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One of the more recent additions in the realm of therapies for mental health issues is neurofeedback. Neurofeedback sees use for everything from brain injuries to insomnia.
If you want neurofeedback therapy, however, the same considerations apply as they would for any service provider. You don’t blindly call any plumber on the web. You shouldn’t blindly call any neurofeedback therapist with an office or website.
Keep reading for five tips for choosing the right neurofeedback provider.
1. Education
While a neurofeedback provider isn’t performing surgery, they are still influencing your health and well-being. That means you want someone with a strong background in healthcare.
If you’re going for help with ongoing mental health challenges, such as PTSD, anxiety, or depression. You want a licensed mental health professional who understands those conditions.
2. Certification and Licensure
People who practice neurofeedback therapy often seek certification through the BCIA, an international board certification group. Licensure is a trickier matter.
Neurofeedback therapy still exists in a kind of medical no-man’s-land. It’s legally unclear whether it’s a strictly medical treatment, a non-medical treatment, or both.
Ideally, you’ll find someone with both a certification and a state medical license in an appropriate area.
3. Results
You should ask any potential neurofeedback therapists about their results with other people with similar symptoms or challenges. As a general rule, they should possess some information about how well the treatment works with specific symptoms or challenges.
Common examples of trackable results include symptom reduction and post-treatment QEEG results. QEEG scans measure electrical activity in the brain from brain wave activity. The post-treatment results should show improvement over the initial QEEG done during the first appointment.
4. Personality
Most courses of neurofeedback typically happen once a week over the course of several months. That means you’ll see the same person over and over again.
You’ll want someone who has a personality you like. If you’re not comfortable with the therapist, it’ll get in the way of treatment.
5. Location
Location isn’t everything, but few people enjoy long drives before an appointment. Someone located in Tulsa, OK, might visit renuyoutulsa.com because the center is also in Tulsa.
Spend some time researching local or semi-local places that offer neurofeedback. Look for certification and licensure. Visit or call so that you can get a read on the personality.
Picking Your Neurofeedback Therapist
Picking the right neurofeedback therapist is a balancing act between practical concerns.
You want someone with the right medical background, license, and certifications. You should look for someone you like. Ideally, you find that within reasonable driving distance.
Of course, if you can’t find anyone you like with 50 miles, you may end up sacrificing personality concerns for someone within that distance. On the other hand, if you’re looking at neurofeedback primarily as a curiosity or learning tool, you may decide that a medical license doesn’t matter as much to you.
You must weigh which factors matter the most when making your choice.
Interested in more tips, mental health, or brain-related news? Check out our medical section.
