Exciting news for professionals in applied neurofeedback: the Annual Conference for Applied Neurofeedback (ACAN) 2025 is officially set! Taking place from May 30-31, 2025, in stunning Tenerife, Spain, this event will gather experts and innovators from around the globe. Organized in partnership with NeuroVitalia and BEE Medic, ACAN 2025 offers a unique opportunity to expand your network, gain insights through workshops, and learn from industry leaders. Whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or new to the field, this conference is not to be missed.

Get your ticket at acan.beemedic.com

If you are involved in research or have exciting findings to share, don't miss the chance to present your work! Submit your abstract by 1 November and help shape the future of neurofeedback.

Neurofeedback is an effective and evidence-based therapy method for the treatment of various mental illnesses. Neurofeedback devices for home use are increasingly available on the market. And we are also receiving more and more enquiries from private individuals.

Home-use neurofeedback equipment
BEE Medic is a leading manufacturer of neurofeedback equipment specifically designed for use in clinical and therapeutic environments. Our devices are certified to strict medical standards and undergo extensive quality assurance processes to ensure the highest levels of accuracy and safety.

However, devices sold for home use by individuals often do not achieve the diagnostic and therapeutic precision of professional systems. In addition, they are often not certified to medical standards. For effective and safe neurofeedback, we advise against non-certified home equipment.

Self application of neurofeedback
In addition, the use of neurofeedback should be in the hands of a healthcare professional - a doctor or therapist who has received appropriate training. Neurofeedback is a treatment that requires complex clinical decision-making and excellent clinical skills to be effective, so it is essential that neurofeedback is only administered by mental health professionals. A comprehensive training programme is required to ensure that practitioners are prepared to provide neurofeedback services.

Neurofeedback is a treatment that is largely free of side effects. In rare cases, however, side effects such as headaches, nausea or palpitations can occur. This is known as maladaptation. The effects are usually very short-lived and are controlled by the therapy - unless the incorrect exercise is continued for a longer period of time. Inappropriate training can make symptoms worse rather than better. Therefore, treatment should only be carried out by appropriately trained neurofeedback professionals who can adjust training protocols in the event of side effects.

Our approach: Professional neurofeedback equipment with therapeutic support 
To ensure safe and effective neurofeedback treatment, we strongly advise against the use of uncertified home-use equipment and recommend therapy with a trained provider.

Are you a patient interested in neurofeedback therapy?
Visit the Neurofeedback Network website for more information and a therapist locator to find neurofeedback providers in your area.
 

The 3rd Annual Conference for Applied Neurofeedback (ACAN 2025) will be held on 30 and 31 May 2025 in Tenerife, Spain. This event serves as a premier gathering for practitioners and researchers to exchange knowledge, showcase innovative research, and build meaningful connections within the neurofeedback community.

The conference offers a diverse programme of insightful presentations from internationally renowned experts. Designed for both experienced professionals and those new to neurofeedback, the conference aims to provide a comprehensive overview of modern research and clinical practice.

ACAN will feature esteemed speakers such as Dr. Siegfried Othmer, Sebern Fisher,Roxana Sasu and Meike Wiedemann, among others. These experts will share their latest findings and insights, contributing to a rich learning experience for attendees. Their contributions promise to enrich the learning experience for all attendees, covering a broad spectrum of clinical applications, case studies, and practical methodologies.

Networking in an international setting
Besides learning and expanding your knowledge, ACAN has one major goal: to bring the Neurofeedback community together. The conference provides a unique opportunity to connect with professionals, researchers, and practitioners from around the world. Attendees will be able to share experiences, discuss best practices, and collaborate on future projects, all while forming meaningful relationships in a welcoming and engaging environment. In addition to networking during sessions, attendees can also take advantage of informal opportunities, such as social gatherings and the group excursion to Mount Teide on the second day.
Whether you are looking to deepen your expertise or find potential collaborators, ACAN 2025 is the ideal setting to grow your professional network and be part of an international movement in neurofeedback. 
 

