore how NET and NRT work and how they can help you overcome emotional barriers, improve resilience, and support overall mental well-being.

What is Neuro Emotional Technique (NET)?Neuro Emotional Technique (NET) is a mind-body therapy designed to help release unresolved stress and emotional trauma that may be affecting physical and mental health. NET was developed by Dr. Scott Walker, a chiropractor, who discovered that unresolved emotional patterns could contribute to pain, illness, and behavioral challenges.
How Does NET Work?
NET combines elements of chiropractic, acupuncture meridian therapy, and applied kinesiology to identify and clear stress-related blockages. Here’s how a session typically unfolds:

1. Muscle Testing: A practitioner uses muscle testing (a type of applied kinesiology) to detect imbalances in the body's meridian system and identify unresolved emotions.
2. Identifying Emotional Triggers: The technique helps pinpoint past emotional traumas or stress patterns that may still be stored in the body.
3. Clearing the Emotional Block: Through a combination of specific spinal adjustments, acupressure points, and guided focus on emotional memories, the practitioner helps the body release the trapped energy and restore balance.

NET is not talk therapy, nor does it require reliving traumatic experiences. Instead, it helps the body process emotional memories at a physiological level so they no longer trigger stress responses.
How Can NET Benefit Mental Health?

• Reduces chronic stress and anxiety
• Helps with unresolved emotional trauma
• Improves mood and emotional resilience
• Supports recovery from PTSD and phobias
• Enhances overall physical and emotional well-being

What is Nutrition Response Testing (NRT)?While emotions play a significant role in mental health, nutritional imbalances can also impact mood, energy levels, and cognitive function. Nutrition Response Testing (NRT) is a non-invasive system of analyzing the body to determine the underlying causes of health issues, including those related to mental well-being.
How Does NRT Work?

1. Muscle Testing for Organ Stress: The practitioner uses a series of reflex tests to assess organ function and detect areas of weakness in the body.
2. Testing for Nutritional Deficiencies and Toxicities: The technique helps identify whether a person is suffering from nutritional imbalances, food sensitivities, or environmental toxins that could be affecting their mental health.
3. Developing a Targeted Nutritional Plan: Based on the results, the practitioner recommends whole-food supplements, dietary changes, and lifestyle modifications to help restore balance.

How Can NRT Support Mental Health?

• Identifies and corrects nutritional deficiencies that contribute to anxiety and depression
• Supports the gut-brain connection, which is crucial for emotional stability
• Helps detoxify heavy metals, chemicals, and food additives that impact brain function
• Improves sleep, energy levels, and concentration

NRT is particularly effective when paired with NET because it addresses both the emotional and physiological components of mental well-being.

The Gut-Brain Connection: How Emotions and Nutrition Work TogetherThe gut-brain connection plays a crucial role in mental health. Studies show that up to 90% of serotonin, the neurotransmitter responsible for happiness and emotional stability, is produced in the gut. If the digestive system is compromised due to poor diet, inflammation, or toxicity, it can negatively affect mood and cognitive function.
Combining NET and NRT helps:

• Clear emotional stress that may be disrupting gut function
• Support a healthy microbiome for better neurotransmitter production
• Reduce inflammation linked to anxiety and depression
• Improve overall brain function through targeted nutrition

Who Can Benefit from NET and NRT for Mental Health?These techniques can help people dealing with:
✅ Chronic stress and anxiety
✅ Depression and low mood
✅ PTSD and unresolved trauma
✅ Brain fog and fatigue
✅ Emotional eating and digestive issues related to stress
If you feel like traditional approaches to mental health haven’t fully addressed your concerns, NET and NRT offer a powerful, natural way to rebalance the mind and body.

What to Expect from a SessionA session at The Point. The Place for Acupuncture may include a combination of NET and NRT, along with acupuncture, to create a fully integrative approach to emotional healing. Here’s what you can expect:
🌀 A full-body assessment using muscle testing to uncover emotional and nutritional imbalances
💆 NET treatment to release stored emotional stress
🍎 NRT evaluation to identify deficiencies and provide personalized nutrition recommendations
🪷 Acupuncture (optional) to support emotional balance and nervous system regulation
Over time, many clients experience improved emotional stability, better sleep, reduced anxiety, and greater resilience to life’s stressors.

