Neurofeedback intensives are what they sound like, intensive training for people who want to get started and achieve their goals faster. They are good for people who have deadlines, who are willing to do brain training four or five days a week, and who perhaps have goals or barriers that make intensive training their best option. I find that people tend to request intensive training over the summer and during winter break, making it ideal for college students at home or high school students with flexible schedules. It also works well for retirees, people who work from home with the ability to leave their office at times, and and people such as teachers who get breaks from their usual work.
What is an intensive course of neurofeedback?
Typically, neurofeedback entails two or sometimes three hours a week of appointments. Intensives increase that amount to four or five times a week and on really rare occasion, twice daily sessions. The point is to complete a full round of brain training in at least half the time and sometimes even faster. I’ve had a few trainees who finished their training in as little as two and a half weeks.
Is it safe to go faster?
Yes. Neurofeedback is safe. It can, however, be tiring to have one’s brain work so hard on a daily basis. Until not too long ago, there were practitioners who offered five-day packages in which a person did neurofeedback for long hours each day. This was usually for a relaxing and meditative protocol called alpha training, but over the past few years, luxury facilities have opened that offer intensive neurofeedback using other protocols, as well.
Can one mix and match the intensive with more regular training?
Yes! It is possible to start off intensively, then back off to a more typical pace. It is also possible to start off more slowly, then work intensively when one’s schedule allows.
Who will this NOT work for?
Good candidates for intensive neurofeedback are the same as those for regularly timed training. They are willing to make the commitment of time and effort to show up and do the work, and they minimize behaviors that will undermine training. Working to get good and regular sleep, eating real food, doing some kind of movement, and being outside in nature all help get better results.
It’s okay if you don’t sleep well, because the relaxation from neurofeedback is likely to help you sleep better. What is not helpful are bad habits like staying up too late, then getting up too early.
It also isn’t the best for people who are taking month-long vacations. If you’re going to be away for more than two weeks at at time, we should talk, because it may be preferable to wait to get started until you’re back in town.
If you have the kind of goals that are outside the more normal 40 sessions, this may or may not be beneficial for you. I suggest contacting me for a conversation about whether it makes sense in your situation, because it will be more nuanced than can be discussed in a generalized blog post.
If you are just wanting to try neurofeedback a couple of times to see how it goes, this is not the path for you, either. It takes time and practice to get results, and dabbling won’t be helpful.
What is the cost?
The cost is the same as regular neurofeedback. I charge $320 for a brain map and $135 per session, charged 10 sessions at a time.
Do you have openings?
I can schedule a brain map, which is typically done before late afternoon, now. By the third week of June, I anticipate having multiple openings to begin training. Give me a call or email me through the contact form on this page for more information.