What are the Benefits of Neurofeedback, and How Does it Work?

11 min readSep 6, 2022

Since ancient times, parents have searched for holistic remedies to help their children heal from a variety of ailments. Today, parents continue to search the internet for resources and providers to help their children and teens heal and thrive at school and at home.

While modern medicine has sought to standardize evidence based practices and share recent findings globally, there is still a void in the area of mental health treatment. Today’s rise in mental health issues in children and teens reflects that.

Unfortunately, mental health care has a long way to go. And it is not uncommon to see parents going from provider to provider, trying a variety of therapies, and struggling to find success.

However, one treatment exhibits the potential to treat almost 30 different conditions related to mental health. In the last five decades, thousands of neurofeedback studies have demonstrated the efficacy of Neurofeedback, a brain training program. As much as 90 percent of people who undergo Neurofeedback for ADHD symptoms experience positive changes and significant and long-term improvements.

Jack’s Story

Jack is an endearing, bright eight-year-old child whose parents called him a “slob.” He seemed to have zero motivation and struggled to get anything started. His grades were horrible, and he was always in trouble for not listening. “Huh” and “What” were the two most common words in his vocabulary. His parents were always on edge when the phone rang because they were worried his teachers were calling again.

High school was tough because Jack couldn’t just rely on his intelligence and had to get written work done. He had to turn in homework and projects on time. His lack of effort was also getting on the nerves of his few friends, who were sick of listening to Jack complain. And he was in trouble so much they barely saw him.

Whenever his parents would find out that Jack had failed to turn in stuff again, they checked on him to find the unfinished homework at the bottom of his bag or as a draft in Google Drive. They were frustrated and didn’t know what to do.

They’ve tried putting up systems in place by using checklists and timers and asked his tutor for help. Jack could never manage his responsibilities alone, even simple ones. Leading to many heated arguments that accomplished nothing.

His parents tried common treatments, medications, therapy, and working with the school. But his grades kept going down the toilet along with his self-esteem.

His parents hoped to help him reach college, but his chances were not looking good. At home, Jack could barely remember to flush the toilet, let alone be sent off to college to live independently.

The worst thing about Jack’s struggle was the Russian roulette of medication the family endured for years. Jack took one medication after another. Each time, the family looked forward to a significant improvement. However, instead of showing progress, Jack went from being unfocused and unmotivated to being depressed and unable to sleep.

The sparkle had gone out of his eyes. He went from being a happy kid that thought about new things to being constantly disinterested and bored. He at least liked learning before medication, but now he hated school, and his self-esteem was at an all-time low.

That was Jack’s mom, Jennifer’s, turning point. Grades were one thing, but seeing her child sad and unlike himself was something else. She had to find another way. Fortunately, Jennifer was very open about her struggle with other moms, especially fellow moms with ADHD kids. That’s how she learned about Neurofeedback.

Her friend explained that Neurofeedback was the brainwave retraining that had helped her daughter cope with ADHD and anxiety. Her friend shared that Neurofeedback with Dr. Roseann had forever changed her daughter Emma’s life.

Emma struggled for years with focus and crippling anxiety. Now, she is a confident young woman who can thrive independently, nurture friendships, and get good grades.

Jennifer decided to give it a try.

Jack visited the center, and his process began with a QEEG brain map or what Dr. Roseann calls “checking under the hood.”

The QEEG brain map showed the areas in Jack’s brain that were overworked and underworked, and of course, Jack had a brain that was sluggish in the areas of attention and motivation.

Jennifer and the doctors could literally see what was interfering with Jack’s attention and executive functioning. The technology gave the experts a visual view of how the brain “talked” to itself, which affected how Jack processed and paid attention.

It was evident that Jack struggled with starting and finishing tasks because some parts of his brain didn’t light up the same way as others. As Dr. Roseann explained it, “He didn’t have enough gas to power up his brain.” Jack was low in Beta brain waves.

His brain’s communication was slow. He needed more time to process and really to process what he was hearing, which was not always given to him in high school. By the time he figured things out, everyone else was done. He felt bad, so he just gave up.

In the coming weeks, Jack started Neurofeedback and worked with an executive function coach who addressed Jack’s struggle with starting new tasks, like his homework.

The coach showed him how to think differently about starting a task. She broke down that process and taught him to visualize the end product before beginning each task.

Neurofeedback coupled with shifts toward positive parenting that emphasized supporting executive functioning skills produced some significant changes for Jack. Even his teachers were delighted with his improved attention in class and how much more independent he was in completing tasks.

Eventually, Jack’s brain became attentive enough that he could learn executive functioning skills. His brain’s ability to focus improved, and he accomplished the things he used to fail at, including completing the thousand-piece puzzle and remembering to bring home his homework.

