Board Certified Neurofeedback Clinicians
Sharon Moleski and Dr. Richard Ponton are Board Certified in Neurofeedback by the Biofeedback Certification International Association. The BCIA is the certification body for the Association of Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, the Biofeedback Foundation of Europe, and the International Society of Neurofeedback and Research. Neurofeedback provided by mental health professionals provides an effective combination of neurotherapy and psychotherapy.
What is Neurofeedback?
Neurofeedback is a non-invasive process of normalizing brainwave patterns in specific regions of the brain that influence our emotional state and cognitive performance. It is a type of biofeedback that incorporates specialized equipment that individuals use to exercise and produce beneficial changes in their brainwaves. While other treatments and medication may only compensate for a problem, with many disorders neurofeedback often leads to long lasting positive changes in brainwave activity and daily functioning. It has been applied successfully to a number of conditions including:
ADD/ADHD
Anxiety
Depression
Learning Disabilities
Substance Abuse
Autism
Bed Wetting
Brain Fog and Memory Enhancement
Additionally, neurofeedback is utilized by athletes, surgeons, pilots and other professionals to enhance peak performance for optimal results.
How does Neurofeedback work?
Neurofeedback uses visual and auditory feedback to help the brain change brainwaves for optimal performance. Brainwaves are electrical patterns produced by neurons. These patterns vary in their appearance when recorded on paper or displayed on a monitor. Some brainwaves are slow, some are fast, and still others have high levels of power while some have low power. Brainwaves provide information on how well the brain is functioning. Sensors placed on the head can detect this electrical activity which is much like an EEG signal. Special equipment translates the EEG into information an individual can learn from using operant condition to change his brain activity as indicated. This information is translated into a computer which is used in the training. Rewards are displayed by the computer to reinforce the desired brainwave patterns. With enough practice, the individual will do this on his own without the computer feedback.
How often and how many neurofeedback sessions do I need to complete?
Neurofeedback training can be compared to other training modalities such as exercise or learning to play a musical instrument. Fitness experts recommend that you exercise a minimum of 3 times a week while a music student or gymnastic student prepares for the next lesson by practicing every day. Likewise, neurofeedback training requires dedication in that it is often done 2 to 3 times per week.
The number of sessions may vary and depend on several factors, including the individual’s rate of learning. Learning is what neurofeedback training is all about. Through practice, optimum brainwave patterns are achieved without the computer feedback. Each person’s rate of learning is unique, some respond more quickly than others. Active participation by the client beyond the training sessions can also contribute to the efficiency of sessions. For instance, trainees who regularly engage in healthy brain focused activities, such as physical exercise, adequate sleep, proper nutrition, reading, and relaxations exercise will help boost training results. The individual presenting problem also plays a role in frequency and number of sessions recommended.