Faculty

PROFESSORS (click on name for bio)

Naras Bhat, M.D., physician, cardiologist
Alex Gersten, Ph.D., physicist, mathematician
Chris Gilbert, Ph.D., clinical psychologist
Robert Grove, Ph.D., medical psychologist
Maria Katsamanis, Psy.D., clinical psychologist
Charles Kokesh, MBA, J.D., business consultant
Marla Kokesh, M.D., physician, psychiatrist
Gerald P. Kozlowski, Ph.D., physiologist
Peter M. Litchfield, Ph.D., behavioral physiologist
Laurie McLaughlin, D.Sc., physiotherapist
Jan Newman, M.D., physician, surgeon
Sandra Reamer, MFA, breathing consultant
George vonBozzay, Ph.D. psychophysiologist
Robert P. Whitehouse, Ed.D., clinical psychologist
Steven Zlutnick, Ph.D., professor of psychology

Naras Bhat, M.D.

Dr. Bhat earned his M.D. degree from the Institute of Medical Sciences at Banaras Hindu University (India) in1969. He completed his Internship at Loyola University at St. Joseph Hospital (Chicago) in 1971, and his Residency in Internal Medicine at Charity Hospital at Louisiana State University in 1973. He completed a fellowship in allergy and immunology (1973-1975) and served as a medical researcher associate (1974-1975) in immunology, at Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation (La Jolla CA). He received advanced training in Bariatric Medicine during 2006-2009, and in Sleep Medicine during 2008-2010. His Board certifications include: Internal Medicine, Allergy and Immunology, Sleep Medicine, Stress management Education, Advanced Metabolic Cardiology, and Bariatric Medicine (weight control).

Dr. Bhat has won many professional honor awards, has published numerous articles and books in his areas of expertise, has appeared on numerous media shows (e.g., CBS TV), and has made hundreds of presentations, including lectures, workshops, courses, and seminars for healthcare practitioners worldwide. He is widely recognized for his work in behavioral medicine, which includes his expertise on the subjects of sleep disorders, weight control, stress & burnout management, anger & anxiety self-regulation, and the psychophysiology of heart disease. Dr. Bhat is the founder of the Allergy and Weight Clinic (1976) and the Concord Sleep Clinic (2007) in Concord CA. He serves as Medical Director of both clinics and has been practicing and teaching integrative medicine since 1976.

Alexander Gersten, Ph.D

Dr. Gersten earned his Ph.D in theoretical physics from the Weizmann Institute of Science (Rehovot, Israel) in 1967 and his M.Sc. degree in experimental physics from the Hebrew University (Jerusalem, Israel) in 1962. His expertise is in the fields of quantum and relativistic physics where he is widely published. Since 1993, one of his areas of special interest has been the applications of physics in medicine, specifically (1) the effects of respiration on cerebral blood flow and oxygenation, and (2) signal analysis theory, its relationship to quantum physics, and its applications to the measurement of ECG, HRV, and EEG. Since 2006, he has been Professor Emeritus of Physics.

Dr. Gersten served as Assistant Professor (1971-1977), Associate Professor (1977-1984), Department Chairman (1990-1994), and Professor (1984-2006) in the Department of Physics at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (Israel). He was a research associate at Texas A M University (1969-1970), the University of Nijmegen (1970-1971), and CERN in Geneva, Switzerland (1975-1976). He has also served as a visiting professor for the University of Geneva (1976), the University of Paris (1976-1977), the University of British Columbia (1979-1981), Rutherford Laboratory in Chilton UK (1984), University of Melbourne (1987), Tata Institute for Fundamental Research in Mumbai (1997), and City University of New York (1996, 2004-2006). He was a Member of the Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience and of the Unit of Biomedical Engineering (1993-2004).

Christopher Gilbert, Ph.D.

Dr. Gilbert earned his Ph.D. (1973) and M.A. (1971) degrees in experimental psychology from Michigan State University, and his B.A. degree in anthropology from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1966. Following completion of his Ph.D., he continued his studies at Columbia University, 1974-1975, where he received training in clinical psychology and became licensed in New Jersey. His areas of expertise include behavioral medicine, biofeedback, pain management, and respiratory psychophysiology. He has published numerous articles in these fields, and is a co-author of one of the leading “textbooks” in breathing pattern disorders. He is currently employed by Kaiser Permanente (San Francisco) as a clinical psychologist in their Chronic Pain Management Program.

