Neurofeedback therapy has the potential to help you find relief, even if you’ve had limited success with talk therapy and/or medication in the past. If you want to feel more like yourself again, without retelling your story, neurofeedback might be for you.
Neurofeeback is brain training to increase self-regulation and resiliency. The brain works by using electrical waves of different sizes and speeds. We have found that certain very slow brain waves help the brain have a nice resting state.
When your brain is able to access this grounded, calming resting state, you are able to handle whatever life throws at you with much more ease. That is what we mean by resiliency.
Your brain function might be compromised by trauma, depression, anxiety, stress, or even migraine headaches and autoimmune disease. This means it’s very hard to bounce back from the stressors of life.
You might be interested in neurofeedback therapy because it doesn’t require you to relive traumatic events or express painful emotions. You don’t have to tell me your full story or your painful experiences.
Neurofeedback Therapy Works Without Telling Your Story
Instead, you simply sit in a comfortable chair and we work with brain function. Then overtime, once you feel more grounded and have less stress, you might want to talk through some things, or not. If you do decide you want to talk things through, neurofeeback makes dealing with whatever remains of your story much easier.
By working with your brain waves directly, neurofeedback promotes self-regulation. This reduces emotional reactivity and gives you more time to think. This empowers you to feel more in control of your life. As a result, you won’t need so much conscious will power in order to manage you daily life.
You start to feel happier, more at ease, less depressed or anxious, your decision making starts to improve and you are able to make changes that lead to a better life. Neurofeedback therapy creates a new, optimal state for your nervous system. Then, you are able to better understand the root of your issues and resolve painful memories without so much distress.
Using neurofeedback, you become more able to develop insight and integrate your experiences. Then, you develop a more integrated sense of self.
What Does Neurofeedback Therapy Look Like?
All Neurofeedback sessions happen in my office. When we meet, I use a water soluble paste to apply electrodes to your scalp which feed brainwave activity into my computer. This is how I “listen” to your brain and see what activity is going on that corresponds to how you’re feeling.
While this is happening, you will see your brain waves in the form of a video of that you choose. This can be a beach scene, a nature hike, or a spaceship flying through space. You can even watch a movie or play a video game. As your brain is syncing, the picture will expand and get brighter.
Your brain needs to be engaged through as many of your senses as possible. Neurofeedback protocols engage the brain through auditory feedback such as music and we use many interesting visuals and even a vibrating stuffed animal that provides touch feedback to engage your brain.
Resting State Brain Waves
Our work with Neurofeedback encourages your brain to produce resting state brain waves. These waves calm and relax your nervous system and return your brain to a more resilient and regulated state. I use your symptoms to help me understand how your nervous system is dysregulated and where to pay attention based on your reports of what’s going on in your life.
As we work through our sessions, you will start to feel calm and relaxed, but still alert. Some people say they feel lighter, more grounded and more themselves. Some feel like their brain isn’t constantly thinking of so many things at once, so they feel more focused and centered.
In the first three or four sessions, if a particular brainwave helps you feel relaxed, yet alert, I tell the computer to encourage that wave. That way, we find the best brainwave patterns for you. In this, everyone is different. Over time we activate more brain wave activity that moves you towards better self-regulation.
Once we understand your optimal brainwaves, over multiple neurofeedback sessions, your brain learns how to maintain this healthier state. Eventually this brain training will leave you feeling fine without using neurofeedback. How many sessions you need depends on what we are treating and how long you’ve been dealing with the problem.
Neurofeedback Therapy for Anxiety
If you have anxiety, it’s likely you experience chronic worrying, fearfulness, trouble relaxing, restlessness or feeling on edge, and irritability. This anxiety affects your ability to manage your daily activities and relationships.
You might feel fatigue and have trouble maintaining focus or concentration. The most normal of day-to-day tasks can feel like burdens. Worrying is exhausting and makes it more difficult to sleep.
Dealing with anxiety every day is overwhelming, but you don’t have to live this way. Neurofeedback is a great tool. It reduces anxiety, making it much easier to use the coping strategies you already have and develop new ones, if needed.
Neurofeedback Therapy For Depression
If you are feeling hopeless about your life, and things you used to like just don’t sound fun anymore, you are probably suffering from depression. When you have trouble getting out of bed, keeping up your self care, and you don’t think you can ever feel better, it might be time to get some help.
Depression can make it hard to get things done, be social, or enjoy daily life. Neurofeedback therapy can help restore a sense of purpose and positivity to your life.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ADHD
If you have ADHD, I’m sure you’re familiar with being easily distracted, forgetful, and procrastination. Organization and finishing tasks can be practically impossible.
Neurofeedback can help reduce these symptoms without side effects or medication. You can be more productive, sleep better and pay attention for much longer. That way, you don’t have to spend nearly as much time getting things done. This leaves more time to enjoy leisure activities and enjoy your life.
Emotional Regulation
Getting overly emotional can profoundly affect your professional and personal life. When your emotions feel like they are controlling you, rather than the other way around, this can can lead to low performance at work. It also leads to challenges in your personal life.
If you feel stuck with negative thoughts and feelings, uncontrollable emotions and rumination, neurofeedback can help. The people closest to you often suffer the most when you can’t regulate your emotions.
Neurofeedback Therapy for Trauma and PTSD
Trauma causes a lot of stress on your nervous system. When you’ve been exposed to a serious threat to yourself or someone else, this can create post traumatic stress disorder.
Traumatic memories can arise, unbidden, and cause you to feel chronically hypervigilent and have a hard time feeling safe and secure. PTSD can create feelings of abandonment, and impair your thinking and self-esteem.
I use neurofeedback therapy to help PTSD, improving sleep and mood, and decreasing stress, fear and trauma triggers.
I can help you gain control over your life. I’ve helped many people by using neurofeedback. If you like to explore this type of therapy, please reach out to me. My phone is 310-314-6933, or email me at mindy@mftherapy.com. I have offices in Torrance and Santa Monica, California, and I’d be happy to help you on your journey to recovery.
