Customer Reviews

ADHD: A Path to Success: A Revolutionary Theory and New Innovation in Drug-Free Therapy

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Our son was diagnosed with ADHD based on observed behaviors eighteen months ago. Like good parents we wanted to help our child and took him to his pediatrician who handed us a prescription for Ritalin. After some initial improvement, our hope began to wane as his behavior deteriorated and we were again faced with increasing his Ritalin dosage. We were not happy with the continued prospect of higher doses of stimulants to control our son's behavior. It was at this point that we stumbled across Dr. Weather's book, "ADHD: A Path to Success". His approach to ADHD really made sense to us. After much investigation and research into ADHD, this was the first treatment that offered lasting, drug-free results. My son's treatment with CAER coupled with common-sense discipline bridged our son into learned behaviors that are cooperative, appropriate and pleasant. We heartily endorse Dr. Weather's book and treatment for anyone trying to regain control of their child's life.

reviews were excellent, so I bought the book. During the first 50 pages I almost regretted it. It reads like an extended advertisement for Dr. Weathers' practice in Spokane, WA. Most off-putting is his term "CAER" for the machine in which he performs most of his therapy. It took until page 221 to find out what a CAER machine really did, and I was SO relieved. It is a mostly automated way to do EMDR, which stands for Eye Movement Desensitization/ Reprogramming, a fifteen-year old method of reducing affect about specific events. EMDR is a proven methodology. Anybody can do it given a little training, although you may not know this from reading the book. Most important, the book has tremendous scope, dealing with the complex causes and possible cures of ADHD in an understandable and comprehensive way. By the way, the patents on his CAER machine are 5,219,322 and 5,725,472 which are good reading if you are a geek.

Having been to the author's website and viewed the book index and initial portion of his book and related articles, I must say that this approach is logical and consistent with the concepts used in EMDR and neurolinguistic programming. The one negative review I see posted focuses on suggesting that this book is intended to get people to come use the author's exclusive computerized device, in addition to blaming parents & family dysfunction. In reality, the same CAER approach can be used without the author's device, adapting other methods of relaxation and guided imagery. Also, the "cause" is not explained as simply dysfunctional home environment, but as the emotional defense mechanism used in reaction to social stressors, a mechanism that some children could become more dependent on than are other children, due to biological or other factors. It's not about placing blame, but finding healthy solutions. Most people in our civilization have some level of "dysfunction" in their home and/or school environment, while only a certain percentage become dependent on ADHD behavioral responses. The author's approach can desensitize an individual to these negative triggers. This is empowering, not blaming, and the approach can be applied for family members and teachers to help them release unhealthy emotional responses that contribute to negative patterns. This book is a great complement to the literature on holistic, non-coercive approaches to addressing ADHD issues.

My experience mirrors alot of the other positive reviews for this book. I am so grateful that I took the leap of faith and took my 8-old-year son last March for treatment with Dr. Weathers. The book takes a totally nonconventional approach to ADHD. It doesn't approach ADD/ADHD as a chemical imbalance of the brain. Rather Dr. Weathers attributes many of the ADHD behaviors as a result of learned behaviors and defense mechanisms. His treatments are usually a short 3 days and also very nonconventional. It does sound too good to be true, but I can speak personally from experience that it does work if you put the time and effort into the treatment.

My son was a terror since he was a toddler. He had terrible temper tantrums, was impatient, aggressive. and could not seem to concentrate at school. He was even expelled from preschool. He constantly got into trouble at school. I dreaded answering the phone during the week, because it was often the school calling about my son's behavior. We took my son to at least 4 different doctors--psychologists and psychiatrists. Each one seem to agree he had ADHD. We also got diagnoses of Bipolar disease, Depression, Anxiety, Aspergers Syndrome. It seemed like Ian had every known diagnosis to account for his strange behaviors.

I read many books on all these diagnoses and we tried many behaviorial modifications, supplements, etc., and nothing seemed to help. I was obsessed with my son's problems. The stress extended to the rest of the family too. We finally succumbed to trying drugs when he started to fail in school academically. We tried Trileptal and Concerta for a few months without success. It was terrible. My son became a zombie, he hated himself. He had no self esteem. We all truly believed he had problems because he had a brain disorder which he had no control over. But I was very concerned about the side effects of the drugs and the long term usage. It was when these drugs did not help and my psychiatrist recommended adding another drug that I turned to Dr. Weathers for help. I had read his book a long time ago, but thought it was a "scam" because it sounded too incredible to be true.

