In the spring of last year, Allison Dracha was doing research for her job as a professional life coach, specializing in children with anxiety. She was studying cognitive behavioral therapies when she came across Higher Brain Living, a technique that caught her attention because of the claim that it reduced stress and anxiety. She noticed that there was a clinic taking place in New Jersey in just a few weeks, which would turn out to be a life-changing event.

“I went to the clinic and was so intrigued with Higher Brain Living and the testimonies of the people there that I decided to become a facilitator,” says Dracha. The testimonies were from people who claimed that Higher Brain Living—a gentle-touch technique that creates a surge of energy into the prefrontal cortex, also known as the higher brain—had completely transformed their lives. “It was through the testimonials that I knew I had to try the technique because I felt it could be transformational for my clients,” she explains.

When she became a facilitator, Dracha went to work providing Higher Brain Living to her clients at De-Stress Center, in Temple. The technique allows Dracha to move energy to the prefrontal cortex, which is the part of the brain responsible for joy, more love, abundance and higher levels of consciousness. She does this by activating specific points in the body, using a specified sequence and timing that she learned in her facilitator training. This creates a surge of energy from the primal, fear-based lower brain into the prefrontal cortex, where potential lives. Clients lay on a massage table fully clothed while the technique is performed on them.

Created by Dr. Michael Cotton, Higher Brain Living consists of a series of 22 sessions in which the facilitator opens up energy neuro-pathways using touch, creating waves of energy and a salutogenic breathing response that releases stress, rejuvenates and reorganizes the cells of the body. During a client’s first session, “they can expect to feel an overall sense of relaxation almost immediately,” describes Dracha. “It is a very soothing and calming feeling. They will also see a change in their breath as they begin to breathe the breath of well-being.”

While her professional focus used to be on children only, Dracha has expanded her practice and now treats both adults and children at De-Stress Center. “The adults I treat typically come to me with anxiety issues or depression. Some are looking for spirituality and others are looking for more clarity and focus and a higher level of consciousness,” states Dracha. “Anyone can benefit from Higher Brain Living. We all could stand some greater clarity and focus and I have experienced this benefit in my own life. Unlike before I started the technique, now I have this view from 50,000 feet that I didn’t have before, and I can see that my everyday life rolls out more naturally and effectively as a result of the technique.”

In addition to the increase in joy and higher level of consciousness, Dracha has noticed some other benefits that her Higher Brain Living clients experience. “People will tell me that the knee pain that they had is gone or that they no longer have headaches. Higher Brain Living is different than traditional therapy because we are focusing on bringing joy and happiness into the lives of our clients and that process can have a very positive ripple effect,” she explains.

Dracha’s work with the Higher Brain Living technique has transformed her personal and professional life and she plans to continue to grow in her practice as a facilitator. “There are different levels of learning Higher Brain Living and I’ve learned the foundation,” she states. “I am going to keep refining my practice by going back to training each year and increasing my skill level as a facilitator.”

De-Stress Center is located at 26 Skyline Dr., in Temple. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 484-772-6446 or visit AllisonDracha.com.

Julianne Hale is a freelance writer and editor. She blogs at AnotherGrayHair.wordpress.com and can be reached at [email protected].