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What Is Neuro Therapy

HOW AND FOR WHAT CONDITIONS IS IT USED

Although researchers knew of Neurotherapy, a form of Biofeedback, even before the 1950’s, it is only in the most recent years that there has been a swell of interest in this cutting edge treatment modality. Neurotherapy is not a medical treatment but treats the cognitive and emotional factors related to many stress and medical issues. Neurotherapy is a form of psychological rehabilitation.

What is Neurotherapy?

Neurotherapy is a fun, non-invasive, and painless training technique for teaching the brain to enhance certain frequencies and reduce others. For example, one common protocol for the treatment of Attention Deficit Disorder is to teach a child to increase Lobeta waves of 12-15 Hertz while reducing HiBeta waves of 20-30 Hertz at a specific locus on top of the front part of the head (favorably affecting activity in the frontal lobes).

Who benefits from Neurotherapy?

The population that may be appropriate for Neurotherapy ranges in age from six years to senior adults.  A wide variety of diagnoses may be helped with the therapy (see list below).

How does it work/what is the technique?

A child or an adult has sensors clipped to the ear lobes and a sensor attached to the scalp using a mild electro-paste. These sensors feed information about the brain wave activity to a computer. A specific protocol is selected to address and help the individual’s problem.

At the same time, the patient is invited to watch a computer monitor, which might display video games, or, perhaps, photos or videos of interesting places or sights to visit. Or, alternatively, one might choose to watch a piano or other instrument(s) play a favorite popular or classic musical selection. Through trial and error (operant conditioning) the brain finds the desired responses, which are reinforced by sights and sounds, provided by the equipment.

How long does a session take?

An average session may last from 50 to 60 minutes.

What kinds of problems can Neurotherapy rehabilitation treat?

Neurotherapy has been used with favorable outcome in the psychological rehabilitation of the following conditions:

  1. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

  2. Depressive Symptoms

  3. Anxiety

  4. Peak Performance Training

  5. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

  6. Substance Abuse Disorders

  7. Chemical Addiction

  8. Concentration Enhancement

  9. Memory Enhancement

  10. Traumatic Brain Injury

  11. Post-stroke Rehabilitation

  12. Headaches

Customized treatment protocols developed for individual patients are based on analyzing brain maps called quantitative electro encephalographic examination (QEEG) which are acquired by taking readings from sensors placed all over the scalp. The individual’s scores are then compared with a large database of the same age and gender persons. The results show the deviations for the norm and are the arears, if consistent with the individuals symptoms, that are the locations trained with neurotherapy.

How many sessions are needed?

Generally, results can be appreciated in ten to twenty sessions. In some cases, as little as eight sessions may bring about the desired results. For example, Neurotherapy has been used successfully to lower the amount of prescribed medicine for ADD (ADHD) patients, and, in some cases, obviate the need for medication altogether.

Accessibility – what will my first visit be like?

We will first do a regular intake evaluation and discuss your symptoms complete a clinical interview, establish a working diagnosis, and then construct and agree upon a treatment plan. Neurotherapy may be selected as the main thrust of treatment or adjunctively along with a counseling program.. In many instances, it is possible to start Neurotherapy at the time of the initial visit.

What Training is required of a biofeedback/ Neurotherapist therapist? –

The biofeedback/ neurotherapist should be certified by the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance (BCIA). (www.bcia.org).