Neurotherapy “should play a major therapeutic role in most difficult areas. In my opinion, if any medication had demonstrated such a wide spectrum of efficacy it would be universally accepted and widely used.” Frank Duffy, M.D., Professor and Pediatric Neurologist Harvard Medical School In recent years the field of neuroscience has experienced a phenomenal growth. Now articles frequently appear in the scientific and popular press about the latest advances in brain science. Funding and research by the National Institute of Health during the "Decade of the Brain" combined with the development of imaging technologies such as MRIs , yielded insights into the workings of the brain that were simply not technically possible a few decades ago. Although the field of EEG (electroencephalograph) biofeedback or Neurotherapy had its roots in the late 1960s, it has also benefited from the explosion of knowledge in brain sciences to greatly increase its scope and technological effectiveness. Combined with recent advances in computer science, it has been possible to move Neurotherapy from research and university laboratories to the clinical office. Beginnings in Neurotherapy The partners at Sierra Counseling and Neurotherapy were fortunate to enter the field at an early point. As experienced psychotherapists, researchers and professors, we were interested in techniques which could improve the effectiveness of therapy in addressing difficult problems. In the early 1990's research on a novel form of biofeedback for treating alcoholism and posttraumatic stress disorders was being conducted through the Veterans Administration and the renowned Menninger Hospital; results for this treatment were startlingly better than other forms of therapy. We sought out training from the staff of Menninger Hospital and thus began our 15 year immersion in EEG biofeedback. We had the opportunity to be trained by most of the pioneers and today's leaders in the field of Neurotherapy. Our early interest in the field has been well rewarded by the responses which clients have reported about their training experiences. Our initial work was conducted using a form of Neurotherapy known as Alpha Theta which involved a shift in the state of consciousness to achieve its effect. Later, we incorporated additional methods of EEG training into our practice which reflected developments from the research and clinical experience in the field. These methods, which have been evolving for more than 3 decades, allow us to train a wide variety of symptoms including attentional difficulties, anxiety, depression, traumatic brain injuries, sleep disturbances, migraine headaches, and pain conditions among others. This year it is estimated that the field of EEG biofeedback will be employed around the world with more than 100,000 people for several million hours of training. Our practice utilizes multiple types of state-of-the-art equipment and staff are trained in the very latest developments in the field. Our office is in a medical facility where, in addition to Neurofeedback, we use other types of biofeedback systems for training in functions such as heart rate variability, temperature, muscle tensions, coherent breathing and related peripheral functions. For diagnostic purposes, we utilize not only psychological testing but also cognitive and brain assessments including Quantitative Electroencephlographs (QEEG). Additionally, we employ a number of other technologies to augment or provide alternatives to neurofeedback. These include audio-visual entrainment, CES devices, and computer based cognitive training. Other technologies are added as clinical results and research validates their incorporation. Frequently Asked Questions