TIRED OF TAKING MEDICATIONS?
NEUROFEEDBACK CAN ACTUALLY CHANGE YOUR BRAIN FROM THE INSIDE OUT
What are some common conditions you treat with Neurofeedback?
Anxiety, Depression, Insomnia, ADHD, Autism, Migraines, Seizures, Chronic pain, and PTSD
What is Neurofeedback?
Neurofeedback, or EEG Biofeedback, is a brain shaping exercise in which we retrain your brain to self- regulate in a new and improved manner, letting old habits and symptoms fall away. We observe your brain in action from moment to moment by monitoring your brainwaves. The patient uses the brainwave feedback to learn how to change the brainwaves toward a more consistent and better functioning direction. It is a gradual learning process. Ordinarily, we have no real control over our brainwave patterns because we are not aware of them enough to effect change. However, by seeing our brainwaves on a computer screen in real time, we can learn to influence them in a positive way. Neurofeedback training helps the brain balance and regulate itself. Neurofeedback has been demonstrated to improve conditions such as PTSD, anxiety, depression, insomnia, ADHD, autism, migraines, seizures, chronic pain and more. It is used as treatment for mental and physical health challenges, as well as encouragement for peak performance. Recent research indicates that neurofeedback may be especially helpful for individuals coping with severe trauma, including dissociative identity disorders.
How does Neurofeedback work?
Neurofeedback training is a safe, painless, non-invasive procedure. Electrodes are attached to the scalp to listen in on brainwave activity. The brainwaves are monitored by means of an amplifier and a computer-based instrument that processes the signal and provides the proper feedback. This is displayed to the trainee by means of a video game or other video display. The trainee is asked to make the video game go with his brain. As activity in a desirable frequency band increases, the video game moves faster, or some other reward is given. As activity in an adverse band increases, the video game is inhibited. Gradually, the brain responds to the cues that it is being given, and a “learning” of new brain wave patterns takes place. The frequencies we target, and the specific locations on the scalp where we listen in on the brain, are specific to the conditions we are trying to address, and specific to the individual.
Why does this training procedure work?
The brain is amazingly adaptable, and capable of learning. It can also learn to improve its own performance, if only it is given cues about what to change. By making information available to the brain about how it is functioning, and asking it to make adjustments, it can do so. When the mature brain is doing a good job of regulating itself, and the person is alert and attentive, the brain waves (EEG) show a particular pattern. We challenge the person to maintain this “high-performance”, alert and attentive state. Gradually, the brain learns, just like it learns anything else. And like with other learning, the brain tends to retain the new skill.
How long does training normally take?
EEG training is a learning process, and therefore, results are seen gradually over time. For most conditions, initial progress can be seen within about ten sessions. Initial training goals may be met by twenty sessions, at which time we re-assess and make further goals as needed. In the case of hyperactivity and attention deficit disorder, training is expected to take about forty sessions, or even more in severe cases.