Final Thoughts: A Holistic Approach to Mental WellnessMental health is not just about the mind; it is deeply intertwined with the body. By addressing both emotional imbalances (NET) and nutritional deficiencies (NRT), individuals can achieve deeper healing and long-term wellness.
At The Point. The Place for Acupuncture, we believe in treating the root cause of emotional distress, not just the symptoms. If you’re ready to take a natural, integrative approach to your mental health, contact us today to schedule a consultation.
📍 The Point. The Place for Acupuncture
📍 1558-G Union Road, Gastonia, NC 28054
📞 980-220-0269

Chronic pain. It's a relentless companion for millions of people worldwide, impacting daily life and well-being. While traditional medicine offers options like pain medication, these often come with unwanted side effects. Thankfully, there's a growing interest in exploring a more holistic approach - one that integrates the power of psychotherapy with the ancient wisdom of acupuncture.
The Mind-Body Connection in Pain
Pain isn't just a physical sensation. It's a complex experience influenced by our thoughts, emotions, and past experiences. Stress, anxiety, and even depression can exacerbate pain perception, making it feel worse. Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, addresses these psychological factors.
The Power of Talk Therapy
Therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can help individuals with chronic pain:

• Identify negative thought patterns that contribute to heightened pain perception. For instance, someone with chronic back pain might constantly worry about the worst-case scenario, leading to increased anxiety and muscle tension, which in turn worsens the pain. CBT helps individuals challenge these unhelpful thought patterns and develop more balanced and realistic perspectives.
• Develop coping mechanisms for managing stress and anxiety, which can worsen pain. Relaxation techniques like deep breathing exercises and mindfulness meditation can be powerful tools. Through therapy, individuals can learn to identify their stress triggers and practice these techniques to calm the nervous system and reduce the pain response.
• Learn pain management strategies. Biofeedback, for example, can help individuals become more aware of their physiological responses to pain and teach them techniques to regulate those responses. This can empower individuals to take an active role in managing their pain, fostering a sense of control and reducing feelings of helplessness.

Acupuncture: A Natural Approach to Pain Relief
Acupuncture, a cornerstone of traditional Chinese medicine, involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body. While the exact mechanisms are still being explored, research suggests acupuncture may:

• Promote the release of endorphins, the body's natural painkillers. Endorphins bind to opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord, producing feelings of well-being and reducing pain perception.
• Reduce inflammation, a key contributor to pain. Acupuncture may stimulate the release of anti-inflammatory compounds within the body, helping to alleviate pain and promote healing.
• Improve blood flow, which can aid healing and promote tissue repair. Increased blood flow delivers oxygen and nutrients to damaged tissues, facilitating the repair process and reducing pain associated with inflammation.

The Synergy of Psychotherapy and Acupuncture
The beauty lies in combining these approaches. Psychotherapy equips individuals with tools to manage the emotional aspects of pain, while acupuncture offers direct physical relief. Studies have shown that combining these therapies can be more effective than either approach alone, leading to:

• Reduced pain intensity
• Improved sleep quality - Chronic pain can disrupt sleep patterns, leading to fatigue and worsening pain perception. Both psychotherapy and acupuncture can promote relaxation and improve sleep quality, creating a positive cycle that aids in overall pain management.
• Enhanced mood and well-being - Chronic pain can take a toll on mental health, leading to depression and anxiety. By addressing the psychological aspects of pain and promoting feelings of control and well-being, this holistic approach can significantly improve quality of life.

Taking Control of Your Pain Journey
If you're struggling with chronic pain, consider exploring this holistic approach. Talk to your doctor about the possibility of integrating psychotherapy and acupuncture into your pain management plan. Remember, you're not alone in this journey. By taking charge of your physical and mental well-being, you can experience significant pain relief and reclaim a life filled with vitality.
Here are some additional resources to explore:

• American Psychological Association: https://www.apa.org/ (Information on psychotherapy)
• National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: https://www.nccih.nih.gov/ (Information on acupuncture)
• American Chronic Pain Association: [american chronic pain association ON American Chronic Pain Association acpaweb.org] (Support and resources for chronic pain)