Dr. Gilbert developed a biofeedback services program (1973-1975) and served as a staff psychologist (1975-1977) providing psychotherapy for patients suffering with psychosomatic disorders, for Central Bergen CMHC in Paramus NJ. He served as an instructor teaching courses in biological psychology and research methodology during 1978-1980, and then again as Assistant Professor of Psychology during 1997-1999, for Ramapo College in NJ. He served as a research and clinical consultant to Pascack Mental Health Center in Park Ridge NJ during 1980-1983. Dr. Gilbert is now a licensed clinical psychologist in California and is a BCIA-certified biofeedback practitioner. He is widely known for his expertise on the subject of breathing.

Robert N. Grove, Ph.D.

Dr. Grove earned his Ph.D. (1971) and M.A. (1968) degrees in medical psychology and behavioral pharmacology from the University of Minnesota, and his B.A. degree in psychology from California Lutheran University in 1965. He completed postdoctoral training in substance abuse and applied neuropsychophysiology at the University of Chicago, 1972-1974. He is a California licensed medical psychologist, a diplomat of the National Registry of Neurofeedback Providers, a Certified Medical Examiner of the California Worker’s Compensation system, a diplomat of the American Pain Association, and a certified biofeedback practitioner. He is a member of numerous professional societies.

Dr Grove has provided professional education in the field of behavioral medicine for healthcare practitioners worldwide for more than 40 years. He has authored numerous journal articles as well as having served for many years as an editor for various professional journals. He has been involved in the development of psychophysiological monitoring instrumentation, both hardware and software, for more than 30 years. During this time he has specialized in the development of software applications for psychophysiological assessment and behavioral management of dysfunctional learning embedded in physiology, e.g., muscle pattern learning and its role in a wide variety of physical and psychological complaints. These applications have provided a foundational platform for conducting research and clinical studies in fields stretching from orthodontics to psychology. He is currently Vice President of Science and Technology for J & J Engineering, a physiological monitoring instrumentation manufacturing company.

Maria Katsamanis, Psy.D.

Dr. Katsamanis earned her Psy.D. (2003) and M.S. (2000) degrees in clinical psychology from the Carlos Albizu University (Miami Campus), her M.A. degree in psychology from Adelphi University in 2001, and her B.A. degree in International Relations from American University in 1996. She served as Clinical Instructor (2005-2008), and serves as Clinical Assistant Professor (2008-present) and as Associate Clerkship Director for the University of Medicine and Dentistry of the New Jersey Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, in Piscataway NJ. She is the co-founder of Spring Reins of Hope, LLC and serves as their Executive Director of Mental Health Services.

Dr. Katsamanis has served as Principal Investigator, Co-Principal Investigator, Co-investigator, Postdoctoral Fellow, and Research Assistant for twelve major research grant awards. She has won many professional honors, served as associate editor and as reviewer for various peer-reviewed professional journals, and has authored or coauthored more than 30 publications in the field of psychophysiology. Dr. Katsamanis provides cognitive-behavioral group supervision as a Clinical Supervisor (2008-present) for Rutgers University, the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology. She also serves as Group Instructor and as Examiner for medical students, residents, and interns for UMDNY/RWJ Medical School (2002-present). She is a licensed Clinical Psychologist in New Jersey and New York State, a licensed Professional Counselor in the State of New Jersey, a BCIA-certified biofeedback practitioner, and a hypnotherapist certified by the American Board of Hypnotherapy.

Charles R. Kokesh, MBA, J.D.

Mr. Kokesh earned his J.D. degree from Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California–Berkeley in 1978, his MBA degree from Harvard Business School in 1971, and his B.A. degree in psychology from Harvard College in 1969. As a businessman with 40 years of experience, he is an expert in entrepreneurship and business planning.

Mr. Kokesh worked for Citibank in their Middle East Division as a Foreign Exchange Trader, Lending Officer, Operations Officer, and Branch Manager (1971-1973), for Arthur Young & Co. as a tax consultant (1973-1974), for Levi Strauss & Co. as their International Finance Manager (1974-1975), and for Bank of America as Vice President and Director of Global Treasury Management (1977-1978). He founded and was Managing Partner for Technology Funding (1979-2007), served as President of Dakota Arms, LLC (2007-2009), and provided services as an independent business consultant (2009-2012).

Technology Funding managed 10 private funds and 11 publicly registered funds, helped 69 companies go public, and assisted a large number of portfolio companies be acquired by much larger firms. During his tenure, Technology Funding invested $315 million in approximately 250 private companies. Mr. Kokesh also served on the board of directors or the management committee of more than 40 start-up companies. Technology Funding focused on investments in medical technologies, information systems, and advanced manufacturing technologies.

