FOREWORD – ABOUT THE MIND BRAIN BALANCE TEAM
“The Center for Mind Brain Balance” was established to bridge the gap between a person’s psychological and emotional needs versus their brain-based or physical imbalances that are so often overlooked.
Founded in 2004 in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, “The Center for Mind Brain Balance” actually started business as “A Light of Hope”. Through the years we have expanded in the region evolving from our original counseling roots into the ever more demanding and exciting Brainwave Assessment and Regulation. In easier to understand terms, we are the leading providers in Brain Training and Neurofeedback.
Not only have we become leading pioneers in brain training technologies, but we are also proud to offer the Full "qEEG" Gold Standard 19channel Brainwave Assessment. For a complete list of our services, please visit the Services section of our newest website, www.mindbrainbalance.com. Join our many clients from across the country in finding your own optimum Health & Happiness!
“The Center for Mind Brain Balance”
See you soon! The MBB Team
Administrative Office:
N19 W24400 Riverwood Drive, Suite 350, Pewaukee, WI 53188
Assessment & Training Center:
3960 Hillside Drive, Suite 105, Delafield, WI 53018
Satellite Offices Coming Soon!
Phone: 414.429.1516 | www.mindbrainbalance.com | info@mindbrainbalance.com
© 2004 – 2017 | All Rights Reserved.
Understanding Neurofeedback
“Neurofeedback (NFB), also called neurotherapy or neurobiofeedback, is a type of biofeedback that uses real-time displays of brain activity—most commonly electroencephalography (EEG), to teach self-regulation of brain function. Typically, sensors are placed on the scalp to measure activity with measurements displayed using video displays or sound.”
-From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Neurofeedback is a technique of measuring your brain’s electrical activities, thereby providing both your clinician and you with real-time information on how your brain reacts to certain energies and incentives.
The goal is to learn how to self-regulate, in other words increase or decrease particular brainwaves. The computer program rewards one for working towards a goal of increasing or decreasing brainwave activity at a particular location with sound, animated objects, or even more recently using a modulated video or movie. When the client meets the criteria the movie goes full color, when the client drifts off or doesn’t work towards the set goals, the screen goes dim and/or black. Thus, one desires the reward such as watching the movie, playing the game, or getting an animation to move.
Neurofeedback is a medication-free treatment for many conditions in which the brain is not working as well as it might. These can include but are not limited to ADHD, learning disabilities, depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, chronic pain, migraines, memory issues, behavioral problems, addictions, traumatic brain injury, seizures, autism, anger, PTSD and much more.
While the brain’s activity would appear to be the first place to assess when beginning Neurofeedback training, it is actually only one piece of the crucial information needed for Neurofeedback training to be successful. There is a surprisingly complex relationship existing between the mind, the brain and the body, requiring all 3 to cooperate and interact in harmony. In order to get an accurate picture of one’s overall functioning; we need to understand the key role that each of these individual parts play and in turn what each contributes to the overall functioning.
How to Ensure Neurofeedback Success
In addition to the sessions, proper sleep and nutrition is key to creating positive change. Neurofeedback helps the brain learn how to self-regulate, but it needs proper nourishment and energy to function properly. Biofeedback (look for future articles on Biofeedback) can also be a beneficial tool before sessions to calm oneself before starting neurofeedback. Most clinicians, who offer biofeedback and neurofeedback, have the client do at least 5 minutes of heart rate variability training (breathing exercises and training).
Anybody taking medications, eating poorly, living in a stressful household, surrounded with abuse or addictions will be at a disadvantage for the benefits of Neurofeedback to take effect. Again, Neurofeedback is only training the brain, not changing one’s environment. What we think, act, and feel can play an important role in brain health. Attempting to train a brainwave imbalance that is severe may not produce positive results. Conversely, attempting to train a minimal imbalance may not produce any effects felt by the client undergoing training.
Neurofeedback has research backing supporting its noninvasive effectiveness and use in numerous mental disorders, including depression, attention deficit disorder, more commonly referred to as ADD and ADHD, anxiety, sleep disorders, headaches and migraines, and many other emotional issues. It can also be used to help people who have organic brain disorders, such as autism, cerebral palsy and seizures.
The key to successful neurofeedback training is to lower certain brainwave frequencies while promoting other, healthier frequencies. While this sounds difficult, it is done by simple repetitive training while connected to the electrodes. In most cases, effective neurofeedback training typically takes anywhere from 25 to 50 sessions. Unlike virtually all other treatment methods available, neurofeedback has no known significant side effects. However, not all people are appropriate candidates for neurofeedback treatment. Approximately 20% of people who try neurofeedback receive no therapeutic benefit.
Not all “Brain Maps” are Created Equal – Educate Yourself First!
Arguably, the most important aspect of the Neurofeedback process is the initial assessment. However, not all providers utilize the benefits of the qEEG brain map (look for future articles on Brain Mapping). Some people rely on subjective symptoms from their clients to determine placement of the sensors for Neurofeedback. However, given that symptoms can overlap, this doesn’t always provide an accurate training platform. Others choose 1 or 2 common sites, where common problems may arise and use these sites as their foundation for creating a protocol.
