You say one of the reasons NeurOptimal® is so safe is that it doesn’t influence any outcome. What does this mean?
Other neurofeedback systems have goals or outcomes they seek, usually determined in collaboration with the practitioner who is operating the equipment. To meet these goals the software will present you with tasks that you try to accomplish and when you get them right you get “points” in some way. Under the hood, the software is telling your brain to produce more of some frequencies and less of others — these are called augments and suppresses. The idea is that your brain can be pushed into learning to be more like a “normal” (or average) brain. NeurOptimal does not work in this way at all. NeurOptimal does not view your brain as sick or well — in fact, that is irrelevant to NeurOptimal which is a training not a treatment. There are no pre-determined goals (such as getting well), and hence no augments or suppresses. In fact, there is no instruction given to your brain at all. It can do whatever it wants! The idea is to hold up that mirror (NeurOptimal) and let your brain take it from there.
You say the brain is doing the work, not NeurOptimal. Could a brain be too disturbed or damaged to benefit from NeurOptimal?
At this point we have had a lot of experience with all kinds of brains, as you can imagine. We have yet to see a brain that cannot learn from NeurOptimal. It does seem that every brain has within it an innate capacity to learn and hence potentially to benefit from training with NeurOptimal. Luckily it wouldn’t take you long to find out. We say within six sessions you should know if it is helping, and often it can be quicker than that.
You say many different types of people can work with NeurOptimal for many different reasons and purposes. How can one program do that, especially when there are no settings to change? How can “one size fit all”?
An excellent question! It sounds almost too good to be true, doesn’t it! The answer is actually quite simple. Let’s go back to the analogy of the mirror. No matter who looks into it, the mirror can always be exactly the same mirror. But every image is going to be different, and even the image of one person is going to be subtly changing, never the same one minute (or second) to the next. NeurOptimal is like that mirror, giving information micro-second by micro-second. Not only will two people never have the same session, no person will ever have the same session twice! It’s impossible because as the brain shifts in response to the information it is getting, the image being reflected back also changes. It’s a unique dance between the person and their own brain, or, described another way, of the brain dynamically dancing with itself. So no, NeurOptimal can never be described as a “one size fits all”.
How often to do sessions?
Our clients make that decision.
How many sessions for X,Y or Z?
The diagnosis doesn’t matter, sessions are always individual to the person.
How many sessions is enough?
Whatever you want and feel that you need.
Do people have side effects?
NeurOptimal does not put anything in nor take anything out, therefore the only effects are part of each person’s journey. The experience of sessions can possibly remind you of another past event. A person could possibly need their Dr. to look at them being over-medicated.
What to expect after first session?
Don’t have expectations! We are not expecting anything in particular to happen and neither should you.
Do results last?
It is a learned process, like learning to read, we can’t take that away from you once you know it.
Medications
Medications may need to be adjusted as your central nervous system learns to function as it used to. You can help your doctor understand the process.
When to stop Neurofeedback
NeurOptimal does not have a specific time to start or stop. It is always up to you to be aware of the very subtle shifts and determine when it makes sense to be finished.
Booster Sessions
Many times if someone has finished sessions they may feel they want to come back and do more sessions, this can usually help someone feel their best in just a few sessions.
Session series vs. lifetime commitment
Some people feel great after a group of initial sessions, others want to keep that feeling and continue on doing it for life (like a gym membership).