NeurOptimal® Neurofeedback
NeurOptimal® Trains your brain to self-regulate and improve itself to achieve a higher quality of life overall.
What Is NeurOptimal®?
NeurOptimal® is a type of Neurofeedback. It is considered by many to be one of the most highly evolved Neurofeedback systems available today. The creators of NeurOptimal, Drs. Val and Susan Brown have over 40 years of experience in the Neuroscience field, along with other related disciplines. The NeurOptimal® system communicates with the central nervous system -your brain- by using a complex algorithm and a specifically designed soundtrack to target shifts in the brain’s activity that can undermine optimal brain function. NeurOptimal® picks up information from the brain as its occurring and mirrors it back, allowing the brain to reorganize itself. As a result the brain becomes more stable, and flexibility and resilience are improved. After a 33 minute session, most people feel refreshed, relaxed, and in a higher state of mental alertness and flow.
How is NeurOptimal Different than Traditional Neurofeedback?
Unlike traditional Neurofeedback systems that attempt to ‘target’ certain complaints or ‘fix’ conditions (which usually requires a pre-determined diagnosis of a disorder, brain-mapping ahead of time and a heavily trained technician), the technology of the NeurOptimal® Brain Training system mimics the naturally dynamic way our brains process information. NeurOptimal doesn’t need to figure out which ‘brain button’ to push to address a concern. It doesn’t force the brain in any one direction, or require any interaction from the client, it simply provides the brain with more information to self-correct on its own.
Is My Brain Operating Efficiently?
Manifestations of a less-than-optimally functioning brain can include:
memory problems
poor performance on tasks
not waking refreshed
feeling low
difficulty paying attention
overactivity
feeling nervous
drinking more alcohol than is good
head hurting
catching colds and infections
irritability
feeling stressed and overwhelmed
What Does It Mean To Train Your Brain?
So let’s talk about the brain and how it works. The brain is a very complex structure. It processes massive amounts of information, develops responses and applies them, mostly without our awareness. When we are learning behaviors, neural connections are strengthened with repetition and our behaviors often become an unconscious and uncontrolled response. Unfortunately we sometimes solidify mal-adaptive behavior patterns in our brains because of circumstances outside of our control. By the time we become aware of these patterns, they are usually difficult to change because they are supported by powerful unconscious neural connections.
During a NeurOptimal® session you wear ear clips and two small sensors on the sides of your head. These pick up the delicate electrical activity of your brain. You relax, close your eyes and listen to music. NeurOptimal® processes your brain signals very rapidly. When it detects them moving into an “instability”, the music pauses very briefly. Consciously of course, this has no meaning for us — in fact we may not even notice. But unconsciously our brain understands the mathematics behind the timing of the pauses and adjusts its activity without any effort from you.
NeurOptimal® Neurofeedback at Avenues of Counseling and Mediation
Avenues staffs Certified NeurOptimal® trainers, who offer appointments out of our Akron office. Morning, afternoon and evening appointments are available, and we do our best to accommodate your scheduling needs.
NeurOptimal® Benefits
While NeurOptimal® has not been proven to heal or correct any illness ore disorder, clients who have done NeurOptimal® sessions report multiple benefits from the training. Some of the most common benefits are:
Helps Promote Healthy Sleep Habits
Helps Improve ‘Mental Acuity’
Feeling More Confident, Comfortable, Certain and Calm
Feeling More Focused and Able to Concentrate
Helps Promote Relaxation and Stress Management
Helps One Become More Flexible and Resilient, Which Makes Coping Easier
Helps Manage Performance Anxiety
Assists With Weight Loss Goals
Is NeurOptimal Safe?
YES. NeurOptimal® is completely non-invasive and non-directive. There is no electricity or vibration or external signal into the brain. It does not do anything to influence any outcome. Instead it is up to your brain to use the mathematical information it receives, or not — as it will. For this reason NeurOptimal® is an extraordinarily safe tool for self-optimization. In fact, history of its use world-wide, as revealed in two extensive surveys, indicate that we have now logged well over three million hours of safe usage and it was approved by the FDA in 2018 as a ‘General Wellness Product’.
Meet Our NeurOptimal Trainer
Kristine Davis, LPCC, Certified NeurOptimal Trainer, has been a Licensed Professional Counselor for over 20 years and has been practicing with Avenues of Counseling for over 10.
Meet Kristine Davis, LPCC and listen to her explain more about NeurOptimal®.