The nctNeurofeedback Clinic FAQ

At nctNeurofeedback, every neurofeedback training programme starts with understanding your unique brain activity, not applying a one-size-fits-all protocol. This individualised approach tobrain training is what sets clinical neurofeedback apart from generic "brain games" or wellness apps. Neurofeedback is a form of brain training that uses real-time information about brain activity to help the brain develop more effective patterns of regulation. Rather than treating a symptom in isolation, we look at how the brain is functioning and use that information to design an individualised training programme. Over time, the aim is to improve the brain's ability to regulate itself, which may support areas such as attention, emotional regulation, sleep, cognitive performance and resilience.

At nctNeurofeedback, every programme is built around a QEEG assessment and brainmap, ongoing clinical oversight, and regular progress review - not just a series of unsupervised sessions. Get in touch for current pricing and a personalised recommendation for in-clinic or remote training. So when comparing cost, I would always ask: What assessment am I receiving? What is actually being trained? Who is designing and overseeing my programme? How will my progress be reviewed? And what level of clinical expertise sits behind the training?The cost of a session only becomes meaningful once you understand what that session is part of.When you look for neurofeedback, you will see a wide range of prices. The more important question is what are you actually being offered for that cost?Costs vary between clinics and practitioners depending on their clinical approach, the methodologies they use, the level of assessment and professional oversight provided, and whether training takes place in a Clinic or remotely.A comprehensive neurofeedback programme should give you clarity around the neuroscience behind your training. Ideally, this begins with a QEEG assessment and brain map, followed by a detailed explanation of the findings, what they mean for you, and the rationale behind the recommended training plan. Your progress should then be actively monitored and reviewed throughout the programme, with the training adjusted where appropriate.It is also important to understand what type of neurofeedback is being offered. EEG neurofeedback is the classical and most widely recognised form of neurofeedback, but there are different ways of working with EEG, and some practitioners may also incorporate other methodologies such as HEG.In our approach, we look beyond simply training a particular brainwave. Depending on the individual, training may focus on activity at specific locations in the brain, communication across brain networks, and the balance and integration between the two hemispheres.There are also significant differences between in-Clinic and remote neurofeedback, particularly in terms of the level of supervision, the technology available and the methodologies that can be used.

If you're wondering whether neurofeedback is suitable for you or a family member, the best starting point is a consultation with our clinical team, who can advise on whether a QEEG brain map isappropriate for your situation. There isn't a simple list of people who are or are not suitable for neurofeedback. Suitability depends on the individual, their clinical history, their current presentation and what they are hoping to achieve. This is why we begin with a consultation and, where appropriate, a QEEG assessment. Neurofeedback should also complement appropriate medical or psychological care rather than replace treatment that someone may need.

A training session at the nctNeurofeedback Clinic combines oxygen training at the front of the brain (HEG) and electrical activity training (EEG).Active sensors (surface electrodes and HEG oxygen sensors) are placed in predetermined location(s) on the scalp and forehead to record the brain’s electrical activity and oxygen patterns. Reference and ground electrodes are generally placed on the ears, or other locations such as the mastoid, to complete the required electrical circuit. It is important to mention that no electrical current is introduced into the brain using neurofeedback equipment. Decisions regarding placement of the active recording electrode(s) and which EEG frequencies to trained are determined by: 1) the quantitative electroencephalographic assessment (qEEG)2) the association of symptoms to brain locations, and3) protocols that have been shown effective in research studies with similarly diagnosed patients.

Understanding neuroplasticity is key to understanding why neurofeedback training produces lasting results rather than temporary relief. "Rewiring" is a simplified way of describing it. A more accurate term is neuroplasticity, which is the brain's ability to adapt and change in response to experience and learning. Neurofeedback uses this capacity by providing the brain with feedback about its own activity, allowing it to practise and reinforce more effective patterns of regulation.

Typically, 40-50 neurofeedback sessions are required for an average process to establish, show trends of changes and settle. Most clinicians report reaching an efficient effect, including long-term maintenance, by 40-50 sessions.Training is usually completed in four to seven months when sessions are conducted a minimum of two times per week. Regular periodic follow-up are conducted every cycle of 10 sessions.

Neurofeedback sessions typically last for 1 hour.

These simple preparation steps help ensure an accurate reading during your neurofeedback session and QEEG assessment. If you have questions before your first appointment, our team is happy to talk you through what to expect. We generally recommend arriving as you would for a normal day. It is helpful to be reasonably rested, hydrated and to have eaten normally. Avoid making unusual changes specifically for a session, such as consuming significantly more caffeine than usual. We also ask clients to arrive with clean, dry hair and without heavy hair products, as these can interfere with the sensors used during training.

