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We use an innovative and powerful technology that allows you to optimize and train your brain to be more effective
We recognize that negotiating change can be hard, we are here to support you through the journey that is life
We use modified sound frequencies to stimulate the part of the nervous system that manages your ability to relax
“I like the movies. Sometimes I feel as though I am a bit more aware of my feelings after sessions, and I do sometimes get tired. I used to get anxious a lot but that doesn’t happen as much now. Mom says she notices that overall I don’t get as upset as much when I train regularly.
T.B., 11 years old.
“Wow – after just one session of Neurofeedback my mind felt clear! It lasted about 24hours – I can’t wait to see what happens when I do more training!”
49yo mother of 4 children, after her first session.
“I had a day off this week and was able to take a nap for the first time in years“.
31 year old male seeking improvements to sleep quality.
No! NeurOptimal® Neurofeedback is completely non-invasive and very relaxing. We use just a bit of paste to hold the 5 sensors in place in strategic positions on your ears and scalp. The sensors just read the electrical signals from your brain activity and communicate the info to the computer software program. Unlike some other systems, with NeurOptimal® there is no electrical current going into your brain and you don’t need to ‘do’ anything other than listen.
NeurOptimal® is approved in the US by the FDA and classified as a ‘General Wellness’ device. Health Canada has also reviewed the system and classified it as a ‘Consumer Product’. The expertise is built into the complex software, so no diagnosis or directed intervention is required, and there is no risk of human error from incorrectly targeted protocols.
NeurOptimal® Neurofeedback gives your brain the information it needs through sound, so all you need to do is listen. You can lie back and relax, read a book or magazine, colour or knit, do some art, watch a movie or show (yes, some of our systems are equipped to work with multi-media!). You can even take a nap.
We have online booking to make it convenient for you to plan your optimum training schedule. Neurofeedback sessions can be booked with any of our trainers based on which days work best for you. If you are attending Counselling as well please book your Counselling sessions with the same Counsellor.
Some people notice changes right away, while some find it takes several sessions to really start to feel a difference. Our Trainers are Certified NeurOptimal® Neurofeedback Trainers, and they will help and support your journey and help you to keep track of how the changes are showing up in your life.
We have clients who have made Neurofeedback Training a regular part of their self-care routine, and others who have felt they accomplished their training goals in 10 sessions or less. Some clients have decided to rent systems to train more frequently, conveniently, and economically at home, and some have even moved on to purchase systems.
Many people find that once or twice a week is sufficient, but depending on your situation you may want to train as often as 3-4 times per week, or as little as once a month. Training can be done as frequently as once or even twice a day. We have had clients come from out of town to complete a lot of sessions in a short time. Our team will work with you to figure out your optimum schedule.and others who have felt they accomplished their training goals in 10 sessions or less. Some clients have decided to rent systems to train more frequently, conveniently, and economically at home, and some have even moved on to purchase systems.
No, you don’t need to wait. The brain can use the information from the feedback as it is healing.
Great question! NeurOptimal® is a very advanced, complex software that is based on a very different paradigm from other training systems. NeurOptimal®’s feedback offers dynamical, comprehensive, ‘in real-time’ information to your brain, with second by second information being delivered through auditory information. We’ll happy to go into more detail about this in your Orientation session.
No you don’t. NeurOptimal® can help you without requiring you to talk. However, if you’d like to get some extra support, we can offer that too; sometimes even good change can be an adjustment and it can be helpful to explore this with a Counsellor. Some of our Trainers are also Counsellors and can offer a mix of Counselling and Neurofeedback sessions. We also share our offices with the terrific team at www.eastvancouvercounselling.ca so we’ll be happy to help you find the right person to talk to. If you already see a Counsellor – or any other mental health support services – we will be happy to work alongside them your existing team.
No you don’t need a Doctor’s referral nor a diagnosis to do brain training. As explained above, the system works with your own brain’s unique activity in real time and our Trainers will not be pushing or manipulating any outcomes. If you would like us to speak to your Doctor we will be happy to contact them to explain what we do, with your consent.
Our services are not covered by provincial medical insurance, however, your sessions may be covered by most Extended Health Benefit insurance programs, wherever Registered Clinical Counsellors (RCC) or Certified Canadian Counsellors (CCC) are approved. Please call your Insurance provider to verify if Counselling with a Registered Clinical Counsellor or Certified Canadian Counsellor is covered in your plan.
Neurofeedback has been around since the 1950’s, developed partly by NASA scientists to help astronauts train and control sensory motor rhythm (SMR) and develop ultra-stable brains. Until more recently, the systems were so complex, expensive, and resource intensive that they were not commonly available. Systems like NeurOptimal®, (originally developed nearly 20 years ago by Dr.’s Valdean and Sue Brown and updated several times since then) have made Neurofeedback more accessible, available, and impactful. It’s an exciting time in the field, with a lot of new, innovative devices and systems coming onto the market.
Because NeurOptimal® Neurofeedback bases the feedback on your own dynamic brain system, your training will help your brain to optimize no matter what your training goals. While our trainers have heard and seen some amazing outcomes for our clients, NeurOptimal® can’t physically change the structure of your brain or take away ‘hard wired’ conditions, but it can help you to optimize what you have and to manage better. NeurOptimal® Neurofeedback has been used safely and effectively with infants, pets, people in comas and people with severe traumatic brain injury, dementia, PTSD, and mental health concerns. If you have questions about your situation, please discuss them with your trainer and with your doctor.
NeurOptimal® Neurofeedback informs the Central Nervous System, so you may find yourself reacting less and thinking more clearly about decisions and problems in your life. Common reasons to train with Neurofeedback include:
We create, connect, work and heal on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Stó:lō, and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. We acknowledge our responsibility to learn about the past and take proactive steps towards reconciliation.