About Emotional Brain Training

The Institute for Health Solutions offers the EBT Professional Certification Program for health professionals (e.g., PhD, MD, RD, NP, MFT, LCSW, LPC, DrPH) leading to certification as emotional brain practitioners.

EBT was developed at the University of California, San Francisco during the last 30 years, offering an evidence-based program that integrates stress physiology, attachment theory, brain-based behavioral therapy and neuroplasticity. EBT is based on a new paradigm in health care of using positive emotional plasticity to re-encode self-regulatory circuitry that decreases chronic stress, the root cause of 80% of health problems.

The professional program includes personal training to improve the brain set point of practitioners so that they embody the method and clinical training that integrates science, theory and practice leading to developing a meaningful, effective and successful clinical practice.

Certification Process

1) Sign up for a Free Provider Orientation Phone Call

2) Complete a Wired for Joy Telegroup

3) Enroll in an All Kits Telegroup and Complete Kit 1, Kit 2, Kit 3

4) Once you have completed Kit 2 : Apply to become a provider

- Schedule a 30 Minute Coaching Session with Laurel Mellin

- Complete the Provider Application

5) Enroll and Complete Provider Course 1: Self-regulation

(You will then be able to provide local groups and coaching for EBT Basics: Wired for Joy)

6) Enroll and Complete Provider Course 2: Brain-based Behavior Change

(You will then be able to provide local Wired for Freedom Groups)

7) Enroll and Complete Provider Course 3: Assessment & Advanced Training

(You will then be able to provide local groups & coaching for individuals in Kit 1, Kit 2 and Kit 3)

8) Enroll and Complete Provider Course 4: High Allostatic Load

(You will then be able to provide local groups & coaching for individuals in Kit 4, Kit 5 and Kit 6)

9) Continue your personal study with by completing Kit 4, Kit 5 and Kit 6 in All Kits Telegroups

(Kit 4-6 are not a prerequisite for completing Provider Courses 1-4)

Eligibility for application to the EBT Professional Certification Program includes both professional credentials and experience, as follows:

• Licensed mental health professional who has interdisciplinary training and experience in medical and behavioral health
• Registered or licensed dietitian who has interdisciplinary training and experience in psychology and counseling
• Registered nurse (Master's prepared) or licensed nurse practitioner who has interdisciplinary training and experience in psychology and counseling
• Licensed health care practitioner (Doctorally prepared or Master's prepared) who has interdisciplinary training and experience in counseling
• Board-certified physician who has interdisciplinary training and experience in psychology and counseling
• Public health practitioner who has outstanding personal qualifications and professional credentials has experience and affiliations that qualify them to deliver EBT in response to health care disparities. Training within this acceptance category requires completion of all introductory and advanced personal courses prior to application to the professional certification program. Up to 10% of EBT Providers enter training based on this public health option in order to respond to the needs of underserved populations worldwide.

Professional training and certification are administered by The Solution Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation The method is protected by registered trademarks and copyrights, and a non-provisional patent for the 5-Point System of Emotional and Behavioral Regulation™ is pending.

The mission of The Institute is to develop, evaluate, and disseminate EBT for the prevention and treatment of biopsychosocial problems and the promotion of health and well-being.

The Institute provides program materials and a range of training options for participants as well as training and certification, promotional support, and research opportunities for health professionals.

We encourage EBT Providers to maintain an active clinical practice, as clinical practice intensity improves clinical skills and client satisfaction. Providers are encouraged to provide 2 to 8 groups per week and 4 or more hours per week of individual training.

Group training is consistent with neuroplasticity, providing the participant with a variety of meaningful experiences that promote positive emotional plasticity. One-on-one training is the preferred clinical experience for those who have a high allostatic load or for other participants who prefer individual support during various phases of the training or in response to specific situational stressors.

Each provider develops a practice that is within the limit of their professional training and licensure, and develops a balance of group facilitation and individual counseling that responds to their professional needs and the needs of the clients they serve.

The EBT Professional Certification Program prepares licensed or registered health professionals with the knowledge of the science, theory and practice of EEBT to deliver an active and rewarding preventive or therapeutic practice in the method.

EBT Provider Characteristics

EBT is a good fit for clinicians who want to build a robust, successful clinical practice delivering group services and one-on-one counseling in EBT. They are interested in learning more about neuroscience, and knowing the mechanisms and rationale for the techniques they use and the tools of the method.

They are interested in producing physiologically-significant outcomes and expect the method to reflect evidence-based techniques and the latest brain science.

The required credentials are holding a current license or registration as a health care practitioner or being doctorally prepared in the health sciences. EBT Providers are often licensed mental health professionals, board certified physicians, registered dietitians, addiction counselors, nurse practitioners and other masters level or doctorally-prepared health professionals.

The Institute maintains a commitment to serving underserved populations and addressing health care disparities, so a maximum of 10% of admissions is for health professionals or educators who have exemplary experience and training in the treatment of underserved populations or special expertise in educating a specific group in the public or private sector but are not licensed or registered health professionals.

