The advantages of Neurofeedback for practices - 10 reasons why it is worth starting now with Neurofeedback

The demand for psychotherapy continues to grow unabated. Whereas practices were already at capacity before Corona, demand continues to increase. According to a survey conducted by the German Chamber of Psychotherapists at the beginning of the year, demand is already up another 40% over the previous year. For patients, this often means even longer waiting times. For practices, overload. But why it is worthwhile to start with Neurofeedback right now, we show in this article. 

1. First of all: Neurofeedback can help with many symptoms because it aims to improve self-regulation.

Our brain is constantly busy with regulation and always wants to work ideally. When we are well-rested, relaxed, stress-relieved and healthy, this self-regulation works well. It is then quite easy for the brain to work optimally and, for example, to go to work with concentration and vigor during the day and to be able to switch off well in the evening. In contrast, we often find it difficult to relax during particularly stressful times. We are not concentrated, irritated and surely everyone of us has already experienced depressive moods once. Sometimes we can get out of such phases on our own and not every kind of stress makes us sick right away. However, permanent stress, traumatic experiences or (mental) illnesses can disrupt this sensitive system of self-regulation in the long term. And often mental illnesses in particular go unnoticed for a long time, are ignored and favored by many factors. The consequences are then often severe and long-term with a variety of symptoms. This is where Neurofeedback comes in. It aims to improve self-regulation and thus to alleviate the symptoms of illnesses. This is why we call ILF Neurofeedback a "symptom-based approach". Depending on which symptoms patients suffer from the most, feedback and electrode position are individually adjusted. ILF Neurofeedback is therefore very effective. Successes and whether a patient responds can often be seen in the first few sessions. Mostly by an improvement in sleep, concentration, or the ability to relax better again. And often patients also report a feeling of well-being, that they feel more secure "and tidier in the head". Neurofeedback can therefore lead to rapid therapeutic success.

2. Neurofeedback is fun

Neurofeedback doesn't actually feel like therapy because of the relaxed therapy situation. Especially children and teenagers look forward to "their Neurofeedback training" with the computer game-like animations. Problems at school, whether they have ADHD or suffer from anxiety - all this does not play a big, noticeable role during the Neurofeedback session. During Neurofeedback, it's much more about relaxing, letting the feedback work on you, and, most importantly, experiencing self-efficacy. And even very performance-oriented adults who find it difficult to open up or are reluctant to talk about difficulties often find access to Neurofeedback very quickly. This is because Neurofeedback does not focus on problems and diagnoses and also simply feels good.

3. Neurofeedback motivates

Initial improvements in symptoms can be seen quickly and after just a few sessions. This is very motivating. For both, patients and therapists. The effects of Neurofeedback are especially noticeable in everyday life and are also noticed - especially with children and adolescents - by parents and in the school environment. They can be seen in better concentration, balance, better handwriting, etc.  Such tangible successes are extremely motivating and mean that patients are usually very happy to come to therapy. Fewer sessions are canceled and you have fewer therapy failures and a higher planning reliability. 

4. Neurofeedback brings ease into the daily work routine...

When asked what they personally benefit most from Neurofeedback, almost all of our clients say sentences like these: "Neurofeedback brings ease into my daily work", "Neurofeedback makes my work much more relaxed", "You can achieve so much with little effort through Neurofeedback" or "A day of talk therapy can be quite exhausting and drain your strength. Neurofeedback also feels easier to me. I am less drained and also much more satisfied with what I have achieved at the end of the day".

5. ... and less stressful situations arise during therapy

Neurofeedback is very calm work. Of course Neurofeedback has to be accompanied therapeutically and the dialogue with the patient is important during the therapy in order to optimize the training frequency more and more or to adjust it according to the therapy success. But due to the relaxed attention while the patient does the Neurofeedback "automatically" and follows the feedback animations on the monitor, less tension and stressful situations arise during the session. This is good for patients, but most of all for you! You can also simply take a breather yourself during Neurofeedback.

6.Neurofeedback is efficient

Every day therapists tell us about very rapid successes and real treatment breakthroughs. Many patients can be helped faster by Neurofeedback. Neurofeedback is also very easy to plan and the treatment intervals lengthen with ongoing therapy. So while your waiting list may not necessarily get shorter, because you will notice very quickly that your Neurofeedback waiting list is growing. You will however be able to help more patients faster overall. Which of course can also have a positive effect on the reputation and economic success of your practice.

7. Every patient can learn Neurofeedback

There are only a few contraindications for Neurofeedback, such as particularly severe forms of epilepsy. In principle, however, Neurofeedback can be learned from elementary school age to old age. The brain performs the Neurofeedback training "automatically" and without any noticeable effort. Because it is suitable for such a wide range of patients, it can be easily integrated into any practice and many patients can benefit from it.

8. Neurofeedback is easy to use

Our Neurofeedback hardware is very handy. Therefore, it does not take much to get started with Neurofeedback. The Neurofeedback equipment itself is compact and also the software is easy to use. All you need is a small area - ideally a small trolley on which you can safely place the NeuroAmp and consumables. With a little practice, you can also apply the individual electrodes within a few seconds. All you have to do is select a suitable feedback together with the patient, set the training frequency very simply by using a slider and then concentrate fully on your patient and continue to optimize the training by observing and asking specific questions. We will show you exactly how to do this in our basic courses with a high practical component.

9. Neurofeedback is therapeutically attractive

Modern Neurofeedback is not solely oriented towards diagnostics, but above all towards the symptoms that patients suffer from the most. This is why at ILF Neurofeedback we speak of "symptom-based" work and why your role as therapists remains so central. With your expertise and based on your Neurofeedback training, you guide your patients through Neurofeedback. You make decisions about the right electrode position and the appropriate training frequency. The good interaction between therapist and patient is therefore still important and will not be replaced by technology. On the contrary. Neurofeedback is therapeutically appealing and varied. This is because you adapt the feedback individually according to your patient's needs, learn with each patient, improve your skills, become more and more experienced and can use Neurofeedback optimally.

10. Hygiene rules can be followed easily

And last but not least: Neurofeedback is non-invasive, painless and hygiene and distance rules can also be easily followed.