Feeling overwhelmed? You're not alone. In our fast-paced world, anxiety and stress are like unwanted roommates who just won't leave. But what if there was a way to tackle them from both sides – mind and body? Enter the surprising duo of psychotherapy and acupuncture!
Therapy: Talking it Out
Think of therapy as a safe space to vent, explore, and understand your emotional rollercoaster. A licensed therapist can be your partner in crime-fighting negativity, helping you navigate challenges like anxiety, depression, or relationship woes.
Acupuncture: Needles for Relaxation?
Acupuncture might seem a bit out there, but it's a traditional Chinese practice involving tiny needles at specific points on your body. It's all about stimulating your body's natural healing energy (think of it as your inner glow-up!). This can help with pain relief, but also with stress, anxiety, and even sleep problems.
Why Team Up?
Here's the cool part: therapy and acupuncture become superheroes when they join forces! Therapy helps you unpack the emotional stuff, while acupuncture tackles the physical symptoms that often tag along, like tense muscles or sleeplessness. It's like a one-two punch against stress and anxiety.
Benefits Galore!
Here's a sneak peek at the perks of this mind-body dream team:

• Chill Vibes: Acupuncture can seriously chill you out, making therapy sessions smoother and letting you dig deeper.
• Stress Less, Live More: Both therapy and acupuncture can be anxiety and stressbusters. Together, they can be a powerful weapon against these common foes.
• Pain Relief Power: Acupuncture can help manage pain, making it easier to address emotional issues that might be contributing to it.
• Holistic Healing: This approach tackles both your mental and physical well-being, creating a well-rounded path to feeling your best.

Should You Try It?
If you're curious about a more holistic approach to mental and emotional health, chat with your therapist or doctor about acupuncture. Finding a qualified acupuncturist who works well with therapists is key.
Remember: This powerhouse duo isn't meant to replace therapy or medical treatment. It's a bonus tool to boost your overall well-being.
Ready to Experiment? Open yourself up to the possibilities of Eastern and Western wisdom working together. You might just surprise yourself with how good you can feel!

Here at Bright Hope, we pride ourselves on being integrative and not traditional.   Throughout the years, we have explored many different techniques to help people rid themselves of anxiety.  I personally like to see this as an evolution of both myself and this practice.  With advanced training in Chinese medicine, I learned to use the acupuncture meridians to find and locate where the body stores unwanted stress and anxiety. Since my role here at Bright Hope is not that of a licensed acupuncturist,  I use both pain-free and side effect free lasers to stimulate acupuncture points to help restore emotional balance in order to help my patients lead an anxiety free life.  

The reason why I am a fan of this method is that it is even easier and faster than NET.   What is so cool about acupuncture, and the style that I practice is the body responds to anxiety and other emotions as tender spots on ether the lower arms or lower legs.   This tenderness either correlates to actual acupuncture points, or they are along the Meridian as something called ah shi points.  Once these points are located, the laser is placed on these areas, and the emotion is literally melted away.    I have never seen anything like this.   It is definitely something to be experienced.

So, if you ever were thinking about acupuncture,  consider our needle free alternative.


Till Next Time,

Justin

Here at Bright Hope Counseling, we only employ low level light class IIIa lasers.  In other words, a person can experience all the benefits of acupuncture without experiencing any pain or fear of needles.   There is absolutely no risk or negative side effects.   A traditional acupuncture appointment takes anywhere between 30 minutes to an hour depending on the type of treatment.  With our lasers, we can get the same amount of work done in under 15 minutes. 

The following is taking directly from the World Health Organization of what Acupuncture has been studied and able to treat:
1. Diseases, symptoms or conditions for which acupuncture has been proved-through controlled trials-to be an effective treatment:

• Adverse reactions to radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy
• Allergic rhinitis (including hay fever)
• Biliary colic
• Depression (including depressive neurosis and depression following stroke)
• Dysentery, acute bacillary
• Dysmenorrhoea, primary
• Epigastralgia, acute (in peptic ulcer, acute and chronic gastritis, and gastrospasm)
• Facial pain (including craniomandibular disorders)
• Headache
• Hypertension, essential
• Hypotension, primary
• Induction of labour
• Knee pain
• Leukopenia
• Low back pain
• Malposition of fetus, correction of
• Morning sickness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Neck pain
• Pain in dentistry (including dental pain and temporomandibular dysfunction)
• Periarthritis of shoulder
• Postoperative pain
• Renal colic
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Sciatica
• Sprain
• Stroke
• Tennis elbow

