Dr. Samuel A. Berne, a pioneer in vision science, integrative health, and subtle energy therapies has been a leader in the field of Behavioral/Neurodevelopmental Optometry and Vision Therapy for over twenty-five years. Dr. Berne is an internationally-known author, researcher, facilitator, and teacher who uses a multidisciplinary approach applying many disciplines some of which include biofield analysis, quantum physics, psychology, somatic movement, craniosacral therapy, dolphin-assisted therapy, and photo (light) therapy with respect to expanding human potential.
Dr. Berne teaches workshops and retreats in the Bahamas, Hawaii, the mainland U.S., Mexico, Scotland, Denmark, Austria, and Russia. He is on the faculty at The Esalen Institute in Big Sur, CA, and the Findhorn Foundation Ecovillage in Scotland where he leads retreats on consciousness studies, applied spirituality, and subtle realms.
Via his successful private practice in Santa Fe, New Mexico, he developed innovative methods for healing the mind-body-spirit through eye therapy. His revolutionary Developmental Learning Program (DLP) provides individuals with natural alternatives for improving vision and overall health. Dr. Berne offers a holistic method that helps children with a variety of developmental delays from autism to Attention Deficit Disorder. DLP uses primitive reflex therapy, movement therapy, vision therapy, light/color therapy, craniosacral therapy and nutritional counseling to aid patients with neurological problems.
Dr. Berne has promoted his unconventional philosophy of “throwing out labels, letting go of cookbook solutions and treating patients from the present forward.” Opposed to measuring a patient’s problems based on only mainstream ideas, Dr. Berne has historically treated patients on a case-by-case basis.
Throughout his career, Dr. Berne has written four insightful books and produced a DVD on autism. His first book, Creating Your Personal Vision, was a huge success and its publication led to multiple broadcast interviews in New York and Los Angeles as well as nationally syndicated radio shows.
Professional Workshops
Dr. Berne teaches an extensive number of professional workshops in fields from Holistic Vision Therapy, Primitive Reflex Movement Therapy, Helping Traumatic Brain-Injured Patients, ADD-Autism, Light Therapy and Subtle Energies. He lectures as a visiting teacher at venues including The International Society For The Study of Subtle Energies and Energy Medicine (ISSSEEM), and The Science, Information, and Spirit Conference in Saint Petersburg, Russia with curriculums geared toward cutting edge ideas, human potential and applied spirituality, and Electrophotonic Imaging. He leads weekend retreats devoted to Vision Therapy and Electrophotonic Imaging, a process that opens one’s consciousness and healing through the measurement of the body’s energy fields and the use of a variety of eye-vision-brain techniques which incorporate sound, breathe, movement and light/color to help change one’s consciousness.
Holistic Health/Vision Retreats
Boasting an international following, Dr. Berne is often asked to lead his holistic health/vision retreats in cities ranging from Kona, Hawaii to Bimini, Bahamas where special needs children and their families have the opportunity to swim with Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins and/or the Atlantic Spotted Wild Dolphins and have access to treatment. He is presently researching the effects dolphin assisted therapies have on our wellness.
On his yearly Consciousness Retreat held in Hawaii, attendees experience subtle energy healing, light/color therapy and/or vision therapy activities and engage in therapeutic swimming with the dolphins. The retreats give the group a chance to live within a community of like-minded people, interact with nature and work on focus, clarity, intention and spiritual expansion of their vision.
Background
With a love of learning since a young age, Dr. Berne earned his Bachelor of Science from Pennsylvania State University. He then went on to optometry school at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, where in his fourth year he explored his interest in vision therapy by interning at a prestigious practice in San Diego. His eye-opening (no pun intended) experience in Southern California shed light on the momentous impact that vision therapy proved to have on people’s lives, sparking a new passion and career pursuit.
After optometry school, Dr. Berne enrolled at the Gesell Institute in New Haven, Connecticut. He completed a post-doctoral fellowship in Infant/Child Development in which he studied multi-disciplinary approaches to help adults and children with a variety of learning, behavioral and developmental problems. Two years later, Dr. Berne met behavioral optometrist, Dr. Albert Shankman, who not only became his mentor but completely reversed his own nearsightedness using an approach of holistic vision. As a patient experiencing the gradual improvement in his vision, Dr. Berne discovered mind-body-spirit processes of healing to be more effective than mechanical eye exercises. After years of extensive research, personal experience and observing and interacting with patients, Dr. Berne found holistic vision therapy to be his calling.
Community Service
Dr. Berne takes pride in having earned Special Awards for Service from the Behavioral Optometrists in Mexico for providing many of his innovative holistic ideas to help children. In addition to lecturing and healing, Dr. Berne enjoys giving back to the community by opening up his private observatory to teach children and adults about astronomy. He jumps at the opportunity to share his knowledge of stars to spark the imagination of others. Dr. Berne volunteers for local organizations where help is most needed, notably he regularly serves food at a local homeless shelter in Santa Fe.
Dr. Berne is a warm, compassionate, problem-solver who always strives for creative answers. Working tirelessly to understand the specific condition and needs of each of his patients, he offers honest and reassuring answers to their questions. For the last twenty-five years, Dr. Berne’s genuine care and personal interest in helping others has driven him to unconventionally heal the mind-body-spirit through the eyes.