Trauma is an emotional response to an event like an accident, sexual assault or a disaster. Many forms of trauma have occurred within the COVID-19 pandemic leaving those unsure how to move forward. Immediately after a traumatic event, one can feel shock and denial. Longer term reactions include unpredictable emotions, flashbacks, strained relationships and even physical symptoms; such as fatigue, headaches or nausea. These feelings are a normal response; however, some people have difficulty moving on and feel as if they are in a pattern of continual fear and anxiety (APA).

Current trauma therapies use exposure-based therapy as an effective treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. However, exposure to a traumatic stimuli is so disliked that a significant number of clients drop-out of therapy during the course of treatment. Among other types of cognitive behavioral therapies, practitioners have turned to neurofeedback for its promising results with clients and results in current research studies.

What is Neurofeedback?

• A natural, non-invasive, medication-free approach that balances the brain with consistent positive reinforcement.

• Innovative technology that reads brain waves while comparing patterns to those of healthy brains in your age group.

• An approach that is adjusted to treat specific symptoms and any irregularities in the brain.

• Research-based treatment for many physical and mental concerns and disorders.

How Neurofeedback Works

Neurofeedback helps to subconsciously train the brain to improve brainwave activity with real-time EEG monitoring. During training, the neurofeedback program provides continual positive feedback back to the brain. Each session teaches the brain to create an optimal brainwave pattern by continually sending feedback to the brain. This process guides the brain to make these more normalized brainwave patterns. When the brain correctly makes the patterns it receives a reward. Consistent neurofeedback practice teaches the brain to re-regulate, building a stronger brainwave network.

An example is anxiety manifests in the brain by fast brain wave activity. When the brain re-regulates and slows the fast wave activity, then the client usually reports their anxiety symptoms lessen in intensity, they feel better and can think more clearly. On the opposite end, client’s who have slow wave activity have been shown to experience more depression type symptoms (i.e., poor concentration, fatigue or brain fog type). Each brain is different and may have dysregulation in different areas; therefore, each training is specific to each individuals brain chemistry.

How Neurofeedback Helps Trauma Symptoms

When trauma has been found as a contributing factor, neurofeedback helps to improve negative symptoms with consistent practice. Trauma symptoms include a heightened sense of fear or anxiety. Depression can follow due to worrying how to move on from the event. Many have found they experience a continual cycle of heightened emotional responses which is hard to break.

Symptom assessments paired with neurofeedback has been found to locate the root areas of brainwave dysregulation. With guided sessions, neurofeedback re-works these dysregulated brainwave connections, and those that once experienced negative trauma symptoms, now experience normal symptom responses when presented in therapy instead of a heightened sense of fear or anxiety.

This is exciting because Neurofeedback helps clients reduce their fear, anxiety and improve their quality of life. Neurofeedback results are long-lasting and it has been found that medication is not needed when the brain is working as intended.

How do I start Neurofeedback in Sarasota, Florida?

Amy Warren, LMHC, BCN accepts new clients from Sarasota, Florida area including Bradenton, Long Boat Key, Venice, Manatee and Sarasota county. After an initial assessment, precisely tailored protocols are developed to address each client’s primary symptoms. Neurofeedback is typically the first course of action as it has been found to deliver the most potent and rapid results.