Innovative. Effective. Powerful.
“The literature suggests that EEG biofeedback (Neurofeedback) therapy should play a major therapeutic role in many difficult areas. In my opinion, if any medication had demonstrated such a wide spectrum of efficacy, it would be universally accepted and widely used.”
— Frank Duffy, MD, Neurologist, Head of the Neuroimaging Department, Head of Neuroimaging Research at Boston Children’s Hospital
Why Neurofeedback?
Traditional talk therapy and psychotherapy is a tried and true approach for helping individuals overcome mental health disorders. Medication is also a commonly used medical intervention to help reduce symptoms of mental health disorders. Unfortunately, many times, these approaches alone are not enough and people continue to suffer despite years of therapy and trying many different medications. These approaches do not address the root cause of the problem, which is often times dysregulated brain function.
What is Neurofeedback?
Neurofeedback, also called EEG Biofeedback is a cutting edge, non-invasive, research supported approach for teaching the brain to function in a more balanced and healthy way. Individuals learn to self-regulate their own brain wave patterns through a learning process which can help improve many symptoms including mood, anxiety, sleep, relationships, memory and ability to focus on accomplishing goals. This is achieved by shifting the way the brain produces and distributes its electrical energy. The brain produces four distinct types of brain waves, Delta, Theta, Alpha and Beta. Each brain wave type is responsible for creating different brain states, such as relaxation or focused concentration. Too much or too little of these different brain wave types create imbalance and can result in symptoms such as attentional deficits, low motivation, memory problems, depression, anxiety, poor sleep and many more.
How does Neurofeedback work?
Neurofeedback takes advantage of the brain’s ability to change itself through a process known as Neuroplasticity. It utilizes the same learning process that occurs whenever we acquire a new skill. Neurofeedback facilitates awareness of when the brain is producing healthier brainwave patterns, provides reinforcement for the positive change and over time creates a more balanced distribution of electrical energy. In psychology the term for this learning process is known as “operant conditioning”.
What happens in a session?
The client sits in a comfortable chair and electrode sensors are placed on the scalp to read the EEG signal. This signal is sent to a computer which interprets the information and sends “feedback” to a screen which the client observes. A combination of visual and auditory “feedback” provides information to the client regarding whether their brain wave patterns are achieving a more balanced and healthy state. The client’s brain learns over time to produce this pattern more readily and on its own. The neurofeedback training session typically lasts 15-30 minutes of the 50 minute scheduled session. The rest of the time is spent checking in on symptom improvement and utilizing various other techniques dependent on the client’s needs and treatment goals. These techniques may include psychotherapy, mindfulness/meditation exercises, relaxation techniques, cognitive behavioral therapy, skill building exercises and education. Our clinic uses two types of neurofeedback training equipment, Myndlift and Clarity Direct. Read more about these two powerful approaches in our blog post.
The 5 Primary Brainwave Types and their general function.
EEG “Brain Map” showing areas of dysregulation
What is Neurofeedback effective with?
ADHD
Anxiety
Addiction
Autism Spectrum
Chronic Pain
Concussion/TBI
Depression
Memory/Cognitive Decline
Migraine
OCD
PTSD/Trauma
Post-Adoption Concerns
Sleep Disorders
Speech and Language Development
Tics and Tourettes
Peak Performance
Interested in Learning more? Our favorite resource- Neurofeedback 101 Book