Neurotherapy vs Neurofeedback
In the medical industry, the two terms neurotherapy and neurofeedback are used interchangeably and can be confusing for patients. In short, neurotherapy and neurofeedback are the same treatment and work to assess and regulate brain wavelengths.
How is Neurotherapy Performed?
During a neurotherapy session, electrode sensors are painlessly placed on the scalp. These sensors read the electrical signals produced by your brain, they are then transmitted to a computer for analysis. Through this real-time information, a person will get feedback through sounds, music, or video as a reward, and tell the brain as it becomes more and more regulated.
When a person is in neurotherapy, they will see in real-time a visual representation of the fluctuation of their brainwave patterns as their brain responds to the sounds or pictures/videos being presented.
For example, the treatment may involve a person watching a movie. While they are watching a movie, the screen will become brighter and brighter in a combination of special musical tones. These tones being introduced as their brain produces the positive brainwave patterns. When the brain has less balanced brain wave patterns, the screen will dim.
This immediate feedback helps the brain learn what to do to make the screen brighter. Over time, the brain figures out how to develop and sustain the desired brainwave patterns that keep the screen active through neurotherapy sessions. This promotes the brain’s regulation of the desired brain waves, which aids in symptom reduction.
As the brain continues this learning through practice in the neurotherapy sessions, it becomes more efficient and balanced. This gradually improves the desired brain wave patterns, helping to reduce symptoms. The neurotherapy process is just like learning any new skill or task; it works over time through reinforcement and repetition.
This process of learning is done through what is called neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity is your brain’s ability to reorganize itself and build new neural pathways in response to your experience or environment. Neuroplasticity is essentially the “muscle building” part of your brain that strengthens desired pathways and creates new ones, in response to repeated thoughts and actions.
During neurotherapy, you actively change and then reinforce the beneficial brainwave patterns that give rise to improved thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
How Successful is Neurotherapy?
The successful aspects of neurotherapy completely depend on the patient and their unique experience. However, most of our patients have reported amazing results following our guidance and treatment programs. Neurotherapy does not have any side effects whereas traditional medications can. Neurotherapy can also provide a more long term solution that medications can not provide.
There is no fix-all solution for any patient and finding what works best for you and your situation is crucial. That being said, we always recommend keeping in mind that every therapy and every treatment has it’s pros and cons so finding the best option for you can be a process.
How Many Sessions are Needed for Optimal Results?
For most patients, 30-40 sessions will be needed for the brain to learn through this learning process (which is known as operant conditioning) to be more regulated, thus reducing symptoms. Depending on the patient and their mental state when the treatment starts will decide how long your treatment will last. All of our treatments are personalized to each patient and are designed to bring every patient the best results possible. As a result, most people accomplish optimal results after an average of 40 sessions conducted over a 20-week period.
Contact Us For More Information
Ogden Psychological Services is the place you want to be for specialized neurotherapy treatment. Our specialists understand that everyone is different and therefore have different needs. This is the main reason we don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, we are careful to listen to your struggles and needs to design a treatment plan best suited for you. Contact us today for more information about our neurotherapy services and treatments.
