Who is Neurofeedback Therapy for?
If you struggle with depression, anxiety, stress, trauma (PTSD), sleep/insomnia, ADHD/ADD, or impulsive behaviours and are looking for a non-medicated, non-talk-therapy, scientifically-based way to train your brain to be calm, focused, and clear, keep reading, as Neurofeedback might be exactly what you’re looking for.
Neurofeedback can also be used in conjunction with talk-therapy.
What is Neurofeedback?
Neurofeedback is a scientifically-based, non-invasive, drug-free form of brain training that allows the brain to learn self-regulation skills and optimal ways of functioning – it reduces your symptoms, improves resilience, focus, emotional control, and more.
If that sounds helpful, you might be curious about how it works.
How Does Neurofeedback Work?
While sitting in a comfortable chair, sensors are placed on your head. These sensors pick up and read your brain activity, which gets sent to a computer for processing. Whenever the computer detects a change, inconsistency, or shift in the brain activity, the computer sends an audible signal to the headphones you are wearing that encourages your brain to “reset” and self-correct – kind of like how when you’re driving, and your GPS detects that you’ve taken a wrong turn, it beeps and provides new directions to help you get back on the correct route.
This process allows the nervous system to be recalibrated, and just like training any other part of your body, repeated sessions of Neurofeedback help your brain get better and better at functioning fluidly, bringing mental clarity and emotional stability, helping to improve all areas of your life. This training helps you be less reactive, reduces feelings of anxiety and depression, improves your ability to fall asleep, and have your brain be more relaxed in general.
Session frequency is ideally once or twice per week to start. Because Neurofeedback is a ground-up approach, over time, session frequency can progressively reduce. Since every individual brain is different, we cannot fully predict the total number of sessions each individual will need. The good news is your sessions are covered under most regular benefit plans!
Looking to deep dive for more specific information? Check out the sections below.
Who Should Use Neurofeedback?
Individuals who…
- Struggle with depression, high anxiety, and/or OCD symptoms.
- Struggle with trauma symptoms (PTSD) may find this is an excellent way to stabilize their defensive systems.
- Are looking to manage symptoms of ADHD/ADD.
- Want to fall asleep easier (have insomnia)
- Want improved cognitive performance at school and/or work
- Are looking to train their brain to stress less
- Children and adults who are looking for an alternative to medications, or struggle with medication side effects.
- Individuals who don’t want to attend talk therapy
Do you have a specific condition you’re looking to address?
Neurofeedback Therapy for Depression
Neurofeedback may be considered a new treatment for patients with depression, even after the use of antidepressants.
According to a few preliminary studies, neurofeedback targeting alpha brain waves in the frontal cortex has shown some early promise in potentially treating depression.
In one interesting study, EEG-based neurofeedback training reduced depression symptoms, even when this training was “disguised” as a game.
Some studies have reported improvements in both executive function and depressive symptoms following neurofeedback treatment.
Neurofeedback for Anxiety
Neurofeedback can be a valuable treatment for several disorders, but it works exceptionally well for anxiety and stress-related disorders as they are caused by dysregulated brain activity.
Neurofeedback addresses this dysregulation at the root of the problem and allows regulation, which decreases symptoms of anxiety. According to a few early studies, patients who received neurofeedback training to enhance their alpha wave activity reported reductions in anxiety and other stress-related symptoms.
In these cases, neurofeedback may be able to achieve not only short-term symptom reduction, but may increase long-term resilience to future stress and anxiety as well.
Neurofeedback for Trauma (PTSD)
There have been many studies showing that neurofeedback can help with symptoms of PTSD.
Neurofeedback for trauma helps the individual to improve their brainwave patterns to allow for higher rates of either alpha (relaxation) or beta waves (organization, focus, follow-through, and basic learning functions). Neurofeedback helps with the frequency of these brain waves by making sure they’re happening frequently enough, which is crucial to overall wellbeing.
This supports the goal of shifting people from a hyper-aroused state to a calmer one, allowing individuals to experience a sense of safety and react more appropriately to everyday events.
Neurofeedback for Sleep
Neurofeedback teaches individuals to tap into their mind-body connection by regulation. They then use this ability to help them fall asleep faster and also improve their quality of sleep.
Neurofeedback for ADHD/ADD
Neurofeedback for ADHD is based on findings that many individuals with ADHD show low levels of arousal in frontal brain areas. With Neurofeedback, the brain may be trained to increase the levels of arousal and thereby reduce ADHD symptoms. Neurofeedback allows the individual the ability to self regulate.
Neurofeedback for Autism
Neurofeedback may help reduce hyperactive and impulsive behaviours often seen in some autistic individuals. Autism is often accompanied by sensory sensitivities. Neurofeedback may assist in improving sensory integration and reducing sensory overload.
Neurofeedback Therapy for Learning and Peak Physical/Mental Performance
Because neurofeedback enhances concentration and mental focus, students use this as a critical tool to improve their performance in school. For individuals who take part in either high-performance or leisure sporting activities, neurofeedback may improve both mental and physical performance.
The FDA has even approved neurofeedback as effective for stress reduction. The American Pediatric Academy has endorsed neurofeedback as a “Level 1/Best Support” treatment for children with ADHD. Furthermore, the APA has equated neurofeedback with medication in terms of efficacy for resolving ADHD.
SOURCES TO HELP REFERENCES
https://www.perplexity.ai/search/What-is-Neurofeedback-qsvv1VCaS1KGx9.sFzsxWg
https://consensus.app/results/?q=Is%20neurofeedback%20an%20effective%20treatment%3F
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a psycho-social intervention method
The main goal of CBT is to improve mental health. CBT focuses on challenging and obstructive cognitive distortions (unhealthy thoughts) and behaviors, which will help to improve emotional regulation and the development of personal coping strategies.
CBT is used for the treatment of a number of mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based psychotherapy method
DBT has been proven useful in treating mood disorders, suicidal ideation, and for change in behavioral patterns such as self-harm, substance abuse and improving communication among family members.
DBT is a process in which the therapist and client work with acceptance and change-oriented strategies.
Couples/Family Counselling
A group of patients meet to discuss their problems together under the supervision of a therapist
Person-centered counselling
Person centered counselling covers most meetings with a counsellor. This modality allows for a safe space for the person to talk. Together with the counsellor the person will use their own resources and reflect on their situation and find their own answers. This approach is good for general distress. It is most effective when the person is well-motivated.
Psychodynamic Therapy
Psychodynamic therapy emphasis is on how a person’s upbringing has contributed to their unconscious thoughts and perceptions. It focuses on how these perceptions are now affecting their current behavours.
Humanistic Counselling
Humanistic counseling is a form of talk therapy. This form of counselling is based on the assumption that every individual is unique and always has room to grow mentally and emotionally
Integrative Therapy
Integrative Therapy combines different therapeutic tools, approaches and strategies to fit the needs of the individual client.