The transformational power of the peniston protocol: A therapist's experiences

Abstract

The remarkable outcomes of two studies published by Eugene Peniston (with Paul Kulkosky; 1989, 1991) using his alpha-theta protocol on chronic alcoholics and Vietnam veterans exhibiting posttraumatic stress disorder, respectively, opened up the possibility of resolving deep unconscious trauma in a relatively short period. A white paper recently published in 2008 in the Journal of Neurotherapy (see Sokhadze, Cannon, & Trudeau) assesses with considerable thoroughness the efficacy of the Peniston Protocol and the Scott-Kaiser Modification in substance use disorder based on research standards adopted by the Biofeedback Certification Institute of America and the International Society for Neuronal Regulation. Strict adherence to these standards seems to limit the authors to citing empirical research findings, virtually ignoring the understanding of addiction as a neurobehavioral condition and the Peniston protocol's value as a medium through which neurobehavioral healing can occur. The effectiveness of alpha-theta, as an essentially nonlinear process, is not well measured by empirical scientific methods. © 2008 by The Haworth Press.