The EBT professional community is cooperative, with mentoring, regional retreats, an annual meeting and options for participating in the EBT Practice-based Research Group.

All EBT Providers complete the same professional certification courses, then select the specific EBT courses they will facilitate and the population they will serve based on the scope of practice for their license or registration.

Preparing for Certification

Health professionals attend an orientation, submit an application and interview with an EBT Master Trainer to determine their application status. Once they are accepted into the EBT Professional Certification Program, then complete personal training (the 2 basic courses and 3 advanced courses).

Participation in personal training makes the professional training more relevant and easier to complete. Learning the content and experiencing the tools personally is essential to appropriate and effective self-disclosure in clinical care.

The pre-requisites for application: EBT Basics (Wired for Freedom and Wired for Joy, and EBT Kits 1, 2 and 3. Completion of EBT Kits 4, 5 and 6 occurs anytime prior to completion of the certification program.

The Emotional Brain Practitioner Coursework

The clinical training is designed to provide on the knowledge and skills essential to becoming an effective and successful emotional brain practitioner.

There are four 4 12-week courses. Each course is divided into three one-month blocks. The courses begin with science and theory, then advance to clinical practice so that practitioner are aware of the brain-based rationale for each clinical practice and tool.

Course faculty and facilitators are scientists, researchers or trainers who have been integral to the method's evolution and who are highly training in the theory, science and practice of EBT.

Emphasis on Practical Experiential Learning

The small group size (6 providers) for the clinical groups encourages hands on skills practice and rich and rewarding peer learning experience. The clinical group is limited to one hour per week. The skills lab is limited to 30 minutes per week. Each week you will have a lab partner and meet with him or her via videoconferencing or phone to process and practice a few key elements of the method. Building skills experientially is very important to mastery of the clinical tools. The e-courses are interactive so that core knowledge is acquired sequentially, so that you can more easily integrate essential science and theory with practical clinical applications.

Convenient for Busy Professionals

The anticipated time commitment per week is 3 or more hours of distance learning: 1 hour videoconferencing and 1.5 hours by Internet or telephone activities, flexibly scheduled. Time estimate does not include time for additional reading or the application of emotional brain concepts and emotional brain training in clinical practice. Reading may range from 1 hour/week to 6 hours/week, depending upon previous training. By building your EBT practice slowly as you complete the certification training, you will have support on all aspects of clinical service, including planning, promotion, facilitation of groups, delivery of assessments and one-on-one coaching services. Additional coaching and consultation, if needed, is available through the Institute. Additional consultation fees apply.

Continuing Education Credit and Fees

Continuing education credit (18 per course) is available (APA, NPCC, ADA, BBS in some states). If your credentialing organization is not mentioned, please ask us about the possibility of securing that credit for you.

Fees for each professional course are $275/month for three months, plus the cost of books. Fees and materials for personal training not included.

The Program's Faculty and Facilitators

Igor Mitrovic, MD is the scientific director of the Institute for Health Solutions, the developer of the neuroscience conceptual framework of emotional brain training and a professor of physiology, University of California, San Francisco.

Laurel Mellin, MA, RD is the founder of emotional brain training, the executive director of the Institute for Health Solutions and an associate professor of family and community medicine and pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco.

Arinn Testa, PsyD is the director of clinical research of the Institute for Health Solutions, the co-director of the certification training, specializing in psychological and neuroscience applications of EBT.

Judy Zehr, LPC, MHRM is a master trainer in emotional brain training, specializing in the application of attachment theory to the method and previously the director of clinical education of the Institute for Health Solutions.

Lindsey Fish de Pena, MD is the medical director of the Institute for Health Solutions, and a researcher and clinical scholar in emotional brain training, with a special expertise in neuroplasticity and EBT.

David Ingibritsen, PhD is a master trainer in emotional brain training, specializing in the application of EBT in addictive behavior and treatment of participants with high allostatic load.

Josephine Soliz, MD is the director of clinical education of the Institute for Health Solutions and the chair of the EBT public health interest group, with a focus on common medical problems and health care disparities.

Lynda Frassetto, MD is a professor of clinical medicine, University of California, San Francisco and a contributor to the theory of EBT and a researcher whose interests are in physiologically-based behavioral interventions.

Course 1: Self-regulation

Block 1: EBT Overview:

• explain Emotional Plasticity Theory, the theoretical basis for emotional brain training.
• analyze the paradigm shift to a brain-based practitioner, including role and practices.
• develop a plan for implementing EBT basic training into clinical practice.

Block 2: Stress Physiology:

• identify the physiology and neuroscience of the EBT 5-Point System of Emotional and Behavioral Regulation.
• apply brain-states of arousal and reward to behavioral recommendations and strategies promoting adherence.
• provide EBT Basics: Wired for Joy in coaching to 2 participants.

