What is Neurofeedback?
Neurofeedback, also known as Neurotherapy, Neurobiofeedback and EEG biofeedback, is a specialised and advanced type of brain-based therapy, which is safe, natural, non-invasive, drug-free form of positive brain training.
Neurofeedback is an advanced for of Brain Training Technology that utilises real-time displays of brain activity through the use of electroencephalography (EEG), to teach self-regulation of brain function. It detects inconsistency and abrupt changes in the electrical activity of your brain that undermine optional functioning and informs the brain of these sudden shifts through interruptions in the sound you are listening to. This refocuses your brain’s attention to the present moment and allows your brain activity to naturally self-correct.
Modern neuroscience shows us that we have more personal control over our brain than we thought possible. The process which allows for this is called neuroplasticity, which allows for us to make changes in attitudes, beliefs, emotional states and behaviour.
Your brain is capable of optimal functioning, but when your central nervous system is off kilter your brain can operate inefficiently. At Brain Training Australia™ we use a non-linear dynamical neurofeedback brain training program to work with the natural brain’s capacity for change, and train the brain to work at optimal performance. Over time, our cognitions can become weakened, and neurofeedback can re-route thought patterns, break emotional habits and help restore healthy mental processes. It gives feedback directly to your brain allowing it to regulate itself more efficiently which can allow for life changing results.
Neurofeedback can help boost your brain’s ability to improve mental functioning, enhance your mood and build resilience.
Brain Training Australia™ offers Neurofeedback Brain Training services in-clinic in Perth.
How does Neurofeedback help?
Sometimes the Brain does not function as well as it is able to and this is called a dysregulated brain. What this means is that when you are supposed to be calm, you can instead tend to feel over-stimulated; and when you are supposed to be alert, you can instead tend to feel under-stimulated.
Sometimes, the brain can naturally correct itself, and sometimes it doesn’t and requires some form of assistance to do so, with traditional methods including medication. What is actually happening in the brain when the brain doesn’t naturally correct itself, is where dysregulation becomes the “new normal” for the person. So what Neurofeedback does is it helps the brain to retrain itself to its natural regulated state.
How does the brain regulate itself?
With Neurofeedback, the brain starts to very slowly and very safely learn to engage in a new way as the neurofeedback teaches it to self-regulate and correct a specific activity.
The electrical activity in the brain is detected by placing a small number of electrodes on the scalp. A tiny amount of conductive paste is placed on each electrode which enables them to stay in place and allows for the transmittance of electrical signals. The electricity generated by the Central Nervous System (CNS) processing can be detected and displayed on a monitor in real time. This system is called an Electroencephalograph or EEG. Using the latest innovation and evidence based technological advances in Neurofeedback, the specifically designed computer software allows for information about the performance and behaviour of the brain and the CNS to be provided to the client via auditory perception interruptions, which sound like glitches in the music to which you are listening to.
Here at Brain Training Australia™ we have invested wisely and carefully in specific Neurofeedback Brain Training systems, which is considered by many to be the most advanced form of Neurofeedback technology available today.
What happens at my first appointment?
New Clients – Your First Appointment
- New clients need one hour for their first appointment, and at their time of booking their appointment are sent a link to complete a 5 minute online assessment, which must be completed prior to attending.
- New clients are required to attend 15 minutes early for their first appointment to complete their Client Intake paperwork.
- At this first appointment you will work with a dedicated Neurofeedback Practitioner using evidence-based psychological and emotional well-being assessments.
- Experience a Neurofeedback Session so that straightaway you can start to avail of the benefits of Brain Training.
What happens in a Neurofeedback session?
Your Neurofeedback Practitioner will run the session for you. You are seated in a nice comfortable and relaxing reclining armchair. Your session will start off with a short 10 minute chat with your Practitioner, who will then proceed to connect you to the EEG system. This involves the Neurofeedback Practitioner placing sensors at various places on your scalp to detect your brain activity.
Once your Practitioner has you hooked up to the EEG system, we get you to listen to some nice relaxation music. As you listen to the music, you will hear little interruptions or glitches (similar to static) and this is the brain generated feedback at work. The interruptions are not pre-set in the music, instead they are live feedback from your own brainwave activity which are detected via the EEG system. Every time you hear a glitch in the music it is training your central nervous system to naturally self-regulate.
