10 reasons why it’s worth integrating Neurofeedback into your practice.

The demand for psychotherapy continues to grow steadily. While practices were already at full capacity before the Covid-19 crisis, demand has kept increasing. According to a survey conducted by the German Chamber of Psychotherapists at the beginning of the year, demand has already risen by another 40% compared to the previous year. For patients, this often means even longer waiting times. For practices, overload. But why it is worth starting with Neurofeedback right now is what we show in this article.

1. Neurofeedback can help with many symptoms because it aims to improve self-regulation.

Our brain is constantly busy with regulation and always wants to function optimally. When we are well-rested, relaxed, free of stress, and healthy, this self-regulation works well. It is quite easy for the brain to function optimally and, for example, to go to work with focus and energy throughout the day and then be able to disconnect well in the evening. In contrast, during periods of particular stress, it is often difficult for us to relax. We are unfocused, irritable, and surely each of us has already experienced depressive moods. Sometimes we can get out of such phases on our own, and not every kind of stress makes us sick immediately.

However, permanent stress, traumatic experiences, or (mental) illnesses can disrupt this sensitive self-regulation system in the long term. And mental illnesses in particular often go unnoticed for a long time, are ignored, and are favored by many factors. The consequences are often severe and long-lasting, with a variety of symptoms.

This is where neurofeedback comes in. It aims to improve self-regulation and thereby alleviate disease symptoms. That is why we call ILF neurofeedback a “symptom-based approach.” Depending on the symptoms patients suffer from the most, the feedback and electrode placement are individually adjusted. ILF neurofeedback is therefore very effective. Success, and whether a patient responds, can often be observed within the first few sessions—most often through improvements in sleep, concentration, or the ability to relax more easily. And patients often report a sense of well-being, feeling more secure “and more orderly in their head.” Neurofeedback can thus lead to rapid therapeutic success.

2. Neurofeedback is fun

Neurofeedback doesn’t really feel like therapy because of the relaxed therapeutic setting. Children and adolescents in particular look forward to their “Neurofeedback training” with game-like computer animations. School problems, whether related to ADHD or anxiety—none of these play a major or obvious role during a Neurofeedback session.

During neurofeedback, it is much more important to relax, let the feedback work on you, and, most importantly, experience self-efficacy. Even highly performance-oriented adults, who find it difficult to open up or are reluctant to talk about difficulties, often find access to neurofeedback very quickly. This is because neurofeedback does not focus on problems and diagnoses and also simply feels good.

3. Neurofeedback is motivating

 Initial symptom improvements can be seen quickly, even after just a few sessions. This is very motivating—for both patients and therapists. The effects of neurofeedback are particularly visible in everyday life and are also noticed—especially in children and adolescents—by parents and in the school environment. They can be seen in better concentration, balance, handwriting, etc. Such tangible successes are extremely motivating and mean that patients usually enjoy coming to therapy. Fewer sessions are canceled, and you experience fewer therapeutic failures and greater reliability in planning.

4. Neurofeedback brings ease into the daily work routine…

When asked what benefits they experience most from neurofeedback, almost all of our clients say phrases such as: “Neurofeedback brings ease into my daily work,” “Neurofeedback makes my work much more relaxed,” “You can achieve so much with so little effort through neurofeedback,” or “A day of talk therapy can be quite exhausting and drain your strength. Neurofeedback feels easier to me. I am less exhausted and also much more satisfied with what I have accomplished at the end of the day.”

5. … and less stress during therapy

Neurofeedback is a very calming activity. Of course, neurofeedback must be accompanied therapeutically, and dialogue with the patient is important during therapy to optimize the training frequency or adjust it depending on the therapy’s success. Thanks to the relaxed attention while the patient does neurofeedback “automatically” and watches the feedback animations on the monitor, fewer tensions and stressful situations arise during the session. This is good for patients, but especially for you! You can also take a break during neurofeedback.

6. Neurofeedback is effective

Every day, therapists tell us about very quick successes and true breakthroughs in treatment. Many patients can be helped more quickly through neurofeedback. Neurofeedback is also very easy to plan, and treatment intervals lengthen as therapy continues. So, while your waiting list may not necessarily get shorter—since you will quickly notice that your waiting list for neurofeedback grows—you will still be able to help more patients more quickly overall. This, of course, can also have a positive effect on the reputation and economic success of your practice.

7. Every patient can learn with Neurofeedback

There are only a few contraindications for neurofeedback, such as particularly severe forms of epilepsy. In principle, however, neurofeedback can be learned from primary school age to old age. The brain performs neurofeedback training “automatically” and without any visible effort. Since it is suitable for such a wide range of patients, it can be easily integrated into any practice, and many patients can benefit from it.

8. Neurofeedback is easy to use

Our neurofeedback hardware is very user-friendly. Therefore, it doesn’t take much to get started with neurofeedback. The neurofeedback equipment itself is compact, and the software is also easy to use. All you need is a small space—ideally a small cart where you can safely place the NeuroAmp and supplies. With a little practice, you can also apply the individual electrodes in just a few seconds. All you need to do is select suitable feedback together with the patient, set the training frequency very easily using a slider, and then focus entirely on your patient while continuing to optimize the training by observing and asking specific questions.

We will show you exactly how to do this in our basic courses, with a strong practical component.

9. Neurofeedback is therapeutically attractive

Modern neurofeedback is not only diagnosis-oriented but especially focused on the symptoms patients suffer from the most. That’s why, with ILF neurofeedback, we speak of “symptom-based” work and why your role as a therapist remains so central. With your expertise and based on your neurofeedback training, you guide your patients through neurofeedback. You make the decisions regarding the correct electrode placement and the appropriate training frequency. The good interaction between therapist and patient therefore remains important and will not be replaced by technology—on the contrary.

Neurofeedback is therapeutically attractive and varied. This is because you individually adapt the feedback according to your patient’s needs, learn with each patient, improve your skills, become increasingly experienced, and are able to use neurofeedback optimally.

10. Hygiene rules can be easily followed

And finally: Neurofeedback is non-invasive, painless, and hygiene and distancing rules can also be easily followed.

Source: https://beemedic.com/en/advantages-neurofeedback-practices-10-reasons-why-it-worth-starting-now-neurofeedback