Although this name may not mean much to most of you reading this, if you have ever had a neurofeedback session or loved someone who has, you have benefited from the pioneering work of Sue Othmer. She and her husband Siegfried are largely responsible for taking neurofeedback out of university laboratory settings and a rarified Beverly Hills psychological practice into the world. Together, they brought neurofeedback to the masses, and the entire field now stands on their shoulders (along with those of Dr. Barry Sterman and Dr. Margaret Ayers).

I never had the pleasure of meeting Sue in person, but I learned from her and still use some of her protocols and teachings in my work. I have enormous respect for her kind manner, deep intuition when it came to running neurofeedback sessions, and clarity of speech when explaining her concepts. I learned yesterday that she has died, and I ask each of you to pause and respect in your own way not only Sue, but all the teachers who have brought you to where you are today.

If you would like to know more about her, here is a link to her biography.

P.S. On 2/10, I received a copy of her obituary. For those interested, here is a synopsis of quite a life.

Sue Othmer

Feb. 1, 1944 to Feb. 3, 2023

Susan FitzGerald Othmer, resident of Los Angeles for some 52 years, died at West Valley Post Acute skilled nursing facility on February 3, after three years of declining mental health.

Sue was a lover of nature who became a neuroscientist in the observational, naturalistic tradition of Oliver Sacks. The youngest of four, Sue was the mother of three children, a teacher and organizer, an extraordinary therapist and clinician, and a pioneer in neuroscience. Her life is best understood through the impact she has had on those around her. Unflappable, calm in the face of hardship, Sue navigated life with an even keel, a happy disposition, an incredible degree of self-sufficiency—always predisposed toward the positive, even in the face of severe adversity.

Sue was born February 1, 1944, in Boston, but grew up in Anchorage, Alaska, and in Bethesda, MD, where her father, Joseph Harold FitzGerald, served on the US Civil Aeronautics Board. Sue graduated in 1962 from Parkway High School in St. Louis, where her father was then President of Ozark Airlines. Sue took up the study of physics at Cornell. She was the only female in a large class, graduating in 1966 magna cum laude and with selection to Phi Beta Kappa. In this pursuit, she followed in the footsteps of her mother, Ruth Milliken FitzGerald, who had studied physics at Oxford, where she met her future husband. He was studying law as a Rhodes Scholar from the University of Montana.

In 1964, Sue married Siegfried Othmer, who was pursuing his Ph.D. in physics at Cornell. They had met in 1962 at a Ravi Shankar concert. For Siegfried, it had been love at first acquaintance. After graduating in 1966, Sue began graduate work in neurobiology at Cornell under Frank Rosenblatt, inventor of the Perceptron, the first modern neural network. Sue was investigating attentional mechanisms in the cat using the then-novel technique of EEG evoked potentials.

In 1968, their first son Brian was born. With a family move to Sherman Oaks in 1970 so that Siegfried could pursue a career in aerospace research at the Northrop Research and Technology Center, Sue continued her research at the UCLA Brain Research Institute under its Director, Ross Adey. The tragic death of her major adviser in a sailing accident in 1971 aborted her trajectory to a Cornell Ph.D. As UCLA had no provision for the transfer of graduate student credits, the journey to a Ph.D., already nearly complete, had to be abandoned.

In 1971, Sue founded the Topanga Canyon Docents, which she then led for nearly two decades. The primary purpose was to offer experience of the natural environment to our school-age children. At age 2, Brian started showing marked behavioral difficulties that presented ever more of a parenting challenge going forward. Karen was born in December 1973. By the age of seven months, Karen was exhibiting neurological deficits. A brain tumor was diagnosed, and after a series of unsuccessful medical procedures Karen succumbed at the age of 14 months. Kurt was born in November 1975.

Brian’s behavioral difficulties evolved into a seizure disorder that was managed medically, but major behavioral problems remained, and family life was severely challenging. In 1985, Sue had the opportunity to evaluate an experimental procedure called EEG biofeedback—now known as neurofeedback—that had been discovered somewhat fortuitously at the Sepulveda Veterans Administration Hospital by UCLA psychologist M. Barry Sterman. The method worked wonders on Brian’s remaining problems, resulting in his being able to go on to college a couple of years later.

It had become clear that Brian’s behavioral problems had to be understood in a physiological rather than a psychological frame. And it was equally clear that these behaviors could yield to a targeted training model—neurofeedback.

Sue and Siegfried decided to pursue the further development of this novel therapeutic method, and in this manner, Sue was able to return to her field of professional interest, neuroscience, while also meeting Brian’s needs.

Brian’s seizure disorder could not be brought fully under control with the medications, and he remained at great risk from spices in the diet. He succumbed to a nocturnal seizure in March of 1991, just months before his graduation from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Brian had had six good years with the neurofeedback. He was at the top of his class in computer science, and was selected for the math honorary, even though he had not been a math major.

In the late nineties, Sue made the pivotal discovery that with her method, the training had to be highly individualized for best results. This finding then drove subsequent protocol development, extending the field into entirely new terrain. Protocol developments were presented both in training course manuals and in Sue’s Protocol Guide, which is now in its seventh edition. Sue also played a key role in the annual conferences that brought the practitioner network together both in person or on-line. Sue’s findings are likely to have a major impact on the field of mental health.