In desperation, I reread his book and talked to other parents who had success with the program. I talked to Dr. Weathers and he assured me Ian could be helped. It was the best money we ever spent. In the span of 3 days with Dr. Weathers, my son turned into a different boy. Today he listens, he does homework without a battle, he is attentive at school. In fact, he is excelling in all his classes and is in accelerated classes. He is starting to make friends. I'm not saying that the work ends once you get home. You have to continually work at it, but it's amazing how fast and steady the change has been and ALL WITHOUT DRUGS. Best of all, Ian has his self-esteem back. He no longer blames his troubles on his ADHD, because he has no ADHD or brain disorder. He is proof positive of that.

Dr. Weathers is a brilliant man and has been the most helpful of all the doctors we saw over the years. He will support you even after your treatment is done. I highly recommend this book to any parents who are troubled by the drugs being pushed onto their ADHD kids. Drugs are convenient for the school and doctors, but it shouldn't be thought as the only option available.

Take the time to read and investigate Dr. Weather's treatment. Your child, your family, and your marriage will be better for it.

AHDH: A Path to Success effectively addresses two different readers: families burdened with ADHD, as well as professionals who dissatisfied with available treatments. Dr. Weathers (himself an ADHD success story) effectively integrates a wide theoretical perspectives and research data to create a striking new and more convincing explanation of ADHD. This new model presents the experience of ADHD from the afflicted child's point of view. The whole phenomenon of ADHD makes infinitely more sense when seen on the basis of the child's rather than the adult's needs. From the child's point of view ADHD is an adaptation to his world, not a defect or disability. To take advantage of his new theory Dr. Weathers has developed a psychotherapy machine to treat these children. This machine, an extension of Francine Shapiro's Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, treats ADHD by extinguishing the child's learned aversion to his school, parents, teachers, work etc. so that he no longer needs ADHD to adapt to his environment. The book is interesting, well thought out and clearly written. It represents a major innovation in the theory and treatment of ADHD. Anyone working with these children, whether teacher, parent, or psychologist must read it. Jim Flynn, Ph.D. Clinical Psychologist Spokane WA

As parents of a pre-teen ADHD child, my wife and I have read many books on the subject. Most of them describe ADHD behavior well, but none of them accurately describe how it is formed. And NONE of them provide truly effective methods of treatment. This book was an eye opening experience. I am not a psychologist, but I have never read anything that seemed so right on target as this book is. My wife and I were so impressed that she and our son travelled to visit Dr. Weathers. The treatment was everything the book describes. If you have, or know someone who has an ADHD person in their life, I strongly suggest you read this book. It can literally change lives for the better.

I would like to say this book is not only educational for the adult but for the child as well. I recommend that all the family members read it. Dr. Weathers has put so much helpful information in this book. It explains in detail situations that you and/or your child have experienced in their lives. It is hard to be a child let alone one that is labeled ADHD. I have three boys and 2 are labeled Dyslexic and ADHD. They were on medicine for many years. I felt that this was not the answer to the problem, at least not the one I wanted. My kids were lazy, dopey looking, tired alot and not eating well from the medication. I took them off it and searched for another solution. I had put the kids in programs for ADHD children also, I had enrolled them in a school for Dyslexic children. They were failing school and had no attention span for schoolwork. The list was getting way to long without any promising results. Then I went searching for something else. I came across Dr. Weathers web site. I read all that he had on there. I then wrote to him about the kids and explained all that they have been through. He responded and said that he doesn't beleive in labels and that there are ways to get these kids to learn to deal with there true inner problems, feelings and to be able to do better in school and in life. I then bought the book from Dr. Weathers and my family and I read it. It was unbeleivable the information that was in it. I have come to comprehend so many things that I saw in my kids and now someone was explaining them to me and in a way that I could understand. I then made an appointment with Dr. Weathers in December 2002. We flew out there and he told us he was going to fix our kids and our family. We were very leery but, beleive it or not he did. My husband and the two boys were in therapy for 3 days and I was there for 5. I had my own personal problems. I dealt with depression and I smoked. When we came home it was a big change. I am no longer depressed and I do not SMOKE!! The boys have come along way. They no longer yell and fight they actually talk and play together without problems. We were all FIXED as Dr. Weathers said we would be. I recommend this book to all of you who are searching as I did! This is the answer.

