I am currently pursuing my Neurofeedback certification in the Othmer Method, founded by the practitioners at EEG Info. Although Neurofeedback has applications for all manner of life and developmental problems, my specialties are with ADD, mood problems, peak performance, PTSD and non-organic brain functioning conditions typically treated by a Counselling Psychologist.
Neurofeedback training improves attention, cognitive abilities, and emotional regulation. Neurofeedback can help to reduce or eliminate a number of common symptoms such as anxiety, stress reactions, depression, sleep problems, headaches, migraines, and emotional distress. Neurofeedback can also help relieve a variety of conditions such as mood swings, PMS, and organic brain disorders including seizures, stroke, and traumatic brain injury.
Neurofeedback is training in self-regulation. Good self-regulation is necessary for optimal brain function. Self-regulation training enhances the function of the central nervous system and thereby improves mental performance, emotional control and physiological stability.
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In the case of organic brain disorders, it is just a matter of getting the brain to function better rather than curing the condition. In the case of disregulation there really is no disease to be cured. Where disregulation is the primary issue, self-regulation is likely the remedy. But the term cure again would not apply.
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Individuals of any age can benefit from EEG training. Neurofeedback can help a variety of childhood problems including bedwetting, nightmares, attention deficits and other forms of disrupting and disturbing behaviors. Neurofeedback can assist adolescents who might struggle with anxiety and depression, or drug and alcohol use. Neurofeedback can help maintain good brain function as we age. And peak performers use EEG training to enhance their abilities in sports, business and the arts.
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Sensors are attached to the scalp with EEG paste to record your brainwaves. It is painless and does not involve the application of any voltage or current to your brain, so it is entirely non-invasive.
A computer processes the brain waves and extracts certain information from them. The ebb and flow of your brain waves and the specific information obtained from them, are shown back to you in the form of a video game. You are instructed how to play the video game using only your brainwaves. (Everyone can do it.) The specific brain wave frequencies we reinforce and the sensor locations on the scalp are unique to each individual.
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If the problem being addressed is one of brain disregulation, then the answer is yes, and that covers a lot of ground. Neurofeedback involves learning by the brain and if that brings order out of disorder, the brain will continue to use its new capabilities, and thus reinforce them.
Matters are different when we are dealing with degenerative conditions like Parkinson's or the dementias, or when we are working against continuing insults to the system, as may be the case in the autism spectrum. In such cases the training needs to be continued at some level over time. Allergic susceptibilities and food intolerances make it more difficult to hold the gains. Poor digestive function will pose a problem, as does poor nutrition. A child living in a toxic environment (in either the physical or the psychological sense) will have more difficulty retaining good function.
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Through our twenty years of experience with Neurofeedback / EEG Biofeedback, we have reached the point of having very high expectations for success in training. When such success is not forthcoming, or if the gains cannot hold, then there is usually a reason for that which needs to be pursued. In the normal course of events, Neurofeedback ought to work with everybody. That is to say, nearly everyone should make gains that they themselves would judge to be worthwhile. Our brains are made for learning and skill-acquisition. On the other hand, we are working with many families whose expectations have been lowered by their past experience. And they need to see progress before they will share our optimism. We understand that.
It turns out that among the vast majority of clients (95% in one clinician's experience) the actual outcome exceeds the prior expectations. Against such low expectations, the changes that can be produced with Neurofeedback may even appear miraculous. One EEG Biofeedback office has a sign on its front desk: "We expect miracles. If none occur, something has gone wrong." What appears miraculous in all of this is really nothing more than the incredible capacity of our brains to recover function when given a chance.
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With successful Neurofeedback / EEG Biofeedback training, the medications targeting brain function may very well no longer be needed, or they may be needed at lower dosages, as the brain takes over more of the role of regulating itself. This decrease in medications is particularly striking when the medications play a supportive role in any event, as is often the case for the more severe disorders that we are targeting with our work. It is important for clients to communicate with their prescribing physician regarding Neurofeedback / EEG Biofeedback and medications.
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Neurofeedback is not yet taught in most medical schools or psychology graduate programs. Many professionals are therefore unaware of the power of this technique. The field is growing rapidly and as it does more professionals will be informed and educated in Neurofeedback.
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