What The Heck is Neurofeedback?
We get it—it sounds like something out of a sci-fi novel, but neurofeedback is actually a groundbreaking therapy technique that has been gaining traction in mental health and therapy circles. It’s one of the most exciting and promising developments for treating a range of conditions and disorders. That’s why at New Pathways we’ve dedicated a portion of our practice to developing and using neurofeedback to serve our clients.
De-coding Neurofeedback: A New Frontier in Mental Health
At its core, neurofeedback is a type of biofeedback that utilizes real-time displays of brain activity to teach self-regulation of brain function. By observing their brain activity on a screen, clients learn to adjust their thoughts, emotions, and focus, harnessing neuroplasticity-- the brain's ability to adapt and change itself. This innovative approach enables neurofeedback clients to gain greater control over their neurological processes, potentially improving a wide range of conditions, from ADHD, PTSD, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and more.
To de-mystify neurofeedback, let's compare it to learning a new instrument. Imagine if, while practicing the piano, you could see a visual representation of the harmony your playing creates. Each note, chord, and melody would be mirrored by a specific pattern on a screen. This feedback would guide you to adjust your performance for a more harmonious outcome. Neurofeedback does something similar for the brain.
Training Sessions: Shaping Your Brain’s Rhythms
Through sensors placed on the scalp, neurofeedback systems capture brain wave patterns. These patterns are then translated into visual or auditory signals. By engaging in specific mental exercises while observing these signals, clients learn to produce more of the brainwave patterns associated with calm, focus, and concentration. Over time, this can lead to profound changes in brain function, providing relief and improvement where other therapies may not have succeeded. An initial course of neurofeedback therapy consists of 20 “training” sessions, in which the client engages in neurofeedback training for about 30 minutes, and sometime before and afterwards in discussion with a therapist to track changes in symptoms and experience.
The Frequency Factor: Tapping into Your Brain’s Electrical Power
When we think of the brain, we often envision a complex organ operating purely on physical and chemical levels. However, there's an equally critical component that is often overlooked: the realm of electrical frequencies. Our brains are not just masses of neurons but also intricate networks of electrical activity. This is where neurofeedback comes into its own, operating within this electrical or frequency domain, an area ripe with potential for healing and growth.
Albert Einstein once mused, “The medicine of the future will be frequency medicine.” We tend to agree! By tuning into the brain's natural frequencies, we can promote healing from within, non-invasively. This concept is echoed by neurofeedback practitioners like Sebern Fisher, who remind us that our brain's capacity for change and learning—its plasticity—resides predominantly in this electrical realm.
A Symphony of the Mind
At New Pathways, we see neurofeedback as a conductor orchestrating the brain's symphony. Just as a maestro would lead an orchestra to harmonize their frequencies for a perfect pitch, neurofeedback guides your brain to synchronize its electrical frequencies for optimal functioning. This unique form of therapy taps into the often-ignored frequency domain, offering a novel route to mental well-being that complements the physical and chemical aspects traditionally addressed in therapy. It’s about harnessing the brain's symphony to bring about transformation and harmony.
If you’d like to learn more about the neurofeedback we offer at our clinic, our Intake Manager Arthur will be happy to setup a call with you.