Marla Gokee Kokesh, M.D.

Dr. Kokesh earned her M.D. degree from Stanford Medical School in 1985, and her B.A. degree in psychology and chemistry from the University of Minnesota in 1980. She completed an internship in general surgery at Case Western University Hospital in 1986 and a second year in 1987 before she transferred to general psychiatry at Case Western University Hospital (1987-1988) and completed at Stanford Medical Center (1989-1991). She became board certified in psychiatry in 1993. Her areas of expertise include psychopharmacology, psychotherapy, group process, and interpersonal neurobiology, currently her specialty. She is both a Certified Enneagram Consultant and a Birkman Certified Consultant. Dr. Kokesh has also been trained in Acupuncture for Physicians, at the University of California, Los Angeles (1995).

Dr. Kokesh is currently founder and Director of Complete Health, LLC, an integrative functional medicine clinic in Santa Fe, NM that offers educational and consulting services to individuals and organizations based on the latest developments in interpersonal neurobiology, wellness, and the enneagram. She has extensive consulting and teaching experience working with Native American organizations, such as the Nakwatsvewat Institute, that works with Native communities to develop and enhance their governance, justice, and educational systems. She provides consulting services for businesses, including pre-employment evaluation, team building, vocational guidance, and self-assessment and development. She also offers personal and professional growth workshops for physicians, lawyers, artists, and other professional groups.

Gerald P. Kozlowski, Ph.D.

Dr. Kozlowski earned his Ph.D. in Anatomy and Physiology at the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign) in 1971, his M.S. in Anatomy and Physiology from Michigan State University in 1966, and his B.S. degree in Biology and Chemistry in 1964. He served as a Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow at the University of Rochester, 1971-1973. His areas of specialty expertise include nutritional supplements and their physiological and psychological effects, including their role in neuroendocrinology, neuroimmunology, neurochemistry, and psychophysiology (e.g., heart rate variability). He is a Certified Fellow in EEG Biofeedback. Currently he is Director of the Research Program for Terra-Biotech, LLC in Dallas (2011-present) and is a faculty member of the University of Natural Medicine, Department of Psychophysiology in Santa Fe NM.

Dr. Kozlowski served as an Assistant Professor (1976) and as Associate Professor (1976-1978) of Anatomy in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics at Colorado State University. He served as Associate Professor in the Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy (1978-1980) and then as Associate Professor in the Department of Physiology (1980-1997, 2000-2005), at the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Texas Health Science Center, Southwestern Medical School, in Dallas. He also served as a Senior Lecturer in Psychology and Applied Cognition & Neuroscience Program at the University of Texas at Dallas (1999-2000), and as a neurotherapy practitioner for the Neurotherapy Center of Dallas (2005-2008). He has taught a wide variety of courses ranging from cellular biology to neurotherapy, and has authored or coauthored one hundred journal articles and book chapters.

Peter M. Litchfield, Ph.D.

D r. Litchfield earned his Ph.D. in experimental psychology from the University of Portland in 1972, his M.A. degree in psychology from San Diego State University in 1970, and his B.A. degree in psychology from the University of Michigan in 1964. He completed a one year sabbatical leave from California Polytechnic State University in behavioral medicine with T. X. Barber at Medfield Hospital, in Massachusetts 1975-1976. His areas of expertise include: behavioral medicine, behavioral physiology, applied psychophysiology, research design, behavioral pharmacology, placebo effects, biological learning and motivation, physiological monitoring instrumentation, and business planning. Respiratory psychophysiology and educational capnography have been his exclusive focus since 2000. He currently serves as President, CEO, and Dean of Faculty of the Graduate School of Breathing Sciences.

Dr. Litchfield served as Assistant Professor of Psychology 1970-1974, was tenured in 1974, and served as Associate Professor of Psychology 1974-1981 at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, CA. He founded and directed: Proseminar Institute in San Francisco, 1976-1981; the Applied Psychophysiology Institute in San Francisco CA and Bainbridge Island WA, 1981-1997; Behavioral Physiology Institutes (a graduate school in behavioral medicine) in Bainbridge Island WA, 1997-1999; and Better Physiology, Ltd. (manufacturer of capnography instrumentation and provider of educational programs), 2000-2012. He has lectured for more than 40 years in person and by webinar on behavioral physiology, respiratory psychophysiology, self-regulation science, and business planning throughout North America and in Asia, Australia, Europe, and Latin America to diverse audiences, ranging from medical schools to corporate groups.

