Is Neurofeedback for You?

Are you considering neurofeedback and wondering if it might be the right treatment for you?  Many people come to neurofeedback after trying different kinds of therapies or when traditional talk therapy has not led to any lasting changes.

Neurofeedback has been around for over 30 years but it has not become a mainstream intervention for mental health yet.  This is partially because research is still emerging and the delivery of neurofeedback is challenging as it requires specialized training, equipment and clinic space.  As more therapists are going online, this is even more challenging to make neurofeedback accessible.

One thing we tell anyone who is interested in neurofeedback treatment for mental health - it is a commitment to at least 20 sessions on a regular basis, starting with a minimum of twice a week.  It is important that people take the time to learn about the rationale and method of this treatment before making the decision to go ahead and make the investment in time and money.

We thought it would be helpful to put together some information about what everyone should know about neurofeedback to consider whether it is right for them.  These are the kinds of questions that people typically ask in an initial consultation.

How does neurofeedback work?

Our nervous system is always regulating without conscious thought - just like how our heartbeats without us telling it to. One main function of the nervous system is to tell us if we are unsafe, which triggers a series of physiological events in our bodies. Some injuries, illnesses and events can compromise the nervous system's ability to regulate in an effective way. 

Neurofeedback works by training the electrical activity of the brain so that our nervous system can function better. This trains the nervous system to maintain a more balanced and calm state, and more effectively regulate. 

I have been in talk therapy for a while but still struggle with mental health concerns. How can neurofeedback help me?

At New Pathways, we deeply understand the importance of exploring multiple treatment options. Talk therapy is an important part of identifying that the nervous system is in a state of dysregulation. Depending on the needs of the client, some experiences, illnesses or injuries can teach our nervous system to stay in a state of alertness for danger, even if the threat is no longer present. 

This is where the idea of “bottom-up” healing comes in. For a nervous system that doesn’t know what it’s like to be regulated, we can train it with neurofeedback to recognize calmer stats and teach it to regulate itself in a way that talk therapy, or other practices such as mindfulness and meditation cannot. This works because the brain “talks” in electrical activity, which is what is used in neurofeedback. 

Multi-modal approaches are important because they can help improve the experiences across all treatments. For example, meditation may become more accessible after teaching the nervous system to regulate. 

I read about neurofeedback and trauma in Bessel Van der Kolk’s book, The Body Keeps the Score.  Is the neurofeedback system that you use good for trauma?

One of the reasons that we adopted this treatment in our practice is because we were seeing a lot of people with a history of trauma. Neurofeedback is one method that is known to be very effective. 

We chose a particular method, the Othmer method because it is probably one of the most powerful methods for calming the nervous system, which is what most people with trauma need. Equally important is the relational quality of the work. This is an experience we are building collaboratively. 

Everyone responds to different treatment methods differently. So while the short answer is “yes” with a lot of evidence to support it, there are also never any guarantees. 

Can I do other forms of therapy while doing neurofeedback?

Yes! A lot of people use neurofeedback to complement other healing work they are doing including psychotherapy, medical interventions, physiotherapy, naturopaths, acupuncture etc. 

One thing we advise is not changing or starting medications. This is to reduce other influencing factors so we can accurately track the impact that neurofeedback is having. For example, if you experience a decrease in symptoms after simultaneously starting neurofeedback and changing medication, we will not know which treatment created those results.  

How many sessions will it take before I notice a difference?

This is highly variable from person to person. First, we have to explore which protocol will work for you which may take a few sessions. Once the protocol is properly identified, the impacts of neurofeedback may be felt after 3 - 4 sessions, or as soon as the first session.

What can I expect to change from neurofeedback and how will I know?

This will be individual to unique needs and the treatment plan identified. Each person identities which symptoms that they are experiencing and where they would like to see a difference. Common indicators to observe can be sleep, mood, motivation, focus or reduction in chronic pain. 

Because neurofeedback trains the nervous system, we also start to see an increased capacity to stay in a calm state and return to it after dysregulation. Stressful events do not stop happening in our lives. What we might see is a change in how quickly we respond or how intensely (dysregulation) and how long it takes to return to a calm state (regulation). 

Are there any risks with neurofeedback?

There is a chance for adverse short-term side effects, usually during the stages of finding the right protocol. These side effects can include a short period of symptoms worsening or headaches as examples. These side-effects are not long-lasting and help us to find the right protocol for each individual. 

Do you use brain maps to guide the treatment?

Some neurofeedback methods use brain maps (QEEGs), which take a reading of the electrical signals in your brain to guide the protocol. Brain maps are not necessary for neurofeedback, we don’t use them at our clinic.

At New Pathways we take a relational approach to neurofeedback treatment and we base our protocol on what clients report during and in between training sessions. Instead of a brain map, we use a symptom tracker to monitor the effects of training. One of the reasons we do this is because increasing self-awareness around our feelings is an important aspect of working with trauma. 

There are clinics in Toronto and the GTA that use brain maps and we are able to work collaboratively with them if that is your preference.

Is neurofeedback covered by health insurance plans?

If you have extended health benefits for social work services, neurofeedback will be covered by your insurance.