What is Neurofeedback?

Neurofeedback is a non-invasive treatment that encourages the brain to develop healthier patterns of activity. The goal of treatment is not only to change how you think and feel, but also to change your brain on a biological level for better functioning.

Recent research has shown that when given the proper support, the brain has the ability to change and adapt, a property known as neuroplasticity. Neurofeedback can encourage and speed up this process of neuroplasticity.

Words alone are often not enough. Simply telling someone to calm down or focus doesn’t solve the underlying issues of conditions like anxiety or ADHD. On the other hand, neurofeedback allows us to speak to the brain with its own language: Brain Waves.

In mental health disorders, brain wave patterns can become disrupted, leading to unhealthy biological activity and behavior. For example, people with anxiety disorders often have too much fast brain wave activity, which leaves them feeling on edge, hyper-aroused, and panicky. On the other hand, those with ADHD can have an excess of slower brain wave activity, resulting in symptoms like brain fog, daydreaming, and trouble focusing.

The goal of neurofeedback therapy is to help modulate these dysregulated brain wave patterns.

Brain Waves

Our brain cells communicate through electrical impulses known as brain waves. Each brain wave has two properties:

Frequency, which is how fast the wave travels.
Amplitude, which is how tall the wave gets when it goes up and down.

In general, faster brain waves are associated with focus, thinking, and awareness, while slower brain waves are associated with relaxation, meditation, and deep sleep.

How Does A Neurofeedback Session Work?

A typical Neurofeedback process:

Set goals for treatment: Goals are based on a patient’s condition and the type of neurofeedback treatment needed.
Measure brain wave activity: One of our clinicians will starts by placing electrodes on the patient’s scalp to obtain a real-time measurement of their brain waves (EEG). After electrodes are set-up, the patient may watch a an audio/visual stimulator as neurofeedback training begins.
Train the brain with positive feedback. When the EEG detects that a patient’s brain wave activity has met the goals of treatment, the brain is rewarded with positive feedback. For example, a patient with anxiety may be rewarded with a larger movie screen or pleasant audio feedback when their brain makes more of the slower alpha waves and less of the faster beta waves.
Repeat training. The EEG continues to monitor the patient’s brain waves and give positive feedback when goals of treatment are met. This training loop gives the brain thousands of opportunities to self-correct and be rewarded in one session.

A typical session takes about 1.5 - 2 hrs proceeded by a follow up with Candice to review the findings. Changes to the brain typically happen slowly and over time. For that reason, it can take many sessions to achieve long-term changes in symptoms and brain functioning.

What is Neurofeedback?

TYPES OF NEUROFEEDBACK

Standard Neurofeedback

Anxiety Neurofeedback (Synchrony)

Trauma-Processing Neurofeedback (Alpha - Beta)

How Does A Neurofeedback Session Work?

What Can Neurofeedback Treat?

RESEARCH