Earl R. HenslinBesprekingen

Henslin is a devotee of Daniel Amen and his SPECT scan brain research. I will admit that I found it a little jarring to be reading along about the science behind his theories and his practice and then in the next sentence read about all of this being part of God's plan throughout the book but it was interesting nonetheless.

Inside a Cutter's Mind: Understanding and Helping Those Who Self-Injure by Jerusha Clark, Earl R Henslin presents a balanced perspective on self-injury. Clark writes: "I want you to know from the outset: Self-inflicted violence is all at once a psychological, physical, and spiritual battle. Consequently, this book will examine all three aspects. But we will do so with balance and patience, recognizing that discussing biochemistry, psychoemotional issues, and spirituality can be intimidating." (pg. 16)

This book is mainly written for the family and friends of cutters to help them understand and empathize with what self-harmers feel while dealing with their own conflicting emotions. The authors do a great job covering all aspects of self-injury while presenting it in such a way that the information is very accessible. "I decided to write Inside a Cutter’s Mind because I believe that a vigorous and tangible hope can be found. I have witnessed the freedom of people brought back from the brink of self-destruction. In their lives, the power of redemption overcame the pull of devastation. But I have not merely observed redemption at work. I have personally experienced the wholesale rescue of my mind, body, and soul from the ravages of self-annihilating compulsion." (pg. 17)

Clark is very empathetic and sensitive while explaining the behavior and the many ways of treating/helping people who struggle with self-injury. She clearly understands that in order to assist self-injurers, a variety of treatment methods are necessary because every person is a unique individual. Dr. Henslin does an excellent job explaining the physiological and clinical sides of treatment. The information on SPECT brain scans shows that self-injury also can have a physical component.

While it is written from a Christian point of view, it is very non-judgmental while covering all aspects of self-injury. Clark, in fact, points out that "...overscripturalizing or spiritualizing people's struggles or their paths toward recovery usually arrests rather than encourages recovery." (pg. 145) So, although specific information for Christians is definitely included, it is presented as just another aspect to helping in the recovery process and not as condemnation for the cutting.

It is interesting to note that: "A diet high in protein (including soy products and fish), whole grains, and vegetables gives the nervous system the nutritional support necessary to combat self-wounding impulses." (pg. 112) and "Taking brain-boosting vitamins and supplements (especially omega-3 fatty acids and Vitamin E) may help self-injurer's mind and body be better prepared to deal with urges to self-harm. Sometime vitamins and supplements can actually decrease these cravings." (pg 113.) Clark also mentions other specific ways to help self-harmers or assist them in their recovery, including simply being available to be with them during difficult time periods or encouraging them to lengthen the time between episodes of self-injury.

I can't recommend this book highly enough for friends and family members of someone who self-injures or any one, like a pastor or youth minister, who might be asked to counsel someone. The myth that they are doing it just to get attention is exposed and the information included that can really lead to recovery is priceless.
Very Highly Recommended; http://shetreadssoftly.blogspot.com/

You can find my full review at Quieted Waters.

What Dr. Henslin found is that there a few major areas in the brain that control how humans behave. When a certain area of the brain becomes activated, certain actions result in that person. The book helps readers to understand that causal relationship, but it goes futher. Dr. Henslin’s book helps readers to understand themselves in terms of how their brain works.

Have used this for bibliotherapy on several occasions. Starts with Bible references then what patterns can lead to the process of a dysfunctional family. Most useful has been the section of "How to Do It Right When You Learned Wrong." My personal earlier years were thrashed through the involvement with a pastoral dysfunctional family. Appendix B is one of the most powerful sections of the book: "Patterns Predicting Pastoral Infidelity." Reading and understanding the impact of such described behavior allowed me to heal from "sins of the father," which further inspired me in my doctoral studies. A priceless book! A wonderful tool for the layman to the professional. A

Everyone wants to be joyful, to be happy. What if there was a way to “rewire” your brain to experience all the joy you could possibly handle? What if you learned doctors could, by taking a picture of your brain, tell you exactly what was wrong and how to fix it? Sounds like something you might find in Star Trek, doesn’t it?

