Frequently Asked Questions
How long do the sessions last?
In total, most sessions are about 45 minutes from start to finish which includes 33 minutes of feedback. However, Brainmaster Mapping sessions, or other custom sessions may require more time.
Are there side effects?
For the most part no. Some clients with high anxiety or ADHD can’t help but fall asleep in the first few session as the visceral system is brought to rest. Over the 40 years neurofeedback has been in existence, no lasting side effects have been reported.
What if I am on Pharmaceutical Medications?
As the brain moves toward health during Neurofeedback therapy, it can find pharmaceuticals invasive and the medication’s side effects tend to increase as the brain has more neurofeedback. We are not licensed prescribers so we cannot advise you concerning medication management. Clients who wish to continue using pharmaceuticals and have no ability/desire to titrate off of them are typically not good candidates for the holistic neuroscientific paradigm that Brain Parlor works within.
Anything we use to “help” our brain will eventually become agitating to the brain the healthier it gets. The brain will regulate itself as it becomes healthier, so it will begin to reject anything we are using to “help” it including:
Coffee – to wake it up
Sleep aids – to help it sleep
Anxiety meds – to help it calm
Anti-depressants – to help the mood/hormones
Are you zapping my brain or changing my personality?
We are simply providing an amplified reflection of your brain’s activity to your brain. Your brain will tend to make improvements to all 12 of the body’s systems, but we do not zap or electrocute you in any way. We just give your brain feedback about what it is already doing.
Will the results last?
Yes! Neurofeedback is a learning experience for your brain. Just like learning to ride a bike or drive a car, your brain learns from its own feedback and the results last over time. Environmental stressors n the modern world may cause regression, so we believe Neurofeedback is brain-care everyone should experience over the lifespan to promote ongoing mental health. Much like going to the gym or getting regular massages.
How soon will I notice results?
Many clients report feeling calm and sleeping well as soon as their first session. Results may be impacted by the state of the brain and how much distortion is present in the feedback such as pharmaceuticals, caffeine, or other substances. The optimal neuro-feedback is administered to a brain free of pharmaceuticals and substances. Even when substances are present in the feedback, clients still report significant improvements over time.
Do I need a brain map?
Brain maps are interesting and exciting, but not necessary nowadays for anyone to benefit from our fully automated software. Hundreds of our clients have achieved exceptional result without ever having a brain map. However, many clients want a deeper understanding of their brain activity and choose to have their brains mapped. Don’t get me wrong, we do love a good brain map to see how the brain is performing in various areas, and give a full report of what’s going on under the hood!
Is there any guarantee?
We guarantee that we will provide your brain with a reflection of its own activity, for 33 minutes per session. We can not guarantee how your brain will respond or what you will consciously notice. All clients track their reported symptoms at every session and 99% of our clients report improvements. It is impossible for your brain to be given a reflection of its own activity (neurofeedback) and have it not act to improve its functioning. That would be like leaving your hand on a hot stove and expecting your brain not to care. However, neurofeedback is sometimes only one piece of the mental health puzzle and other modalities such as EMDR are needed.
Can I pay over time?
Absolutely! Because our goal is to alleviate suffering in society, we try to make neurofeedback accessible to everyone. We have payment plans starting at $89.