What is Neuroptimal ® Neurofeedback?

Your brain constantly processes information, but sometimes it gets “stuck” in overworking, stress, dysregulation or tension-like patterns when you’re continually on high alert or feeling burned out.

During a Neuroptimal ® Neurofeedback session, sensors are placed on your scalp to monitor your brain’s activity. It is only reading the signals. While relaxing and listening to music, the system analyzes how your brain works in real-time. If it detects the brain is moving into a less efficient pattern, the music makes a subtle “glitch” sound. This glitch acts like a mirror, showing your brain where it’s getting off track. Your brain naturally adjusts itself, becoming more balanced and flexible.

Here are some frequently asked questions about Neuroptimal ® Neurofeedback:

How long are the sessions?

The actual Neuroptimal ® Neurofeedback training sessions run for 33 minutes. We allow an hour for Neurofeedback sessions to allow us time to set up, check in with you, and debrief afterwards.

How long do I come for Neurofeedback sessions?

The frequency of sessions depends on the program phase you are in and what you notice regarding shifts. Your brain is gradually learning new skills (i.e., regulation). It will first need to learn those skills, then practice them, and then consolidate or integrate them as the new “baseline” in the system. Like personal training for our physical health, this process takes time. Every brain is unique, and the total number of sessions required will be individual. The minimum number of sessions recommended to reach maximum potential benefits is 20 -30. How many sessions you choose will be up to you.

What if I miss a session or need to miss multiple sessions in a row? How important is it to come consistently?

Training consistency is extremely important in maximizing the benefits of Neurofeedback. Like training at the gym, people typically notice when they miss a few weeks or multiple sessions in a row. We understand the unpredictability of life and how missing sessions can sometimes happen. We encourage people to try their best to be consistent with participation and, in particular, to get through the first phase of training (the first 10 sessions) with no missed sessions, as the brain is actively learning something new.

What happens in a typical session?

During a Neuroptimal ® Neurofeedback session, two sensors will be placed on each side of your scalp in the central regions to pick up surface brain activity. You will also have two ear clips placed on your right ear and one on your left ear as reference and ground electrodes. The sensors on your head pick up your brain activity in real time at a sampling rate of 256 times per second. That information is then sent to the amplifier, which converts it to digital data and sends it to the software program on the attached computer. This program then reads and calculates the activity and provides information/ feedback to the brain through audio cues about what it is doing so that it can correct itself.

When the brain becomes dysregulated, a slight pause or interruption is sent through the music or sound in the movie, which invites the Central Nervous System to break up those unhealthy/stuck patterns and come into balance. The repetition of this training leads to shifts in the system at a foundational level as the brain learns how to regulate itself more efficiently and quickly. Individuals are sitting in a comfortable chair and are invited to take the session time to relax. You can also fall asleep, and the training will still work as your brain can hear and respond to sound.

How long does it take to see changes and what should I pay attention to or look for regarding those changes?

The number of sessions it takes for people to notice changes depends on the individual. Every brain is unique. While some people see changes quickly into starting sessions, most typically begin to observe shifts 8-10 sessions in. This is why more frequent sessions during the initial training phase are recommended. Like learning a new skill, the more frequently and consistently practiced in the beginning, the faster the skill will be acquired.

What to pay attention to regarding the shifts is how you can move through stress and dysregulation. The brain is not learning to have complex emotions or responses but to regulate through that stress faster and more efficiently. It is all about the system learning to flow.

Because it is a ground-up approach, changes will be gradual and not always noticeable until multiple sessions, when you can look back and use hindsight reflection to remember how you may have responded previously versus now.

How do you measure progress?

Neuroptimal ® Neurofeedback does not collect EEG data for review. Progress is primarily and, most importantly, based on how the individual feels and what they notice in terms of shifts. Client reporting is essential, and the clinician supporting you will ensure you check in to see what you notice over time and what to look for in terms of shifts. This is always why more formal counselling sessions can be helpful for some individuals when integrated into the training. Forma and a Neuroptimal ® tracker questionnaire are also sent throughout training and reviewed with the practitioner to help individuals track shifts among different rated items (i.e. sleep, focus, anxiety, stress, etc.)

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