The qEEG 19-channel brain mapping analysis has become the gold standard, offering an overview of the entire brain’s function and the connectivity between the sites. Training amplitude at each of the sites is not enough for some. Coherence is the speed in which the sites communicate with one another and this can now be trained on more advanced Neurofeedback systems. The qEEG collects data from the internationally accepted 10-20 sites, which are 19 spots on the brain that are recognized by all in the field. The qEEG provides colorful maps of the brain at each frequency, and allows the clinician a clear path for selecting a particular region of interest as well as what frequencies need to be slowed down or sped up.
Final Thoughts
While there is debate on adding other variables to the Bio- or Neurofeedback process, some have found great benefit in adding other tools or resources to the training sessions. The brain controls the body, yet the mind is powerful enough to make us think, act and feel certain things that can trigger our brain to become rigid or relaxed. A busy mind can interfere with the brain’s signals and ability to learn from Neurofeedback. Since our mind’s thoughts and emotions have the ability to impact brainwave activity, learning how to quiet the mind can be a very important step in the overall Neurofeedback process.
Of the greatest points against Neurofeedback is the lack of training some providers seem to have. There is a wide array of providers from home trainers to licensed doctors, yet there is no licensure granted, only certifications in the area of Neurofeedback. Thus, people with limited training can provide Neurofeedback in the same way a doctor with 30 years’ experience would be offering it. Worse yet, there are companies building their own systems and hardware for Neurofeedback that offer certification in their equipment, but not in the same way the accredited certification board (BCIA.org) sets the high level of expectations for the professionals they certify.
Just as it is with any professional (i.e. doctor, accountant, lawyer, etc.), it is imperative to find a qualified provider or clinician. It is equally important to make sure they have been properly trained and are certified by the highest credentialing board, BCIA.org.
Finally, always remember to educate yourself first until you have reached your own personal comfort level, and don’t be afraid to ask questions! In the greater scheme of things Neurofeedback may still be considered in its infancy, scientists, doctors, clinicians, and many other professionals both in and out of the healthcare field are continuing to discover a plethora of human conditions that can be treated using either Biofeedback or Neurofeedback with great and lasting success!
Yours in Health & Happiness!
Kyle S. Ferroly
Founder & President
Mind Brain Balance
414.429.1516
Wishing You the Best in Health & Happiness!
The Mind Brain Balance Team
Administrative Office:
N19 W24400 Riverwood Drive, Suite 350, Pewaukee, WI 53188
Assessment & Training Center:
3960 Hillside Drive, Suite 105, Delafield, WI 53018
Satellite Offices Coming Soon!
Phone: 414.429.1516 | www.mindbrainbalance.com | info@mindbrainbalance.com
© 2004 – 2017 | All Rights Reserved.
BIOGRAPHY
“The brain is the only organ that we don’t look at before we treat it.” – Dr. Daniel Amen... It is this singular idea that has prompted Kyle S. Ferroly to spend all his working hours pursuing the reasons why people struggle with their thoughts, emotions and behaviors. In his own words, Mr. Ferroly has spent a lifetime “trying to uncover why some people are just stuck.”
As a child, Kyle was already deeply interested in the “why” questions and the field of Psychology. But as time went on, his inner compassion and insatiable curiosity also began to ask the “what” and the “how”.
His winding journey continued when he spent the first decade in the field of Mental Health, listening, learning, watching and understanding, all the while helping children and adults to live happier, healthier lives. Ultimately he realized there had to be more to helping others than simply talk therapy. It was at this crucial time that he became fascinated with the field of Neuroscience and its deeper, and yes, more complex explanation of human behaviors, emotions and thought processes.
In 2004, he founded his first company, “A Light of Hope”, which offered counseling services as well as supplemental audio programs to those transitioning away from traditional therapy. Kyle then became nationally certified in Neurofeedback in 2008 and started his second company, “Inner Rhythms” offering his clientele a chance to help their brain work more efficiently.
Finally in 2014, Kyle’s unique blending of Neuroscience with Counseling and Psychology culminated in his newest, and yes, his proudest endeavor to date, “Mind Brain Balance”. “The Center for Mind Brain Balance” addresses the clinical or mental health components as well as the more biologically-based brainwave mapping and training.
Kyle’s real passion is showing people how one’s brain health can alter and determine the bigger picture; how they think, act, and feel. This in turn allows many people the chance to understand the root cause behind their struggles and symptoms.
Kyle Ferroly MA has also made an ongoing commitment to always incorporate the latest techniques available. To that end, Kyle received his Masters of Educational Psychology in 2004 with a focus on Community Counseling from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee. He is a Master’s level Mental Health Therapist and is nationally certified through BCIA in Neurofeedback as well as C.E.T. certified with Mind Alive, completing the Clinical Hypnotherapy program from the Robert Shields College in 2005.
Kyle also continues his life-long pursuit of higher education by currently completing studies in the Psychophysiology Ph.D. program at Saybrook University. In addition, he continues his advanced EEG training by partnering with top professionals in the field including Jay Gunkelman, QEEGD, and Dr. Joel Lubar, PhD.
Yours in Health & Happiness!
Kyle S. Ferroly
Administrative Office:
N19 W24400 Riverwood Drive, Suite 350, Pewaukee, WI 53188
Assessment & Training Center:
3960 Hillside Drive, Suite 105, Delafield, WI 53018
Satellite Offices Coming Soon!
Phone: 414.429.1516 | www.mindbrainbalance.com | info@mindbrainbalance.com
© 2004 – 2017 | All Rights Reserved.
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