Resources and Information
If you are currently experiencing a life threatening mental health crisis, please call 9-1-1 or call or text 9-8-8 to connect with the suicide & crisis lifeline, for immediate support. Or use the Crisis Text Line: 741741. Please text 741741 to access the Crisis Text Line. The information provided is solely for educational purposes. Anything said should NOT be taken as a replacement for medical, clinical, professional advice, diagnosis, or medical intervention. Nothing on this page is intended to establish a therapist-patient relationship, to replace the services of a trained therapist, doctor or health professional, or otherwise to substitute for professional mental health, medical advice diagnosis or treatment. If you need immediate support, please use the resources listed above.
Neurofeedback Information
Brain Wave Frequencies
Brainwave frequencies are generated from the interactions between the cortex and thalamus. All
brainwaves are equally important to your health, and research has shown that neurological disorders can be associated with specific brain wave abnormalities. For example, if a client has had a brain injury, they may have too much frontal theta or delta (associated with drowsiness and sleep) being produced when they are supposed to be awake and alert (Demos, 2005). By retraining these abnormal patterns in the affected areas, symptoms associated with the abnormal patterns may be reduced or eliminated.
➔ Delta wave: (1-3.5 Hz) Sleep, dreaming
~Appears in Stage 3 of sleep and stage 4 sleep
~ Closely Involved with physiological functions
➔ Theta wave: (4-7 Hz) Drowsiness
~ Involved in daydreaming, sleep, and memory
~ Deepest stages of meditation show highest theta
➔ Alpha wave: (8-13 Hz) Reflective, restful
~ Dominant wave during moments of quiet thought
~ Associated with overall mental coordination, calmness, and
alertness
➔ Beta wave: (12-32 Hz) Mental alertness
~ Alertness, attention, engagement in
problem-solving, ande decision making
~Related to complex thought processes
➔ Gamma wave: (40 Hz) High performance
~ Found during problem solving tasks
~ Organizes the brain, promotes learning, and
promotes high mental activity
Neurfeedback Information
Neurofeedback is a non-invasive therapeutic brain training process in which individuals learn to
modify their cognitive functioning, including corresponding behaviors and feeling by using realtime computerized feedback to normalize brainwave activity.
Neurofeedback is based on operant conditioning, in which the brain is rewarded for wanted functioning, and increases the desired function over time, increasing the ability to maintain the function independently outside of session.
Neurofeedback FAQ's:
What Happens in a Neurofeedback Session?
1. Sensors are attached to the client’s scalp. These sensors monitor brainwave activity during the session.
2. Practitioners may place additional sensors on the client’s hands, head, and waist to monitor respirations, heart rate, temperature, skin conductance, muscle tension (sensors are placed on other areas of your body: shoulders, neck, back, etc.)
3. The client will engage in a visual or auditory activity to help recognize how to control their brain activity and physiology (i.e., games, puzzles, watching their own activity, movie, etc.).
4. Through the live feedback from the activity, the client learns how to control their brain activity and physiology using relaxation techniques
a. When irregular patterns are detected, a response is triggered from the software that pauses or dims the activity or music
b. When this occurs, clients have the opportunity to learn techniques to shift their brain activity into more appropriate rhythms through various techniques or strategies.
c. Once the brain achieves a rewarded pattern, it enhances the brain’s ability to replicate this pattern in the future. With repetition of this process over multiple sessions, the brain can learn to stay within healthy ranges on its own without neurofeedback.
5. The practitioner asks about the client’s experiences (feelings, emotions, sensations) from their training session, as well as the client’s techniques that helped them be successful (or unsuccessful), to gather information about how to make adjustments and help the client reach their goals or practice the tools learned at home.
6. The practitioner reviews the client’s data with the client and reports what the data indicates.
What is the frequency and duration of sessions?
The length and frequency of sessions will be determined by the practitioner based on the client’s need and progress.
Clients should be scheduled for 1 hour sessions 1-3 times per week.
Typically, 20-40 sessions are recommended depending on the severity of the client’s symptoms and brain abnormalities, but some clients need more sessions to solidify brain change (60-80
sessions). Client’s should be scheduled for 1 hour sessions 1-3 times per week.
What is the optimal frequency x week of sessions?
Think of it this way…How many sessions x week would be best for someone who is learning how to play the piano? 1 x week would suffice, but you may get more bang for your buck as far as training if you increased the frequency to 3 x week.
The duration of sessions should be: Neurofeedback - at least 20-30 minutes (depending on session structure*)
Family Small Talk
Tips for improving structure at home:
