By: Mae Cornes

Dave and Susan Kenney created a revolutionary approach to rewiring the brain in hopes of helping individuals with addiction and other crises. Their journey began when they questioned if addictions have nothing to do with a lack of willpower or character defect, something no one in the recovery space was examining. They asked, what if the addiction is a “brain thing” that can be changed? This ‘aha’ moment led them to do a comprehensive neuroscience and neurobehavioral-based review, and they discovered they were right. Not only was addiction “a brain thing,” but so was depression, anxiety, ADHD, academic learning challenges, and more.

It’s Not About Will Power, It’s About Brain Power

Dave and Susan looked at the brain and its untapped power to steer and determine the life one leads. Science shows us we can upgrade our brain’s hard drive and how it functions. The brain’s software is our thoughts, mindset, or conscious mind. The brain’s hard drive runs the show and can change the software. Put another way, the brain is the computer or phone, not the program or app. We can put in a new program for the brain’s computer to run and achieve better results.

The couple also says that we can change the program or app but also the hardware—the brain’s wiring. This is called neuroplasticity. The brain has the ability to rewrite itself. Neuroplasticity, also known as neural plasticity or brain plasticity, is defined as  “the ability of neural networks in the brain to change through growth and reorganization.” The brain is always restructuring and rewiring at any age. 

Rewiring the Brain 

Dave and Susan explain that when we think of the phrase, “thoughts lead to feelings and feelings lead to actions,” we only look at part of the story with the most critical part misunderstood or ignored. It’s our brains that lead to thoughts, which lead to feelings and, ultimately, actions. This is the basis of their proprietary methodology, “Actualized Recovery®.” This effective ‘brain-first’ approach to recovery has helped more than two thousand of their clients regain their lives and move beyond addiction to freedom. 

They now leverage this innovative methodology and teach, train, and certify people to become Internationally-Certified Recovery Coaches at Emergo Academy.

They explain that Actualized Recovery is a “brain first” approach but not a “brain only” approach. The process leverages the latest in neuroscience, physiology, psychology, spirituality, connections, and lifestyle. This integrative approach reprograms individuals’ brains for a happier, healthier life.  

The idea behind the approach is that the brain drives our behavior and is responsible for our thoughts, feelings, choices, and actions. This includes what we put into our bodies – from alcohol to drugs and food. The brain drives our behavior, too, including gambling, exercising, media consumption, debt or wealth accumulation, social media, gaming, sleep, and even the car one drives. Rewiring the brain will change the choices one makes in life. This approach is underscored by a book written by Dr. Daniel Amen, a world-leading neuro-psychologist who coined the phrase, “Change Your Brain, Change Your Life.”

Dave and Susan’s Actualized Recovery goes even further than rewiring the brain. The approach helps clients discover and begin to build a life of purpose that is rich with meaning and automatically allows them to “flourish.” The passion, purpose, and goal for all clients is far more than just getting them off drugs, eliminating trauma, or even getting them to feel good. Self-destructive behaviors are only a symptom of the problem and a way to seek short-term relief at best. 

For clients to “flourish” is integral to Dave and Susan’s successful approach. Flourishing, adopted from the Greek word “Eudaimonia” (you-dah-monia) coined by Aristotle, is not a temporary high, emotional state, or even a sense of pleasure, but rather a fulfilled life lived by following a person’s deepest values and aspirations. It’s considered the highest human good, which is desirable for its own sake rather than for the sake of something else. It provides a framework for life-long challenges where improvements are always possible. Those pursuing a flourished life recover from addiction, overcome their trauma, and find themselves leading fulfilling and happy lives.

The Results of Actualized Recovery® Speak for Themselves

The results of Dave and Susan Kenney’s approach speak for themselves in treating their clients for addiction and trauma and overall increasing their happiness.  

According to an anonymous survey of troubled teens and their parents conducted by a New York therapist and professor, a majority of clients’ families observed a “good to significant change in their loved one’s life.”As remarkable as this may seem, it makes perfect sense to Dave and Susan. “It’s Hebb’s Law,” explains Dave. “Neurons that fire together wire together.” (Hebb’s Law states that the “efficiency of communication between two neurons increases when activated simultaneously. This synaptic plasticity is the neurophysiological basis for learning and memory formation (habits), indicating that our experiences reshape our brain’s structure and function over time.”)

Think of planting a tree or some vines in the jungle. You come back in a month, and they’ve started to take root. Come back in a year, and you’d never even recognize them. This is what happens with Dave and Susan’s clients after working with them and focusing on the brain-first approach to lasting recovery and well-being.

Training an Army of “Certified Brain Upgraders” 

Dave and Susan are training others on the Actualized Recovery process, which is a perfect fit for them as their previous background was in education. They’ve created a comprehensive, immersive, interactive, peer-supported eight-week course. It includes business mentorship, marketing, client acquisition, and retention, as well as certification as an Internationally Certified Recovery Coach leveraging the Actualized Recovery methodology.  

Emergo Academy aims to train more than 1,000 coaches, reaching 1,000 people each to go beyond sobriety to discover and actively pursue their purpose as they rewire their brains and strive for their own “highest human good.”

About the Academy 

The Emergo Academy’s Certification is recognized by some of the most authoritative organizations in recovery and coaching. Emergo is an approved education provider with NAADAC, the largest Association of Addiction Professionals, which also qualifies individuals to earn professional CEUs.  

Dave and Susan are certified Brain Health Coaches by The Amen Clinics, recognized by and active members of ASAM (American Society of Addiction Medicine) and SMART Recovery (SMART Recovery Certified Facilitator). 

Dave has dedicated over 30 years of his career to human development. With a master’s degree in education from Northwestern State University and as a PhD candidate in philosophy at Canterbury University focusing on neuroscience and psychology, Dave has the academic background to support his innovative and proven evidenced-based methodology.

Susan has a rich background in nutrition, functional medicine, education, brain health, and positive psychology. She studied and is certified in Harvard Medical School’s Culinary program and is a nationally certified Health and Wellbeing Coach. 

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, nor does it replace professional medical expertise or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about your health, always consult with a physician or other healthcare professional.

Published by: Martin De Juan