Neuro Approach to Mental Health
Rewiring the Mind-Body Connection with Neuro Emotional Technique (NET)
Hi, I’m Dr. Theodore Berlingeri, founder of Brain & Body St. Pete, where we specialize in neurologically focused chiropractic care that doesn’t just target the spine—it speaks directly to your nervous system and emotional body. Today, I want to share one of the most transformative tools we use in our practice: Neuro Emotional Technique (NET).
NET is not just about reducing stress—it’s about uncovering the subconscious emotional patterns that hold us back, create chronic tension, and even contribute to physical pain. If you’ve been searching for a somatic approach to balancing emotions, this might be exactly what your nervous system needs.
I’m proud to be one of the few certified NET practitioners in Pinealls county. Being treated by a certified provider is key to ensure you are receiving proper treatment according to researched protocols. You can check if your provider is certified by searching the NETmindbody provider databse. https://www.netmindbody.com/find-a-practitioner/
What Is Neuro Emotional Technique (NET)?
NET is a mind-body technique grounded in the principles of Applied Kinesiology, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and psychology. It helps identify and release neuro-emotional complexes—emotions stuck in the body that disrupt neurological function and can manifest as:
Physical pain or tension
Chronic stress and anxiety
Self-sabotaging patterns
Limiting beliefs
Emotional reactivity or shutdown
Unresolved grief, trauma, or anger
Through muscle testing and gentle chiropractic or acupuncture points, we access stored emotional stress, often tied to early life experiences or trauma. These "emotional imprints" are then released, allowing the nervous system to self-regulate and heal more effectively.
NET and the Brain: The Neuroscience Behind the Release
Studies using fMRI brain imaging have shown that NET reduces activity in the amygdala (the brain’s fear and emotional response center) and enhances prefrontal cortex regulation—the part of the brain responsible for rational thinking and emotional control.
✅ A 2017 study published in the Journal of Cancer Survivorship showed that NET significantly reduced traumatic stress symptoms in cancer patients.
(Walker et al., 2017)
In one landmark study published in the Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine (2017), NET was shown to significantly reduce physiological stress responses and subjective distress in cancer survivors with PTSD-like symptoms. Participants demonstrated decreased activation in the amygdala and parahippocampus—regions of the brain associated with fear and emotional memory—after just a few NET sessions.
Another pilot study published by the ONE Research Foundation found that NET improved heart rate variability (HRV)—a key indicator of nervous system resilience—demonstrating its impact not just on psychological well-being but also on autonomic nervous system function.
These studies are part of why NET is increasingly respected in integrative medicine circles as a scientifically grounded tool for addressing trauma, emotional stress, and chronic pain.
NET isn’t about reliving trauma. It’s about letting the nervous system recognize that past emotional stress is no longer necessary for survival. This rewires how the brain perceives threats and restores healthy neurological balance.
How NET Differs from Talk Therapy
While talk therapy works through verbal dialogue to process emotion and past experiences, NET works directly with the autonomic nervous system. In many cases, clients struggle to even articulate why they feel stressed or blocked—and that’s where NET shines.
Unlike traditional psychotherapy, NET doesn’t require storytelling or conscious memory recall. We let the body lead the process. Many clients experience rapid emotional clarity and relief without needing to explain or revisit painful experiences.
NET and EMDR: Similarities and Differences
NET and EMDR both work to resolve stored trauma in the nervous system, but the approaches are different:
Neuro Emotional Technique (NET) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) are both therapeutic approaches designed to help individuals process and heal from unresolved emotional stress, including conditions like PTSD, anxiety, phobias, and trauma-related responses.
EMDR, developed in 1987 by Dr. Francine Shapiro, is a well-established, evidence-based therapy that uses bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements, while the client recalls traumatic experiences, allowing the brain to reprocess those memories and reduce their emotional impact.
NET, developed in 1980 by Dr. Scott Walker addresses the same range of emotional challenges by identifying stress patterns called "Neuro Emotional Complexes" (NECs) that are stored in the nervous system and may manifest as emotional or physical symptoms. Through muscle testing, emotional recall, and targeted physiological intervention, NET helps clear these stress responses directly at the neurological level.
While EMDR works through cognitive and sensory reprocessing, NET provides a mind-body approach that integrates emotional and physiological healing, making both approaches effective and complementary options depending on the needs and preferences of the individual.
Both are incredibly valuable—just in different ways. In my practice, NET complements the brain-based work we already do with Torque Release Technique (TRT) and Upper Cervical Chiropractic, creating a full-spectrum nervous system reset.
Beyond Pain: How NET Supports Mental and Emotional Health
Here are some of the powerful outcomes my patients have reported after NET sessions:
Relief from chronic tension and musculoskeletal pain
Greater clarity around limiting beliefs and self-worth
Reduction in anxiety, sleep disturbances, and emotional dysregulation
Access to deeper personal insights, values, and unresolved emotions
Enhanced self-compassion and confidence
Renewed sense of purpose, dream clarity, and inner calm
Many patients report that NET feels like years of therapy in a matter of minutes—because we’re getting to the neurological root of the issue, not just managing symptoms.
Who Is NET For?
NET is ideal for people seeking natural, mind-body healing, especially those who:
Feel stuck emotionally, despite years of therapy
Experience TMJ, neck pain, chronic fatigue, or migraines
Are dealing with emotional trauma, PTSD, or persistent stress
Are highly empathic, sensitive, or body-aware
Want a chiropractic approach to emotional healing
Why I Use NET at Brain & Body St. Pete
As a neurologically focused chiropractor and yoga teacher, I understand that healing must include the body, brain, and emotional landscape. NET gives me the ability to walk with patients through their emotional blocks while also supporting spinal and neurological function.
It also aligns with our mission at Brain & Body St. Pete: to help people heal from the inside out, without relying on medication or long-winded therapies.
Ready to Experience NET for Yourself?
If you’ve been searching online for:
“Emotion code near me”
“Chiropractic for trauma”
“Chiropractor for emotional release”
“EMDR alternatives”
“Neuro Emotional Technique St. Pete”
“NET chiropractic for anxiety”
You’re in the right place.
Book a session with me at Brain & Body St. Pete, and let’s reconnect your body, brain, and emotional system so you can finally move forward—fully aligned.
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Scientific Research Supporting NET from the ONE Research Foundation:
Walker, B., Langman, L., & Ryff, C. (2017).
The effect of Neuro Emotional Technique (NET) on brain physiology in cancer survivors: An fMRI study.
Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine, 14(3).
https://doi.org/10.1515/jcim-2016-0142
– This groundbreaking study demonstrated reduced emotional reactivity in the amygdala and parahippocampus after NET in cancer patients with PTSD symptoms.Barker, D. (2013).
Neuro Emotional Technique (NET) and Heart Rate Variability: A Pilot Study.
ONE Research Foundation.
– Found significant improvements in heart rate variability, suggesting NET enhances autonomic nervous system regulation and stress resilience.Walker, B. F., & Langman, L. J. (2007).
A case report: Neuro Emotional Technique (NET) and chronic low back pain.
Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, 6(1), 33–36.
– A case study showing how NET helped resolve chronic pain when traditional treatments had failed.
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