IPSIA Psychology: the keys to Neurofeedback

As time progresses, our understanding of the psychological problems that human beings can develop is improving. In addition, new therapeutic tools are also emerging, to remedy them.

Among these technological solutions is Neurofeedback, a procedure used in neuropsychology to treat patients with certain emotional or behavioral disorders. Let's see what it consists of from experts on the subject: the team of psychological health professionals at IPSIA Psicología.

• Related article: "Biofeedback: what is it and what is it for?"

What is Neurofeedback? Interview with IPSIA Psychology

On this occasion we spoke with the professionals of IPSIA Psychology, a psychotherapy center with a presence in Madrid and which is characterized by the use of methods innovative therapeutics and technological tools developed to improve the well-being of their patients. In this case give us their experience on the use of Neurofeedback, a non-invasive and painless resource that is based on giving patients real-time information about the patterns of electrical activity in areas of their brain.

How to explain what Neurofeedback is to someone who has never heard of it?

He would tell you that it's a non-invasive way we have of recording brain activity and creating a training system that changes the way the brain works. The patient will learn to be aware of his brain activity and to modify it in order to change that brain activity outside of the psychologist's office.

What are the problems in which Neurofeedback is used more frequently?

Neurofeedback is well known for its treatment in Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in which it has been endorsed by the American Association of Pediatrics.

In addition, Neurofeedback has been seen to be useful in other problems, such as brain damage, epilepsy, addictions, depression, anxiety, OCD, etc. It has also been shown to be effective in improving performance in high performance sports.

The operation of this technique goes beyond the conscious strategies of psychological evolution and questioning of dysfunctional beliefs that give rise to the maintenance of a disorder. Why does Neurofeedback work? What makes it effective, almost without the patient realizing what is happening?

Neurofeedback influences the brain in a passive way, through the operant reinforcement of certain brain waves that the psychologist chooses depending on the patient's problem.

Thus, in a few sessions the person has learned to modify their brain activity by themselves, something that is not possible in conventional psychotherapy. If Neurofeedback is combined with psychotherapy, it produces faster changes.

The use of Neurofeedback does not mean that the problem is the brain. The functioning of the brain is the cause of the problem; the problem is or has been the different situations and relationships that the person has had, and behaviors that the person has carried out to "survive" in her world. But by modifying the functioning of the brain we can help the person through cortical regulation to respond better to subcortical impulses and habits.

What types of therapy does it pair well with?

Neurofeedback has a behavioral paradigm, but it serves as training to accompany any therapy. In our center we combine Neurofeedback with EMDR, hypnosis, and the third generation therapies.

What preparation is needed to apply Neurofeedback in patients?

It is necessary to be a neuropsychologist or have specific knowledge to understand the involvement of the brain in different problems.

Once the therapy sessions in which Neurofeedback is used have begun, how does the improvement in the well-being of those who come to the psychotherapy center take place?

Depending on the reason for the consultation, we will consider improving some objectives or others, but it coincides that most patients feel clearer, in better spirits and more relaxed.

The normal thing is that people do psychotherapy at the same time as Neurofeedback, so that between the two professionals evaluations of the person's state are carried out. In Neurofeedback, every 10 sessions, evaluations of brain activity are carried out, to see how it improves and to propose new objectives; We also ask questions aimed at people telling us how they found themselves