Frequently Asked Questions – Neurofeedback
These are some of the questions we are frequently asked.
If you have others don’t hesitate to ask us!
- NeurofeedBAck FAQ
- Acupuncture FAQ
- Miscellaneous
Do you treat medical conditions?
We are a holistic health practice but we are not a medical facility. Our goal is to optimize your health and your brain function and to support your own healing process with lab testing, lifesyle recommeations, health and wellness coaching, Neurofit mentoring, NeurOptimal neurofeedback, and acupuncture. We do not treat, heal, diagnose, or cure medical conditions. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the only things that legally allowed to treat or cure disease are drugs and surgery.
Should I stop taking my medications?
No! We are not a medical facility nor do we offer medical treatment. However, we have had great success helping many of our clients reduce or eliminate medication by working with the prescribing doctor. If tapering off of medications is your goal please let us know. NeurOptimal focuses on the health and vitality of the nervous system as well as the brain's neural connections, and it is still effective if you are taking medications. Essentially, this technology works “upstream” from the synaptic junction that medications work on.
How many sessions will I need?
One single session at a time is helpful in times of high stress and many clients report that after just one session they feel calmer, more clear, and will likely even sleep better. The relaxing effects of a session can last anywhere from a day to several days. Significant results tend to occur (and clients report feeling significantly better & reaching their original goals) in as few as 10-12 neurofeedback training sessions; some people opt to do more if there are “deeper” problems that originated earlier in life or there is simply a desire to see what else can improve. You can stop whenever you feel ready and return for booster sessions anytime to tune up and strengthen what your brain has already learned.
Is this an experimental technology?
The NeurOptimal® proprietary neurofeedback system has been successfully helping people to better their lives for 17 years!
NeurOptimal works with the brain to change itself while traditional neurofeedback pushes brainwaves into prescribed patterns based on statistical aggregated “norms”. NeurOptimal supports the brain back to its own healthy state and this is why results tend to be long lasting and sustainable.
How does it differ from other forms of neurofeedback?
NeurOptimal® is a highly personalized brain training software that prompts your central nervous system to make the best use of your brain’s neural resources. It supports the brain to go back to its own healthy state of harmony and this is why results tend to be long lasting and sustainable. It helps the brain pull itself out of mental “ruts” resulting in a more open and positive mindset in which obstacles are more manageable and problems resolve more easily. NeurOptimal® works WITH the brain to change itself while traditional forms of neurofeedback seek to push brainwaves into prescribed patterns based on statistical aggregated “norms”. Pushing and pulling brainwave patterns based on normative data can cause side effects at worst or be inefficient for your own unique brain at least. NeurOptimal® simply allows the brain to see it's own inefficiencies and adjust them, just like hearing your voice in a speaker allows you to fine tune it.
How frequently do I have to come in?
For most people we recommend once or twice per week. We have found that there is a nice momentum that builds for those who come in twice per week for a few weeks before going to once per week. Though twice a week isn't mandatory we do offer free bonus sessions if you are able to make that work with your schedule.
Do you accept insurance?
We do not accept insurance. However, if your insurance company covers our services we can print you out a billable receipt that you can submit for reimbursement. A majority of flexible spending/savings plans do cover our services and sometimes even cover herbal/nutritional supplements as well!
Am I supposed to think of certain things during the sessions?
You do not have to think of anything in particular while you train. Transformation with NeurOptimal® happens according to the brain’s own intrinsic subconscious wisdom, with no conscious effort from the user needed. Your job is just to relax and enjoy. We encourage you to just be with yourself for the 35 minute session if possible: meditating, day-dreaming or even napping. For our younger clients that won't just sit still we provide them with art supplies, movies, or you can have them read or do their homework!
Do you work with children?
Yes! All ages can benefit from brain training, even infants. It is encouraged for parents to go through the sessions as well (ask about dual training discounts), but it is not mandatory. We have plenty of activities for children but we also encourage parents to bring some activities or books their child especially enjoys. Usually children will draw, color, read, play a video game, or do homework.
Do you work with pets?
Believe it or not, yes we do! We have recently started seeing dogs with anxiety and depressive tendencies. Instead of earbuds or headphones for our furry friends we use speakers... and it works really great!
What kind of conditions should I seek acupuncture for?
For thousands of years acupuncture and herbal medicine was THE medical system that millions of people relied on, so it is a complete medical system of its own accord. At Headway, we regularly work with people that are experiencing pain, anxiety, depression, auto-immune diseases, asthma, migraines, menstrual and infertility issues, digestive and intestinal disorders, and addiction to name a few. other conditions. The World Health Organization (WHO) has listed many other conditions that acupuncture is able to address. We utilize many tools in our approach to wellness, and often including many functional and nutritional medicine protocols.
How many sessions will I need?
Typically a series of sessions is necessary to resolve a condition and each individual syndrome is unique. As a general rule, the longer that you have suffered with an issue the more sessions you will need to resolve it. The more severe a syndrome is the more frequent office visits you may need but we commonly only see our client one time per week. Your initial session will give us important information needed in order to give you a more accurate idea of how many sessions it will take. After your first session we will give you an idea of everything that we feel is important to your healing with suggested time frames.
Does acupuncture hurt?
Most of our clients would say there is little or no pain at all, and that it is in fact relaxing. We use a Japanese-Chinese hybrid style of acupuncture along with some of the very thinest needles in the industry so that it is essentially painless.
Can children receive acupuncture?
Yes! Children of all ages are welcome to experience acupuncture and herbs. In fact, children respond well to acupuncture and tend to need fewer sessions to gain benefits. We typically do a very gentle Japanese needling technique (Hari) with children or alternatively we can use a non-insertive technique for children that do not want needles.
Should I consult with my doctor before getting acupuncture?
Since acupuncture is complementary to other types of medicine it is not necessary to get permission from your doctor, however if you would like for us to coordinate your care with your physician we would be happy to. If you are taking medications, please bring a list of medications and supplements that you are taking to your initial consultation.
Do you accept insurance?
We do not accept insurance. However, if your insurance company covers our services we can print you out a billable receipt that you can submit for reimbursement. A majority of flexible spending/savings plans do cover our services and sometimes even cover herbal/nutritional supplements as well!
What is your cancellation policy?
We enforce a 48-hour cancellation policy. Please bring your calendar in order to set up your follow-up appointments. If you need to reschedule your appointment at anytime during your series, please give us at least 48 hours notice so that your time slot can be used by other clients. A phone call is REQUIRED to cancel your appointment since we do not continously check email or text messages. If we do not receive at least 24 hours notice by phone, you will be charged in full for your missed appointment. Thank you for your understanding and compliance of this necessary policy.
Can you tell me more about herbal medicine?
Herbal medicine (herbology) can have a lot of amazing benefits. Before Western medicine, herbal medicine was the primary source of healing ailments all across the world and for all of history. Herbal medicinal formulas are used very specifically and in order to create certain states in the body, re-harmonize imbalanced systems and restore optimal functioning.
Quality is very important and we primarily only use herbs that are organic and/or sustainably wildcrafted. Occasionally we will use herbs that are not organic, but we always work with highly respected companies that assure quality and safety though third party testing.
Do you accept insurance or flex?
We do not accept insurance. However, if your insurance company covers our services we can print you out a billable receipt that you can submit for reimbursement. A majority of flexible spending/savings plans do cover our services and sometimes even cover herbal/nutritional supplements as well!