Behaviorist & Misophonia Expert with the President of the Misophonia Institute Tom Dozier

Tom Dozier, M.S. Behavior Analysis is the basic science of human behavior. A part of this science involves human reflexes and how we acquire them. Misophonia appears to be a conditioned (acquired) reflex to the trigger sounds. Tom developed Relaxation and Counterconditioning Therapy (RCT) as a treatment for misophonia. This includes muscle relaxation training and the Neural Repatterning Technique based on the concept of counterconditioning of reflexes. Using the Trigger Tamer app or real-life experiences, it can slowly reduce the misophonic reflex. This process actually changes the neurology associated with the misophonic reaction. Tom is also the author of seven peer-reviewed journal articles on misophonia and the book, Understanding and Overcoming Misophonia, 2nd Edition, A Conditioned Aversive Reflex Disorder. Tom received a Master’s of Science from California State University, Stanislaus in 2012 in an interdisciplinary program titled, “Behavior Analysis and the Family.” His primary career focus is on parenting and parenting skills (see 3LParenting.com, guaranteedpt.com, or LDSParentCoach.org). Tom became interested in misophonia in 2012 because he worked with parents of children with misophonia. He recognized that the misophonic reaction to trigger sounds was an involuntary reflex behavior. As such, misophonia triggers should respond similarly to other acquired reflexes. Tom saw an opportunity to help individuals suffering with a condition that had no known cure or treatment. Based on the research in acquired reflexes and relevant published journal articles, Tom developed a new misophonia treatment method and has applied this method successfully to individuals, primarily using telehealth video-chat. When the treatment conditions are right, individuals experience a great decrease in the reactions to trigger sounds or even have no reaction (cured) for that trigger. Tom’s first career was as a manufacturing engineer. He began his career in parent training in 2003 because of the help he received from Dr. Glenn I. Latham on parenting concerns. Tom received a graduate certificate in applied behavior analysis in 2004. He received a certification of board-certified assistant behavior analyst in 2008. He received his MS in Behavior Analysis from CSU Stanislaus in 2012 and received a certification of board-certified behavior analyst that same year. In 2017 Tom was awarded the Behavior Analyst Mastery Certification: Behavioral Consultation and Clinical Behavior Therapy (BAMC: BCCBT) by the Board of Behavior Analyst Specialties. Tom and his wife have 4 children and 9 grandchildren. We deep dive into: What is Misophonia?  Misophonia Reflex Finder App the Lizard brain - different parts of our brain Tom shares scuba breathing and we do it together, join us :) Misophonia is not in any college textbooks Sensory processing disorder, SPD HSP - Highly Sensitive Person Misophonia develops through brain plasticity. Generally, it is not the result of defects or problems in the brain. Treatments for misophonia. Relaxing your muscles around weak triggers can gradually reduce misophonia severity. Relaxing your muscles is a skill that can only be developed through practice. The Misophonia Muscle Relaxation Training app allows you to develop this skill. Connect with Tom Dozier at: [email protected] misophoniatreatment.com https://www.facebook.com/misophoniatreatment https://misophoniainstitute.org/   Stay connected: https://www.chonacas.com/newsletter/ Pick up my Poetry Book http://www.aloversfairytale.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-chonacas-b22923181/ http://www.instagram.com/shesallovertheplacepodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/katiechonacas