The Integrative HOPE Center of Arizona
Founded to help children and families reach the optimum of their potential, The HOPE Center is a world-renowned leader in treating children and individuals with complex medical issues. Dedicated to Treating the Whole Person with HOPE.The HOPE Center is an integrative pediatric practice that provides Homeopathic & Integrative Medicine, Osteopathy Philosophy, Pediatric, Energetic Medicine for newborns, infants, children, and teens.
The HOPE Protocol is the method developed by Dr Shawn K Centers MD(H) to help children and families heal and reach the highest of their potential and used exclusively at the HOPE Center of Arizona.
The HOPE Protocol is a comprehensive, holistic approach to health and wellness designed to address physical, emotional, and bioenergetic needs. This protocol integrates a variety of complementary and integrative medicine practices to create a synergistic effect that promotes optimal well-being. In the Hope Protocol HOPE stands for
Homeopathy and Herbal Medicine,
Optimal Neuromuscular Integration
Positive Emotional Release & Programming,
Energy Medicine and Essential Nutrition.
H: Homeopathy and Herbal Medicine
Homeopathy is a natural form of medicine that uses minute doses of natural substances to stimulate the body's self-healing processes. Homeopathic remedies are tailored to the individual's specific symptoms and overall health profile, aiming to treat the root cause of illness rather than just alleviating symptoms. Herbal Medicine involves the use of plant-based remedies including essential oils to support health and treat various conditions. Herbal treatments provide essential nutrients, antioxidants, and therapeutic compounds that aid in healing and maintaining health. Herbs can address a wide range of issues, from digestive problems to immune support.
O: Optimal Neuromuscular Integration
Homeopathic and Integrative Physicians may use neuromuscular integration as a form of physician-directed manual therapy that emphasizes the relationship between body structure and function. As part of an integrative treatment approach, this may include hands-on assessment and treatment of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems with the goals of improving mobility, supporting circulation, and promoting physiologic regulation and healing.
Craniosacral manual therapy is a gentle hands-on approach directed at the craniosacral system, including the skull, spine, sacrum, associated membranes, and cerebrospinal fluid pathways. This technique is intended to support balance, mobility, and nervous system regulation within a broader integrative care model.
Dr. Centers has received training in cranial and manual therapy from physicians and educators in this field, including Dr. Viola M. Frymann a world-renown practitioner and was the clinical director of her Center for over 10 years.
Using light touch, practitioners work to identify and release areas of tension or restriction, with the aim of supporting optimal motion, improving physiologic function, and promoting overall balance within the nervous system. These techniques are used to support neurologic function and general well-being as part of an integrative care plan.
P: Positive Emotional Release & Programming
Positive Emotional Release & Programming includes a range of techniques designed to release negative emotions and reprogram the subconscious mind with positive, empowering beliefs. This component includes:
Time Line Therapy: A therapeutic process that helps individuals release negative emotions and limiting decisions by revisiting past experiences on their mental timeline. This therapy facilitates the resolution of emotional issues and promotes personal growth and transformation.
Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP): A method that uses language and other types of communication to change behavior patterns and achieve specific goals. NLP techniques can help individuals overcome phobias, anxiety, and negative behaviors.
The Emotion / Body Code: A method developed by Dr. Bradley Nelson that identifies and releases trapped emotions, which are believed to be the root cause of many physical and emotional problems. By clearing these trapped emotions, individuals can experience greater emotional balance and improved health.
Hemispheric Synchronization with Neuroacoustic Sound Technology: Uses sound waves to synchronize brain hemispherespromoting mental clarity, relaxation, and emotional stability.
Color and Light Therapy: Uses specific colors and light frequencies to influence mood and health. This therapy can help balance energy, improve mood, and enhance overall well-being.
E: Energy Medicine and Essential Nutrition
Energy Medicine involves practices that manipulate the body's energy fields to promote healing and well-being. This can include techniques such as Ayurvedic medicine, acupuncture, and electromagnetic therapy. Energy medicine aims to balance the body's energy systems, remove blockages, and enhance natural healing processes. Advanced Energy Medicine technologies included in the HOPE Protocol:
The Biocharger: A device that emits a combination of light, frequencies, harmonics, and pulsed electromagnetic fields to help reenergize and balance the body's energy systems.
Rife Technology: Uses specific frequencies to target and eliminate pathogens, promoting healing and health.
Advanced Scalar Technology: Employs scalar energy to enhance the body's biofield, improve cellular function, and support overall health.
Essential Nutrition is a critical component of the HOPE Protocol, emphasizing the importance of nutrient-dense foods and supplements to provide essential vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients required for optimal health. Proper nutrition is fundamental to maintaining energy levels, supporting immune function, and ensuring overall vitality.