Laurie McLaughlin, D.Sc.

Dr. McLaughlin earned her D.Sc. degree in physiotherapy from Andrews University in 2007 and her B.S. degree in physiotherapy from McMaster University in 1983. She earned a Diploma in Physiotherapy from Mohawk College of McMaster University in 1982, an Advanced Diploma of Manual and Manipulative Physiotherapy from the Canadian Physiotherapy Association in 1988, a Certification in Contemporary Medical Acupuncture from McMaster University in 2000, and Certification in Capnometry from Behavioral Physiology Institute in 2005. Her areas of specialty expertise include orthopedics, capnography, spinal manipulation, fascial systems, advanced practice physiotherapy, and dysfunctional breathing. She is currently the founder and Director of the M+D ProHealth physiotherapy clinic in Oakville and Hamilton (Ontario) where she works as an Advanced Practice Physiotherapist doing surgical screening and treating patients with orthopedic complaints.

Dr. McLaughlin is also Assistant Clinical Professor at the School of Rehabilitation Science at McMaster University in Hamilton, on the faculty and Examiner for the Canadian Physiotherapy Association (Orthopedic Division), and is on the faculty and Examiner for the North American Institute of Manual Therapy. She served as Chief Examiner for Canada, Canadian Physiotherapy Association, Orthopedic Division, 1999-2005. She has numerous publications in the field of physiotherapy, including many articles and book chapters on the subject of dysfunctional breathing. She has been lecturing and providing workshops since 1988 for healthcare practitioner audiences throughout North America, Europe, and Australia, on advances in orthopedic physiotherapy and since 2005 on the importance of identifying and managing dysfunctional breathing.

Jan B. Newman, M.D.

Dr. Newman earned her MD degree (1980) and her B.H.Sc. degree (1974) in nursing from the State University of New York (Downstate Medical Center), and her AAS degrees at Westchester Community College in 1972. She performed surgical training at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (1980-1984), which included a year of research in gastrointestinal physiology. She completed her surgical residency at the Medical Center Hospital of Vermont (1985-1988). She is a Diplomat of the National Board of Medical Examiners, a Diplomat of the American Board of Surgery, and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and of the International College of Surgeons.

Early in her career, Dr. Newman worked as an intensive care nurse in neurological and cardiothoracic surgery, and in emergency room care (1974-1980). On completion of her surgical residency, she entered private practice in Butte and Missoula MT (1988-1993). In 1993 she suffered a career ending injury. She subsequently evolved her career into the field of behavioral medicine (1993-present) and became a Diplomat of the American Board of Holistic and Integrative Medicine in 2002 (2009). Her study included Yoga and Tibetan Buddhism with multiple spiritual masters, including the Dalai Lama. Realizing the health benefits and the need to put these teachings into a nonsectarian format, she completed her M.A. degree in Integrated Arts and Education at the University of Montana (2005). She teaches workshops nationwide on spirituality and health and the physiology of stress and the treatment of stress-related diseases, which is the cornerstone of her current professional work.

Sandra Reamer, MFA

Ms. Reamer earned her MFA degree from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn NY in 1997 and her BFA degree and Teaching Credential from the University of Denver in 1990. She also studied at: the Parsons School of Design in New York (New School of Social Research), 1979-1980; the American Academy of Sports Medicine, 1982 (Personal Trainer Certification); the Vienna Academy of Fine Art in Vienna Austria, 1982-1983; University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, 1990-1991 (Impact Counselor Certification); the University of Colorado in Boulder, 1999-2001(Graphics Art Certification); and Full Circle of Alternative Therapies, 2001-2003 (Craniosacral Therapist certification).

Ms. Reamer serves as Executive Director of Behavioral Physiology Institute in Boulder CO and Santa Fe NM since 2002, where she provides curriculum and educational development, breathing consultion, coaching practicum supervision, tutorial instruction, seminar presentions, webinar leadership, personal training, and administrative functions. She is founder and director of Inspiring LLC an educational service organization providing breathing services internationally to clients since who can benefit from optimal breathing instruction. During her tenure at the Institute, she co-authored “CapnoLearning®” with Dr. Peter Litchfield, a curriculum offered worldwide by webinar for professionals interested in helping people with dysfunctional breathing habits. Her specialties include biological learning as applied to breathing behavior, somatic awareness and phenomenological exploration, educational capnography, breathing for stress reduction and optimal performance, embracement physiology, and customizing breathing education to the needs of professionals and clients.