You will need one hour in total for a Neurofeedback session, and during that time you will be listening to music for a little over half an hour, sitting is a comfortable recliner and with your eyes closed. For children, the process is slightly different due to their attention span. Therefore, we provide low energy activities for children such as colouring, sticker books and puzzles as they sit in the armchair and listen to the audio interruptions in the music. This is tailored to meet the child’s specific needs and own interests.
At the end of the Neurofeedback session, your Practitioner removes the electrodes and asks you some post-session indicators to see how you are feeling after your session and to help you identify the changes your brain made during your session.
How will I feel after a Neurofeedback session?
Everyone is different. Some people feel energised, while other people can feel a bit tired. Remember your brain is like a muscle – so it is very much like going to the gym. There are people who feel invigorated by a workout and others who feel exhausted; but both get great benefit. Neurofeedback is like a gym session for the brain. The more you work out, the stronger you get.
What happens after my first Neurofeedback session?
Your Neurofeedback Practitioner will make contact with you within 48 hours after your first appointment to see how you feel after your first Neurofeedback. This will give us an idea of your processing times and response to Brain Training. Your Practitioner will have provided you with your Brain Training Plan options in your first appointment, based on your presenting issue and your specific needs.
There is nothing you need to do as homework, Neurofeedback is a very passive experience – so all you need to do is show up for your next session to build on and reinforce and to convince your brain of a new way of thinking.
How many sessions will I need?
Everybody’s central nervous system is different, it is not possible to predict exactly how your brain will respond to the information which the Neurofeedback brain training provides.
On average clients require 10-15 sessions to contain their presenting issue, however many clients report an alleviation from their very first session. As you progress through each session in your program, you will find and discover positive changes along your journey. More severe presentations such as suicidal ideation, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), attention deficit disorder (ADD) & attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) for example require more sessions (20+) for the brain to stabilize and retrain the central nervous system how to respond.
Based on over three million hours of experience with the specific Neurofeedback system which we use at Brain Training Australia™ we can make some predictions. Clinical studies have been conducted on the effectiveness of Neurofeedback across a large variety of presentations, such as those listed here on our website, so the good thing is you do not have to take it on faith and trust that it will help you — you will know pretty quickly when it is helping you. We also employ progress tracking tools which means that we track your changes and progress in each session. Just as in how long it takes to learn to read, it is a process and everyone learns differently.
How many sessions will it take to “complete” a Program?
This depends in consideration of your goals. If you are training to overcome your mental health issues and feel better quickly, you might decide after 10-15 sessions that you have made enough gains and stop. On the other hand, if you are looking for lasting changes whereby you do not only feel free from your presentation but living a higher functioning and improved quality of life, then 20-30 sessions is a better estimate. You are always in control and you can stop at any time and always pick it up again later if you so choose.
In short, doing any Neurofeedback brain training is better than doing no Neurofeedback brain training.
Any training you have done in the past will always serve you well should you do more sessions in the future — no session is ever wasted. For some however, training their brain is like training the body. They want to function at their best throughout their lifetime, and they like to maintain that best even when life presents its inevitable day to day knocks and bruises. After a period of initial training they continue with maybe monthly sessions to give their brain a regular opportunity to “defrag”. Or, like many of us, they just do a session when they feel they need it. But in the end, it is always up to you, because it is YOUR brain that is doing the training and it knows what it needs.
Here at Brain Training Australia™, we have an in-depth Neurofeedback Survey available to you based on the actual technology which we use for you to explore, which shows you (amongst other things) how many sessions it takes to get what percentage of improvement, for a wide variety of complaints people present with. In short, you can see statistically the amount of improvement you can expect over time, helping you to make an informed decision about number of sessions. Your dedicated Neurofeedback Practitioner will also have their experiences to share with you as well!
How much does it cost?
A Standard Appointment is $150 for a one hour appointment.
Fees and payment options are available on our Fees Page
How do I get started?
Your first step is to get in contact with us and book in for your first Neurofeedback session.
This will allow you to experience a session, and see if its the right modality for you.
The team at Brain Training Australia™ recognise the unique qualities of all our clients and will work closely with you to personalise your Brain Training Program so that you can achieve your goals of optimal mental processes.
We look forward to helping you live a much richer, happier and healthier life.