According to Dr. Earl Henslin, this is not science fiction, but a medical reality. In his book, This Is Your Brain on Joy, Dr. Henslin discusses the diagnoses that are made possible through a brain imaging technique called SPECT imaging as introduced to him by his friend, Dr. Daniel Amen. Dr. Henslin gives a brief overview of the five main areas of the brain (“Mood Centers”) that control a person’s emotions. With the help of SPECT imaging, he also shows what each area looks like both in a well-balanced brain and in a brain that is not so well-balanced. He provides helpful tips in recognizing problematic symptoms of each Mood Center and gives a list of aids to assist in regaining the proper balance. These aids include eating a proper diet, getting lots of exercise, reading books, listening to music and even watching movies.

On a medical level, this book is rather fascinating in its descriptions of the varying “Mood Centers” of the brain. Using simple terms and nicknames for the more complex medical names, Dr. Henslin describes how each area controls certain moods. He also shows what the brain and subsequent mood would be if each area were damaged or out of balance. The aids at the end of each chapter are very helpful in learning to control or adjust each of the mood centers. Beyond the medical aspects, I found the book lacking in depth. Much of the book comes across as an infomercial for Dr. Amen’s products such as his research, his SPECT scanning technology or the medicinal supplements available through Dr. Amen’s web site and clinic.

For a book supposedly written from a Christian perspective, there seemed very little solid Biblical application in the underlying overall philosophy. One of the points that jumped out at me was found in the following statement: “Only God knows, see, and can judge how many of our errors are due to our free wills and how many are due to our faulty hardwiring. Let me repeat this: only God knows how much of our wrongdoing is the result of pure rebellion or evil intent and how much is cause by brain imbalances” (p.8). The author seems to be suggesting that some of our wrongdoing is simply not our fault, but rather the fault of a scientific imbalance. In other words, it’s out of our control. If we can figure out how to “re-wire” our brains, we will naturally choose good things instead of evil. This theme of using self-medicating remedies to fix our sorrow is repeated throughout the book.

A second concern, and perhaps the most important, is that the pursuit of happiness is seen as the ultimate end, that is, pursuit of happiness for the sake of happiness itself. For instance, on p. 45, Dr. Henslin, in noting that happiness is most often gained in a community setting, quips “It really does take a village to make us happy….It’s no wonder that many consider AA [Alcoholics Anonymous] the world’s largest church. More real church is probably happening in many of these meetings of honest people in rented office spaces than in some of our greatest and most beautiful cathedrals.” If we define “church” as a gathering of people to have a good time and feel happy about ourselves for happiness’ sake or even for community’s sake, than perhaps this might be true. But if church is defined as the visible gathering of the invisible church to worship God and to feed our spiritual bodies with the meat of God’s Word while at the same time fellowshipping with one another, then AA couldn’t be further from any resemblance of real church.

In the last chapter, Henslin attempts to bring Scripture back into the picture, but once again misses the mark. Henslin says, “Toward the end of this heartfelt thank-you [Paul’s epistle to the Philippians], the aging apostle wrote, ‘I have learned the secret…’ The secret to what? Inquiring minds want to know. ‘The secret,’ Paul writes, ‘of being content’ (4:12).” From this point, Henslin launches into his arguments for why being content helps us to be happier and he almost gets it right. Unfortunately, he takes Paul’s letter and almost completely ignores the gospel presented there, focusing only on how we can make ourselves be happier. Instead of the gospel being the foundation for our joy, it is viewed simply as a tool to help us along in achieving personal joy.

This is Your Brain on Joy is a good book for discovering a small part of the medical side of the brain’s operations and how we can influence our own moods. But aside from this and the suggestions for improving your mood (which, quite honestly, can probably be found in almost any self-help book of every sort), the book misses the mark of where our true and lasting joy can be found – in the person and work of Jesus Christ for the sake of the glory of God.

This Is Your Brain on Joy: A Revolutionary Program for Balancing Mood, Restoring Brain Health, and Nurturing Spiritual Growth. By Dr. Earl Henslin. Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, 2008. 243 pp.

Dr. Earl Henslin is a licensed counselor who has an obvious passion for restoring joy in the lives of his patients and his readers. He has partnered with Dr. Daniel G. Amen, MD to learn more about how we can combine the science behind the SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computerized Tomography) and a therapeutic understanding of the brain from a counselor’s perspective.

