Neurofeedback

A TREATMENT BREAKTHROUGH IN NON-DRUG THERAPY OF EMOTIONAL DISORDER AND STRESS RELATED CONDITIONS

INTRODUCTION

Neurofeedback, also called EEG biofeedback, is a technology that teaches people to optimally regulate brain arousal, manage anxiety, stress, mood, sleep and behavior. It is entirely non-invasive: nothing is introduced to your system but information, or a reflection of your functioning, and the changes are all made by you. Neurofeedback is also known as EEG biofeedback, and biofeedback is simply any process whereby you gain greater control over your body by receiving information about it. This can be as simple as using your reflection in a mirror to correct your posture. Your nervous system balances all kinds of processes in your body by feeding back information to itself. Neurofeedback augments this process, giving you a “leg up” in optimal self-regulation.

WHY NEUROFEEDBACK

At Evolve Neurocounseling, we believe talk therapy is aimed at the heart and soul. Much of what brings our clients into counseling can be explored, understood, reinterpreted, treated and healed through simply talking about it. Sometimes talking isn't enough, though. Sometimes a significant portion of a client's distress is happening at the level of the brain. When that is the case, we want to aim at the brain. Medication is often used to treat the brain and can be exactly the right intervention. For folks who've not had the success they want with medication or would prefer to avoid medication altogether, we believe Neurofeedback is the answer!

Retraining unhealthy brainwave patterns often eliminates or improves symptoms of the following common ailments:
• Insomnia
• ADHD/ADD
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Fibromyalgia
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
• Chronic Fatigue
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Impulsivity

THE AROUSAL MODEL

In neurofeedback and in neuroscience in general, we are coming to understand the brain or central nervous system (CNS) in a whole new way. We understand CNS functioning through a model we call the “arousal model “. The condition of the CNS is reflected by and measurable as the electrical activity of the brain, or the EEG.
The arousal model goes something like this: your CNS or brain works like a brake and gas pedal at the same time. Without good brakes (overaroused), you can’t be calm. Without gas (underaroused), you can’t get going, focus, or sustain attention. There are also patterns of mixed or unstable arousal.
Our state of arousal can significantly affect our ability to make optimal decisions, judgments, and actions in real-world dynamic environments.

Neurofeedback helps measure arousal in the brain and helps stabilize heightened arousal levels, making clients more aware and cognizant and able to focus better. It can help the brain work more efficient.

HOW TO NEUROFEEDBACK

Brain wave patterns are visible in the EEG or electroencephalogram, a reading of the electrical activity that can be picked up by a simple sensor placed on your scalp. The EEG shows us how much your neurons are firing, in what range, and at what amplitude. And what we’ve discovered is that through neurofeedback we can train our brains to function better, achieve emotional self-regulation or recover optimal functioning after a setback or derailment.

GETTING STARTED

A course of neurofeedback can take anywhere from 20-100 sessions, because each individual is unique. We will set treatment goals at the outset and re-assess your progress regularly. We start with a 1-hour assessment that includes taking measurements of your EEG for analysis.

After assessment, generally we recommend twice weekly sessions, approx. 30 minutes each. Once you feel that your important goals have been met, we will start to taper (first once a week, then once per month, and so on) until, as long as symptoms don’t return, we are done!

NEUROFEEDBACK: PRICING

The standard rate per 35-minute session is $95.00. However, I offer Neurofeedback Bundles to keep costs down.

Pay as you go pricing $95.00 per individual session

10 Session Bundle = $900

20 Session Bundle = $1,700

Julie Nachman, LCSW
(512) 774-4484

 

julie.nachman@evolveneurocounseling.com

Resources:

International Society for Neurofeedback and Research (ISNR) https://isnr.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/cba323_c11df410dd3e46ecbc00975d15306926.pdf

NeuroRegulation - The Journal of the ISNR https://www.neuroregulation.org/

A Randomized Controlled Study of Neurofeedback for Chronic PTSD http://www.elbowtree.com/uploads/1/1/5/1/115152885/randomized_controlled_study_neurofeedback_chronic_ptsd_v0002.pdf