If you come in to my office for a consultation, you get to see first-hand what neurofeedback in my office looks and feels like, but many people are maintaining a COVID lockdown or are still in the planning stages and want to know without reaching out. I get that and thought it might be helpful if I described what to expect, especially because not every practitioner conducts sessions the same way. Here’s what sessions are like with me;
The Logistics.
I offer:
Twice Weekly Sessions, at a Minimum. Just like you can’t go to a gym once a week and expect to see fast results, once weekly sessions are an incredibly slow way to achieve results, so I ask clients to commit to twice weekly appointments. When someone feels an urgency for faster results, I am willing to see people up to five days a week. I have, on occasion, even had people come twice daily for sessions. This level of intensity, however, is neither necessary nor desirable for most people with busy lives.
One-Hour Sessions. If you work with me, each session lasts up to an hour. In that one hour, it’s my goal to offer 40 minutes of actual brain training. The remaining time is for set-up and clean-up, as well as sharing feedback on progress made.
It is also important to note that it is not necessary to do anything special before a session. People come in to my office and train wherever they are that day. If a person is tired, the computer software adjusts to reward the tired brain. If they are well-rested and ready-to-go, the system also matches that.
The Experience.
Neurofeedback should always feel comfortable. Training your brain should NOT be a no pain/no gain proposition. The most negative thing that happens with my trainees is a feeling of fatigue some—not all—people get, usually when first starting out with sessions. Almost all my clients look forward to their sessions, in large part because they are so relaxing.
Most people enjoy the process. I offer both auditory and visual feedback, with the visual feedback being movies or video clips. It doesn’t matter what someone is watching; it just matters that there is something on the screen to provide feedback. This is especially appealing to teens and children who think they’re simply being given additional screen time, when the truth is that their brains are working hard to earn the reward of the video playing.
It’s also possible to play simple games to earn feedback rewards for the brain. I use games sometimes, but most people eventually find the games to be tedious. Although they’re not in my office for entertainment purposes, I see no reason to make the process unpleasant.
Neurofeedback is not invasive. I do not offer microcurrent neurofeedback, which is not actual feedback and works by applying electrical charge to the scalp in the hope of “resetting” brain function (some people do; it’s just not part of my philosophy of practice). This means that nothing I offer is invasive. Electrodes are attached to the scalp using either conductive paste or gel, depending upon your choice of using a cap or individual electrodes. These electrodes simply listen in to the brain’s electrical energy patterns; they do not zap. Both the paste and the gel come out with soap and water, and the paste is easily removed/concealed after training with a simply cotton ball and rubbing alcohol.
Neurofeedback is a team process. I know how to operate the equipment and how to decide where and what to train, but you know your body best. Therefore, we work as a team, with you providing feedback that helps direct the training process. You are empowered and not just a patient.
My goal is to offer each person a safe and comfortable environment in which people can train their brains in an effective, non-invasive, and pleasurable way. If this interests you, or if you have questions I didn’t think to answer, come and check it out. Consults are free and truly no-obligation, and I’m offering both in-person and online appointments.