Faculty

Richard A. Sherman
M.S., Ph.D. (Program Director)
Richard A. Sherman received his doctorate in psychobiology from New York University in 1973. He has accrued over fifty years of experience teaching and performing research and clinical work in behavioral medicine and related fields. Much of this work was accomplished during his 22 years in the US Army from which he retired as a lieutenant colonel in the medical department. Dr. Sherman is recognized as a superb teacher and has given courses at virtually all levels of adult education including numerous undergraduate, medical resident, and graduate school courses as well as continuing education courses for clinical professionals in both on-site and distance based formats. Dr. Sherman is best known for his work elucidating mechanisms and treatments for phantom limb pain, temporal relationships between changes in muscle tension and pain, and environmental studies on mechanisms of and behavioral treatments for headaches, low back pain, and urinary incontinence. This work has resulted in over 150 articles (mostly in peer reviewed journals) and several books for both professionals and patients. His research has been supported by numerous private foundations, for-profit organizations, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, and the National Institutes of Health. He has been president of the Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback twice. He founded the Behavioral Medicine Research and Training Foundation in 2000 and is currently its director. He developed the psychophysiology doctoral program in 2000 and moved it to Saybrook University where he is currently full time faculty in the Department of Psychophysiology. His most recent book “Applied Psychophysiological Research” was published in 2022.
See Curriculum Vitae »

Becky McConnell
MPT, PRPC, BCB-PMD
Becky is a Physical Therapist with FortHealthCare in Fort Atkinson, WI. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a BS in Kinesiology-Exercise Science in 1998, followed by a MS in Physical Therapy in 2001. She has been treating women, men and children with pelvic floor dysfunction and associated orthopedic conditions since 2002. Becky has certifications in biofeedback for pelvic muscle dysfunction and as a pelvic rehabilitation practitioner. Becky treats both urinary and fecal incontinence, pelvic pain, pregnancy and post-partum conditions, sexual dysfunction, bowel and bladder dysfunction, post-surgical pain, orthopedic dysfunction and sports related pain and injuries.
Becky is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association (Women’s Health section), the American Urogynecologic Society, and the National Association for Continence.

Cynthia Kerson
2(PhD), QEEGD, BCN, BCB, BCB-HRV
Cynthia Kerson, 2(PhD), QEEGD, BCN, BCB, BCB-HRV is currently the founder and director of education for APEd (Applied Psychophysiology Education) and faculty at Saybrook University, Dept. of Applied Psychophysiology. She is BCIA certified in biofeedback, neurofeedback, and Heart Rate Variability and holds certification as a diplomate in QEEG and mentors applicants for all certifications.
Her role with APEd is to develop and teach introductory, intermediate, and advanced courses in the specialized areas of brain training and EEG analysis. She teaches the EEG Biofeedback, QEEG, Advanced Neurofeedback, and Neuropsychophysiology courses in Saybrook University’s Doctoral Program of Applied Psychophysiology as well as chairs dissertations in applied neuromodulation and assessment. Her research interests are in neuromodulation and uses of applied psychophysiology for ADHD, anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Dr. Kerson is an awardee and co-investigator of the NIMH grant for the 5-year ICAN study, which has looked at neurofeedback for ADHD and is currently publishing on its findings.
Cynthia has published many articles and chapters on biofeedback and neurofeedback and is the co-editor of Alpha-Theta Neurofeedback in the 21st Century and Joe Kamiya: Thinking Inside the Box.
Cynthia is the vice president of the Board of Directors for the Behavioral Medicine Research and Teaching Foundation (BMRTF) and has served on the Board of AAPB, as vice president of FNNR (Foundation for Neurofeedback and Neuromodulation Research), twice as president of the AAPB Neurofeedback Section and is two times past president of the Biofeedback Society of California.

Eric Willmarth
Ph.D., Chair, Department of Applied Psychophysiology at Saybrook University
Eric received his Master’s degree from Eastern Michigan University in 1977 and his doctorate in clinical psychology in 1998 from Fielding University. He is a past president of the Michigan Society for Behavioral Medicine and Biofeedback, the current president of the Michigan Society for Clinical Hypnosis and the past-president of the American Society for Clinical Hypnosis, the Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis and the APA’s Society for Psychological Hypnosis (Div. 30). He is the winner of both the Erika Fromm Award for Excellence in Teaching (2017) and the Distinguished Contributions to Professional Hypnosis Award from the American Psychological Association. (2017) Dr. Willmarth is a Senior Fellow of the Association of Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, president of Michigan Behavioral Consultants, a pain management practice, and has been teaching at Saybrook University since 2007. Areas of interest include hypnosis, pain management and psychomusicology.

Paul Lehrer
Ph.D.