George Fuller vonBozzay, Ph.D.

Dr. von Bozzay earned his Ph.D. (1967) and M.A. (1965) in clinical psychology from the University of Massachusetts (as a NIMH fellow), and his B.A. degree from Washington State University in 1964. He completed postdoctoral training at the famous Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute at the University of California Medical Center in San Francisco, 1967-1968. He is the author of many books in the fields of behavioral medicine and biofeedback as well as numerous articles. He is the founder (1971) and the Director of the Biofeedback Institute of San Francisco, one of the first clinics to offer biofeedback services and to train practitioners to do so in America, where he continues to practice.

Dr. von Bozzay served as Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Biological Dysfunction at the University of California Medical Center, Clinical Instructor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford School of Medicine, Clinical Psychologist at Children’s Hospital in San Francisco, Psychology Instructor in the Behavioral Science Department of the City College of San Francisco, and Psychology Instructor at California School of Professional Psychology. He has served as a consultant to numerous organizations, including, corporations, schools, government agencies, hospitals, and clinics. During the past 40 years, he has given many hundreds of lectures, conference presentations, and workshops worldwide. Dr. von Bozzay is well recognized as one of the original pioneers in the fields of biofeedback and neurofeedback.

Robert P. Whitehouse, Ed.D.

Dr. Whitehouse earned his Ed.D. degree in counseling and guidance (psychology) in 1981 and his M.A. degree in rehabilitation counseling in 1971 from the University of Northern Colorado, and his B.A. degree in psychology from the University of Colorado (at Boulder) in 1969. He holds certifications in Biofeedback (BCIA), Breathing Education (Behavioral Physiology Institute), formerly in Pain Management (diplomat of the American Academy of Pain Management) and EEG Biofeedback (neurofeedback). His areas of expertise include biofeedback, stress management, pain management, trauma psychophysiology, psychotherapy, breathing psychophysiology, and heart rate variability (HRV), the central focus of his work.

Dr. Whitehouse served as Professor of Psychology at the Colorado Mountain College (1971-1984) and as Director of the Biofeedback and Stress Management Center in Glenwood Springs CO (1983-1988). He also served as Senior Biofeedback Therapist and Instructor for the Boulder Medical Center (1987-1989), as an Associate of Behavioral Medicine Associates in Denver (1988-1989), and as the Director of Biofeedback Services for two pain management centers in Ft. Collins and Loveland CO (1988-1995). Since 1995, as a licensed psychologist in Colorado, he has been in private practice offering biofeedback, psychotherapy, consulting, and educational services nationwide, to both individuals and organizations, including courses in psychophysiology and biofeedback for the Sport & Performance Psychology M.A. degree program at the University of Denver (2008-2011). He is widely known for his contributions to the field of biofeedback, especially heart rate variability (HRV) psychophysiology, a subject on which he is currently organizing a certification program and writing a comprehensive book.

Steven Zlutnick, Ph.D.

Dr. Zlutnick earned his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Utah in 1972, his M.A. degree in clinical psychology from Western Michigan University in 1968, and his B.A. degree in psychology from the University of Missouri in 1966. He currently serves as Professor of Counseling Psychology at the University of San Francisco and is a California licensed clinical psychologist. His areas of expertise include behavioral medicine, pain management, clinical behavior analysis, experimental analysis of behavior, iatrogenic Issues in health care, behavioral self-control, child & parent therapy, and integrating behavior therapy with other modalities. He is the author of numerous articles, book chapters, and books.

Dr. Zlutnick served as Instructor of Psychiatry 1972-1975, as Assistant Professor of Psychiatry 1975-1978, and as Associate Professor of Psychiatry with tenure 1979-1980 at the College of Medicine of the University of Utah. He was also Director of Training and Evaluation 1975-1979, Director of the Division of Behavioral Medicine and Pain Clinic 1975-1979, and Director of the Division of Psychology 1977-1979 for the College of Medicine of the University of Utah. He served as Director of the Behavioral Medicine Pain and Stress Clinic for the California Pacific Medical Center 1979-1982, where he continues as a member of their Allied Clinical Staff. He served as Associate Professor of Counseling Psychology 1979-1982, as Professor of Counseling Psychology with tenure 1982-present, and as Chairman of the Department 1988-1994 and 2001-2006. He also served as Director of the Behavioral Medicine & Therapy Institute of San Francisco 1980-2006, as Director of the Behavior Therapy Center 2006-present, and as President of the Children’s Learning Center 1998-present.