Discovering Neurofeedback: A Journey to Optimal Brain Health

Often, when someone is introduced to the concept of neurofeedback, it's a new and unfamiliar territory. This sets the stage for an enlightening exploration into how neurofeedback works, its efficacy, associated costs, and available training options. Over the years, we've been dedicated to offering a neurofeedback program through our centers and home rental systems. Our experience has shown that informed clients tend to be the most satisfied and reap the greatest rewards from their brain training.

To provide guidance during this educational phase, we reached out to our certified NeurOptimal® trainer, Kim Planansky. With years of experience training herself and her family, and now running our neurofeedback home rental program from Colorado, she's here to share her invaluable advice and brain training insights.

Guiding You Through the Neurofeedback Experience

Kim:  Some of our home neurofeedback renters are located in Denver and Boulder, while others are scattered across the mid-west, Nevada, Ohio, Texas, and now, increasingly, in Utah, where NeurOptimal® trainers are scarce so clients have to rely on renting neurofeedback for home sessions.

With our home rental program, I'm involved from the beginning.  I personally guide them in choosing the right rental plan based on the number of family members training. I make sure they understand that neurofeedback is a form of training, not treatment. They're empowered to run sessions as per their comfort, and our self-report checklist becomes a vital tool to track progress.

Witnessing issues rated "9" transform into "6s" and eventually "3s" over time on our checklist is truly gratifying. Our clients rate their symptoms on a scale of 1-10, where 10 signifies the highest severity.

Common Neurofeedback Benefits

Kim:  Initial changes often include improved sleep quality, reduced overall stress levels, and enhanced patience – especially in personal relationships and family dynamics. When children engage in brain training for better school performance, noticeable improvements surface within a week or two. Parents frequently report that their children exhibit better emotional management, increased calmness, and less difficulty with schoolwork.

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Top Recommendation for Effective Brain Training

Kim: My primary advice is to time your rental when you can fully leverage the benefits of home neurofeedback. Establish a consistent schedule – for instance, training before bedtime on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, or dedicating early mornings on Mondays and Thursdays before work. Regularity, training 2-3 times per week, amplifies the value of your rental, making it a cost-effective endeavor.

My strong suggestion: Don't let the equipment go unused during your rental period. Many clients regret not utilizing the system more. For those lagging at the two-week mark, I encourage the "5-sessions-in-five-days" challenge, often igniting their motivation.

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Who Can Benefit from Neurofeedback? What it is and who it is for

Empowerment Through Shared Neurofeedback Experiences

Kim: The difference in results between families who brain train together and families where only the kid trains is HUGE. When I have a family who is just training their children, the results generally seem to take longer to take effect.

 The parents feel unsure of what changes are happening for their children and often also struggle to get their kids to train.  When parents and kids both take advantage of the rental program, I see much better results all around and faster ones, too.

When parents are also brain training, (and they could be doing once a week and the child twice a week.  It doesn't need to be as frequent), they really understand what is shifting for their kids, and are able to recognize the subtle changes faster and also support the changes, because they themselves are going through it. There is also a more calming attunement between the parent and kids.

I've also found that the parents who train are much more successful in helping their kids feel comfortable with the training. I'd say that is, at least in part, due to the fact that seeing your parents training gives you confidence in the value of the training, as well as making it seem less intimidating.

Some kids (especially the younger ones the child, who tend to have more stress or emotional struggles) can feel a little nervous about the wires or sitting still. When they see their parents do neurofeedback, it just puts them at ease and often makes them want to try it, too!

Elevating Parenting Through Neurofeedback

Kim:  Regular neurofeedback has had a transformative effect on my parenting style. Consistent training on myself brings out the patient, calm, and composed parent I aspire to be. Frazzled moments are fewer and it's easier for me to maintain a clear perspective, especially when I have both of my kids trying to get their way!

Noteworthy Neurofeedback Outcomes

Kim: While some neurofeedback renters opt not to share their reasons, NeurOptimal® accommodates this privacy aspect beautifully. Without requiring a diagnosis, clients can rent and use neurofeedback without divulging personal details. Privacy is crucial, considering the stigma around emotional struggles. Clients monitor their progress and experience improvements independently.

Clients who do share their results typically report increased calmness and focus during the first check-in. By the mid-way point, they often mention mood improvements, better sleep, reduced irritability, and stress.

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The Safety of Neurofeedback

Kim: NeurOptimal is safe to use at any age.  It's not forcing change but giving information for the brain to use to change itself.  This is the aspect of the software design I love the most.  I don't hesitate at all when a parent asks me if their child is "too young for neurofeedback."  I respond with, "There's no such thing as too young."   It's purely feedback; there is no forced change.   It is a big relief because even the youngest children can benefit and I don't have to turn any child away.   

The only potential drawback of home neurofeedback is underutilization. Non-compliance with their training schedule is a hurdle for some families. Assessing a client's motivation and readiness is vital before I recommend a rental.  And sometimes life factors and a busy schedule make it so familes don't do as many sessions as they'd like during their rental.  But as far as I'm concerned, partial is better than none at all!  In general, especially with support for learning and executive functioning, rentals typically span 2-3 months, and some clients even purchase the equipment.   There's no "right" length of training either.  For some families it is about helping shift symptoms, and for others it is about peak performance and optimal brain performance throughout one's life.

One fellow said to me after his first month's rental, "This has to be part of my weekly regime for the rest of my life, but that's OK.  I'm actually relieved to know it's there when I want it."

Thanks Kim, for sharing your neurofeedback training experience with our readers!