I wholeheartedly recommend Dr. Weathers' ADHD therapy. My husband, our oldest twin boy (age 6), and I went through the CAER therapy in November 2004. It has been such a wonderful outcome for our family. Before we went to Spokane, Spencer never once finished his spelling tests in school (he is in the first grade), since we returned, he has received 100% on every spelling test given. He is no longer so extremely frustrated when he doesn't do something "perfectly." He is now doing his homework without a struggle, he is listening in class, doing well in math, and excelling in reading. His art work has improved dramatically, especially since he isn't tearing it up and throwing it away anymore! Spencer and his twin brother's relationship has improved as well. Spencer is no longer comparing himself to his brother academically, and his brother is no longer complaining that we are giving Spencer all the attention. Now, when Spencer daydreams, he is easy brought back to the task at hand. I truly believe that the CAER program has worked wonders for Spencer. It felt as though a 50 pound weight was taken off of his little shoulders. He is such a happy kid now. His easy laugh is music to our ears. The sacrifice of money was well worth it. We looked into other therapies, but found them to more expensive and not nearly as effective.

There are so many little things that have changed as a consequence of going through this therapy, for instance, before we went, Spencer would blow-up in frustration when trying to tie his shoelaces, so I mentioned that to Dr. Weathers when we were there. Fifteen or twenty minutes later, Spencer easily tied his shoes. No frustration. No crying. Spencer is now paying attention to where the ball is in sports. He is now happy to go to school, before it was a huge dramatic, tearful, reluctance.

Last week, Spencer was using the comb that we bought when we were in Spokane, and he said, "Isn't it funny how the comb we bought when we went to see Dr. Weathers holds more water in it than the other comb does?" Since it was the second time in two days that he had mentioned Dr. Weathers, I asked him if he had been thinking about Dr. Weathers lately. Spencer said, "Well, just that Dr. Weathers changed my whole life." I asked him what he meant, and he said, "Well, I went into that pod thing all miserable and my head was confused, and then he talked, and I talked, and I listened to the music, and it was so dark I could barely see my arm--just the blinky lights, and then I came out all happy. So, you see, he changed my life; my brain isn't confused anymore." I feel so fortunate and so blessed that we were able to provide this profound healing in Spencer at such an early age. Our family is so much happier as a result of going through Dr. Weathers' CAER Therapy.

My 10 year old child was diagnosed with ADHD 3 years ago after completing first grade. It was decided by his physican and my husband and I to try Ritalin. While it seemed to help his level of focus at school, we noticed that his behavior wasn't changing, at least not at home. I began feeling more convinced that meds were not the right answer. We weren't solving any behavior problems. After much research and reading I was immediately intriged by Dr. Weather's approach to treatment. My husband, son and I flew to Spokane and met with him for 3 days. The results have been incredible and life changing for all of us. My son has been off Ritilan since March 2001 and upon returning to school the teachers never knew that we had taken him off his meds. I reccommend this book and treatment to anyone who suffers from ADHD. It has truly been a blessing to us!

About four years ago, my son was diagnosed with ADHD and ODD, Oppositional Defiant Disorder. His behavior was increasingly difficult to manage at home and when it finally manifested in school, my wife and I reluctantly submitted to medications to control him. We were determined that the drugs were a temporary fix; that we were going to find a permanent solution to our sons problems. We spent many nights searching the Internet for books that could help us deal with these issues. We ordered every book we thought appropriate. Finally, after reading 20 books on ADD, ADHD, ODD and more, we came across "ADHD: A Path to Success: A Revolutionary Theory and New Innovation in Drug-Free Therapy". The "Drug-Free Therapy" wording in the title jumped out at us. We ordered two copies and began our reading. It was clear that Dr. Weathers understood what our son was experiencing and what the parents were feeling as well. His case studies and success stories gave us a sense of hope. Most importantly was Dr. Weathers own admission of being diagnosed as ADHD as a child and the frustrations he experienced. His writing was simple and direct. Unlike a majority of the books we read on the subject, Dr. Weathers was writing for those without a degree in Psychology or medicine. His explanation of his therapy, CAER, clearly defined the process. Once we completed our reading, we contacted Dr. Weathers via email and then by phone. My wife and I decided that we would schedule an appointment with Dr. Weathers. The end results could not have been better. It has been four years since our visit and my son has not been on any medication since. He is performing very well in school, has many friends and is in general, a very happy and contented young man. Needless to say, his parents are thrilled with the results. Dr. Weathers' book gave us the hope and the answers we were so determined to find.