Neurofeedback is yoga for the brain!
Neurofeedback is like playing the hot and cold childhood game with your brain cells. Sensors attached to your scalp measure the electrical activity on the surface of your brain, and then the computer reflects your brain activity back to you through audio and visual information. The computer provides an audible cue whenever your brain cells’ firing patterns move closer to a calm, focused state.
When your brain experiences a more efficient, more effective way of operating, it is inherently motivated to adopt this new way of working (with enough repetition). Everybody’s brain wants to get the best possible results for the least amount of energy expended.
Neurofeedback is based on the arousal model, which states that as your nervous system arousal (or activation) increases, so does your performance – up to a point. If your nervous system arousal continues to increase past that point, your performance will decline. This holds true for everything from shooting free throws to working math problems, sleeping well, and parenting. Neurofeedback helps your nervous system regulate arousal more effectively and shift its level of arousal to fit the task at hand more appropriately. Learning to regulate your nervous system arousal well makes life tasks easier - especially in managing your moods, sleep, energy level, and focus.
Nes Pinar, LMFT, has a counseling degree from Cal State East Bay and has years of experience working with children, adolescents, and adults through various treatment modalities around many issues. Nes is the founder of EBTC and supervises post-master's degree associates at her private practice. In addition to more traditional therapy models, Nes incorporates neurofeedback in her work with her clients and as an adjunct service to support other therapists’ work.