Neurofeedback has started to take the world by storm. Professional treatment centers, private practitioners, and clinics are starting to offer Neurofeedback. Ironically, Neurofeedback has been around for many decades and has had a lot of research backing its efficacy.
Neurofeedback often starts with a Brain Map. Systems can record EEG data from the brain by placing sensors on the scalp. Recording of EEG information has been used for decades like in sleep studies where a client wears a cap and activity is recorded, brain waves are being measured, and instrumentation and databases are then able to create reports on activity. Brain wave recording has been used for decades for sleep, epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, and sensory issues. Over time, behavioral health scientists began to study brain activity as there was the noticing of brain waves correlated with OCD, ADD, ADHD, Anxiety, Depression, Autism, Dyslexia, Learning Disorders, Migraines, memory, concentration issues, and even the presence of trauma.
These brainwaves, they discovered could be “trained” to improve memory, focus, alertness, restfulness, depression, anxiety, and even trauma. If a brain wave activity was too fast for example, there might be an issue with anxiety, concentration, or even mood. It seems over time, our brains can be programmed into bad habits or we can be born with genetic differences that can lend to behavior health issues.
Research on Neurofeedback
Some of the most efficacious published neurofeedback studies started in the space of attention deficit disorders. Clients reported marked results in memory and concentration after 10-20 sessions and ultimately an increase in positive mood. Researchers then began to explore similar avenues for anxiety, OCD, memory, concentration, sensory issues, autism, depression, and even trauma itself. It seems the brain like other systems in the body can be gently trained toward more positive functioning. In fact, the brain and body seem to naturally want to lean toward efficiency and scientists noticed the results could often be permanent. It was as if the brain could be supported in new routes just like muscle movements in the body could be can be trained and learned.
Neurofeedback has sparked the curiosity of general researchers, medical services, behavioral scientists, holistic health practitioners, functional medicine doctors, and behavioral health clinicians. It seems as though the “functioning of the brain” seems to dive into almost any helping professional service. For behavioral health clinicians, the almost negligible negative side effects made neurofeedback an area of interest for individuals who wanted to have options besides talk therapy or pharmacology (or along with other modalities).
My most common client is usually looking for help for themselves or researching for a family member. They often struggle are struggling with attention issues, ADD, OCD, spectrum disorders, PTSD, CPTSD, panic attacks, anxiety, depression, sleep issues, sensory issues, headaches, or feeling too sluggish mentally and unable to slow down.
We often get requests for brain maps to use as a diagnostic test to help explore concerns that seem to have very little information. Just to get an idea of what is happening in their brain activity. Quite honestly, it is fascinating to see the activity in your brain in real time! Many of my clients have heard a little bit about Neurofeedback and Brain Mapping and they often were looking for something that is outside of regular approaches or to supplement their current situation. A common situation is clients have tried a medication or a treatment that has had minimal effects or they are wanting a different option to try before they do just a stand-alone traditional approach.
We have clients who may need certain types of medication and therapies and we certainly are not in opposition. In fact, we can actually work with and support many clients who need to work with other providers. We of course want clients to have as much functionality as possible. Some of my clients are well-read and know that regimes like neurofeedback are up and coming and have a lot of research mounting. We are expecting in the next decade, the use of technology to merge with behavioral health and bring a useful marriage of IT and mind, body, and spirit.
We’d love to answer any questions you have
If you’ve been curious about whether neurofeedback is a good treatment option for you, please contact us. We’ll reach out to you, answer any questions you may have, and help set you up with a consultation.