Neurofeedback Training & Sessions
What Does a Training Session Look Like?
At Brainboost, we will start the first session by conducting a thorough intake interview. We will ask about your symptoms and past and current history. We will ask questions about your environment, job, family life to learn more about you and your situation. You may share as much or as little as you feel comfortable. We will not pressure or push you for information. Expect to spend at least 60 minutes in our office for the first session. Subsequent sessions may be conducted in 45 - 55 minutes. We will always check in with you before each training session on how you are feeling.
Next, we will ask you to sit comfortably in a chair and place a cap on your head in a pleasant environment. The purpose of this cap is to hold the electrodes in place. The cap is made from plastic and medical-grade rubber. It is latex-free and hypoallergenic. After the cap is in place, a Velcro strap will be fixed under your chin. For individuals with sensory difficulties who cannot tolerate a cap, we can fix the electrodes to your scalp using a sticky paste. Next, we place electrodes on your scalp to target specific parts of your brain. We use a water-based gel as a conductor. The electrodes amplify your brain waves and are sent to a computer, presenting the data on a screen.
Machines We Use
Brainboost uses FDA-approved, medical-grade EEG amplifiers and materials to facilitate brain training. This is the same devices used by NASA to train astronauts and the VA Hospital to train soldiers suffering from PTSD. Various brain activities are measured with the help of a computer-aided EEG (electroencephalogram). These can be assigned to states of mind (e.g., concentration, relaxation) in certain areas of the head and specific patterns to individual symptoms (e.g., ADHD, depression, burnout, etc.).
During training, you will watch a film, “play” a video game or listen to music on a secondary screen. Whenever the desired activity pattern occurs, this is reported back to you by making the TV picture large and visible, the video game character move, or the music audible (positive feedback). On the other hand, unwanted activities are measured, the picture becomes small, or the music quieter (negative feedback). As a result, your brain learns subconsciously and in a short time to optimally regulate your brain activity according to the situation.
The first changes usually occur after 2-7 training sessions. Depending on individual goals, most clients require at least 10-20 sessions for lasting effects.
