What is neurotherapy?
Neurotherapy, like many types of therapy, mental or physical, is much more complex than its definition. At its core, it is not a medical procedure. It is a learning process. The brain learns to organize itself more efficiently, decreasing certain disorders or dysfunctions.
qEEG
Neurotherapy begins with a diagnostic procedure called a qEEG, or quantitative electroencephalogram, which detects electrical activity in your brain. This is a non-invasive, non-surgical, and non-injurious procedure. It simply involves electrodes and a computer. In addition to the EEG, the client is asked to fill out questionnaires about their symptoms and their physical and mental health. The neurotherapist reviews these results, minute by minute, looking for abnormalities that could explain the client's symptoms, and also sends them to a neurologist to ensure there are no medical issues that need to be addressed.
Brain mapping
If the neurologist gives the all-clear, the next step is brain mapping, which is what makes the EEG quantitative. Computer software is used to look at the frequency of waves in 19 different locations of the brain. With this information and an understanding of the standard distribution, the neurotherapist can again identify places where abnormalities match up with the symptoms a client is having.
Neurofeedback
The next step is a treatment called neurofeedback. Following an evidence-based protocol, sensors are placed on the scalp in areas where dysfunction was seen on the qEEG. These sensors connect to a computer and an amplifier, which analyzes the brain waves against healthy standards, and clients are given audio and visual feedback. Many prefer to watch a movie. When the brain waves deviate from healthy parameters, the feedback stops until the brain waves return to the optimal range. Because of the brain's neuroplasticity, its ability to remap and reorganize on a biological level, consistent repetition of this feedback over time trains the brain to create new neural pathways. A client may sit for an hour per session and return many times. The process continues to work until the brain improves and, in turn, the symptoms improve.
Reassessment
After around 20 sessions, the therapist will often perform another qEEG to reassess the brain waves, along with another questionnaire and other testing, to ensure the process is doing its job. Much like exercising a muscle, it can take some time for neurofeedback to begin working. It may be 10 to 15 sessions before the therapist and client notice improvement, but once it happens, it can be life-changing.
Who can benefit from neurotherapy?
Here are a few examples of cases where neurotherapy can be helpful.
One common dysfunction shows up within the first five minutes of the EEG. During the test, clients are asked to close their eyes for 10 minutes, then open them for 10 minutes. If brain waves show that the client enters stage 2 sleep very quickly, the neurotherapist knows there is some kind of sleep issue, such as sleep apnea. Sleep issues can contribute to symptoms like difficulty with executive function, attention deficits, hypervigilance, overarousal, and more.
Another example is a child who is having trouble paying attention in school. It may be assumed that the child has a learning disability or ADHD, but with a look at the qEEG results and brain mapping, a neurotherapist can tell if there is, perhaps, a traumatic head injury from a young age in the temporal lobe that caused cell death and injury, eventually resulting in a slowing of auditory processing. The parents may have had no idea the injury was significant enough to cause lasting damage. With neurofeedback sessions, the therapist can open up the capillaries that are not getting the blood, oxygen, and nutrients they need, allowing for new functionality in this area. They are also able to calm the secondary social and performance anxiety that may have developed.
Others who may benefit are those who are frequently hyper-aroused or have difficulty sleeping. These individuals are often high-functioning, such as executives or athletes, and they have developed coping mechanisms to mask the symptoms.
Neurotherapy may also be advantageous for individuals who struggle with relationships and stability, anxiety and depression, trauma and PTSD, traumatic brain injury, medication-weaning, executive functioning in adolescence, attention issues, learning disabilities, autism, Tourette's and other tic disorders, insomnia, fibromyalgia, post-chemotherapy fog, and much more. Neurotherapy frequently draws people who prefer a natural, holistic approach.
Ethos Wellness offers neurotherapy as part of our integrative, evidence-based approach to care. If you or a loved one has seen multiple medical and mental health professionals to address cognitive or behavioral issues with no results, or if you are simply curious whether your symptoms may respond to the holistic approach of neurofeedback, please contact us.