Patrick Steffen
PhD

Curtis M. Wildes
PhD, MS, ATC, CSCS, PES, DO(EU)
Dr. Curtis Wildes brings over 18 years of expertise in human performance optimization within sports medicine and sports physiology as a Certified/Licensed Athletic Training, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Performance Enhancement Specialist, integrative Osteopathic wellness practitioner, and Applied Psychophysiologist. With experience working for various elite organizations such as the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee, USA-National Governing Bodies - Volleyball, Speedskating, Luge, and Bobsled/Skeleton, International performers as a therapist with Cirque du Soleil, and professional teams such as the Baltimore Orioles and Real Salt Lake FC– his career has been focused on the continued development, optimization, and innovation of athletes, organizations, and sport. Dr. Wildes has developed an eclectic, multidisciplinary approach to sports performance medicine, holistic wellness, and integrative mind-body therapies he uses clinically and lectures on to this day. Dr. Wildes holds a doctorate in Applied Psychophysiology from Saybrook University (Pasadena, CA), an international clinical doctorate in Osteopathic Manual Practices from National University of Medical Sciences (Madrid, Spain), and a Master of Science in Athletic Training and Kinesiology from the University of Hawai’i (Honolulu, HI). His interests include integrative performance optimization using biofeedback and neurofeedback based optimization training focusing on the biomechanics needs, physiological requirements, and cognitive performance demands placed on elite performers; as well as how technological innovations such as sEMG can change the outcome of injury management. Currently, Dr. Wildes is a member of the US Air Force 58th RQS Human Performance Optimization team at Nellis AFB (Nevada) and holds adjunct faculty positions at Logan University (Chesterfield, MO), Saybrook University (Pasadena, CA), University of New England (Portland, ME), and EDUKAN (Overland Park, KS).

Jerry R. DeVore
PhD, ABPP
Dr. Jerry R. DeVore, is a clinical psychologist, licensed in the State of Washington. He completed his PhD in psychology at St. Louis University in St. Louis, Mo. Dr. DeVore has had a career including 20 years of federal service with 11 years active duty. He has been a faculty member of an APA Approved Internship Program while on active duty. As a civilian he was the Director of Rehabilitation Psychology in a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Center, Good Samaritan Hospital, Puyallup, WA, where he worked for 18 years. Dr. DeVore recently retired from 20 years of federal service and now has a private practice in an integrative healthcare center, focusing on treatment with biofeedback, neurofeedback, hypnosis, and EMDR. Dr. DeVore is a Diplomate of the American Board of Professional Psychology in Clinical Psychology. He is also BCIA certified in General Biofeedback and Neurofeedback. He is an Approved Consultant in the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis. He is Level II trained in EMDR. Clinically, Dr. DeVore is fascinated with the ways in which biofeedback, neurofeedback and hypnosis can foster health recovery and health resilience. He is also fascinated with the psychophysiology of altered states of consciousness such as hypnosis and he regularly presents in the area of experiential spirituality.
Advisors

Jay Gunkelman
QEEGD
Members of the Foundation’s Governing Board
Richard A. Sherman, PhD:
Rich was described above in the faculty section.
Cynthia Kerson, PhD, QEEGD, BCN, BCB
Cynthia was described above in the faculty section.
Eric Willmarth, PhD:
Eric was described in the “Faculty” area above.
Timothy J. Sobie, MS, PT, and GCFP:
Tim is the founding director of Northwest Mind Body Learning Institute / Old Town Physical Therapy PLLC. He maintains his primary private practice in Tacoma, Washington with a secondary location in Olympia, Washington. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, an MS in Clinical Behavioral Medicine from Behavioral Physiology Institutes, and certification in practicing The Feldenkrais® Method from The Movement Studies Institute in Berkeley, CA. His clinical and research interest areas include sensory integration, perception training, and movement recovery processes as applicable toward the development of effective pain modulation, autonomic regulation, and optimum functioning.
Linda Walker, MHR, LPC, BCN, BCB, QEEGT
Linda has been specializing in neurofeedback for mood and mental health issues, chronic pain, cognitive functioning and optimal performance for the past 15 years. She is also an adjunct instructor in biofeedback and neurofeedback for Western Michigan University. Linda earned her Master’s degree in Human Relations and Counseling and did post graduate work in substance abuse and school counseling. She is presently working towards a doctorate in Applied Psychophysiology. Currently, Linda is a past president of the Michigan Society for Behavioral Medicine and is on the Board of the Behavioral Medicine Research and Training Foundation. She is a member of AAPB and ISNR.
Brian L. Imber, PhD, MA, MBA, BCN, BCB
Dr. Imber is a licensed Psychotherapist and Neurotherapist. He is a Licensed Psychologist in the state of California (PSY32640) and a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the state of Washington (LH61027314). He has a private practice, MindShift Psychotherapy www.mindshiftpsyhotherapy.com) in Bellevue, WA and Encinitas, CA. Dr. Imber practices the contemporary model of psychotherapy called, “Transtheroretical/Intergrative”. This is an approach that seeks the best of what each psychotherapeutic system has to offer. Dr. Imber provides comprehensive psychological and psychophysiological assessments for most mental health disorders and diagnoses.
He has training and experience in multiple systems of psychotherapy: Neurotherapy, Psychodynamic, Interpersonal, Family Systems, Cognitive-behavioral, EMDR and Exposure, Emotionally-focused, and Person-centered holistic therapies. These approaches have very good evidence to be effective for stress management, trauma, and multiple other mental health issues.
Dr. Imber completed his PhD and MA in Clinical Psychology at Saybrook University with a specialization in Applied Psychophysiology. He is board certified by BCIA in neurofeedback and biofeedback, and is a registered BCIA mentor for new clinicians in the areas of neurofeedback and biofeedback. Dr. Imber also holds an MBA degree . His published dissertation thesis was testing a novel therapy he created that combines a stress management therapy with Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback and received the award of Distinctive Dissertations.
Please feel free to contact us for further information.