When the phone rang, Jack’s science teacher asked what was happening because Jack was paying attention in class! He wasn’t just passing but getting A’s and B’s. His parents cried with joy!

Life at home was a lot better. Jennifer can relax more as Jack has been doing more things independently. He started gaining self-confidence and was motivated to complete his assignments without supervision. There were no more arguments.

Eventually, Jack got into college, where he went to become a self-confident, independent, and happy young man.

That’s why we love Neurofeedback. Once you teach the brain how to get into a healthy rhythm, it stays there.

What is Neurofeedback?

Neurofeedback is an evidence-based treatment for ADHD, Anxiety, and PANS/PANDAS. This non-invasive, evidence-based treatment presents a powerful alternative to medications and poses no side effects. Dr. Roseann’s clinic has seen numerous families’ lives changed through Neurofeedback.

Many parents describe it as “life-changing” because it calms the brain and behavior. People who have gone from doctor to doctor have found respite in Neurofeedback.

The process starts with QEEG brain mapping, which gives a visual picture of the function of the brain. A brain map shows us what areas of the brain are under and overworking.

Our brain can be overactive or underactive in some regions and communication networks can be poor. Those differences affect how the brain works. These can be seen on the brainmap and can be corrected via Neurofeedback.

A brain map shows the brain wave frequency patterns. There are five brainwave frequencies — Delta Waves, Theta Waves, Alpha Waves, Beta Waves, and Gamma Waves. Each brain wave frequency is associated with certain brain functions.

Alpha waves occur when you are engaged in activities such as daydreaming, meditating, or practicing mindfulness. Alpha brain wave activity plays a role in reducing symptoms of depression and improving creativity.

Through the use of computers, Neurofeedback uses a real time display of brain activity used to teach self-regulation of brain wave patterns and produce a healthy rhythm that helps the patient become focused and calm.

By helping the brain self-regulate over time, it becomes trained to produce a healthy combination of brain waves. This results in lasting changes that makes you feel calmer, more focused, and better in control of your whole self, no matter your age.

What to Expect from a Neurofeedback Therapy Session

You may have heard of Neurofeedback but do not know how it works. Neurofeedback is based on the concept of measurement and reinforcement — or what is called operant conditioning. The brain gets reinforced to produce a healthy pattern of brain waves.

Neurofeedback works on a subconscious level, teaching the subconscious part of the brain to get into the state of concentration more efficiently by learning to produce the brain waves associated with a calm focus.

The subconscious is more powerful than the conscious mind and, fortunately, readily trainable. In as little as two to three seconds, the brain begins to produce a healthy pattern of brain wave activity, as the subconscious brain changes brain wave function in response to reinforcement. Tapping into the subconscious through Neurofeedback produces immense progress in brain function, even in severely unfocused kids.

The Neurofeedback Process

#1 QEEG Brain Map

The QEEG Brain Map lets experts look into the brainwave activity and discover parts of the brain that are understimulated, causing slow processing or lack of focus, as well as those that are overstimulated, leading to anxious thinking or anger.

A protocol is designed by a highly trained and experienced Neurofeedback provider. Many brain regions can be trained, and frequencies can be reinforced to increase or decrease to match the optimal level.

Your Neurofeedback provider should be licensed in mental health or medicine, preferably certified by the Biofeedback Certification Alliance (BCIA), ensuring that they possess the training and experience requirements.

While Neurofeedback can have tremendous benefits, your experience is only as good as your provider’s ability to assess the issues and determine the protocol to address them. Working with a provider who has expertise with your clinical issue is important.

#2 Placing Sensors in Specific Areas of the Head

Once a protocol is designed, then training begins. Neurofeedback starts by placing sensors on predetermined areas of the head to train the brain to self-regulate. The client receives reinforcement from a computer program that uses movies, video games, and other visual and auditory stimuli to reward the brain when it produces a healthy combination of brain waves.

The brain’s activity is live on the computer, while the client watches the live feedback to help the subconscious promote or reduce different brainwave frequencies in response to reinforcement.

#3 Reward

Within the first few seconds of the brain training sessions, the subconscious brain receives incentives for changing its own activity to produce more ideal patterns. It wants this stimulating reinforcement, so the brain changes to get more rewards.

This causes the brain to produce electrical activity that regulates the brain. Neurofeedback stimulates the production of neurotransmitters. The right balance of neurotransmitters can greatly contribute to a relaxed and stress-free state of mind. After treatment, bothersome symptoms lessen as the brain gets into a healthy rhythm.

#4 Progress

Outward progress is typically gradual, but inside the brain, the subconscious instantly gets into a healthier rhythm. Brainwaves regulate, which improves overall wellness and releases built-up mental tension.

