Connect with Your Body and Mind

Neurofeedback is the frontier of neuroscience and is the result of decades of studies and research of brain activity and performance. Neurofeedback can give individuals struggling with emotional, cognitive and physical symptoms that have been stuck in high- and low-arousal nervous system presentations the opportunity to self-regulate and reconnect with their internal resilience. The core effect of neurofeedback is to achieve calming and stabilization that can be recognized with a more clear state of mind, access to emotion regulation, and regulation of internal organs.

Band or High-Frequency Neurofeedback is a non-invasive, drug-free and evidence-based treatment that uses neuro-modulation training to allow the user to receive instant feedback of the electrical activity in the brain.

Once the individual is able to learn their brain patterns, they are able to regulate it to improve brain function, bringing regulation to either fast or slow waves.

Neurofeedback helps the brain by providing feedback through operant conditioning. The brain learns to receive reward when achieving certain frequencies and inhibit others, thereby way creating more effective and desired patterns that reflect synchronized internal rhythms.

Infra-Low Frequency Neurofeedback is also a non-invasive, drug-free model, that allows the brain to recognize his own brain activity to self-correct to achieve better self-regulation and brain performance. This neurofeedback training can identify patterns of dysregulation based on a symptoms assessment, and through localized placements, allows clinicians and clients to communicate levels of arousal and to establish protocols to achieve optimal frequencies for training to promote better brain function.

It requires minimal effort from the trainee by simply sitting and watching a game or video on the screen, while being connected with a set of electrodes to a Neuroamp amplifier. This equipment reads and transmits the electrical activity to a computer program to provide feedback to the brain through visual, tactile and sound signals. By training different regions of the brain as needed, the individual’s brain learns to shift to states of relaxation, concentration, and other regulatory visceral systems.

There are 3 basic steps that comprise the Neurofeedback process:

An intake process: Where a clinician conducts a symptoms-based assessment and other standardized assessments or an EEG (electroencephalogram) to map specific deficits in the brain, to establish training areas and determine the right Neurofeedback application, protocol, and electrode placement.

Optimization is a dynamic process of establishing the OTF (Optimal Training Frequency), that will consolidate and promote neuroplasticity. During this process, the client and clinician will establish an interactive feedback process of communication to tailor and fine-tune the frequency to achieve better results during training.

Reassessment is the pre and post evaluation of report of symptoms.

Neurofeedback has achieved a great deal of evidence-based recognition in treating ADHD, however, the fact is that neurofeedback can do much more. From treating developmental trauma, to calming states of anxiety and depression to creating better sleep patterns and reducing pain, neurofeedback has been highly effective. Neurofeedback can help to stabilize over-arousal and under-arousal activation, which can be applied to improve processes of attention, cognitive, immune, endocrine and autonomic nervous systems, as well as behavioural and emotional states.

Each brain is unique in responding to wave training. Some clients might be able to notice changes between 4‑10 sessions, while others might need longer periods to see more vivid and clear resolutions. Duration depends on the presentation of symptoms, medications and lifestyle. Typical treatment courses range between 10‑40 sessions.

It is important to remember that neurofeedback focuses to help the brain to learn and consolidate frequency patterns in different regions. Therefore, more sessions may be required to achieve lasting, desired frequencies to synchronize rhythms in the brain.

For example, a minimum training program for ADD will be between 10‑20 sessions, approximately 40 for ADHD. Clients with ADHD who are on medication may require more than 40 sessions.

The learning process can be influenced by several factors, such as lifestyle, diet and nutrition, gut and brain issues, medication, history of concussions, developmental issues and how long these factors have been a part of the client’s life. Clients with more complicated conditions could need over 40 sessions to achieve sustained improvements. Observable improvements can be experienced during the process, but its true goal is to make these improvements long-lasting.

Many clients start neurofeedback training while on medication. Through the course of the training process they are able to gradually, with the support of their physician, reduce doses to a desired level.

• Follow recommendations around sleep, nutrition and exercise. Being overly hungry can impact alertness and focus and the ability to sit still. This is especially true of children and teenagers.
• Consult with our clinic about any medications you are taking that may affect your brainwave patterns. Do not discontinue your medications without your doctor’s supervision. However, know that some medications affect your EEG activity.
• If possible, wash your hair and avoid using styling gels, etc. on the day of your QEEG Brain Map. Gels and conditioners can at times make it more difficult for the EEG sensors to make good contact with your scalp.
• If you wear contact lenses, be prepared to remove them during your session (these can cause excess eye blinks / movements). Bring any contact lens solution and containers that you will need if you remove your contacts.

Either long or short sessions may be beneficial, depending on the client's unique brain and process. Typically, clients can train between 30 to 45 minutes of training time. It is recommended that clients train as often as possible to achieve consolidation.

Some clients could train between once per week, to two, or even three times per week.

There are no serious side effects. After training, clients may feel the effects of training, much like after doing physical exercise. Clients may feel tired and have a slight headache, but that is not typical. These reactions are temporary and are a sign that of a brain responding to training. Any effects should be communicated to the Neurotherapist to adjust the protocol and tailor the protocols to help regulate or subside these abreaction responses.