Block 3: Attachment Theory:

• identify the psychology and neuroscience of the EBT 5-Point System of Emotional and Behavioral Regulation.
• describe the brain-based techniques of acquired secure attachment and apply them in clinical encounters.
• facilitate small group training in EBT Basics: Wired for Joy to 4 or more participants.

Course 2: Brain-based Behavior Change

Block 1:Evolutionary Biology:

• explain lifestyle recommendations based on evolutionary biology and its application to EBT.
• analyze the paradigm shift to a brain-based practitioner, including role and practices.
• develop a plan for implementing EBT Basics: Wired for Freedom into clinical practice.

Block 2: Stress Circuits:

• identify the 7 circuits of emotional evolution and the neuroscience and developmental rationale.
• identify the core aspects of coaching the Cycle Tool for reconsolidation of Stress Circuits.
• provide coaching of the Cycle Tool in one-on-one sessions for the reconsolidation of Stress Circuits.

Block 3: Survival Circuits:

• identify the 3 stages of reconsolidation of Survival Circuits and the theoretical and scientific rationale for the technology.
• provide coaching based on the 3 stages of reconsolidation of Survival Circuits.
• facilitate individual training in EBT Basics: Wired for Freedom.

Course 3: Assessment and Advanced Courses

Block 1: Biopsychosocial Assessment:

• identify the protocol for a biopsychosocial assessment based on EBT, including biomarkers of allostatic load.
• describe the protocol for a follow-up one-on-one coaching session based on EBT.
• differentiate brain-based techniques for EBT related to on site, teleconferencing and videoconferencing encounters.
• deliver biopsychosocial assessments and follow-up coaching sessions based on EBT.

Block 2: Advanced Courses: EBT Kits 1, 2 and 3:

• describe the process, content and rationale for EBT Kits 1, 2 and 3.
• discuss practice management for EBT groups that favor high retention and client satisfaction.
• describe the process of EBT advanced groups, including protocols and safety issues.
• facilitate an EBT advanced group program.

Block 3: Advanced Courses: EBT Kits 4, 5 and 6:

The benefits of being an EBT Provider:

• facilitate group services, thereby increasing hourly revenue generated
• high retention: a structured, multi-modality progressive program promotes retention of clients
• referrals: listed on provider referral list on the EBT website
• personal wellness: enhance set point and decrease secondary stress from clinical activities
• professional community: access to network of EBT clinicians and researchers
• receive discounts on EBT books and EBT Kits
• receive discounts on EBT annual meetings and retreats
• marketing support: program materials and national promotion
• development: opportunities to participate in research and teaching
• neuroscience basis: program continues to improve based on emerging science.

• American Psychological Association - The Institute for Health Solutions (IHS) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists and maintains responsibility for all programs and their content.
• American Dietetic Association - The Institute for Health Solutions is a Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Accredited Provider with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). Registered dietitians (RDs) and dietetic technicians, registered (DTRs) will receive continuing professional education units (CPEUs) for completion of several of our professional programs and/or participation at our retreats (programs where CPEUs are available are identified in our certification materials and brochures).
• National Board of Certified Counselors - The Institute for Health Solutions is approved to offer continuing education by the National Board of Certified Counselors.
• Board of Behavior Sciences - The Institute for Health Solutions is approved to offer continuing education by the Board of Behavioral Sciences of California.

Certified EBT Providers adhere to rigorous standards of practice that are specified in certification agreements at each level. Maintaining program integrity and supporting the development of a professional community of the highest caliber are core principles of the organization.

Health professionals who have completed full certification in the method may be invited to become trainers who train others and participate in leadership activities of the organization. Providers complete 10 or more hours of continuing education in EBT annually by attending complimentary provider seminars by telephone and/or attending the annual meeting in San Francisco.

Providers of EBT are highly skilled clinicians and people who exude a sense of deep connection –– and joy. Providers have educational backgrounds and professional experience in interdisciplinary health and clinical practices. They are very warm and enthusiastic, emotionally expressive –– comfortable with appropriate expression of negative emotions in demonstrating the tools -- and vibrant. Although EBT is affiliated with no religious organizations, many providers are interested in the method's convergence of neuroscience and spirituality.

EBT providers are skilled at teaching and facilitating small groups and attuning to participants and creating a therapeutic relationship. They can readily establish a warm bond with participants and they are comfortable with appropriate self-disclosure. EBT Providers model healthy lifestyles and, within the limits of circumstance and genetics, a healthy body. They are motivated to provide science-based behavioral counseling, aware of common medical conditions, and skilled in interdisciplinary care.

Although EBT Providers value the authenticity that comes with completing the coursework they teach, they seek certification not only for their own personal benefit but because they are interested in building their practice and delivering a robust and effective service to individuals in their community. Many are interested in leadership positions within EBT, including practice-based research, teaching at professional schools and forwarding the method in the community and in the world.

In essence, EBT Providers are exceptional clinicians who are wired at Brain State 1 and inspire their participants by embodying the method and using best practices in interdisciplinary care.