Biofeedback is a computerized mental health technology that can achieve significant improvements in a broad array of behavioral health issues and many psychological symptoms. Biofeedback is non-invasive.
Biofeedback is designed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the nervous system. Biofeedback uses sensors to read information from the body and then provides information back to the student about their current functioning by establishing a mind-body link. This magnified self-awareness leads to learning self-control which grows the capacity for self-regulation. Biofeedback is self-empowerment training.
Most people with mental health issues have parts of their brain that are overactive or underactive or both. The goal of EEG biofeedback (or neurofeedback) is to normalize these frequency-amplitude patterns. For example, too many fast brain waves in the back of the head feels like a busy brain and is common in families with a history of addictions. EEG Biofeedback training is practice in making better brain waves. Within a few hours of practice, we typically see a significant reduction in at least one symptom and later see reductions in a broad range of symptoms.
In brainwave biofeedback, an initial assessment determines which brainwave patterns would be the best training targets. We will discuss and set quantifiable goals based on the issues that most impact your quality of life. We will track these goals and other measures. It is helpful for you to detect and report how you are feeling and to be aware of your goals. Biofeedback is very safe.
In brainwave biofeedback, we start with sensors placed on each ear lobe and a few inches above each ear. Your brainwaves are detected by an electroencephalograph EEG. We may put a sensor on the back of the head and use complex sounds to reinforce more relaxed brainwaves. Sensors only read brainwaves. Nothing goes into you except complex sounds and fractal images on the screen. These signals get transformed into computer sound and visual image feedback to guide you.
This feedback reinforces healthy brainwave patterns. For example, more pleasant sounds and more interesting images might encourage brainwaves in the 12-15 Hz range. We work with 8 such ranges simultaneously.
The audio-visual feedback information is presented dozens of times per second. Trying is not helpful. This rapid pace is designed for the brain, not the mind. The experience is both active and relaxing. The purpose is to improve the brain, the source of thoughts and feelings—and even the quality of sleep. It is like tuning up a car engine to optimize the various speeds.
Benefits: Research on Neurofeedback has been conducted since the late 1960s. There is scientific support for neurofeedback helping many conditions and symptoms. Some of the best research support is for ADHD, anxiety, depression, epilepsy, insomnia, drug addiction, schizophrenia, learning disabilities, dyslexia and dyscalculia, autistic spectrum disorders, traumatic brain injury, migraine, criminality, anger, PTSD and so on as well as other applications such as pain management, and the improvement of musical and athletic performance, etc.
Most research studies on most of these conditions show a 70-80% success rate. Results are often better in practice than with research subjects in laboratory conditions constrained by rigid protocols. Brainwave biofeedback research has been examined in hundreds of studies covering a wide range of mental health related symptoms and diagnoses and has been shown to be broadly effective. No research study with BrainPaint has mentioned adverse effects or contraindications. Unwanted effects are rare, minor, self-limiting and easily managed by adjusting the protocol.
Sessions last less than an hour and should occur between 2 – 15 times per week. A full course is often 15-40 sessions.
Research Support
This report is from a school that went from having the most suicides in the nation down to zero after EEG biofeedback. https://education.alaska.gov/alt/yaa.
“…the school implemented BrainPaint, an innovative neurofeedback system. Students participating in BrainPaint have experienced increase attendance rates, increases in credits earned and in course completion, and declines in student disruptive and discipline behaviors.”
This article is about success with drug and alcohol abuse clinics. https://polysubstance-abuse.com/evidence-based-treatment-addiction. It shows success substantially greater than current methods.
More studies and explanations can be seen here including a comprehensive bibliography. https://isnr.org/recommended-reading. We will be using the BrainPaint system which does not require a QEEG brain map.
This is Gary Ames website. www.calmfocus.com/. https://www.calmfocus.com/research-articles/ The first half of these are about drug treatment but the rest cover a variety of topics.
Client story
While composing this description I asked a patient who has completed only 14 sessions, to tell her story. 19-F, adopted from Colombia.
I came in with a lot of anxiety, depression, and anger. Trying to solve this on my own was hard and frustrating. It seemed impossible.
With biofeedback I feel more at peace and calm, not as anxious and depressed. I could see biofeedback was actually solving my problems in the first couple sessions. I slowly felt like a weight was being lifted off my shoulders. Every session was taking off more weight and more weight.
Now it just feels like I can do a lot of things. Nothing is impossible. There is a saying “Where there is a will, there is a way,” now that applies to me. I can see things more clearly now. I’ve decided not to drop out of college and will be going back this Fall.
