Advanced Neurofeedback Therapies

Why we are the experts

More and more companies are using Neurofeedback as a “Newly Discovered Therapy”, when the truth is that Neurofeedback has been around since then late 60’s. There are hundreds of peer reviewed scientific articles and there is even a Neurofeedback professional scientific journal. So why are so many offices using basic Neurofeedback charging around $40 per session and claiming such high results? The short answer is because they do not have much experience with advanced techniques and have less than 5 years experience studying Neurofeedback.

Today, Neurofeedback has reached just about every state and is recognized world wide as a valuable and therapeutically viable modality for dozens of illnesses. They include…

• ADD/ADHD
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Chronic Pain
• Chronic Fatigue
• Epilepsy
• PMS
• Fibromyalgia
• Addictions
• PTSD
• Sleep
• Tourette’s Syndrome
• Hypertension
• Brain Injury
• Anger
• Cognitive Decline
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Our approach to Neurofeedback is not basic in any way. We use the most advanced protocols and techniques known. So how can we claim to know this much? Simply put, our therapists are career Neurofeedback therapists. They did not start off as Pediatricians, Psychologist, or any other kind of practitioner. They have studied, researched and contributed to the advancement of the field for over 14 years. They were trained by the Pioneers of Neurofeedback who are still in practice today and mentor our therapists on a weekly basis.

Most of the large “franchise” clinics use only the peer reviewed protocols and do not use real Brainmapping to aid in protocol selection. We use the peer reviewed protocols as well but are not limited to just those choices. We use multiple protocols that train the brain through multiple channels in multiple variables. These protocols come from years of clinical work and were developed by the most advanced practitioners in the field today. They utilize the brains natural flow of information exchange both from front to back and more importantly, left to right. This is not simple to understand which is why the franchise clinics do not use it. We have been pleased to learn that some of these basic Neurofeedback clinics are learning new techniques and will allow them in the future to help a more diverse group of people, but until then, we are still the experts in Advanced Neurofeedback Therapies.

How is Neurofeedback done?

Neurofeedback is done by connecting an EEG or Electroencephalogram amplifier to sensors on your head. EEG or Brainwaves are constantly fluctuating in and out of optimum ranges. When you are in the optimum range, we provide a feedback reward like a sound or a visual reward on a computer monitor. The sound may be coming from music that gets louder when you are in the right range but then gets softer when you move out of the optimal range. The visual reward is usually coming from a DVD on a monitor. As you move into the optimal range, the movie screen becomes brighter and easier to see but when you move out of the optimal range, the screen becomes darker and harder to see. Your brain knows how to keep the screen bright even though you may not feel like you are controlling the screen at all.  Remember, EEG is the brain’s natural language and it knows exactly what to do with those brainwaves in order to keep the screen bright, and the sound up.

What will I feel?

Most people don’t feel much the first few sessions because Neurofeedback is mostly a subconscious process. So as you learn to control the volume you may start to notice that when you do certain things, it keeps the screen bright or the volume up. This means that you are becoming more conscience of how to control your brainwaves.

Using the Mini-Q Database System

Why doing a Brainmap is crucial?

One of the biggest obstacles in understanding the human brain is where to start. The human brain processes over 400 billion bits of information every second. This is an almost chaotic amount of data that the brain has to sort out in order to function correctly. So with all of this information being orchestrated with extreme precision, it is easy to see how if just a tiny bit is misinterpreted or misplaced, you could have a problem.

The Mini-Q Database system help us to understand what the brain is doing with all of this information and what processing problems may be present. This is accomplished by the Mini-Q’s ability to identify what parts of the brain are operating out of sorts. It is able to do this because we know precisely how much activity and at what levels each area of the brain should be. So knowing this information and then knowing what to do to correct the problem is exactly what the Mini-Q Database system does.

So Why Is This So Important? To put it in simple terms, it is like our GPS for the brain. Without this information we would not have a true and complete picture of what the individual parts of the brain are doing and how they are interacting with the entire central nervous system. We would only be able to speculate where to start and would have to go through a lot of trial and error with the established peer reviewed protocols.

Are There Clinics That Are Not Using Brainmapping?

Yes. This is alarming because they are typically clinics that are doing basic Neurofeedback. There is a “map” that is done but it is not a complete brainmap. It is an evaluation done on selected sites on the head that “predict” what the other areas may be doing. Sounds extremely basic, but this is what most clinics do. Unless you are getting a complete 12 or 19 point qEEG Brainmap, you are not being thoroughly evaluated for your protocols.
There are a select few in the field of Neurofeedback that know where to start and what protocols to use without doing a Brainmap but PLEASE NOTE that these are Neurofeedback professionals that have been in the field for over 20 years and have a great deal of experience beyond what most practitioners understand. Even though we are part of this select few, we still use Brainmapping because it removes any potential errors or biasness.

How Long Does A Brainmap Take? Typically a map takes about an hour. This includes the preparation of the patient, the equipment, and the software. Then, the recording time is only about 15 min with a 6 minute eyes closed test, and a 6 minute eyes open test. Clean up and finally the uploading and recovery of the report takes up the last part of the hour. Once You Have The Report, What Comes Next? We will briefly go over the map and set up the follow up visit that will include an actual Neurofeedback session. This will be the first of 30+ sessions over a 3 month period. Your progress will be under medical oversight by our resident MD.

What Else Can I Expect? We will be providing you with a list of suggested supplements that come from the Mini-Q report. These supplements can be found in the Pharmacy after one of the physicians has done their nutritional consultation with you. Taking these supplements while doing your Neurofeedback can only improve your progress and outcomes. We know this is true because studies show that the brain’s metabolism increases while it is undergoing Neurofeedback. So having these nutrients in your body can only help your brain to improve.

Since there are many other therapies available here, we will recommend them to you as the Neurofeedback sessions go on. An example may be that you are coming for Anxiety reduction and the Neurofeedback is helping reduce the brain’s response to a stressful situation. Acupuncture, Massage and Chiropractic care can also help reduce the levels of Anxiety in the body and mind. Again, studies show that treating the body and the mind with multiple modalities can only help. This is why we provide Neurofeedback in this environment. We believe that Neurofeedback is a powerful therapy but we also recognize that nutrition, Acupuncture, chelation, detoxification, and several other therapies are just as powerful and are best in a complimentary program.