By Clare Albright

If you'’ve been considering neurofeedback therapy, also known as ‘’biofeedback for the brain'’, as a therapy for an addiction, ADHD, chronic pain, or other disorder associated with brain function, you may have some concerns about what a neurofeedback session will be like. Perhaps you'’re wondering if neurofeedback hurts or feels weird, or maybe you just want to know how long the whole thing will take. Well, you'’ve come to the right place for answers.

First, you should know that neurofeedback sessions are not at all painful. In fact, many patients describe the sessions as being quite comfortable, and even enjoyable. Neurofeedback relies mainly on the electrical signals that your brain naturally sends as you think, or as it performs unconscious actions like regulating your hormone levels. Since your brain transmits these signals twenty-four hours a day, the sessions will not usually involve doing anything new or different.

When you go your therapist for a neurofeedback session, she or he will attach little sensors to your scalp. These leads will be comfortably positioned with a gel that holds them in place.

During a neurofeedback session, you will probably be seated near a television screen, a computer monitor, or a speaker. Typically, your brain operates within certain patterns or wavelengths. When these patterns change, this will be picked up by the computer. Your therapist may have you play a sort of brain game in which you get your brain to send the signals that will make something happen on the screen or with the speakers. You might, for example, make a spaceship fly on the screen, or make a sound become louder or softer.

You may find it quite amazing that you can do all of this without moving a muscle, using only your brain activity. But how does it actually help you to overcome the particular disorder or condition that you'’re seeking help with? Well, the signals that make the desired action happen are the patterns that your brain needs to fall into in order to overcome whatever disorder you are struggling with.

After a few neurofeedback sessions, these patterns may begin to become habitual, and eventually long lasting. Once they are more ingrained into the way that your brain works, you may have decreased your ADHD, eating disorder, migraine headaches, or whatever condition the therapist is treating you for. The number of sessions required to achieve long lasting change varies greatly with different disorders, but most patients will find long lasting relief from their condition within twenty to forty sessions.

Even if you'’re still a bit nervous for your first couple of neurofeedback therapy sessions, your uneasiness should disappear once you'’ve experienced a couple of sessions - you will probably even begin to enjoy them. And you will definitely enjoy any changes that you see in your life.

About The Author

For more information about Neurofeedback, go to http://www.NeurofeedbackBook.com Dr. Clare Albright is a psychologist (CA License PSY11660) and a Neurofeedback practitioner and can be reached at (949)454-0996