Explore Tenerife
Beyond the conference, attendees can take the opportunity to explore Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands. The island is renowned for its warm climate, volcanic sand beaches, and vibrant nightlife. From the majestic Teide volcano—the highest peak in Spain—to lush forests and picturesque coastal towns, Tenerife offers a diverse and breathtaking landscape to discover.

Registration Details
ACAN 2025 promises to be an enriching experience, offering valuable insights into applied neurofeedback and opportunities to connect with professionals from around the world.
Tickets can be purchased on the ACAN website. To purchase a ticket, please complete the registration form. The bank details will be sent to you via email after the form has been completed. 
 

Although mental health is getting more and more attention, one aspect is often neglected: men's mental health. The traditional idea that men have to be ‘tough’ and must not show weakness often leads to men ignoring mental health problems and rarely seeking help (Krumm et al., 2017). The effects can manifest in men in the form of depression, substance misuse and an alarmingly high suicide rate. (Canetto & Sakinofsky, 1998).

Why men often do not seek help
Social expectations and cultural norms have an enormous influence on men's behaviour, especially when it comes to admitting weaknesses. Men experience strong societal pressure to conform to characteristics that are considered masculine. These perceptions prevent many men from sharing their feelings or seeking professional help. In fact, research shows that men are less likely to seek psychological support compared to women, which can lead to untreated, often severe problems (Addis & Mahalik, 2003; Krumm et al., 2017).

Distraction instead of coping
In order to deal with psychological stress, many men resort to various strategies that are usually only partially effective (Mahalik et al., 2003; Levant & Wimer, 2014). Some men try to focus on solutions instead of dealing with their feelings and tackling the problem at its source. Others use distractions such as sports or work to escape the emotional pain. Unfortunately, this can also have negative sides: Repression and substance abuse are also common mechanisms that often exacerbate the condition (Levant & Wimer, 2014).

November becomes Movember
In addition to Men's Health Awareness Month in June, November is all about male mental health. Movember is a global initiative that draws attention to men's health issues such as mental health and prostate cancer. The moustache is the symbol for this movement, which is intended to become a topic of conversation and stimulate reflection. The message behind it is clear: men are not alone with their problems and health should not be a taboo subject.

How neurofeedback can help
Neurofeedback is a non-invasive therapeutic approach in which brainwave activity is measured to provide real-time feedback to the patient. Neurofeedback is mainly used in therapy to improve the ability to self-regulate. This approach means that neurofeedback can be used as a therapy component for many different mental illnesses. For example, it can also be used for depression or addiction. Experience shows that neurofeedback can also be an attractive therapy method for people who have problems opening up and talking about their feelings. Neurofeedback brings a certain lightness to the therapy, in which patients do not have to actively perform, but can relax and follow an animation or a video game.

Neurofeedback should always be seen in the context of an overall treatment strategy. It represents a therapy component alongside, for example, behavioural therapy or medication. It is important that symptoms and neurofeedback treatment are discussed with a doctor or therapist.
 

Sources:

Addis, M. E., & Mahalik, J. R. (2003). Men, masculinity, and the contexts of help-seeking. American psychologist

Canetto, S. S., & Sakinofsky, I. (1998). The gender paradox in suicide. Suicide and Life‐Threatening Behavior

Krumm, S., Checchia, C., Koesters, M., Kilian, R., & Becker, T. (2017). Men's views on depression: a systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative research. Psychopathology

Levant, R. F., & Wimer, D. J. (2014). Masculinity constructs as protective buffers and risk factors for men’s health. American journal of men's health
 

On this World Mental Health Day, we are honored to share a special success story that highlights the transformative impact of neurofeedback therapy. This day serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of mental health and how innovative therapies like neurofeedback are making a real difference in the lives of individuals worldwide. Join us in raising awareness and supporting mental wellness as we celebrate the remarkable journey of Adam McCord.

