What is Neurofeedback?

Girl smiling at camera during NeurOptimal Session

Neurofeedback is a form of non-invasive, research supported brain training based on the principles of neuroplasticity and operant conditioning. It works by providing you with feedback whenever your brain produces a desired pattern of activity. Such feedback might be a green checkmark on a screen or the sound of a bell ringing which you only receive when your brain is ‘relaxed.’ By receiving this reward each time your brain is calm and relaxed, you naturally learn over time to produce more of that brain activity, and your symptoms of stress and anxiety gradually disappear.

What Type of Neurofeedback Do You Use?

We use NeurOptimal® Neurofeedback, a form of non-linear, Dynamical Neurofeedback®. NeurOptimal® works by providing clients with audio feedback (a small interruption in the flow of a relaxing song) each time their brain makes a ‘sudden movement,’ or jumps substantially in its activity from one moment to the next.

This feedback can be thought of like rumble strips on the highway: each time your brain makes a large jump in activity and 'veers off the road,’ you receive feedback. Over time this teaches your brain to function more moderately and with improved self regulation.

Does it work?

Like medications and psychotherapy, neurofeedback does not work for everyone. In my experience, around 10-20% of clients report no significant response. That said, for the 80-90% who do respond, I have seen NeurOptimal® Neurofeedback be life changing. See our testimonials for stories from real clients.

What Can Neurofeedback Help With?

The improved self-regulation which clients learn from NeurOptimal® Neurofeedback training can lead to:

  • Stress Reduction: Experience relief from daily stress and tension

  • Anxiety Management: Manage and alleviate anxiety for a more relaxed mind

  • Mood Enhancement: Improve and stabilize mood for a more positive outlook

  • Improved Focus: Enhance concentration and reduce distractibility

  • Quality Sleep: Enjoy improved sleep patterns and enhanced sleep quality

  • Peak Performance: Optimize your performance in sports, work, and leisure

Because NeurOptimal® provides general support with self-regulation, it has been known to improve symptoms of trauma, chronic pain, Post-Concussion Syndrome, long COVID, brain fog related to cancer treatment, and more!

What are sessions like?

Before Your Session: You will complete a free phone consultation to learn more about the Neurofeedback process, complete a brief medical screening and set goals for your training. Neurofeedback is inherently complex; we offer these calls to help answer your questions in plain-English and make sure you’re knowledgeable and informed coming in.

During Your Session: We will revisit your progress toward your goals and check in with your experience since your last session. When ready, you will seat yourself in a reclining chair and have the neurofeedback sensors attached to your head. Your trainer will ensure you are comfortable, and leave the room as your 33 minute training session begins. Your trainer will remain onsite, and will be available to you at the touch of a button. Throughout your session you will be listening to a calming, meditative music track. Each time the electrical activity of your brain makes a ‘sudden jump’ from one moment to the next, the Neurofeedback system will insert a brief interruption into the flow of the music, similar to the sound of a small record scratch or a fire crackling. By noticing these interruptions your brain learns to function with improved self regulation. Clients report that their sessions are relaxing, and that they experience a calm, clear mind afterwards, similar to the feeling of having just meditated. After your session is complete, your trainer will re-enter the room to remove the neurofeedback sensors from your head and to debrief your session experience.

As You Progress: Every 10 sessions you will complete symptom tracking forms. These will be compared with your previous symptom ratings and graphed for you to review during the following session. These reviews serve as opportunities to have thorough conversations about improvements in your wellbeing, to ask questions, and to reorient your goals if necessary.

Is Neurofeedback Covered By Insurance?

NeurOptimal® Neurofeedback is covered by most insurance plans in Ontario when it is supervised by a Psychologist or Registered Psychotherapist. Neurofeedback at our Lifespan Psychology in Burlington is supervised by a Psychologist, so your sessions may be covered under Extended Health Benefits, Motor Vehicle Accident, or Workplace Safety and Insurance Board programs.

In-Home sessions and rentals are not covered by insurance plans. However, In-Home sessions can be discounted for bulk-session purchases, training multiple household members, referrals, and during promotional periods. Additionally, rentals are occasionally discounted during promotional periods or for referrals.

Other Frequently Asked Questions

Is Neurofeedback a medical treatment?

Neurofeedback falls under the umbrella of complementary and alternative treatments, as such is not a medical treatment like medication or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. NeurOptimal® neurofeedback is a training tool and does not diagnose, treat, mitigate, prevent or cure any disease, disorder or abnormal physical state, nor does it restore, modify or correct the body’s structure or functioning.

How long does Neurofeedback last?

Compared to other interventions like medications, physical exercise, and mindfulness, each of which must be regularly maintained to achieve results, neurofeedback can have permanent effects which long outlast the acute training phase. For many clients, once their brain has made the shift into a new way of functioning it often stays there unassisted, with only the occasional need for booster sessions.

Does Neurofeedback work for everyone?

Just like with other treatment modalities, not everyone will respond to neurofeedback training. In our experience less than 10% of clients show no response.

Further, there is a range of effectiveness in the 90% who do respond. A small number of clients, perhaps 10%, suggest neurofeedback was life changing. Similarly, a small number of clients suggest they experienced only small improvements. The majority of people fall between these two extremes and notice moderate-to-strong improvments in their areas of complaint over the course of training.

Is Neurofeedback safe? Are there side effects?

Risks when receiving NeurOptimal® Neurofeedback sessions include drowsiness, headache, and/or feeling spaced out. These occur rarely and typically subside on their own within 24 hours. Compared with other neurofeedback devices NeurOptimal® is considered to have a lower chance of producing negative side effects due to its more gentle style of training.

When does Neurofeedback start working?

Clients usually begin noticing the positive effects of neurofeedback in the 12-to-24 hours after their first few sessions. This is a good sign that their brains are responding to training. This effect begins to last longer and longer between sessions, until eventually it becomes their new normal and they no longer need sessions to maintain it. In general, it takes approximately 6-10 sessions to notice results, and approximately 30 sessions for those results to begin to stick, though this varies from client to client.

Don’t see your question?

Feel free to reach out via the contact page and we’ll do our best to answer within 24 hours.

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