HOPE Protocol's approach to nutrition includes:
Science-Based Biomedical Oriented Clinical Nutrition: This functional medicine approach, used by the HOPE Center, is individualized, patient-centered, and science-based. It empowers families and practitioners to work together to address the underlying causes of disease and promote optimal wellness. This approach requires a detailed understanding of each patient's genetic, biochemical, nutritional, and lifestyle factors to direct personalized treatment plans that lead to healing and resolution of underlying issues.
At The HOPE Center, careful attention is given to individual variability in response to therapies, including medications and nutritional interventions. Genetic, metabolic, and environmental factors are considered in developing personalized treatment strategies.
Dr. Centers has extensive clinical experience in integrative pediatric care, including the use of specialized nutritional and metabolic therapies in children with complex neurologic and developmental conditions.
Recently, the U.S. Government and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released new findings about certain medications, including Tylenol, and their potential influence on outcomes in children with autism. At The Hope Center, we carefully evaluate genetic factors that may impact how each child responds to medications and treatments, allowing us to provide highly personalized care.
Dr. Shawn Centers is currently collaborating with Children’s Health Defense, the nonprofit founded by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. In his prior role with AutismOne, Dr. Centers also worked closely with Secretary Kennedy to assist in educating physicians involved with autism treatment.
Secretary Kennedy has announced that the FDA will formally recognize Leucovorin as an approved treatment for children with Cerebral Folate Deficiency (CFD), a condition frequently associated with autism-related symptoms. Dr. Centers brings more than 15 years of experience in the safe and effective use of Leucovorin Calcium in his pediatric patients.
For Leucovorin to work at its best, specific dietary changes are essential — especially the removal of milk and casein proteins, which can block the medicine’s benefits. Before beginning therapy, each child should undergo appropriate testing, and families should work with a physician experienced in combining Leucovorin with other elements of the HOPE Protocol to maximize progress and support meaningful improvements.
Leucovorin (folinic acid) can be highly beneficial for many children when it is properly prescribed and monitored.
It is especially useful in cases of autism spectrum disorders associated with folate methylation problems (such as MTHFR variants) or folate receptor antibodies, since Leucovorin bypasses issues with folate transport and conversion, ensuring folate can reach the brain.
It may support improvements in speech, attention, social interaction, and behavior.
Recent clinical trials (some done here in Arizona) have demonstrated measurable gains in receptive and expressive language for some children on the autism spectrum.
For the medication to be effective, the child must maintain a strict casein-, gluten-, and soy-free diet. Research has shown that milk proteins can bind to folate receptors, preventing Leucovorin from crossing the blood-brain barrier. This may lead to a systemic overload of folinic acid and, paradoxically, further depletion of cerebral folate—resulting in worsening symptoms. In addition, approximately 85% of wheat products in the United States are fortified with folic acid, a synthetic form of folate that can block the therapeutic action of Leucovorin and exacerbate symptoms. By contrast, in Europe, less than 3% of wheat is fortified with synthetic folate, making certain European wheat products a potentially safer option.
However, if used incorrectly or without proper medical guidance, Leucovorin can worsen symptoms in some children. We have noticed recently that physicians unfamiliar with the use of the medicine have been prescribing inappropriate levels of the medicine which can be ineffective, or cause worsening symptoms. We have created a chart for practitioners to help guide prescribing.
Integrating the HOPE Protocol
The HOPE Protocol offers a synergistic approach to health, combining the strengths of various modalities to address physical, emotional, and energetic aspects of well-being. By integrating these diverse practices, individuals can achieve a more balanced and harmonious state of health, leading to improved quality of life and overall well-being. The protocol is flexible and can be tailored to meet the unique needs of each individual, ensuring a personalized and holistic treatment plan.
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By choice Dr Centers does not hold licensure as a Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.) in Arizona and does not represent himself as an osteopathic physician. Any references to osteopathic education or training including academic publications and book articles reflect his academic background only and are not indicative of current licensure or professional designation. Dr. Centers is licensed as a Homeopathic and Integrative Physician DO(H) in the State of Arizona. The DO(H)/ MD(H) designation signifies those physicians who have added training in Homeopathic and Integrated Medicine and passed appropriate board examinations to qualify to practice Homeopathic & Integrated Medicine including Neuromuscular Integration. For more information about Homeopathic Physicians in Arizona contact The Arizona Homeopathic and Integrative Medical Association, or the Homeopathic and Integrated Medicine Board. Homeopathic and Integrated physicians are considered licencesd physicians in the state of Arizona and may prescribe, dispense, or administer medications, including pharmaceuticals, order lab tests,imaging studies, and perform manual manipulation where appropriately trained.
