To some, neurofeedback therapy may sound like something out of a science fiction movie, but this technology has been used to treat mental health disorders such as ADHD and PTSD as well as emotional disorders and brain injury rehabilitation since the late 1960s. If you’re interested in this alternative treatment but aren’t sure what it is or how it works, we’ve got everything you need to know about neurofeedback therapy in Denver right here!
Neurofeedback Therapy Explained
Neurofeedback, a form of biofeedback informed by a qEEG, is a non-invasive therapy that uses electrodes placed on your scalp to monitor your brainwaves. Your therapist can interpret these signals and use them to teach you how to alter brain wave patterns in a way that helps your brain reduce stress and anxiety outside of sessions on it's own. Neurofeedback therapy is an effective form of treatment for ADHD, anxiety disorders, depression and other conditions.
The concept behind neurofeedback is relatively simple: electrodes are placed on your head with paste that helps your clinician monitor and then train certain different types of brainwaves. By learning how to alter your brainwaves in particular ways, you can help treat conditions such as ADD/ADHD, depression, anxiety and more.
Benefits of Neurofeedback Training
Scientific studies have shown that neurofeedback can help treat a wide range of symptoms, such as headaches, migraines, anxiety disorders and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It’s believed that neurofeedback has a positive effect on both brain activity and cognitive processes. Without medication, there are few side effects noted from neurofeedback training.
Additionally, because it doesn’t involve using drugs or medications, it may be an appealing option for those who wish to avoid taking medication. However, before undergoing any type of treatment for any condition, you should always consult with your neurofeedback clinician first. You want to make sure that he or she will work with your current health care provider if necessary.
Positive Outcomes of Neurofeedback Training
To know if neurofeedback therapy works, you have to understand how it works. We do brain-mapping in person at our Denver office, so we can see what’s going on underneath your emotional response or behavior. Once we see those patterns that are in charge of causing your emotional issues, we can choose a treatment plan for you. Here are some of the positive outcomes that our clients report after a few months of therapy
• Improved focus and concentration
• Reduced anxiety and depression
• Better memory and recall abilities
• Less stress and more calmness throughout their day
• Increased ability to handle daily life situations with ease
• Greater sense of well-being overall
• Improved relationships with family members, friends, co-workers and partners/spouses
• Better sleep patterns
1. Schedule a Consultation to See If You Are A Good Candidate for Neurofeedback: In order to determine if you’re a good candidate for neurofeedback, we would do a thorough evaluation of your symptoms and mental health history with one of our licensed therapists to see if you are likely to benefit from treatment. If you have been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, ADHD, or any other psychological disorder that has not responded well to conventional treatments like medication or therapy, neurofeedback may be able to help.
2. Complete a qEEG Brain Map: The first step to neurofeedback is understanding what is going on in your brain through a brain map. This will provide you with data about your brain activity. Think of it like getting your heart checked; a doctor would check your pulse, blood pressure, etc., and that’s essentially what a QEEG Brain Map does for your brain to understand what patterns are contributing to your symptoms.
3. Develop an Individualized Treatment Plan with your Therapist: After reviewing your qEEG Brain Map results, we will discuss how neurofeedback can help to balance your brain activity and reduce symptoms associated with a variety of mental health disorders including anxiety, depression, ADHD, OCD, and PTSD. We will also talk about other treatment options like psychotherapy that may be helpful in conjunction with neurofeedback. Together, you and your therapist will develop an individualized treatment plan based on what has worked for you in the past and what might work best for you now.
4. Start Neurofeedback Sessions! Once you have completed all three steps, you are ready to start neurofeedback sessions! You’ll come into our office twice per week for 45 minute sessions (we offer twice the training time in session for the same price as 30 minute sessions frequently offered in Denver). During these sessions, electrodes will be placed on your head and scalp to measure your brain activity during a series of exercises designed to stimulate certain parts of your brain. Your therapist will use these measurements to determine if adjustments need to be made during future sessions.