Becky Kaufman

My doctoral research explored the use of neurofeedback to support the treatment of PTSD in combat veterans. Through this research I became immersed in the positive outcome of using neurofeedback to treat a multitude of issues, and as a result I knew I wanted to incorporate it into my clinical practice. I offer Quantitive Electroencephalography (QEEG) and Neurofeedback, both of which are non-invasive ways to measure, monitor, and control brain waves. It provides the client with real time feedback on how their brain is functioning, allowing the client to make unconscious adjustments based on a positive reward system, or positive conditioning. All the client does is sit back and let their brain do the work! WHAT IS NEUROFEEDBACK? Neurofeedback is a non-invasive way to measure, monitor, and change brain waves. It provides the client with real time feedback on how their brain is functioning, allowing the client to make unconscious adjustments based on a positive reward system, or positive conditioning. It works without the use of medications. This is beneficial to many individuals who are sensitive to medications or want to try an alternative. All of this is accomplished while you sit back and allow your brain to do the work! WHO BENEFITS FROM NEUROFEEDBACK AND WHY Neurofeedback training helps relieve the symptoms of many conditions including: • Seizures • Addiction Recovery • Sleep Disorders • Anxiety and Depression • PTSD • Disruptive Behavior Disorders/Bipolar Disorder • ADHD/ • Autism • Peak Performance • Migraines • Concussions and Traumatic Brain Injury These conditions may lead to changes in brain waves and these changes are connected to other more noticeable symptoms. Doctors and therapists encourage patients to adopt new behaviors or thinking patterns with the intent of making changes to the underlying brain activity. Using neurofeedback therapy to restore optimal brain activity can be a more direct and effective way to improve symptoms and overall well-being. HOW DOES IT WORK, AND WHAT HAPPENS DURING A SESSION? We first start by running a QEEG (quantitative electroencephalogram), which give us a full look at your entire brain. This is the best starting place for neurofeedback as it allows us to see what is or isn’t happening in your brain and lets us know where we need to focus during therapy. During the QEEG, a cap with multiple sensors is placed on your head. Gel is used to help the sensors maintain a strong connection when connected to the neurofeedback equipment. Once you’re hooked up, you just sit back and relax while the equipment maps your brain activity. After the QEEG, your brain map is sent to a team of neurologists for evaluation. Typically, we receive your report within 2-3 weeks and will schedule a follow up appointment with you to go over the QEEG results and coordinate your personalized neurofeedback therapy plan. At the beginning of your neurofeedback treatment, you’ll come in once or twice a week. Sensors will be placed on your head, tracking your brain activity and giving you a real time picture of what’s happening in your head. When the sensors perceive the targeted brain activity, the program will show you an image and you will hear the related sound. When the brain isn’t at the desired frequency, the screen gets dimmer and the sound lowers. Your brain will automatically start adjusting its activity to get the picture and sound back. It’s really that easy! Over time, your brain learns these new patterns and can better maintain the desired frequencies on its own. DOES IT HURT? It’s not supposed to! Some clients might experience a slight headache, mild anxiety, brain fog, or feeling tired afterward, but nothing that lasts. If you feel anything odd during the session, please let the clinician know and we can adjust as needed. We will use this information to adjust sessions moving forward. HOW MUCH DOES NEUROFEEDBACK COST? IS IT COVERED BY INSURANCE? Despite a long history and hundreds of positive clinical studies, neurofeedback therapy is not yet a covered service for insurance purposes. Services are self-pay, and we will provide a receipt, upon request. In most cases, the course of treatment is measured in weeks and can be considered an investment in your mental well-being. The cost of neurofeedback through New Waves Neurotherapy is as follows: Intake Assessment - 60-90 minutes $250 QEEG Acquisition, Analysis, and Report - 60 minutes $1,500 QEEG Results and Report Review - 60 minutes $200 QEEG Retest, Analysis and Report(optional) - 60 minutes $800 Neurofeedback Therapy Session - 30 minutes $150 Payment is due in full at the time of services and will be charged to a credit card kept on file. WHY DOES NEUROFEEDBACK COST MORE THAN REGULAR THERAPY? Effective neurofeedback therapy requires specialized equipment, consultation with neurologists, and additional training for the therapist. We use high quality equipment and the accompanying software that helps Dr. Kaufman gather the most detailed and accurate picture of your brain activity and allows a personalized, targeted course of treatment. A team of neurologists read and analyze your QEEG, checking for any medical issues to be addressed and extracting the key information to develop a personalized treatment protocol. Then Dr. Kaufman uses this information to identify your optimal treatment plan and prepare a summary with recommendations for you which is covered in-depth with you during the report review. This process can take up to 6 hours, though the client is only present for a small fraction of that time. While the client’s experience is only a few hours, the behind-the-scenes work is detailed and intensive with the purpose of providing the most beneficial treatment plan for each distinctive individual. We encourage you to schedule a free 20 minute consultation with Dr. Kaufman to help answer any questions you might have and see if neurofeedback is appropriate for you or your loved one.