Pictured: Happy client playing Dual Drive Xtreme

Read Full Article & Watch Video Here

Dr Barry Sterman was one of the pioneers of neurofeedback and is known for his groundbreaking work on the functioning of the human brain. 
After completing his doctorate in psychology and neuroscience at the University of California Los Angeles in 1963, Barry Sterman began his research. Among other things, he investigated the effect of a substance made from rocket fuel on cats on behalf of NASA. Almost all the cats suffered epileptic seizures, except those whose brains had previously been trained to produce more SMR rhythms. One of Sterman's co-workers, who also suffered from epilepsy, agreed to the experiment of training her brain with rewarding feedback on the desired EEG activity and was thus able to reduce her seizures. This self-experiment was published in 1972 and is considered the birth of clinical neurofeedback.

With this discovery, Barry Sterman paved the way for neurofeedback in its current form. His discoveries and tireless work have not only expanded our understanding of the brain, but have also enabled numerous applications in medicine.
Barry passed away last December at the age of 87. We remember him and his legacy with the greatest respect and appreciation.

picture source: LinkedIn

We are delighted to announce that the Annual Conference for Applied Neurofeedback is back for a second year!

Taking place from 7-8 June in Bucharest, Romania, this networking event promises to be once again a platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration and innovation. Leading international experts, such as Siegfried Othmer and Roxana Sasu, will share their knowledge and present and discuss various topics in the field of Neurofeedback. The conference will offer a wide range of presentations, workshops and panel discussions - suitable for everyone, whether you are an expert in the field or someone curious about the potential of Neurofeedback.

Experts, researchers and enthusiasts will come together to explore the latest advances in this rapidly growing field. In addition, the conference offers ample networking opportunities. Attendees will have the chance to connect with like-minded professionals, exchange ideas and foster collaborations.
 

Become a part of the special Neurofeedback community and get your ticket here. Don’t miss out: Early Bird Tickets are available until March 7. More information on speakers and topics will be posted soon - so keep an eye on our website!
 

The festive season is here and with it the perfect opportunity to cosy up with a cup of hot chocolate. Of course, an exciting read is a must!
We would like to brighten up the festive season and are giving away a copy of the bestseller "The Body Keeps The Score" by Bessel van der Kolk. 

We are also giving away the German version of the book. To enter, please click here.

Bessel van der Kolk, renowned psychiatrist and trauma expert, is the founder of the Trauma Centre in Brookline, Massachusetts. He has received several awards and honours for his significant contributions to trauma research and therapy. In "The Body Keeps The Score", van der Kolk opens up a new understanding of the causes and consequences of trauma. In it, he discusses various therapeutic approaches for the treatment of trauma-related disorders. Neurofeedback is one of the techniques he writes about.

This is how you can take part in the giveaway:
Fill out this form to register for our newsletter. You will then receive an e-mail within the next two working days in which you must confirm your registration for the newsletter. Once you have done this, you are already in the lottery pot!
Are you already a customer and already receive our newsletter? No problem, please also follow the steps described above. You will not receive the newsletter twice. 
You can take part until 15 December, 12 a.m. CET.
 
What happens after that?
The winners will then be informed promptly by e-mail about the prize. Please note that we will then also need your address details so that we can send the book to you! Only one entry per person is possible. However, you are very welcome to refer interested colleagues to this competition and thus perhaps also increase the chances that a copy of this book will soon be available in your practice.

Conditions of participation:
The competition is organised by BEE Medic GmbH. Further information can be found in the legal notice.
Participation requires that you have your place of residence, registered office or place of habitual residence in the region(s) listed below: European Union, Switzerland, UK, USA, Canada
Participation is possible from the age of 18
Payment of the prize in cash or in kind, its exchange or transfer to other persons is not possible.
Employees of BEE Medic GmbH and affiliated companies as well as employees of the companies providing the prize are excluded from participation. Furthermore, all persons who are or were involved in the creation or organisation of the competition, as well as their spouses or partners.
If the winners do not respond within 4 weeks of being contacted, we reserve the right to give the prize away to another person.
We would also like to point out that the competition and the prizes are voluntary services on our part, for which the same scope of warranty and liability does not apply as, for example, in the case of a purchase of the raffled prizes independent of the competition. 
The competition can be cancelled at any time and for any reason.
All conditions of participation can be found here.

