Neuro Biofeedback is a learning strategy that enables clients to alter their own brain waves.  When information about a client’s own brain wave characteristics is made available to them, they can learn to change them.  You can think of it as exercise for the brain.

The brain is amazingly adaptable and capable of learning.  It can also learn to improve its own performance, if it is given cues about what to change.  When the mature brain is doing a good job of regulating itself and the person is alert and attentive, the brain waves (EEG) show a particular pattern.  We challenge the person to maintain this “high performance”, alert and attentive state.  Gradually, the brain learns this new state and the brain retains the new skill.

Some insurance will cover the therapy as a normal behavior health benefit.  We do check prior to the start of treatment to determine the amount of benefits you may have available.

If your insurance does not cover the services or if you are out of behavioral health benefits, the cost of a 30-minute session is $50.00.  We do sell blocks of 20 sessions for $850.00 and a block of 40 sessions for $1,500.00 if prepaid.

What is it used for?

1.      Attention Deficit Disorder

2.      Depression

3.      Sleep Disorders

4.      Anxiety

5.          Conduct Disorder/Oppositional Defiant Disorder

How is it done?

An initial interview is done to obtain a description of symptoms and to get a picture of the health and family history.  Some testing may be done as well.  On the next session the client is hooked to the biofeedback computer by having a noninvasive electrode attached on the scalp and two other electrodes clipped to the earlobes.  The first active session maps the brain waves.  The game computer is placed a few feet away directly in front of the client.  The client interacts with the game computer for a specific period of time.  The therapist is positioned by the client and monitors the client’s EEG time during the session without disturbing the session.

The EEG biofeedback training is a painless, non-invasive procedure.  The brain waves are monitored by means of a computer-based instrument that processes the signal and provides the proper feedback.  This is displayed to the client by means of a video game or other video display along with audio signals.  The trainee is asked to mentally manipulate the video screen.  As activity in a desirable frequency band increases, the video game moves faster, or some other reward is given.  As activity in an adverse band increases, the video game is inhibited.  Gradually, the brain responds to the cues that it is being given, and a “learning” of new brain wave patterns takes place.  The new pattern is one that is closer to what is normally observed in individuals without such disabilities.

What results do we obtain?

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder responds to this treatment, leading to more successful school and home performance.  Cognitive function may improve as well.  In several controlled studies, increases of 19 - 23 points in IQ score were found for a representative group of ADHD children.  Behavior may improve in other ways as well:  If the child has a lot of temper tantrums, is belligerent and even violent or cruel, these aspects of behavior may come under the child’s control.

•  Depression symptoms in adults and children can be alleviated by this treatment.  There can be a gradual recovery of “affect” or emotional responsiveness, a reduction of fatigue, an improvement of sleep and appetite and a sense of contentment with life.

• Anxiety symptoms and panic attacks drop off in frequency and severity in response to treatment.  The brain learns to not overreact with the flight-or-fight response and the person’s behavioral response becomes more under his/her control.

• Conduct Disorder/ Oppositional/Defiant Disorder. These disorders are believed to be the result of neuropathway dysfunction.  EEG Neurofeedback rebuilds healthy pathways thus reducing emotional overreaction and improving behavior.

It is not possible to predict with certainty that training will be successful for a particular condition.  But for more common conditions we see, a reasonable prediction of outcome is usually possible.  More important, however, the effectiveness of the training can usually be assessed early in the course of training.  For most conditions, there are no known adverse side effects of the training, provided that it is conducted under professional guidance.

How frequent should the training sessions be?

In the initial stages of leaning, the sessions should be regular and frequent with two, three or even more sessions per week.  After learning begins to consolidate, the pace can be reduced.