| | hardwired, fixed in form and function, so that by the time we reach adulthood we are pretty much stuck
with what we have. ...The doctrine of the unchanging human brain has had profound ramifications. For
one thing, it lowered expectations about the value of rehabilitation for adults who had suffered brain
damage from a stroke or about the possibility of fixing the pathological wiring that underlies psychiatric
diseases...But research in the past few years has overthrown the dogma. In its place has come the
realization that the adult brain retains impressive powers of ‘neuroplasticity’--the ability to change its
structure and function in response to experience. The brain can be rewired.”( Time Magazine, January 19,
2007)
This idea that the brain can be rewired is one that neurofeedback practitioners, health care providers who teach
people to improve their brain functioning by altering their brainwave frequency patterns, have known for decades.
The first study of using neurofeedback (also known as brainwave biofeedback) to change the brain was published
in 1968 by Dr. Barry Sterman. Dr. Sterman reported that individuals with seizure disorders were able to
significantly reduce or eliminate seizures through neurofeedback training. Subsequent studies have confirmed Dr.
Sterman’s findings on seizures, and other studies and clinical reports have documented the effectiveness of
neurofeedback in treating a wide variety of neurologically-based disorders, including:
- attention deficit disorder
- traumatic brain injury
- depression
- anxiety
- bipolar disorder
- posttraumatic stress disorder
- stroke
- autism
- age-related memory loss
- other brain-based disorders
Neurofeedback involves using specially designed, very sensitive electronic instruments and software to measure the
electrical activity of the brain and feed back information to the patient about brainwave patterns. Through auditory
and visual rewards, the patient’s brain learns to correct faulty brainwave patterns with a resulting improvement in
functioning. What parts of the brain are trained and what brainwave frequencies are targeted is based on an
assessment that includes information on presenting symptoms and functioning. In more complex disorders, such as
stroke and brain injury, a specialized brain mapping process called a Quantitative EEG is also used to direct
training.
More information about neurofeedback, including research articles, can be found at the following
websites:
International Society for Neurofeedback and Research: www.isnr.org
EEG Spectrum: www.eegspectrum.com
EEG Info: www.eeginfo.com
 | | Rapid trauma resolution techniques
|
According to Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, a psychiatrist and noted trauma researcher, "the core pathology of PTSD is |
| | that certain sensations or emotions related to traumatic experiences keep returning in unbidden ways, and do not
fade with time". Memories are stored in disconnected fragments in ways that are not accessible to verbal
processing, so that talk therapy is usually not effective in treating Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. For an excellent
article on trauma by Dr. Van der Kolk, go to Beyond the Talking Cure
Techniques I use that are effective in treating trauma include:
- EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
In EMDR, the client is encouraged to focus on images, thoughts, feelings and body sensations associated
with the trauma while making specific eye movements. This process helps the client to rapidly integrate the
memory fragments and process the associated feelings so that recalling the memory is no longer disturbing
and the client experiences the memory as being in the past, rather than constantly reliving it in the present.
Significant improvement is often seen in one session. More information about EMDR can be found at the
EMDR International Association website at www.emdria.org
- TFT (Thought Field Therapy)
In Thought Field Therapy, the client focuses on the trauma while tapping on certain acupressure points on
the face, hands and body. This process results in a significant decrease in the level of distress while recalling
the memory and the ability to experience the memory as being in the past. As with EMDR, significant
improvement is often seen in one session. More information about TFT can be found at the Association for
Comprehensive Energy Psychology (ACEP) website at www.energypsych.org
- TAT (Tapas Accupressure Technique)
In TAT, the client focuses on different aspects of the trauma while keeping the hands in a specific position on
the head. This process also seems to facilitate rapid processing of traumatic material. For more information
on TAT, see the ACEP website above and also www.tatlife.net.
- Neurofeedback (see above)
Services
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