The Brain Gym® Model

The Brain Gym model looks at each individual as a whole, working with the skills and resources that are already in place and drawing out, through the tools of the programme, those which are yet to be learned. The client and Brain Gym Consultant work co-operatively, in a process guided by the resources of the client and with the active engagement and permission of the client or, where necessary, of the parent, carer or relevant professional. Brain Gym asks: “What do you want to do and how do you want to do it?” It is therefore distinct from other models, such as the medical or therapeutic model, whose aim is to diagnose, prescribe, treat, cure or fix.

Brain Gym Practitioners work in a process which allows practical evaluation of client skills and attitudes before and after the use of Brain Gym tools. Clients often notice positive changes in these skills and feel empowered by the self-help tools that are involved. Many clients come to Brain Gym for help who have been labelled by other professionals, for example as “dyslexic”. The Brain Gym model focusses on the goals of the client, rather than the labelled condition, and aims to help the client move towards these outcomes. Brain Gym practitioners are not qualified to diagnose and do not claim to cure or fix conditions diagnosed by other professionals - educational, therapeutic or medical.

Therefore the categorisaton of some of the consultations offered below by such labels is solely to help identify the skills area in which the client and practitioner worked and reflects an evaluation of the client by a relevant professional rather than the Brain Gym Consultant.

Terminology and Processes used in the Consultation Outcomes

Each consultation outcome is accompanied by the name of the Brain Gym practitioner who supplied it and all appear with the consent of the individuals involved. Some of these refer to activities and processes which are specialised to Brain Gym. These are the most common:

• A balance: A goal achievement process that focuses on a selected learning target or other goal. Observation of physical or behavioural skills associated with the goal is made before and after the intervention.
  
• PACE: A sequence of four Brain Gym activities designed to prepare the learner for any kind of learning activity.
  
• Repatterning: A sequence of movements, unique to Brain Gym, which involves co-ordinated eye and motor movements to encourage fluid whole body movement.

Additional explanations of Brain Gym terms are in italics in square brackets in the text.

Special Educational Needs

General Learning Skills

Physical Problems and Disability

Professional Skills & Adult Learning