Call us at 507.214.2016 to schedule your free 30-minute consultation and find out if Neurofeedback brain training is right for you!
Elisha Young, MSP
Neurofeedback Provider
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As a Neurofeedback Provider, my goal is to tailor your training to you and your brain specifically. I understand most people haven’t heard of neurofeedback, or they have misconceptions about what it is. I am here to clear up the confusion and make sure you understand how it works, how it can help you, and how we partner together to make sure you are receiving the best training.
I have a strong passion for mental health, and I understand what may work for one person, may not work for another. The brain is complex and wonderful and it’s even able to heal itself! We create new pathways in our brain and different ways of thinking all the time. Neurofeedback training also encourages this to happen, but in a way that helps the brain work more efficiently and helps alleviate negative symptoms that are getting in the way of you being your best self.
I have a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in psychology with additional training from the Stens Academy in Neurofeedback Therapy. I am also currently in school working towards a Master’s in Social Work as I work towards obtaining my license to practice therapy.
Client Testimonials
“Prior to starting neurofeedback with Elisha, I felt scattered-brained, overwhelmed, had a hard time focusing on tasks and if I was woken up for any reason overnight, I had a hard time falling back to sleep. Now, my mood is calmer, my focus is better, and I easily fall back asleep after nighttime awakenings. Also, Elisha has been great to work with! She took time to explain the neurofeedback process, answered my questions, checked in consistently on how things were going for me, and tailored the process to fit my unique needs. I highly recommend neurofeedback; it has made a huge improvement in my life.”
“I am so glad that I found Elisha and FCCW! As a parent, we always want to do what’s best for our kids and at times, we are unsure of what that may be. My son struggled with focus, impulsivity, hyperactivity, emotional dysregulation, and anxiety. We had done the medication and therapy route and just were not getting the results we had hoped. His symptoms were creating difficulty at school, which created depression. I was unwilling to allow my son to just be another ‘label.’ Since starting neurofeedback a couple months ago, his school scores have increased three-fold, he has gained control of his emotions and impulsivity. This has allowed him to utilize the skills he has learned in therapy as he was able to slow down enough to think. Neurofeedback has helped my son immensely. ”
What is Neurofeedback brain training?
Neurofeedback is a non-invasive scientifically supported training that has been developed to help the brain regulate itself. During the training sessions the practitioner connects an EEG machine to the client’s scalp to measure the client’s brain waves (there is no electrical stimulation, this is a measurement only). Using specialized software and feedback in the form of entertainment and/or music, the brain waves are trained to perform in a more regulated way. Just like working out builds muscle, working out the brain in this way builds healthier pathways and patterns.
What can Neurofeedback do?
Research supports that Neurofeedback training can help alleviate a number of symptoms: attention issues, anxious thoughts, racing mind, low mood, sleep issues, impulse control, fatigue, and more. On a broader scope, Neurofeedback helps regulate emotions and mood, and improve focus and sleep.
*Neurofeedback is NOT a diagnostic tool, and should not be used to cure/treat mental health diagnoses. Neurofeedback is intended to alleviate symptoms experienced by clients such as worry, difficulty focusing/concentrating, racing mind, low energy, trouble sleeping, etc.
Brain Waves 101. The science behind Neurofeedback.
Our brains are very complex and at any given time there are billions of neurons firing and making connections. Now, based on how quickly or slowly these neurons are firing together, will then determine if we have faster or slower brain waves that are most dominant. For example, when we are in the early stages of sleep, we have much slower brain waves that are dominant. When we are solving a complex problem, our brain waves are much faster. Now, what happens if you are trying to fall asleep, but your brain is still firing quickly and producing fast brain waves? This will likely cause sleep disturbances for you. You may not be able to quiet your mind to fall asleep; you may feel like you just can’t “shut your brain off.”
And what happens if you’re trying to study, or solve a complex problem, or pay attention, but no matter how hard you try you can’t seem to stay focused? Likely, a particular part of your brain is either producing too many slow brain waves (which are usually present during daydreaming/early sleep) or too few fast brain waves (which are present during tasks like problem solving).
Neurofeedback can help. We can see through our first assessment (called a Brain Map, see below), which areas of the brain are producing which types of brain waves during particular tasks. We then target the brain waves in those areas and either increase or decrease them, depending on your symptoms.
What is a Brain Map and how does it help me?
First, we begin by doing a “Brain Map” assessment (known as a QEEG). The assessment involves having a few sensors attached to your scalp while we monitor your brain activity under various tasks, like sitting with your eyes closed, or open, or counting backwards. The assessment takes about 30 minutes total. We then analyze the results and review them with you to determine which symptoms you want to focus on. Common symptoms we see include: sleep issues (trouble falling asleep or staying asleep), racing thoughts, low energy, attention and focus problems, issues with hypervigilance, impulse control, low mood, and many others.
Once we discuss our focus areas, we develop a training plan that is specific to your brain. We target the areas of the brain that are out of balance in order to help alleviate your symptoms.
How does the training work?
The training works by using a psychology principle called Operant Conditioning. Essentially, your brain is getting rewarded for “good behavior.” We connect sensors to the scalp to measure a client's brain waves in real time through the use of an EEG; there is no electrical stimulation to the brain. Using specialized software and feedback in the form of entertainment and/or music, the brain waves are trained to perform in a more regulated way. For example, if your brain waves are moving in the right direction, you are rewarded with a clear screen while watching a movie. If your brain waves are moving in the opposite direction, the screen of the movie will darken, encouraging your brain to correct itself.
How long do I need to train?
Everybody and every brain is different, but we recommend between 20-40 sessions, depending on the severity of your symptoms and how dedicated you are to the training. We strongly recommend twice a week for the first 24 sessions, then once a week for a month, then every other week for another month or two. In total, training programs typically last between 4 and 6 months, give or take. Just like working out our muscles at the gym on a consistent basis, we also need to treat our brain training in the same way. Lasting changes occur when the brain creates new pathways and patterns through Neurofeedback training. The more we solidify those new pathways, the stronger those connections become.