Vom 10. bis 20. Oktober 2023 setzt sich die Aktionswoche der Seelischen Gesundheit unter dem Motto „Zusammen der Angst das Gewicht nehmen” mit dem Thema Ängste in Krisenzeiten auseinander. Das Aktionsbündnis Seelische Gesundheit verfolgt das Ziel,  auf die unterschiedlichen Strategien zur Bewältigung und auf das vielfältige psychosoziale Hilfsangebot in Deutschland aufmerksam zu machen sowie mentale Erkrankungen zu entstigmatisieren.

Steigender Bedarf an psychologischer Unterstützung

Studien zeigen, dass psychische Erkrankungen, darunter auch Angststörungen, und demzufolge der Bedarf an psychologischer Unterstützung immer mehr ansteigt. Verstärkt wird dies durch Krisen, wie beispielsweise die Corona-Pandemie. So zeigt eine Studie der DAK (1), dass im Jahr 2022 ein Höchststand an Fehltagen aufgrund psychischer Erkrankungen, wie Depressionen, Anpassungs- und Belastungsstörungen, chronische Erschöpfung oder Angststörung, zu verzeichnen ist. Eine weitere Studie der Krankenkasse (2) zeigt einen deutlichen Anstieg von  Angststörungen und Depressionen bei Jugendlichen während bzw. nach der Pandemie. Demzufolge sei die Prävalenz von Angststörungen bei Jugendlichen im Jahr 2021, im Vergleich zum Jahr 2019, um ca. 59% gestiegen. Weiterhin wurden 25% mehr Jugendliche verzeichnet, welcher mit depressiven Episoden versorgt wurden.

Generell brauchten während der Corona-Pandemie mehr Menschen psychologische Hilfe. So stellten beispielsweise 82% der Ärzt:innen bei ihren Patient:innen häufiger Probleme mit Angststörungen fest. Etwa 80% der Ärzt:innen diagnostizieren Depressionen häufiger als vor der Corona-Pandemie. Ebenfalls sind die psychosomatischen Beschwerden angestiegen, wie bspw. Müdigkeit, Erschöpfung oder Schmerzen ohne organische Ursache (3). Parallel zu dieser Entwicklung resultieren auf der Seite der Therapeut:innen lange Wartelisten sowie mentale Belastungen durch den vermehrten Stress für die Therapeut:innen.

Woche der Seelischen Gesundheit bei BEE Medic

Dem Ziel,  auf die unterschiedlichen Strategien zur Bewältigung und auf das vielfältige psychosoziale Hilfsangebot in Deutschland aufmerksam zu machen, schließen wir uns daher gerne an und möchten Neurofeedback als Therapiebaustein für mentale Krankheiten  vorstellen.

Neurofeedback kann ein additiver Therapiebaustein sein, der sich für ein breites Patient:innen-Klientel und eine Vielzahl an Indikationen eignet. Durch die häufig schnellen Behandlungsdurchbrüche motiviert Neurofeedback dabei sowohl die Patient:innen als auch die Therapeut:innen und die Wartelisten können verringert werden. Gleichzeitig bringt Neurofeedback Leichtigkeit in den Therapiealltag und kann auch die psychische Gesundheit der Therapeut:innen selbst fördern.

In unserem Expertentalk mit Dr. rer. nat. Meike Wiedemann am 11. Oktober sprechen wir daher über Neurofeedback und Angststörungen. Dabei werden wir über die Entwicklung und die Rolle von Angst(störungen) in der Therapie sprechen und wie Neurofeedback dabei helfen kann. Unsere Expertin gibt dabei auch spannende Einblicke in Ihren Praxisalltag und Ihre langjährige Erfahrung mit Neurofeedback. 

Das Webinar eignet sich auch für Personen, welche keine Vorkenntnisse über Neurofeedback besitzen. Zu Beginn erhalten Sie eine kurze Einführung zur Funktionsweise und den Grundlagen von Neurofeedback. 

Hier gelangen Sie zu unserem kostenlosen Webinar am 11.10.2023.