Integrative Treatments

Neurofeedback is a non-invasive way to support brain health and mental health symptoms. There is a growing body of science showing that it can create symptom reduction by targeting the root cause of many common issues at the base level of brain functioning. Our brain and nervous system function using chemical and electrical messages. The electrical messages are called brainwaves. Neurofeedback uses innovative and safe brain-computer technology to help train the electrical activity of the brain (brainwaves) to function more efficiently and help improved people’s ability to regulate their feeling, enhance certain feelings and diminish others. Similar to going to the gym and challenging specific muscle groups helps improve aspects of physical fitness, neurofeedback training likewise helps improve brain fitness by challenging specific brain and neuronal pathways. The brain-computer interface allows the brain to observe its own patterning in real time, while at the same time being guided by the software to move in the direction of more efficient functioning by learning new patterns. This is possible because learning underlies all brain functioning through a process known as neuroplasticity. Over time, this reinforced learning towards a more regulated state helps to lessen many of the common symptoms that patients complain about, by treating the brain directly. Neurofeedback doesn’t change any of the positive aspects of personality, but rather creates more efficient brain functioning and resilience so our best attributes shine through.

The symptoms and conditions that neurofeedback treats include:

Another effective, very safe and non-invasive modality we employ that compliments neurofeedback is neurostimulation or neuromodulation. Neurofeedback uses the brains own innate learning mechanism to create change, neurostimulation uses low amplitude electrical current to train specific frequencies in the brain. This often results in the feeling of a “state change” so a person might feel more relaxation or better attention depending on the frequencies that are offered during the neurostimulation session. The frequencies are chosen by a clinician based upon personalized needs of each patient. In contrast to neurofeedback, which utilizes an active process that challenges the brain to learn new more efficient functioning, neurostimulation is more passive, and the brain is entrained into producing the desired brainwaves and corresponding states. We are excited that new research is emerging that neurostimulation enhances neuroplasticity and therefore is a perfect adjunct to neurofeedback training as an integrative protocol plan for enhancing cognition and also for helping people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.

And before doing neurofeedback, we need a brain map. What makes a map for neurofeedback so valuable that it is data driven, relies on objective patterns of brain waves in the brain. The data are collected via EEG brain recordings and used to guide the training protocols implemented by the clinician. Just as an EKG records the electrical functioning of the heart, EEG (electroencephalogram) records the electrical functioning of the brain. After the brainwave data is recorded, it is processed with advanced AI and machine learning software to create a detailed report. This report helps the clinician assess what each client needs individually. As a client you get a great sense of how your brain is working. The data points in the report are used to create a personalized training plan for you that targets the areas in the brain where there is dysfunction and corresponding symptom presentation. What makes EEG neurofeedback special, in that the clinician “looks under the hood” before assessing the clients individual needs. This results in an approach that has a strong and growing science behind it. So many people now have a way to treat their attention and memory problems, find relief from anxiety, sleep, and mood challenges while enhancing their cognition. The mapping allows for very safe, targeted and personalized neuroplasticity training.

Biofeedback is another tool that is utilized to support the goals of the client and encourage wellness. Biofeedback utilities non-invasive wearable technology to record various physiological markers such as skin conductance, heart rate, and heart rate variability (HRV). These markers are then externalized (usually on to a TV screen) in real time so the client can observe the functioning of their own nervous system. In observing the nervous system, the client can be coached to learn control over the state of their nervous system. This process is often referred to as expanding one’s “window of tolerance” and helps increase the client’s ability to regulate their emotions, build more mindfulness, and expand their emotional fitness. As the client engages in the biofeedback sessions over time, they gain access to, and control over, their own internal resources and innate capacity for resilience. Furthermore, biofeedback is often used in conjunction with psychotherapy to aid the client in experiencing the connection between emotional states and their physiology.

Trauma Psychotherapy is an approach for treating mental health issues by talking with a psychologist, psychiatrist or another mental health provider. It also is known as talk therapy, counseling, psychosocial therapy or, simply, therapy.

During psychotherapy, you learn about your specific issues and how your thoughts, emotions and behaviors affect your moods. Talk therapy helps you learn how to take control of your life and respond to challenging situations with healthy coping skills.

Psychotherapy can help treat most mental health issues, including:

Not everyone who benefits from psychotherapy is diagnosed with a mental illness. Psychotherapy can help with the stresses and conflicts of life that can affect anyone.

For example, psychotherapy may help you:

In some cases, psychotherapy can be as effective as medicines, such as antidepressants. But depending on your situation, talk therapy alone may not be enough to ease the symptoms of a mental health condition. You also may need medicines or other treatments.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has been shown to improve sleep by changing behaviors around sleep and changing the way patients think about sleep. Focused relaxation skills taught through CBT-I addresses negative thoughts and beliefs about sleep as well as maladaptive sleep habits. It’s a non-pharmacologic intervention worth trying alongside supplements and pharmacologic agents or prior to initiating pharmacologic agents. Pharmacologic agents for sleep have limitations including tolerance, adverse effects, and rebound insomnia when discontinuing meds.

Cognitive rehabilitation is a valuable therapy to help patients overcome cognitive challenges and restore and maintain their everyday functioning. Cognitive therapies can teach valuable long-lasting skills and habits which incorporate all domains of neuro and psychological functioning – emotional, behavioral, and cognitive. Based on the principles of neuroplasticity, it’s important to understand that these treatments can actually change the firing and the wiring of neurons in the brain. Cognitive remediation includes education about compensatory and limit-setting strategies, personalized for each patient. It is a goal-oriented treatment which might focus upon enhancing attention and concentration, improving memory skills and executive functioning skills.

EMDR is a strongly research-based technique for trauma or chronic stress. This technique uses alternating eye movements (or alternate tapping) while simultaneously sensing what’s going on in the body, the therapist guides patients through a multistep protocol to help re-visit old memories or images in a gentle way and helps to integrate them in a positive way. changing negative cognitions to positive ones, all anchored in somatic awareness.

Developed by Dr. David Grand, Brainspotting locates points in the client’s visual fields that help them to access unprocessed trauma and memories in the subcortical brain as well as positive resources. Making use of eye positions which help the therapist locate focus points and process memories and feelings in the body in a gentle way.

Brainspots are eye positions which can help release client’s patterns like anxiety, chronic illness, depression, or behavioral problems.

Somatic experiencing is a body-centered and gentle approach to healing trauma and traumatic stress. The therapist addresses the root cause of the experience and helps to gently guide the client to develop increasing tolerance for difficult body sensations and feelings. This approach allows for the completion of body responses which were self-protective and allows the release of held back survival energy held in the body, and in this way, it looks at root causes just like the other techniques listed here.