Her mother says they see a big difference. She is much more communicative and much less angry and frustrated all the time.
A Medicaid funded program that provides trained professional support for children under the age of 21 to reduce or replace problem with positive socially-appropriate behavior. Services are family and child centered and take place in a variety of settings.
Schools serviced in South Philadelphia Cluster with IBHS:
- Girard Academic Music Program
- Creative and Performing Arts
- Palumbo Academy
- Furness Horace High School
- South Philadelphia High School
- South Phila High School EOP
- Preparatory Charter of Mathematics, Science, Technology and Careers
- Universal Charter at Audenried
- Mastery Charter School at Thomas
A consultant that collaborates with clients and caregivers to collaboratively identify and analyze problems, design and implement interventions, and then evaluate and modify plans based on results.Mobile Therapy (MT) – The MT provides therapy to a client and other(s) that potentially affect the behavioral success of that client in settings other than an agency or office.
A college graduate that works under the direction of a Behavioral Consultation as outlined in a treatment plan Instituted in the context of providing BRHS services.
Monitors and ensures provision, compliance, and quality control of services being rendered.
Individual Support Services (ISS) for the Intellectually and/ or Developmentally Disabled.
Individual Support Services assist the youth with acquiring, retaining, improving and generalizing the behavioral, self-help, socialization and adaptive skills necessary to function successfully in the home and community. Individual Support workers will provide services directly to the youth through evidence-based and data driven methodologies. Individual Support Services are behavioral, self-care and rehabilitative related tasks performed and/or supervised by service provider staff in a youth’s family home, the home of a relative or in other community-based settings, in accordance with approved treatment plans.
These services will support the acquisition, generalization and maintenance of goal attainment in home and community settings; build on adaptive functioning skills and pragmatic communication skills. The service will focus primarily on the use of Positive Behavioral Supports; instruction in activities of daily living tasks such as, eating, toileting, grooming dressing, bathing and transferring ; and instruction in instrumental activities of daily living which includes, but not limited to, meal planning and preparation, managing finances, shopping for food, clothing, and other essential items, performing essential household chores, communicating by phone or other media, and traveling around and participating in the community.
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Biofeedback is a computerized mental health technology that can achieve significant improvements in a broad array of behavioral health issues and many psychological symptoms. Biofeedback is non-invasive.
Biofeedback is designed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the nervous system. Biofeedback uses sensors to read information from the body and then provides information back to the student about their current functioning by establishing a mind-body link. This magnified self-awareness leads to learning self-control which grows the capacity for self-regulation. Biofeedback is self-empowerment training.
Most people with mental health issues have parts of their brain that are overactive or underactive or both. The goal of EEG biofeedback (or neurofeedback) is to normalize these frequency-amplitude patterns. For example, too many fast brain waves in the back of the head feels like a busy brain and is common in families with a history of addictions. EEG Biofeedback training is practice in making better brain waves. Within a few hours of practice, we typically see a significant reduction in at least one symptom and later see reductions in a broad range of symptoms.
In brainwave biofeedback, an initial assessment determines which brainwave patterns would be the best training targets. We will discuss and set quantifiable goals based on the issues that most impact your quality of life. We will track these goals and other measures. It is helpful for you to detect and report how you are feeling and to be aware of your goals. Biofeedback is very safe.
In brainwave biofeedback, we start with sensors placed on each ear lobe and a few inches above each ear. Your brainwaves are detected by an electroencephalograph EEG. We may put a sensor on the back of the head and use complex sounds to reinforce more relaxed brainwaves. Sensors only read brainwaves. Nothing goes into you except complex sounds and fractal images on the screen. These signals get transformed into computer sound and visual image feedback to guide you.
This feedback reinforces healthy brainwave patterns. For example, more pleasant sounds and more interesting images might encourage brainwaves in the 12-15 Hz range. We work with 8 such ranges simultaneously.
The audio-visual feedback information is presented dozens of times per second. Trying is not helpful. This rapid pace is designed for the brain, not the mind. The experience is both active and relaxing. The purpose is to improve the brain, the source of thoughts and feelings—and even the quality of sleep. It is like tuning up a car engine to optimize the various speeds.
