Clinical Conversation

Guest: Amy Serin, PhD, BCN
On-Demand: This course was previously live and is now available for asynchronous on-demand learning. This conversation was filmed on April 15th, 2026.

A lot of us were trained to think of bilateral stimulation as one simple ingredient in a protocol.

In practice, it’s a lot more nuanced than that. Different types of BLS (tapping, vibrations, alternating tones, visual movements), delivered at different speeds and intensities, can have very different effects on the brain and nervous system.

Used well, BLS can be a powerful, flexible tool for regulating arousal, supporting processing, and even protecting you from burnout. Used without a clear understanding, it can leave clients agitated, flooded, or simply not getting the full benefit.

In this free Clinical Conversation, internationally recognized neuropsychologist and stress expert Dr. Amy Serin will unpack what BLS is really doing in the brain, and why, when you understand it better, you’ll likely want to use it more.

In this conversation, we’ll explore:

• What actually happens in the brain and body with different forms of BLS (tactile, auditory, visual)
• Why not all BLS is interchangeable, and how modality, speed, and intensity change outcomes
• How to recognize when BLS is calming vs. when it’s agitating or flooding, and what to adjust
• Practical ways to calibrate BLS in real time using client feedback instead of one‑size‑fits‑all settings
• Safe use of tactile BLS outside of session to extend support, especially in underserved populations
• How to use BLS to reduce your own stress and prevent burnout, so you can keep doing trauma work sustainably

This is about moving from “I hope this helps” to a more grounded, science‑informed confidence in how and why you’re using BLS.

Dr. Amy Serin is an internationally recognized neuropsychologist and stress expert dedicated to helping people live their best lives. She founded Serin Centers to blend neuroscience, EMDR, and neuromodulation for effective healing and transformation in children, adolescents, and adults.
Dr. Serin serves on the scientific advisory board of Sens.ai, NeuAura, and is Chief Clinical Director at Dharma Dr. She has published research on the safety and efficacy of bilateral stimulation in tactile form to democratize care in underserved populations. She pioneered Neurosomatic Reset Technique, a method to reduce triggers and panic and enhance therapy outcomes, and is among the few U.S. clinicians with protocols to induce deep meditative states for trauma release without psychedelics or ketamine.
Her book The Stress Switch hit #1 in Preventative Medicine on Amazon (2019). She has received multiple international awards for neuroscience stress wearables, including a 2018 Gold Edison Award and 2019 honors from Forbes and Digital Trends. A sought-after keynote speaker, she has presented for organizations such as ISNR and EMDRIA and has been featured in outlets including USA Today, NBC, Men’s Health, and Inc.e.