Empowering Every Learner At Optimal Learning Skills. I help children, teens, and adults with dyslexia, ADHD, processing disorders, and autism strengthen core cognitive functions—not just work around weaknesses. With 20+ years of experience and hundreds of success stories, I offer personalized assessments in memory, focus, visual/auditory processing, and reasoning. I create individualized plans using tools like Brain Gymnastics, The Listening Program, and Master the Code. Parents — you’re not alone. I care deeply and know how to help your child learn and thrive.
Karen’s Education
Licensed/Certified
Practitioner
Advanced brain Technologies: Auditory Intervention
Brain Gymnast/Kinesiologist
PACE – Processing and Cognitive Enhancement
Master of Arts (Cum Laude) California State University, Northridge Teaching Credentials California, North Carolina, Florida Bachelor of Science (Magna Cum Laude) Los Angeles Valley College Health Behavior Research & Curriculum Development University of Southern California, Health Behavior Research Institute
Karen Brinkley is a dedicated practitioner for individuals facing learning challenges, driven by a mission to unlock the potential in children and adults. With over 35 years of experience and a proven track record of success, with more than 100’s of students. Karen founded Optimal Learning Skills to provide effective, personalized, and science-based solutions.
She knows that no two brains are alike. Because every individual learns differently, we prioritize a highly personalized program. Whether addressing dyslexia, ADD/ADHD high functioning autism, challenges from brain injuries or concussions, or general difficulties with reading, spelling, and comprehension
Every client begins with a comprehensive cognitive assessment, which allows her to identify unique strengths and areas for development. From these insights, she offers interventions required to meet each person’s specific needs.
Supporting Learners
of all ages.
Helping students build
confidence and independence.
Designed around each
learner's unique profile.
Karen leverages cutting-edge neurological brain therapy to enhance cognitive and educational development through five pillars:
As an advanced provider of neuroscience-based music listening programs, Karen works to re-educate the ear and auditory pathways, significantly improving attention, communication, and sensory integration.
Utilizing over 35 years of experience in cognitive enhancement, she employs advanced brain training techniques to sharpen auditory and visual systems, memory, processing speed, focus, logic and reasoning.
Through Educational Kinesiology and ‘Brain Gymnastics,’ Karen integrates movement, rhythm, and music to balance brain-body coordination, that fosters major learning breakthroughs.
Karen developed “Mastering the Code Reading System,” and authored the digital auditory/visual textbook: “Reading Sounds Right,” which decodes speech.
The Sound-to-Code approach builds foundational skills from basic phonological awareness, letters, words, sentences, paragraphs, and complex essay writing helping students move rapidly toward grade level mastery and beyond.
Using a holistic, science-based approach — Read. Think.
Move. Listen. — I work collaboratively with parents and
healthcare professionals to support the whole learner, not
just the symptoms
As a dedicated practitioner, I believe every individual
deserves personalized support, dignity, and care. Each
client is assessed through Cognitive Battery Scientific
Evaluations and thoughtful parent input. I collaborate with
parents, psychologists, pediatricians, neurologists,
audiologists, optometrists, behaviorists, and educators —
with compassion, clarity, and respect — to build a
complete, integrated learning path.
Certified provider of Advanced Brain Technologies. This neuroscience-based music listening therapy improves focus, regulation, auditory processing, and brain performance through sound frequencies that target key neural pathways.
Licensed Practitioner in Processing and Cognitive Enhancement. This brain training boosts auditory and visual systems, strengthens short- and long-term memory, increases processing speed, attention, logic, and reasoning — often improving skills by years.
Certified provider of MRSC (Master Reading and Spelling Codes), a proven program that transforms core reading, spelling, comprehension, and writing skills. Author of Reading Sounds Write — a sound-to-code digital system that delivers fast, lasting progress for emerging and struggling readers.
Certified in Neuromotor Skills Training methods including Brain Gymnastics, In Time, Learning Breakthrough, and Infinity Walk. These movement-based techniques support coordination, focus, and learning readiness by activating whole-brain integration.
One of the neuroscience-based auditory programs is ‘The Listening Program,’ uses specifically designed music and sound stimulation to help re-educate the ear and strengthen auditory pathways. This approach supports improved attention, listening, communication, sensory integration, learning readiness and physical coordination. Enhanced auditory processing can lead to better focus, language development, and overall learning efficiency.