2. Diseases, symptoms or conditions for which the therapeutic effect of acupuncture has been shown but for which further proof is needed: 

• Abdominal pain (in acute gastroenteritis or due to gastrointestinal spasm)
• Acne vulgaris
• Alcohol dependence and detoxification
• Bell’s palsy
• Bronchial asthma
• Cancer pain
• Cardiac neurosis
• Cholecystitis, chronic, with acute exacerbation
• Cholelithiasis
• Competition stress syndrome
• Craniocerebral injury, closed
• Diabetes mellitus, non-insulin-dependent
• Earache
• Epidemic haemorrhagic fever
• Epistaxis, simple (without generalized or local disease)
• Eye pain due to subconjunctival injection
• Female infertility
• Facial spasm
• Female urethral syndrome
• Fibromyalgia and fasciitis
• Gastrokinetic disturbance
• Gouty arthritis
• Hepatitis B virus carrier status
• Herpes zoster (human (alpha) herpesvirus 3)
• Hyperlipaemia
• Hypo-ovarianism
• Insomnia
• Labour pain

So if you or a loved one have been thinking about trying acupuncture, but have been hesitant because of the fear of needles,  come check us out.

Chinese and Eastern Medicine as mentioned before is at least 3,000 to 5,000 years old.   We have written documentation of what works, and what does not work going back at least 2,500 years. What we gather out of this documentation and through the countless practitioners is that there are 12 primary channels within the body and 12 extraordinary channels within  the body.  These can be imagined as very small rivers within the body that form a very complex flow of movement  of something called, Qi.  What is Qi one may ask?   Well, that answer is not easily explained.  Western medical science says it does not exist, but ask any Chinese medicine physician, or someone whose health condition seemingly vanished after having acupuncture if they believe Qi is real.    The easiest way to think of Qi is that it is the life energy that flows through the body. (If my Chinese medicine instructors ever read this, they would have my neck for calling Qi life energy).   This energy is able to be accessed in different ways. It can be accessed directly through both acupuncture and acupressure, and can be felt in the radial pulse of both wrists.   Now, if we circle back to the idea of the channels, we learn that each channel is named after the organ that it passes through in order to come together to form a complete circuit called the Jing Luo.    What this means is that there are different levels of influence each branch or channel does to both the channel and the body.   


 We have the liver channel, spleen channel, stomach channel, and so on.    Also, each channel manifests certain emotions when it is under duress.  For example, the liver channel contains anger and the lung channel contains  the emotions associated with grief.  This is where the Pulse Code,  and other energy psychologies come into play.    More on this later.


On top of the channels, there is another influence that is layered on top of it all.   This next influence is called the Wu Xing of the 5 phases or the 5 elements.  There are many branches of Chinese medicine, and what is going to be presented is part of one branch.   The easiest way to explain the 5 elements is to look at the observable world.   We have elements of the ground or Earth,  Water, Wood, Metal, and Fire.  Each element contains two channels called the Ying/Yang pairs.  Within these elements contain different emotions and patterns  of disharmony that exhibit when one phase or channel needs to be addressed.  These patterns of disharmony are what Chinese medicine physicians address when they use acupuncture or herbs.

Laser acupuncture is where modern technology meets ancient medical wisdom.  Laser acupuncture is a needle free approach to receiving all the benefits of traditional acupuncture, but without the fear of needles or any pain. Traditional acupuncture, when done correctly, causes little to no pain, but try telling that to someone who has an aversion to needles.  With laser acupuncture, on the other hand,  a painless low level light laser is placed on the acupuncture points and stimulated with either a red or blue light.  The effects are nearly instantaneous, and treatments can be completed in about 10 minutes.   With traditional acupuncture, the needles are inserted and left in the body for about 20 minutes before being removed.   

What can it help me?

