Neurofeedback

A Drug Free Treatment For:

Attention Problems ADD/ADHD

Anxiety

Depression

Some Sleep Disorders

Pain

Bipolar Mood Disorders

Peak performance of memory, concentration, focus, anxiety (athletes, performers, business persons)

What's exciting about Neurofeedback?

Neurofeedback is an effective DRUG FREE treatment for ADHD, Anxiety, Depression, and a number of other disorders without the use of strong psychoactive medications and the side effects that accompany them.

With neurofeedback, the brain actually changes instead of just adding a chemical to mask the symptoms of the deregulated brain.

Unlike medications that blanket the entire brain in a chemical, neurofeedback specifically targets the areas of the brain that need "tuning up."

Neurofeedback is safe.

What is Neurofeedback?

Neurofeedback is NOT shock therapy. It measures electrical brain activity, the electroencephalogram (EEG), and is sometimes called EEG biofeedback. Neurofeedback has been around for decades but recent advancements have improved its availability and effectiveness. Neurofeedback is based on hospital technology that monitors brain-waves using sensors placed on the scalp and earlobes. The EEG signal is then filtered into signals that correspond, for example, to states of relaxation, alertness, or stress. This information is analyzed by a computer and monitored by the therapist while visual and auditory (sometimes tactile) feedback is given to the person via a second computer. This allows us to reward the brain for changing its own activity to more appropriate patterns. The procedure allows direct access to the central nervous system and allows people to learn to modify their brain to function more effectively without medications.

What is Neurofeedback good for?

The following syndromes have published evidence of effectiveness using Neurofeedback:

ADHD/ADD

Anxiety and Relaxation

Addiction

Depression

Learning Disabilities

Peak Performance (athletes, business persons)

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Sleep Disorders

The following syndromes have clinical reports of effectiveness using Neurofeedback:

Attachment Disorder

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic Pain

Cognitive Decline in the Elderly

Eating Disorder

Fibromyalgia

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Parkinson's Disease

Tourette's Syndrome

Traumatic Brain Injury

This field is continually growing with more and more solid research being published demonstrating effectiveness. This is particularly true with symptoms of anxiety, depression and ADHD/ADD.

How can Neurofeedback treat so many disorders?

Neurofeedback can target any aspect of brain function that we can measure. So many difficulties in the brain are the result of over-activity, under-activity, or deregulation in one or more areas of the brain. The specific areas of the brain that need 'tuning-up' can be trained to activate, calm, or regulate themselves with respect to total brain functioning.

How long does treatment take?

Sessions are 45-50 minutes with 30 minutes for the biofeedback and 15-20 minutes for set-up and processing. Sessions are typically scheduled one to three times per week. Since the brain is learning something new, people tend to get stronger results more quickly when they attend more than once per week. Neurofeedback is a gradual learning process. The average length of treatment is 20 to 60 sessions with 40 sessions being average. Most individuals will being to notice changes after just a few sessions, with target symptoms usually improving within 10 sessions.

Are there any risks?

There is no evidence either from my experience or from the literature that the treatment is harmful or that it creates any lasting negative side effects. It is a non-invasive procedure. In fact, any side effects seem to be in terms of unanticipated improvement in other problems that were not the focus of treatment. Some clients have reported a temporary worsening in some symptoms including feeling more anxious, more distractible, or more difficulty sleeping, etc. These changes were not serious and adjusting treatment typically resolves these problems quickly.