About

The Brain Training Program

Making the commitment to train means time and money, and you want to ensure it's going to be well spent. Contact us if you have any questions related to  neurofeedback, how it applies to your particular situation and whether our program meets your needs. Should you decide to begin your training, we will  make an appointment for an in depth evaluation. 

One needs to exercise caution when speaking about expectations of success. Each person's experience is different with neurofeedback. This means that there are many different ways that time can be spent in training. The number of sessions you need to begin to see change depends upon a number of factors. These factors include the severity of your situation, how often you choose to train, other "co-existing" problems, and your personal commitment to change. 

Scheduling Sessions 
When it comes to scheduling sessions, consistency is key. If you want more consistent results, you will have to attend regularly. During the initial assessment, we will discuss the optimum number of sessions.

Program Length 
With consistent attendance, people with attention difficulties can begin to see good results and effective change at twenty or more sessions, if your brain responds to neurofeedback. Where problems are chronic and long standing, training can be recommended for forty sessions or more. Again, each program is designed to meet unique circumstances dictated by your brain's response to training. At every session, you have the opportunity to talk about what direction you want your training to take.  Together. we can shape the program to fit your needs. 

Biofeedback and Counseling designs an individual program for each client based on an in-depth interview and testing. This can take a couple of appointments to complete. The extensive process helps us get an accurate picture of your individual brain's "style" and how you respond under stress. It also alerts us to any conditions warranting medical or psychiatric consideration, which may be important in developing an appropriate, effective program for you. ​

What is Neurofeedback?

​Neurofeedback is brain exercise.  We observe your brain in action from moment to moment by monitoring you brain waves. We show you your brain activity and help you to change it by utilizing rewarding shifts toward a more appropriate and stable brain state. It is a gradual learning process. Neurofeedback is also called EEG biofeedback. The electroencephalogram (EEG) is another name for the brain wave recordings. In this context, biofeedback refers to the process by which you learn to change your brain waves and thereby gain better control over your brain's state.

How Does Neurofeedback Training Work? 
Neurofeedback training involves the combined use of computer and medical technology.  Brain wave frequencies are processed through an amplifier and recorded onto a computer. This is done by placing sensors on the scalp over specified areas of your brain which are suspected of causing problems. With the sensors in place, you are seated comfortably in front of a game screen.  

Monitored brain waves are then fed back to you in real time in the form of a video game on one screen. Meanwhile, a second screen simultaneously displays your brain's raw EEG signals on the therapist's screen. You are then instructed to simply watch the game screen as your brain plays the game. No joystick or mouse is used, your brain directs all the movement! As the game progresses, the neurofeedback clinician carefully assesses your body's responses, making adjustments to the training goals and level of challenge as needed according to how you feel. . 

Why Train?
Mental clarity improves when you operate a calmer, more effective brain. As, you learn to slow down "inner chatter" or activate a "sleepy" brain, you become more effective in responding to stress. You are also able to make psychological as well as physical adjustments from situation to situation more easily. Parenting seems less exhaustive, appointments are more easily kept, decision-making improves and mood swings and depression can often lift. 

Neurofeedback has been shown to be of remarkable value with school-age children experiencing focus and learning problems. When minds are less cluttered, they are more able to concentrate on school work. As their frustration tolerance level increases, they are much less prone to being overwhelmed while doing homework or seated in a noisy classroom. When their thoughts are more organized, they can focus more clearly on conversations and can begin to develop friendships and learn. 

People who are in counseling and/or under a doctor's care while training report those treatments become more effective as their brains become more stable. Many people with physical illnesses and conditions that become worse when stress or anxiety are present, such as chronic pain and headaches, respond well to neurofeedback. This can result in increased mobility and an overall better quality of life. Consistent training can "jump-start" or enhance the effectiveness of other therapies. Neurofeedback offers new hope for people who are unresponsive to traditional approaches. 
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Training Versus Medication
The goal of training is better overall functioning, not medication elimination. Neurofeedback does not presume to replace drug therapy when it is medically indicated. Biofeedback and Counseling strongly encourages you to continue your medication as instructed by your physician during training. However, as your brain begins to work more efficiently, your medications will as well. For those who cannot take or are only marginally responsive to medication, neurofeedback can offer an alternate route for relief. It can stimulate or inhibite brain activity at the same basic neurological level as medication. 

With training many people eventually find that they are able to reduce dosages or even cease taking some prescription drugs. This is only after careful consultation and planning with the prescribing physician. For this reason it is important that clients communicate their neurofeedback experience and strides made in training with their doctor so accommodations can be made as training progresses.

Cost

Chances are, if you are looking into neurofeedback, you have tried many different approaches to deal with your situation. You've probably invested a lot of time and money searching for successes which never came. 

When you are in a personal crisis and searching for answers, you want a program that makes sense and brings results. The truth is that no one program has all the answers. However, neurofeedback can offer the key to bringing the "real" you back into control. Used in combination with counseling and other therapies, it is a powerful investment that can affect the rest of your life. Let us help you create a supportive program the suits your overall needs. 

Most insurance companies pay for our services. We are in many insurance networks and bill those services to your insurance for you. We can also check your benefits and give you an estimation of how much you will pay out of pocket before you attend your session.  If you are not covered by insurance, we also have private pay rates. For more information, please contact our office.