Hemi-Sync and the Christian Mind: A Biblical Case for Discerned Use

Part 1: An Introduction to the Problem

Join me on this multi-part blog on the safe use of Hemi-Sync technology for the biblically conservative Christian.

I. Why Such a Post?

The short answer is that I owe it to myself, my friends, family members, and clients who hold a biblically conservative worldview but want to explore "Hemi-Sync" as a safe and constructive intervention to supplement their mental health journey.

The longer answer is that I serve in two distinct yet intersecting sectors. First, I serve as a Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of South Dakota and own and operate MIND BODY SPIRIT Therapy. Daily, I am met with brave clients who are searching for ways to heal, grow, and thrive. Second, I serve as a military chaplain in the South Dakota National Guard. As such, I am met with sincere people of faith who want to protect and safeguard their sacred belief systems.

As a therapist, I am ethically bound to provide treatment plans that are supported by peer-reviewed literature and theories demonstrating a track record of safety and efficacy. As a Christian Chaplain, I am ethically bound to minister, guide, and protect those I serve from a biblical theological framework.

Where these two sectors collide is in the ethical application of Hemi-Sync as a mental health intervention with biblically conservative Christian clients. Not all of my clients are biblically conservative Christians, but amongst those who are, they have raised serious cautions when I suggest using Hemi-Sync as part of their treatment plans.

I have heard pushback such as, “I don’t want to open myself up to the spiritual world,” “I’m careful not to dabble in that kind of stuff,” and “That is about as far south as my beliefs go.” The heart behind these comments is that they caution any intervention that will jeopardize their Christian values.  I know these pushbacks well. I, too, had to wrestle with the same questions, fears, and resistance when I first learned about Hemi-Sync.

I know and love these people. They represent my close friends, family members, clients, community members and military service members whom I serve. I am bound to protect them and to offer only interventions that can improve their mental well-being while maintaining and upholding their sincere biblical beliefs.

But I also know their pain. I also know that they hold deep childhood wounds, suffer from depression, anxiety, PTSD, and chronic suffering. I know that many of them wake up to battle day after day with little relief. I know the state of their marriages and families. I know they deeply want help but will not "dabble" in anything that negatively effects their relationship with God.

Research into Hemi-Sync demonstrates a variety of beneficial applications, including improvements in sensory integration (Morris, 1990), relaxation, meditation, stress reduction, pain management, sleep (Wilson, 1990; Rhodes, 1993), and health care (Carter, 1993). Hemi-Sync has also proven effective in producing enriched learning environments, enhanced memory (Kennerly, 1994), improved creativity (Hiew, 1995), and in addressing PTSD (Gantt et al., 2017).

To withhold such a technology that could provide such benefits from my Christian clients, friends, and family members due to the absence of a biblical framework that allows the safe and constructive use of Hemi-sync while honoring a conservative, biblical worldview would be to neglect my duty as a mental, physical, and spiritual practitioner.

This multi-post blog series is my attempt to articulate that framework. I hope to help alleviate fears, answer questions, and resolve resistance so that my biblically conservative friends can experience the benefits of Hemi-Sync with a clean heart and a clear conscience.

Subsequent posts will include:

I. The History of Hemi-Sync

II. A Biblical Theology of the Spiritual World

III. How the Biblically Conservative Christian Can Use Hemi-Sync in a Safe and Constructive Manner

References

Carter, G. (1993). Healing Myself. Norfolk: Hampton Roads Publishing Company.

Gantt, M. A., Dadds, S., Burns, D. S., Glaser, D., & Moore, A. D. (2017). The effect of binaural beat technology on the cardiovascular stress response in military service members with postdeployment stress. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 49, 411–420. https://doi.org/10.1111/jnu.12304

Hiew, C. C. (1995). Hemi-Sync into creativity. Hemi-Sync Journal, XIII(1), 3–5.

Kennerly, R. C. (1994). Human memory research. https://www.monroeinstitute.org/research/human-memory-kennerly.html

Morris, S. E. (1990). Hemi-Sync and the facilitation of sensory integration. Hemi-Sync Journal, VIII(4), 5–6.

Rhodes, L. (1993). Use of the Hemi-Sync Super Sleep tape with a preschool-aged child. Hemi-Sync Journal, XI(4), iv–v.

Wilson, E. S. (1990). Preliminary study of the Hemi-Sync sleep processor. Colorado Association for Psychophysiologic Research.