Behavioral Issues

Neurofeedback helps people to focus. There is a large body of research indicating Neurofeedback’s success in helping people to focus better within 40 to 60 sessions, without the need for medication.

There are many reasons for attentional issues, among them are elevated theta, PTSD, anxiety, and developmental disorders. Neurofeedback can completely remedy elevated Theta for essentially normal young people. The training with psychotherapy can remediate both PTSD and Anxiety issues. Although Neurofeedback can help those with developmental disorders focus better, the technique cannot reverse the issue.

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Mahalo

When discussing Neurofeedback (NFB), it’s essential to first understand Biofeedback. Identified by Neil Miller in the early 1950s, Biofeedback is a learning technique that uses medical instruments to provide immediate feedback on the autonomic nervous system. Dr. Miller demonstrated that once a person is aware of their body’s functions, they can change them with proper guidance. Instruments such as thermometers, blood pressure cuffs, devices that measure skin conductivity, respiratory meters, ECGs, or EEGs can all serve as Biofeedback tools.

In Neurofeedback, an EEG machine records brain activity and sends the data to a computer, which then presents the results to the client in a game-like format. This process enables a person to learn to control and regulate various internal processes—such as blood pressure, temperature, or respiration—by understanding the brain’s electrical activity.

But what does this mean for an individual? The core goal of NFB is self-regulation, which is a broad and powerful objective. It affects sleep, energy levels, social interactions, concentration, emotional balance, physical reactions (such as pain management), and hypersensitivities. Each of these areas is governed by different regions of the brain, and improvements in one area can positively affect another. NFB practitioners look at aspects like sleep quality, memory, attention, emotional stability, and sensory sensitivity to determine how to guide the brain toward optimal function.

A common misconception is that NFB “cures” problems. It doesn’t. Instead, it helps the brain function more efficiently, which can have widespread benefits. When someone is trained to improve concentration, for example, their emotional stability and behavior often improve as well, even if that wasn’t the primary focus. Similarly, reducing hyperactivity can enhance sleep quality. If someone seeks relief from chronic pain, their anxiety might improve as a side effect of the training, even if anxiety wasn’t a concern.

NFB is comparable to a well-rounded exercise program. You might start an exercise routine for one reason, like losing weight, but it also improves stamina, heart health, cholesterol levels, and muscle tone. Likewise, while NFB might not directly lead to weight loss or help someone quit smoking, it can help regulate mood. This, in turn, makes those habits more manageable because they no longer serve a stabilizing role for the person.

NFB won’t automatically improve a child’s grades at school, but it can enhance concentration, focus, organization, and self-regulation, making it easier for them to succeed academically if they are motivated to do so.

An ideal candidate for Neurofeedback is someone who wants to remain calm under stress, improve their concentration, sleep better, and handle tasks efficiently without becoming overwhelmed. Essentially, it’s for people seeking greater ease and balance in self-regulation.

If you or someone you know works with highly stressed, type-A individuals, people struggling with organization and focus, or those dealing with emotional regulation challenges, my husband and I are eager to connect. We’re particularly interested in connecting with professionals such as counselors, doctors, massage therapists, exercise and yoga instructors, school principals, and spiritual counselors.

We’re proud of the transformative results we’ve seen through neurofeedback. One mother recently shared her story about her son, who had been so disruptive that he required 1:1 support at a treatment center for severely disturbed children. She said: “Neurofeedback has helped my son gain control over the roller coaster that was his mood and emotions. The significant improvement in his quality of life since starting neurofeedback has made me a believer.” After just 12 sessions, her son transitioned to a regular public school with 1:1 support, and now that additional help is being phased out.

This level of success is fairly common with neurofeedback, particularly for individuals facing challenges with self-regulation. Here’s why:

Neurofeedback is a direct method of training the brain to function more efficiently. By monitoring brain activity in real time, we provide immediate feedback to the individual, rewarding the brain for shifting its activity toward more desirable patterns. This gradual learning process can be applied to any measurable aspect of brain function.

At its core, neurofeedback is about enhancing self-regulation, a key element of optimal brain performance. Improving self-regulation allows the central nervous system to function more effectively, which positively impacts everything from mood stability to cognitive performance.

Self-regulation covers a wide range of brain functions. It influences sleep patterns, energy levels, social interactions, concentration, emotional stability, and even physical responses such as pain management or sensitivity. Because these brain functions are interconnected, improving one area often leads to enhancements in others. Neurofeedback providers focus on all of these elements—sleep, emotional regulation, attention, memory, balance, and more—because they provide valuable insight into how to optimize overall brain function.

One common misconception is that neurofeedback “cures” conditions. It doesn’t. Instead, it helps the brain operate more effectively, which in turn improves other functions, such as emotional regulation and behavior. For instance, training someone to improve their concentration often positively affects emotions and behavior, even if that wasn’t the primary focus. As hyperactivity decreases, sleep typically improves as well. When neurofeedback helps someone manage chronic pain, it frequently addresses underlying anxiety, whether anxiety was a primary concern or not.

In this sense, neurofeedback is much like a well-rounded fitness program. You might start exercising to improve your appearance, but along the way, you’ll notice benefits in stamina, heart health, cholesterol levels, and muscle tone. Similarly, training one area of brain function often yields positive effects across multiple areas.

That said, neurofeedback isn’t a solution for losing weight or quitting smoking. However, if someone is using overeating or smoking as a way to manage their emotions, neurofeedback can help them learn to regulate their mood without relying on those habits. As a result, those behaviors become easier to manage because they’re no longer serving as emotional crutches. Neurofeedback also won’t directly boost a child’s grades, but it can improve their ability to focus, concentrate, stay organized, and sit still, making academic success more attainable.

Who can benefit from neurofeedback? Anyone seeking to stay calm under pressure, sleep better, or manage their daily tasks without feeling overwhelmed. It’s an excellent option for individuals looking to enhance their self-regulation and lead a more balanced, effective life.