Well...Acupuncture changed my life.   I speak a lot about the emotional effects of Neuro Emotional Technique, and since learning this NET, I started a journey to understand the science behind this method and how exactly it does what it does.  This rabbit hole sent me to acupuncture school where I learned about this whole system of acupuncture and Chinese medicine. What I learned is that the body creates an electrical bio-field, that when needles or in this case, lasers, are placed in specific locations, the body responds in a favorable way.   The results can at times be nothing short of miraculous.   I can go on and on about what I have seen accomplished with the use acupuncture.  Each person has a pattern of energy flow the Chinese have called, Qi.  Qi is the bio energetic field that flows and can be felt when a trained person feels the pulse along the thumb side of the wrist. This pattern that is felt tells the trained person the direction of the flow Qi.   The trained acupuncturist then knows where to place the needles, or lasers, to best benefit their patient.   So instead of seeing people who have anxiety, depression, diabetes, low back pain, etc,   I see patterns that need to be readjusted in order to bring the body back into balance in order for all those symptoms to fall away.  

My encouragement is that everyone give this system of medicine a try, and they too can have their own success story.


Till next time,


​Justin

Neuro Emotional Technique or NET is the life changing protocol designed by Dr. Scott Walker, DC out of Encitas, California.  It is founded on the understanding that the brain creates emotioncentric neuropeptides, hormones, and molecules that permeate through our bodies.  In other words, the brain and body are interconnected when it comes to stress and emotions.  For example, when we become anxious, we have the feeling of butterflies in the stomach or a tightness in the chest, but what is really going on is happening between our two ears inside of our heads. This is what makes NET very unique. What this means is that if we can access where the body stores undesired, stuck emotions, we can effectively eliminate them with unprecedented speed.

NET is comprised of 5 main disciplines:  chiropractic, acupuncture, Jungian psychology, muscle testing, and homeopathy.  The mechanics of NET is quite unique.  The videos on the front page of our website demonstrate and explains NET better than I could here on a blog post.  Just understand that what is going still blows my mind, and I have done NET over 1000 times.

So how can NET help me?

NET's range of helping is incredibly broad.  I have used it on everything from PTSD, trauma, anxiety, panic attacks, couples work, smoking, weight loss, depression, self improvement, job performance, stress, chronic pain, fibromyalgia, and more.  What I mentioned are just symptoms of a greater picture, and that greater picture is unresolved stress. Like I said in the first paragraph, they are nothing more than stuck emotioncentric neuropeptides, hormones, and molecules that permeate through our bodies.  When we release these our lives change almost instantly for the better.  Irregardless of the symptoms, we all have something that is keeping us from living our full potential, and NET can help us attain is.

CBD stands for  Cannabidiol.  It is part of the cannabis or marijuana plant.   The cannabis plant contains over 200 cannabinoids.  THC, the part that actually gets people high is also considered a cannabidoil. However, CBD oil sold in the Carolinas comes from the hemp plant.  What this means is that most brands contain 0% THC, and contain only the CBC cannabinoids.  So, in a nutshell, getting high is absolutely impossible.    Some brands of CBC legally do contain up to .03% of THC, and when taken in high doses can cause a failed drug screen.  The brand we offer has 0% so this is a non issue. 

So what does CBD oil do for me?

You may have heard in the news or on the internet that CBD oil is the cure all for our modern times. As much as I wish it was, this is simply not true.   No, it does not cure cancer, and help with weight loss.  It does in some patients control anxiety and curb the symptoms of PTSD.  I have had few patients tell me that when they take CBD oil that they get high.  What I figure out after assessing them further is that their anxiety has been so high that when they get relief, they feel  almost high because of the absence of anxiety.   This is not true for everyone.  I use CBD oil regularly, and it helps me achieve a level of calm that haven't experienced before, but I am not high.

On the health side, CBD oil has the power to help with chronic inflammation, chronic pain, and seizure disorders in some people.  Chronic inflammation is hard explain because it is body's way of swelling to promote healing. However, when inflammation becomes chronic, it can be harmful and lead to other illnesses.  We all know how to define pain, and when it is chronic, it is significantly worse.  CBD had been shown to be beneficial for some people in reducing pain.  Seizures disorders can be benefit.  Since I am not in the medical side of things, any CBD use should be brought up to a physician as CBD can interact with certain drugs.   One thing I am aware of after speaking with a pro-CBD pharmacist is that the dosages of CBD vary greatly per person, and that the body's CBD receptors need to be flooded before maximum effect can be achieved.  In other words, if the dose does not help the first time, the the amount and frequency may need to be increased before relief can be found. Once the brain's CBD receptors are saturated, then the amount of CBD should lessen.  