Sue Othmer lived her life with dignity and purpose, and in a spirit of acceptance of what life dished out to her. Her mission in life was fulfilled in abundance. Sue is survived by her husband Siegfried Othmer, their son Kurt Richard Othmer, their grandson Colton Dean, and by an elder brother, Joseph Knowles FitzGerald of Moraga, CA. Two older sisters are deceased: Jean FitzGerald Jackson Seglie of Washington, DC, and Helen FitzGerald Cserr of North Dighton, MA, professor of physiology at Brown University. Remembrances may be sent to Siegfried@eeginfo.com. Memorial donations may be made to the Brian Othmer Foundation in the furtherance of Sue’s mission. A memorial service is being planned for March 18.

It occurred to me just a few days ago that I am now well into my 16^th year of offering neurofeedback. Perhaps if I focused more on advertising and had to generate content to attract attention, I would’ve taken more notice of milestone anniversaries. Since I didn’t, I missed the opportunity to do any big, business-y celebration of the day I reached the 15-year mark. I’m a little sad about that, because it would’ve been fun to host an outdoor party or open house in my building’s courtyard.

Still, I am making time to reflect on what 15 years means to me.  I am definitely slowing down to celebrate quietly the changes in people’s lives I’ve had the pleasure to facilitate over the years. It has been a gratifying journey.

Along the way, I’ve learned so much. Here are a few of the big lessons.

Neurofeedback is Pretty Cool.

I started out thinking that neurofeedback was the most remarkable tool I’d ever seen to help people optimize their well-being. In fact, I liked it so much that I stepped away from doing psychotherapy to focus exclusively on brain training. As I look back, I’m pleased with that decision. Developing expertise in the field, then keeping up with changes was and continues to be an effort that requires intense focus. I would not be the practitioner I am if I had dabbled in doing both counseling and neurofeedback.

Another thing I’ve learned is that my trust in the power of neurofeedback is well placed. Almost all of my clients who have been committed to making changes via neurofeedback have, in fact, made changes.  Some people have had mind-blowingly positive shifts in their lives. These people changed fast, hard, and had amazing experiences that exceeded their, and my, expectations. I wish everyone could have what they have. The vast majority of people, though, have had satisfying changes that helped them reach their goals. They represent what I tell people to expect, and they are gratifying to be with on a daily basis. A few have more modest changes—pleasing, but small—usually due to additional challenges such as autism.  Best of all have been the people who have reached out years later to share with me that their changes stuck and, in come cases, continued to improve.

And yes, I have had a few people over the years who have achieved almost no changes. In all but one—a lovely person from just a few years ago whose brain map did not match her outer experience at all—I could tell that there was a solid reason for the lack of change. Usually, it was someone who I should not have taken on as a client and did anyway. From them, I have learned to filter carefully who I agree to train.  I know I cannot help everyone, and I will continue to do my best to make honest assessments of who should and should not become one of my clients.

Whew, How Brain Science Changes!

I’ve always been one who wants to keep learning, and it’s a good thing, because our knowledge of the brain has been growing exponentially since the Decade of the Brain (the 1990s). Looking back shows me that as I look forward to the next 5-10 years, I will have to continue to study and keep up with the parts of neuroscience that affect neurofeedback. Despite having what I believe is a level of expertise, there is and will continue to be so much more to know. I think that’s exciting!

People Drive the Technology.

The field of neurofeedback is a surprisingly snarky one. There are many methodologies and approaches to brain training, and some adherents to each philosophical or technological approach try to sell others on how theirs is the one true way to do things right. The sniping among practitioners over who has the best and most efficacious system is downright disheartening, and I think it holds back the field in general. Over the years, I have learned that most approaches work just fine, as long as the practitioner is skilled. I still have opinions about so-called “plug and play”’ devices that are simplified and don’t have the learning curve that other neurofeedback devices do, but even those work for many people. I now think it is important to be open-minded about how each practitioner approaches brain training, because it is the skill of the practitioner that makes the biggest difference.

Human Connection Shouldn’t Change that Much

As our understanding of technology changes, my understanding of people remains firmly grounded in the idea that people grow in competent and affirming environments. This means that I am likely to continue with a one-on-one model of brain training. I’ve been encouraged many times to build a clinic so that I can see more people. In reality, that means hiring technicians and NOT working one-on-one anymore. It’s a shift that I do not think would be beneficial for my clients, even if it is a financially more lucrative move. I will continue to stay small and serve in my little corner of the world.

It may sound a little hokey, but I end up being terribly fond of almost all my clients. I think they feel that, and it becomes part of the experience of brain training in my office. Realizing this may be one of the most important things I can take with me from my first 15 years into the future.

I Like What I Do and Will Stick Around

And speaking of the future, I hope to be a part of it.

When I first started doing neurofeedback, several of the big names kept working into their 80s and 90s. I know of many who continued working until their health prohibited it. Even now, I am aware that folks in their 70s are still practicing and teaching what they know. Because there are so many out there, it is obvious to me that they are doing it because they’re passionate about changing lives and helping others, and their example strongly influences me. I see myself retiring eventually, but not any time soon, because I like what I do, and I don’t feel called to stop. The bug that bit my ancestors in the field of neurofeedback also bit me. I get them. And, I hope this little reflection helps you know a little more about me, how I’ve grown over the past 15 years, and where I’m headed.