Neurofeedback
Tell me if you’re having a problem with…
Poor sleep or insomnia?
Anxiety, fear, depression, anger, or other emotional problems?
Feeling unmotivated… having trouble concentrating… or procrastinating?
Being hyper-aware of your environment or suffering from PTSD?
Performance problems at work or school… or in sports or public?
Trouble in your relationships?
Looking for a solution that doesn’t involve medication?
Medication can be effective, but clients often tell me they don’t want to be on medication for the rest of their lives, they don’t like the side effects, or the harm taking medication can cause long term. Some medicines can increase suicidal behavior and may be cost-prohibitive.
Neurofeedback is a natural way to calm yourself, focus your attention, improve performance, and reduce stress.
Neurofeedback is an effective, long-lasting alternative to medication for altering your brain activity and reducing symptoms (medication may only last while taking the drug).
Here’s what it looks like…
The first thing we’ll do is a consultation. During that session, we’ll talk about what has brought you into the office, look at your general background and medical history, and address any questions or concerns you might have. At that time, we’ll schedule your first appointment to do neurofeedback.
Your neurofeedback session begins…
You’ll have a seat in a comfortable chair, and we’ll attach sensors to your scalp using a water-soluble paste. These electrodes will pick up on your brain waves, and they’ll be placed strategically based on what we learn about you during your consultation. Don’t worry, it doesn’t shock you, and it doesn’t hurt at all, I promise. The worst part of this is that I may mess up your hair a little.
You’ll sit comfortably in front of a computer monitor while watching and listening to a movie or cartoon. When your brain is focused and your body is calm, the picture gets bigger, and the volume increases. When you’re NOT focused, the picture gets smaller, and the volume decreases. As your brain detects these signal disruptions, it will naturally and automatically readjust.
All you have to do is relax and pay attention to the movie or cartoon. Your brain will do the rest. It’s that easy.
This is a highly personalized form of brain training.
So, let’s say you’re depressed.
The prefrontal cortex is the area of the brain that is just behind the forehead and is considered to be the part of the brain where we make decisions. The left side of the prefrontal cortex (left side of the forehead) is associated with positive thinking and mood. The right side tends to negative thinking and mood. So, we want to train the brain to activate the left side more or strengthen that left muscle of the brain.
The picture shows how active the “alpha” brain waves of the left side of a client compared to the right side. When the left was more active, the line went up, the volume got louder, and the picture got bigger.
Neurofeedback alerts you immediately when your brain makes the desired pattern. It uses rewards (like when the picture gets bigger) to tell your brain what you want it to do. The brain hears or sees the feedback and will start to increase or decrease the activity being monitored (in this case, increase the left side and decrease the right side). And, just like going to the gym, the more you practice, the stronger that muscle becomes.
From Frank Duffy, MD, Neurologist, Harvard Medical School Professor, and Head of the Neuroimaging Department at Boston Children’s Hospital:
“The literature, which lacks any negative study of substance, suggests that EEG biofeedback 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.”
Constantly struggling with emotional problems is tough.
If you have tried ‘talk therapy’ and it hasn’t worked, or you are tired of having to take medication to cope with the day-to-day struggles in life, neurofeedback may be the answer.
Give me a call: (307) 444-2308. We can schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation before jumping into anything.
This is about you and what you need to be comfortable. I can answer any questions you may have and see if we are a good fit. If we decide to move forward, we will set up your first appointment and get started.