About
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"My passion for working with families of children with attention deficit issues began many years ago. I find by helping the child, I am also able to work with the family. I make it my standard to take on clients who enable me to work along side them and guide them into making progress not only with their school grades, but also with their family and social life. A child with ADD or ADHD can be a challenge for parents and teachers. I love working with them and seeing families come together for the common goal of helping their child.My specialty is neurofeedback which is a type of biofeedback that trains the brain to change itself and helps attention, mood, behavior, cognition, and more. In simple terms, neurofeedback is positive reinforcement for the brain. It is one way to help a child lean less on medications.
I have been a practicing psychotherapist since 2002 after obtaining my Masters in Professional Counseling from Colorado Christian University. I began my training in neurofeedback in 2005 after much research determining that it has the potential to benefit clients with ADD/ADHD and even help them to reduce and possibly eliminate the use of medication" - Tess Powers
About Neurofeedback
Neurofeedback is a form of brain training that uses real time feedback to help reduce impulsivity and increase attentiveness. The brain is made up of different types of electrical brainwaves, depending on whether we are in a focused state or daydreaming. The goal of neurofeedback is to help teach kids to produce brain-wave patterns that reflect focus.
The result: Some ADHD symptoms — namely, impulsivity and distractibility — diminish.
How Does It Work?
First Step: The client or the client’s parents fill out a comprehensive questionnaire with history and a list of symptoms and complaints. This also entails all medications rendered, past and present, with side effects and success.
The Second Step: Arrive at the first appointment. An assessment will be rendered. This could be a simple five step painless assessment using a few electrodes connected to the head with paste or a full QEEG (Quantitative Electroencephalography). A QEEG is a procedure that is completely painless that processes the recorded EEG activity from a multi-electrode recording using an FDA approved software program. The client is encouraged to relax and enjoy the process while watching a calm video or listening to quiet music.
What is Neurofeedback?
Neurofeedback, also called EEG biofeedback or neurotherapy, makes use of the brain’s capacity for change to reshape brain networks. It is a way to directly train the brain to function better. Neurofeedback is a research-supported treatment to sharpen attention, relieve anxiety, enhance mood, and improve learning, and behavior…without medication.
Biofeedback is a process that enables an individual to learn how to change physiological activity for the purposes of improving health and performance. Precise instruments measure physiological activity such as brainwaves, heart function, breathing, muscle activity, and skin temperature. These instruments rapidly and accurately "feed back" information to the user. The presentation of this information — often in conjunction with changes in thinking, emotions, and behavior — supports desired physiological changes. Over time, these changes can endure without continued use of an instrument. This definition was ratified by the Task Force on Nomenclature in 2008
Although technically, neurofeedback is complicated, the process is non-invasive, simple, and painless. It is simply cognitive learning. A person can learn to change their brain activity in much the same way they learn every other skill. You learn through practice. What is new in neurofeedback is that you are guided by a form of feedback that was previously not available to you. With neurofeedback, you get instantaneous information or feedback about changes in your brain’s electrical activity. Every half second, your brain activity is compared to your target or goal for change. You get a signal and “reward” when you meet the goal. No signal or reward when you do not.
Neurofeedback is a form of brain training that uses brain exercises to reduce impulsivity and increase attentiveness. The brain emits different types of waves, depending on whether we are in a focused state or daydreaming. The goal of neurofeedback is to teach kids to produce brain-wave patterns that reflect focus. The result: Some ADHD symptoms — namely, impulsivity and distractibility — diminish.
The prestigious American Academy of Pediatrics recently reviewed scientific evidence about non-medical treatments for ADHD. They placed neurofeedback in the top tier has having "Best Support" in scientific research for treatment of ADHD without medication. If your pediatrician is not aware of this rating, contact us and provide us with his or her contact information.
Alabama Focus Center will be delighted to send your pediatrician this AAP document and other summaries of the research.
ADHD & Neurofeedback
The American Academy of Pediatrics has approved neurofeedback therapy as one of the Best Practices for treatment of ADHD/ADD. This is the same status as treatment with amphetamines. Alabama Focus Center can assist you with the treatment of ADD and ADHD.
EVIDENCE-BASED CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS
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