We have CBD oil at our office for a reasonable cost 500mg for $40.00 and 1000mg for $60.00 

September 16, 2018, my life changed.     I received a called from my mother on September 11, who at that point, was in a hospital bed rotting away from mismanaged nursing home care. She told me that she was going to die that weekend, then she went right back into a state of psychosis.  Since I was her healthcare power of attorney, I received another call from her doctor the next day who wanted to discuss her end of life plans.  Per her wishes,  I had to make the decision to end the treatment, and watch my mother waste away in an even faster decline. My anger at the nursing facility raged.  I watched her cry, plead, and scream for physical relief.  The physicians and nurses kept my mother under medical sedation partly because of pain, but also because of fear.  Either her cancer went to her brain, or the lengthy  hospital stays caused a form of psychosis.    

On the early morning hours of September 16th,  I watch my mother take her last breath on Earth. I held her hand until it turned cold. One of her eyes was open, and  I could see her green iris clearly.   She was gone; nothing but a shell.  I have faith that this is not end, and I would not wish her back for anything. How she died was another story.

Neuro Emotional Technique(NET) saved my head.  I went back to work two days later.  It is not impossible to do it to oneself, but it is quite difficult to get everything.   A week later, I still needed help.   I would be OK during the day, but at night, I would sit on edge of my bed and only see the image of her dead body with one eye open staring at the ceiling.  I felt guilt for not doing things differently.   I felt guilt for not getting other opinions.  I even felt guilty by thinking I could have done things better.  None of this was true.  I had my associate, Gillian Squillacioti, LPC do NET on me.   I promise who ever reads this, that those thoughts and images were out of my head in less than 5 minutes.   I, obviously, can still remember what happened, but my feelings of dread are completely gone.  I still miss my mom, and that will never change. However because of NET, I can now look forward to the future, and smile about the memories that I hold dear.

 Rest easy mom -  Beth Ann Asafaylo 7/4/61 - 9/16/18
Till next time,

Justin

I was perusing the internet a little bit ago, and I stumbled upon a website called BeyondOCD.org.   It is a non profit website that attempts to provide a service for people seeking treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder, or OCD.  What irked me the most is that they tout the benefits of CBT, or cognitive behavioral therapy.  They posted an article on how to find a therapist who uses CBT for treatment.   For that, I call total bullsh*t.  CBT is slow at best, and worthless at most.  A research article came out earlier this year that declared CBT is no more effective than reading a self help book.  In other words, it is bullsh*t. The majority of my practice stems from people who have had failed CBT.

I have said in other posts that CBT has its value and it's place, but in the realm of anxiety and anxiety based disorders such as OCD, it significantly over steps its place.  Here is why CBT and any variation is essentially a waste of time and money in treating anxiety disorders.

1. OCD and any other form of anxiety has CAUSE that occurred sometime in the past. 

2. The cause may or may not be known consciously to the person. However, the subconscious mind always knows in the biochemical storage of the body's nerves.

3. Energy Psychology such as Neuro Emotional Technique  accesses the body's subconscious through applied kinesiology and acupuncture points. -  No other technique does this level of detection and elimination.

4.  When a person is suffering from OCD or anxiety, whatever is learned from CBT is quickly thrown out the window because of the body's flight or fight response.

5. CBT is a mind only approach to treatment, and everyone who experiences anxiety feel it in the pit of their stomach or have the tightness in their chest.   This clearly shows that the body stores emotions that CANNOT  be accessed by CBT alone.  

6.Results speak for themselves.  Why waste the money on countless sessions of CBT, when a few session of Neuro Emotional Technique are enough to completely eliminate anxiety, panic attacks, and OCD?

To any therapist, psychologist, or medical doctor who spreads false information due to lack of understanding of Energy Psychology and Neuro Emotional Technique, I personally challenge you to experience Neuro Emotional Technique for yourselves. I promise, your life and the lives of your patients will be forever changed. 

How does Neuro Emotional Technique compare to traditional counseling, or cognitive behavioral therapy(CBT)?  Here is a chart the highlights the difference.

