Capital District Neurofeedback Therapy

Neurofeedback is a form of biofeedback in which a reward signal is provided to the brain. This signal, over time, causes the brain (in most cases) to incrementally and gradually reorganize brainwaves into a healthier and more functional brainwave pattern. How does that work? What we believe is that brains tend to like novelty. So when the brain realizes that it gets a reward tone every time there is a movement in a healthier direction, it tends to absorb that reward tone and start moving in that direction. This process, also called operant conditioning, is a slow, gradual process that happens over time, and every brain varies in its response to some degree. Let's say we have a brainwave that we want to bring down because it's too strong, which is often the case in kids and adults with ADD, anxiety, panic, OCD, and similar disorders. In this case, neurofeedback will provide a reward tone every time this wave dips. Over time, because it is an operant conditioning model, the b...

What is Fear-Based Parenting? Worries and anxieties about your child and their future all stem from fear. These fears lead to repetitive parenting actions that undermine your child’s general sense of well-being. We often have elaborate excuses and justifications for these fear-based actions, yet the data become evident over time. We propagate anxiety and fear when we respond to our families out of fear. Let’s examine how this works. We Keep Repeating Ourselves, Thinking This Will Help. It Doesn’t. When parents fear mistakes, missing out, or the kids not ‘getting it,’ we try to teach them with words and discussions. We question and probe, then answer and lecture and discuss our concerns repeatedly. We aim to teach and prepare, thinking the words are urgently necessary. And yet, the most crucial teaching piece has nothing to do with words (more on this later) . In these moments, we tend to forget to trust everything else we have done as a parent. Instead, there we are, reminding them...

Why wouldn't you want to make life as struggle free as possible? While there will certainly be struggles, why not establish a structure and routine that flows more easily? That's our goal: A more easeful daily routine for the whole family. More easeful routines are best achieved by creating a world where daily actions, routines, and responsibilities are completed without the need for daily decision-making, without the need for reminding, nagging, or prodding, and without the need for continued monitoring. In other words, it’s about making daily routines automatic so that little thought goes into the choice because these are habituated, practiced, and automatically rewarded. But let’s first consider what most of us do. What Not to Do: Constant Management of Routines Here’s the secret to stressful routines: Make daily routines flexible and make decisions on the fly, view each day as unique and requiring constant problem solving, and then negotiate and try to appease everyo...

In recent years, neuroscientists have identified specific neurons in the brain that have been labeled as 'mirror neurons.' These mirror neurons fire when observing behavior, similar to what occurs when doing the behavior. In other words, learning happens by observation of behavior. The more these actions are simple rather than complex, the quicker the learning can occur through observation. Such insights may explain why what we model for our children plays a powerful and pervasive role in their lives. And why we must carefully contemplate the integrity of what we model rather than being so concerned about all those words and lectures. How many of you find yourself getting absurdly angry at other drivers when you don't like this? Yet, you can recall your dad frequently modeling such upset when you were a child. Mirror neurons! How many said you would never yell and scream at your kids like your mom did? Yet, now that you have a challenging child, you lose your cool regular...