Benefits:
Research on Neurofeedback has been conducted since the late 1960s. There is scientific support for neurofeedback helping many conditions and symptoms. Some of the best research support is for ADHD, anxiety, depression, epilepsy, insomnia, drug addiction, schizophrenia, learning disabilities, dyslexia and dyscalculia, autistic spectrum disorders, traumatic brain injury, migraine, criminality, anger, PTSD and so on as well as other applications such as pain management, and the improvement of musical and athletic performance, etc.
Most research studies on most of these conditions show a 70-80% success rate. Results are often better in practice than with research subjects in laboratory conditions constrained by rigid protocols. Brainwave biofeedback research has been examined in hundreds of studies covering a wide range of mental health related symptoms and diagnoses and has been shown to be broadly effective. No research study with BrainPaint has mentioned adverse effects or contraindications. Unwanted effects are rare, minor, self-limiting and easily managed by adjusting the protocol.
Sessions last less than an hour and should occur between 2 – 15 times per week. A full course is often 15-40 sessions.
Research Support
This report is from a school that went from having the most suicides in the nation down to zero after EEG biofeedback. https://education.alaska.gov/alt/yaa.
“…the school implemented BrainPaint, an innovative neurofeedback system. Students participating in BrainPaint have experienced increase attendance rates, increases in credits earned and in course completion, and declines in student disruptive and discipline behaviors.”
This article is about success with drug and alcohol abuse clinics. https://polysubstance-abuse.com/evidence-based-treatment-addiction. It shows success substantially greater than current methods.
More studies and explanations can be seen here including a comprehensive bibliography. https://isnr.org/recommended-reading. We will be using the BrainPaint system which does not require a QEEG brain map.
This is Gary Ames website: www.calmfocus.com/.
The first half of these are about drug treatment but the rest cover a variety of topics: https://www.calmfocus.com/research-articles/
Client story
While composing this description I asked a patient who has completed only 14 sessions, to tell her story. 19-F, adopted from Colombia.
I came in with a lot of anxiety, depression, and anger. Trying to solve this on my own was hard and frustrating. It seemed impossible.
With biofeedback I feel more at peace and calm, not as anxious and depressed. I could see biofeedback was actually solving my problems in the first couple sessions. I slowly felt like a weight was being lifted off my shoulders. Every session was taking off more weight and more weight.
Now it just feels like I can do a lot of things. Nothing is impossible. There is a saying “Where there is a will, there is a way,” now that applies to me. I can see things more clearly now. I’ve decided not to drop out of college and will be going back this Fall.
Her mother says they see a big difference. She is much more communicative and much less angry and frustrated all the time.
A Medicaid funded program that provides trained professional support for children under the age of 21 to reduce or replace problem with positive socially-appropriate behavior. Services are family and child centered and take place in a variety of settings.
Schools serviced in South Philadelphia Cluster with IBHS:
- Girard Academic Music Program
- Creative and Performing Arts
- Palumbo Academy
- Furness Horace High School
- South Philadelphia High School
- South Phila High School EOP
- Preparatory Charter of Mathematics, Science, Technology and Careers
- Universal Charter at Audenried
- Mastery Charter School at Thomas
A consultant that collaborates with clients and caregivers to collaboratively identify and analyze problems, design and implement interventions, and then evaluate and modify plans based on results.Mobile Therapy (MT) – The MT provides therapy to a client and other(s) that potentially affect the behavioral success of that client in settings other than an agency or office.
A college graduate that works under the direction of a Behavioral Consultation as outlined in a treatment plan Instituted in the context of providing BRHS services.
Monitors and ensures provision, compliance, and quality control of services being rendered.
Individual Support Services (ISS) for the Intellectually and/ or Developmentally Disabled.
Individual Support Services assist the youth with acquiring, retaining, improving and generalizing the behavioral, self-help, socialization and adaptive skills necessary to function successfully in the home and community. Individual Support workers will provide services directly to the youth through evidence-based and data driven methodologies. Individual Support Services are behavioral, self-care and rehabilitative related tasks performed and/or supervised by service provider staff in a youth’s family home, the home of a relative or in other community-based settings, in accordance with approved treatment plans.
These services will support the acquisition, generalization and maintenance of goal attainment in home and community settings; build on adaptive functioning skills and pragmatic communication skills. The service will focus primarily on the use of Positive Behavioral Supports; instruction in activities of daily living tasks such as, eating, toileting, grooming dressing, bathing and transferring ; and instruction in instrumental activities of daily living which includes, but not limited to, meal planning and preparation, managing finances, shopping for food, clothing, and other essential items, performing essential household chores, communicating by phone or other media, and traveling around and participating in the community.
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