A key advantage that neurofeedback has in comparison to other treatment whether psychosocial or medications, is the use of normative, standardized and quantifiable measures to track clinical progress and to help guide treatment decisions. For example, EEG data is constantly produced and is used along with symptom monitoring to plan and evaluate treatment progress and outcome, affording neurofeedback a level of precision, personalization and accountability not available to other therapies. This consistent individual measurement and accountability is strengthened when the data is paired with standardized and quantifiable psychological testing and assessments such as computerized continuous performance tests (CPT) and behavioral rating scales used in treating ADHD. Many practitioners use a CPT and behavior rating scale as a benchmark prior to initiating neurofeedback treatment and then retest several times over the course of treatment to help verify progress and change in targeted symptoms. Significant reductions in ADHD symptoms following neurofeedback treatment have been documented through numerous published articles in peer reviewed scientific journals. This routine tracking of treatment progress with standardized instruments and metrics is in stark contrast to the typical total absence, or at best sporadic, use of standardized monitoring by almost all other behavioral health clinicians. This type of quantification and measurement available in neurofeedback treatment allows case management to be more precise than with other therapies, enabling treatment decisions to be based on an ongoing record of hard data.

The principle is important: neurofeedback is training. The aim is not to create a temporary effect, but for the brain to learn and retain a more effective way of regulating itself.Research has followed both physiological and cognitive changes after neurofeedback over periods ranging from several months to several years. Professor Joel Lubar's 10-year follow-up found that the effects were maintained in 80% of children with ADHD (Lubar, 1995).Neurofeedback works through neuroplasticity. We are teaching the brain physiological skills and, like other learned skills, once those changes are established, they can be retained.This durability is one of the key differences between neurofeedback and approaches thatonly manage symptoms in the moment - because the brain is learning a skill through neuroplasticity, rather than being given a temporary aid.

Anxiety and its causes are wide-ranging, but research shows that there are some brain activity patterns commonly seen in people experiencing anxiety, including decreased alpha activity, increased high-beta activity in relevant regions, and overactivation within networks involved in threat detection.From a neurofeedback perspective, these are the habits of interest: recurring physiological patterns that the brain has developed. Neurofeedback trains the brain to regulate these patterns more efficiently and develop greater flexibility in its activity.Research has shown that neurofeedback alpha training can significantly reduce anxiety symptoms, with some studies demonstrating long-lasting effects (Rice et al., 1993; Banerjee & Argáez, 2017; Moore, 2000). In generalised anxiety disorder, increasing alpha and theta activity at the relevant sites has also been associated with improved global functioning and reduced symptoms (Dadashi et al., 2015).The focus here is therefore not on behavioural or lifestyle habits. It is on identifying the physiological brain patterns associated with an individual's anxiety and training the brain to regulate those patterns more effectively.This is why our neurofeedback anxiety programmes begin with a QEEG brain map - to identify each client's specific pattern before designing a training protocol, rather than applying a generic anxiety programme.

At nctNeurofeedback, we track this kind of measurable progress throughout every programme, reviewing both the underlying brain activity and real-world functional outcomes - not just delivering a fixed number of sessions. Through our over-thirty years of experience with neurofeedback, we have reached the point of having very high expectations for success in training. When such success is not forthcoming, or if the gains cannot hold, then there is usually a reason for that which needs to be pursued. In the normal course of events, neurofeedback ought to work with everybody. That is to say, nearly everyone should make gains that they themselves would judge to be worthwhile. Our brains are made for learning and skill-acquisition. On the other hand, we are working with many families whose expectations have been lowered by their past experience. And they need to see progress before they will share our optimism. We understand that. It turns out that among the vast majority of clients (>95% in one clinician's experience) the actual outcome exceeds the prior expectations. Against such low expectations, the changes that can be produced with neurofeedback may even appear miraculous. One EEG Biofeedback office has a sign on its front desk: "We expect miracles. If none occur, something has gone wrong." What appears miraculous in all of this is really nothing more than the incredible capacity of our brains to recover function when given a chance.

With successful neurofeedback training, the medications targeting brain function may very well no longer be needed, or they may be needed at lower dosages, as the brain takes over more of the role of regulating itself. This decrease in medications is particularly striking when the medications play a supportive role in any event, as is often the case for the more severe disorders that we are targeting with our work. It is important for clients to communicate with their prescribing physician regarding neurofeedback and medications.

This depends on the country, insurer, and individual policy. Some insurers may provide reimbursement for neurofeedback or associated clinical services, while others specifically exclude it. We therefore recommend checking directly with your insurer before beginning treatment and obtaining written confirmation of what your particular policy covers.If you'd like help understanding what documentation your insurer may require, our team can provide session and assessment details to support your claim - get in touch before your first appointment.