I have long been a fan of Dr. Amen and his ground-breaking research into understanding why our brains work the way they do. His works on ADD entitled Healing ADD and Change Your Brain, Change Your Life had a profound impact on me and my wife. As a result, when Thomas Nelson asked me to read and review Dr. Henslin’s latest book, I jumped at the opportunity!

Dr. Henslin has divided his book into three primary sections. The first five chapters deal primarily with some background on why the book was written as well as some very technical information on how the brain works, and what areas of the brain impact different areas of our emotional and psychological well being. Herein lies one of the many strengths of this book. Dr. Henslin has written this book in such a way that the very complex information he is relating is done in a very understandable way. I am confident that my 10 year old daughter would have no problem reading this section, and explaining to me what each of the different issues are. Dr. Henslin closes this first section with a discussion on “joy-boosters”. Everything from pharmacology to movies, food to prayer is discussed. It is amazing what a change in diet can do for our emotional well being!

In second section of the book the author explains in detail the different sections of the brain he explored in chapter three. In a very clear, entertaining style he talks about very specific things we can do to improve our brain health for each of these brain centers. I particularly enjoyed the discussion about the prefrontal cortex (wrestling with ADD) and the deep limbic system (dealing with depression). It is so refreshing to see a well researched medical book written from a biblical, Christian perspective!

Finally, Dr. Henslin concludes his book with a chapter entitled, “An Apostle on Joy: The Real Secret.” In this chapter he does a study in joy in the book of Philippians, uncovering 6 “Secrets to Joy”. A great study, and an excellent capstone to this book.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone and everyone who wrestles with finding joy and contentment. Dr. Earl Henslin demonstrates the wisdom in an integrated approach between Psychology and Spirituality. I look forward to sharing this book with my wife, and making some changes as we seek to live life the way God intended – filled with the Spirit, possessing peace and finding joy.

Soli Deo Gloria

Can knowing if your cingulate gyrus is overactive change your whole life?

Can the right drug or herb do more than just cover up depression or anxiety, but actually restore & heal the brain?

Can physical dysfunction in the brain rob a committed Christian of the joy that is possible in Christ?

If you read this book, you’ll discover the answer to all these questions is an unqualified YES.

This Is Your Brain on Joyis a highly readable introduction to cutting edge concepts of brain function in health and emotional disorders. The author, Dr. Earl Henslin, is a practicing psychologist who has collaborated for ten years with Dr. Daniel Amen, a pioneer in the field of brain imaging. They treat people suffering from depression, anxiety, panic, rage, “ADD” and other problems not by labeling them with a disease, but by considering what anatomic part of their brain is malfunctioning, and then helping them through supplements, therapy, medicine, & other supportive & healing measures.

This is not the typical paradigm that was taught to most physicians, including me. ”Business-as-usual” medicine is to fit a person’s symptoms to a standardized diagnosis, then use a drug recommended for that diagnosis. That approach was formalized decades ago, when we had few tools to see function & dysfunction within the living brain.

There is a better way. Physicians like Dr. Amen are performing advanced brain scanning on tens of thousands of patients and seeing the correlations between symptoms and brain function, and seeing how different therapies targeted toward specific areas of the brain can bring radical improvements in people’s lives.

This book starts out with an introduction to the relationship of a biochemically healthy brain to a joy-filled life, and how damage or dysfunction within the brain will sabotage any effort to live a fulfilling life. The second section of the book details what dysfunction in each of the brain’s mood-related centers (prefrontal, cingulate gyrus, basal ganglia, deep limbic, and temporal lobes) look like, and details specific therapies to help each area. There is a final chapter which draws on the New Testament book Philippians to list six ways to increase joy in your life. The book’s only major weakness is that it largely overlooks the spiritual components to a life of joy such as freedom from sin & the new birth, but it is understandable that this book’s focus be on the physical/biochemical, while there are many other fine books to read dealing specifically with the spiritual.

If you or a friend or family member struggle with any emotional or mood disorder, this book will give you new insight, new hope, & new ideas on how your brain & your life can be all that it can be. Highly recommended.