Improvements gradually increase each session. As the nervous system calms down, the body begins to function more efficiently, and one becomes more comfortable with body sensations.

#5 Neurofeedback Sessions

Neurofeedback is like a personal trainer for your brain by improving brain wave patterns. Like any workout, it takes time and commitment to build muscle or change the brain wave patterns.

The number of neurofeedback training sessions varies according to the clinical issue and flexibility of the brain. For significant improvements, most clinical problems require at least 20 sessions, two to three sessions weekly.

Neurofeedback works well in an integrative wellness treatment plan with psychotherapy, diet, exercise, and stress-reduction lifestyle changes.

Does Neurofeedback Have Side-Effects?

Unlike medications, which can cause negative emotions, depression, and long-term effects, Neurofeedback side effects are few, temporary, and largely benign.

One of the most common side effects is temporary mental fatigue. Just like how to get sore muscles from your first day at the gym, getting your brain to exercise can tire it as well.

Moreover, while patients can be on psychiatric medications while training, certain medications can cause side effects. With a skilled practitioner, most side effects can be managed by a change in protocol.

Neurofeedback is a pleasant, easy, and effective therapy for kids as young as three-and-a-half years old because they get to watch movies and cartoons as their brain calms at the same time. Because the brain is calm, it feels good, and they enjoy their sessions. And, of course, as their behavior improves, there are many more opportunities for positive reinforcement.

Neurofeedback has been shown to be an effective treatment for anxiety and depression, OCD, pain, reading comprehension, slow processing, and seizures.

Conditions Treated by Neurofeedback

ADD/ADHD
Addiction
Anxiety
Autism Spectrum Disorders
Behavioral Issues
Chronic Pain
Chronic Fatigue
Concussions
Depression/Mood Issues
Dyslexia/Reading Disability
Eating Disorders
Enuresis/Bedwetting
Executive Functioning
Fibromyalgia
Learning Disability
Lyme Disease
Migraines & Headaches
NVLD
OCD
PANS/PANDAS
Peak Performance Enhancement for Work or Sports
Phobias
PTSD / Trauma
Sleep Disorders
Social Anxiety & Selective Mutism
Speech & Language
Stress

Benefits of Neurofeedback Treatment

Reduces symptoms of anxiety disorders
Reduces depressive episodes
Improves attention and focus
Provides emotional stability
Treat PTSD symptoms
Treatment of ADHD
Deep Sleep
Better Control of Emotions and Actions
Improve Brain Health

Citations:

Forbes (2022), What is Neurofeedback Therapy?

https://www.forbes.com/health/mind/what-is-neurofeedback-therapy/

Capanna-Hodge, Roseann (2021), It’s Gonna Be OK! www.itsgonnabeok.com

Always remember… “Calm Brain, Happy Family™”

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to give health advice and it is recommended to consult with a physician before beginning any new wellness regime. *The effectiveness of diagnosis and treatment vary by patient and condition. Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge, LLC does not guarantee certain results.

Are you looking for SOLUTIONS for your struggling child or teen?

Dr. Roseann and her team are all about solutions, so you are in the right place!

There are 3 ways to work with Dr. Roseann:

In-person at her Ridgefield, CT center
Virtually with her at home neurofeedback and coaching programs
By joining my Natural Parenting Solutions for ADHD, EF, LD, Anxiety, OCD, Mood & PANS/PANDAS

You can get her books for parents and professionals, including: It’s Gonna Be OK™: Proven Ways to Improve Your Child’s Mental Health, Teletherapy Toolkit™ and Brain Under Attack: A Resource For Parents and Caregivers of Children With PANS, PANDAS, and Autoimmune Encephalopathy.

If you are a business or organization that needs proactive guidance to support employee mental health or an organization looking for a brand representative, check out Dr. Roseann’s professional speaking page to see how we can work together.

Dr. Roseann is a Children’s Mental Health Expert and Therapist who has been featured in/on hundreds of media outlets including, CBS, NBC, FOX News, PIX11 NYC, The New York Times, The Washington Post,, Business Insider, USA Today, CNET, Marth Stewart, and PARENTS. FORBES called her, “A thought leader in children’s mental health.”

She is the founder and director of The Global Institute of Children’s Mental Health and Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge. Dr. Roseann is a Board Certified Neurofeedback (BCN) Practitioner, a Board Member of the Northeast Region Biofeedback Society (NRBS), Certified Integrative Mental Health Professional (CIMHP) and an Amen Clinic Certified Brain Health Coach. She is also a member of The International Lyme Disease and Associated Disease Society (ILADS), The American Psychological Association (APA), Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) International Society for Neurofeedback and Research (ISNR) and The Association of Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (AAPB).