Dr. Alfred Barrios (Ph.D. UCLA) Clinical Psychologist - Inventor of the Stress Control BioFeedback Card - Author of the New York Times Bestseller The Stress Test.
 
Dr. Barrios, expert in stress management, preventing school dropout, and mind-body health, is best known as the inventor of the Stress Control Biofeedback Card (changes color with changing stress level).
 
He is also the developer of a highly successful program (Self-Programmed Control or SPC) for showing people how to systematically re-program themselves in a more positive direction. The basic problem with most people is their inability to change. No matter how valuable the advice one gets, it usually goes in one ear and out the other. Dr. Barrios' SPC program has solved this dilemma The key is to be able to first place oneself into a heightened state of belief - essentially a more focused state of mind - which then facilitates reprogramming. He shows the audience how to do this by leading them through several easy-to-follow stepwise techniques (which they can subsequently use anytime thereafter). These experiential demonstrations literally leave the audience with their mouths agape at seeing the true power of their minds in action.
 
But the program involves even more than just facilitating the programming in of positive change, positive goals. It also presents a Positive Direction Component: a variety of positive behaviors (attitudes beliefs and habits) for achieving greater health, happiness and fulfillment. To be given a powerful tool for change but no idea of what direction to change in is simply not enough. Depending on the particular topic or goal the group is interested in, a relevant part of the positive direction component is presented. For example, struggling students are shown techniques for self-efficacy, improving learning skills and controlling anxiety. If Stress Management is the goal, a multifaceted approach is presented. This would include quick relaxation techniques reinforced by the Stress Control Biofeedback Card (everyone in the audience would receive a card), a set of positive mental attitudes to help roll with the punches, and even a number of time management techniques for better dealing with time pressures. All of this in conjunction with selfprogramming techniques for insuring that all this new positive behavior quickly becomes second nature.
 
In 1996 he received the first annual Cancer Federation Award In sychoneuroimmunology and was also nominated for the prestigious Norman Cousins Award in Mind-Bodv health. He has also pioneered the introduction of his SPC Magic of the Mind Program into the educational field. This program for helping students believe in their capabilities to achieve their full potential both as students and as people was first introduced at the college and university level with his classes at UCLA, East Los Angeles, Santa Monica and Southwest Colleges, later expanding into the primary and secondary schools through his classes for teachers at Cal State University Los Angeles. This program has proven especially successful with students at risk of dropping out, significantly reducing both dropout rates and substance abuse.
 
In the first part of his presentation Dr. Barrios introduces a highly dramatic set of demonstrations and techniques (the SPC techniques) for instilling in each participant a heightened state of belief in the power of his/her mind for effecting positive change. Equally important, he next shows the audience how to combine this highly focused state of mind with visualization techniques to effectively program in any specific changes he/she wishes to achieve. <  
 
Thumbs Down on Bad Habits article: http://articles.latimes.com/1988-02-01/news/vw-26779_1_bad-habit