Mental health skills

All of us want to be focused in thought, motivated in action, stable and flexible in emotional response, and optimistic in outlook. These traits require a well-developed set of internal coping and adaptive skills that we call self-regulation skills. Self-regulation skills are the “know how” of good performance and stress management, and are critical for mental health.

Biofeedback for the Mind

Neurofeedback is a high-technology biofeedback procedure based on the brain’s ability to benefit from feedback about its own performance. Neurofeedback uses the brain’s “language of activation” — the EEG or brain waves — to enhance people’s attention, activation, and calmness in their day-to-day functioning.

The procedure is as enjoyable as it is simple: A person’s brain waves are monitored using surface sensors, and the person is placed in front of a computer screen. The computer is set up to present multimedia games and exercises that will be controlled by the person’s brain waves.

But the amount of control is critically dependent on the brain-wave patterns that a person produces. If a person produces good patterns — those associated with attention, activation, or calmness — their control of the computer feedback is enhanced. If a person produces bad patterns — those associated with distractibility, anxiety, or agitation — their control of the computer feedback is reduced. Thus, by producing and maintaining good patterns and reducing bad patterns, a person receives more computer feedback, thus increasing their capacity to self-regulate!

The Benefits to All

Brain waves are a signature of our cognitive, emotional, and behavioural functioning, so training and conditioning them has widespread beneficial effects on the regulation of our central nervous system. We see outstanding outcomes in disorders as diverse as AD/HD, learning disabilities, epilepsy, mood disorder and depression, generalized or phobic anxiety disorder, and others. Neurofeedback is also a powerful peak performance tool for enhancing everyone’s ability to perform well in academic, vocational, and athletic activities.

History and Scientific Status

The scientific history of neurofeedback dates back 30 years, despite the fact that it is relatively unknown to many mental-health professionals. Neurofeedback has strong scientific roots and has received widespread clinical validation over many years. Check back soon for detailed historical and scientific information.