     I know I will catch some serious flack from other therapists with what I am about say, but, I really do not care.  I think anger management therapy is crap compared to working with anger using Neuro Emotional Technique(NET). If I am being totally honest, I think almost any other type of therapy is crap compared to NET. My reasoning behind this is because nothing else has come close to seeking and destroying root causes of emotional struggles in both myself and in the lives of my patients.  Now, getting back to why I use and believe that NET is best suited for helping those working through anger.
     Anger's root cause in any situation is pain.  Whether that pain stems from physical  or emotional causes makes no difference.  Pain always has a cause. Since pain has a cause, then obviously, so does anger.  Most people realize that having angry outbursts and hitting objects is not good.  We all know right from wrong, so I fail to reason why anger management classes still attempt to teach this way.   What I propose is that we treat the initial root cause of the anger that usually began many years prior.   For instance, I had a person I treating for uncontrolled anger outbursts.  We did NET, and uncovered the anger stemmed from not being accepted at home, and this individual was competing with siblings for the father's attention and love.  We eliminated the source of pain, and instantly this individual's anger fuse lengthened by miles.  Anger is a conditioned response to an uncomfortable stimulus.  Remove the initial source, and boom... problem is almost always solved.


Till next time,

Justin

     I have said in other blog posts that depression and be categorized as two types:  Organic and Situational.  Organic depression almost always requires medication because there is a lack of serotonin being created in the brain.  Situational depression is the nasty result of some sort of past event that we can not for whatever reason get over.  Both types of depression are treatable.   The fastest method, bar none, that I have come across over the years is Neuro Emotional Technique.
     Neuro Emotional Technique is a mind/body approach to eliminating stuck feelings in the body.   It is so different from traditional talk therapy because it uses the scientifically validated energy systems of the body to locate specific feelings associated with the negative event.  This is done through a two step process of using a technique called manual muscle testing and touching on meridian pulse points on the wrist.  This process takes literally just a few minutes.   When I had this done to me, I literally felt a surge of emotions that felt like an electrical charge leave my body. The feelings are still gone, and chatter in my brain from before is not there. Most people who I do this technique with experience the same thing. It is strange, yet amazing.  
     Getting back to how Neuro Emotional Technique can treat depression.  Depression can rear its ugly head in so many ways, and sometimes the feelings of why we feel depressed are just masked by a feeling of dread and sadness. In traditional talk therapy, we would run around in circles trying to figure out some rhyme and reason to the depression, but with Neuro Emotional Technique, the research shows that the subconscious mind already knows, and is willing to let go with some simple investigative work.  Literally, by pressing the meridian pulse points in the wrist we know almost immediately the underlying feeling, and then, we generally know the cause. From there, we add a few more steps, and the feelings are released. As I have said in other posts, with Neuro Emotional Technique, I can quite literally get  a year's worth of traditional therapy done in under an hour.   Just the other day, I got a person to smile and joke for the first time in two years after they experienced what they experienced.  We did that in under 20 minutes. I can not begin to express how this has changed my practice, my life, and my view of the world.  I am going to keep doing these blogs and  tell as  many people as I can until everyone who needs it gets to experience the release that I felt and now many of my patients.

Till next time,


Justin
       

Plain in simple,  Neuro Emotional Technique(NET) is quite possibly the fastest way to permanently end panic attacks.  Even the panic attacks that seem to have no initial cause are simply no match for NET.   In the framework of NET, panic attacks are nothing more than an emotional stuck point somewhere in the body. For instance, why is that that when we feel anxious or nervous, we have butterflies of in our stomach or a tightness in our chest?   If it is supposedly all in our heads, then why do other parts of our body feel it?  This proves that our body and mind are interconnected, and the body stores negative feelings in different places.   This is where NET comes into play.   NET uses something called manual muscle testing, and touching emotional points in the wrist to quickly find the physical source of the panic attacks.  Once this is complete, we will have the patient think about and feel those feelings, and BOOM, feelings and panic attacks are gone.  I am not going to lie, I thought this was total crap(yep, I said that word) before I personally experienced it, and did it with others.  Nothing I have seen is faster.  Check out the research at http://www.onefoundation.org/

NET is so fast and all encompassing, I have personally given up on traditional talk therapy as a main method for treatment.  Do not get me wrong, talk therapy has it's place, but it is not the catch all be all for getting people better.  At the time of this writing, I have been doing therapy in one form of another for 17 years.  Up until, I feel that I owe every past patient an apology for not learning NET and not doing NET for them sooner.


Till next time,


Justin