Almost everyone, it seems, wants to change something about their brain. Some people want to improve performance, memory, cognitive speed, focus, or reaction time. Others are looking for support with concerns such as PTSD, depression, or anxiety. Many people I speak with have some kind of brain-related concern: difficulty concentrating, trouble sleeping, emotional reactivity, stress, trauma symptoms, or a sense that their nervous system is stuck in patterns they cannot easily shift.
The old adage “practice makes perfect” comes to mind, especially since we now understand that the brain changes in response to experience and how it is used. Practices such as meditation, studying, and therapy can help improve focus, concentration, emotional awareness, and information processing. But what if these abilities could also be supported by training the brain activity that underlies them? This is one of the ideas behind neurofeedback therapy.
Similarly, counselling approaches such as CBT therapy can help people examine thoughts that contribute to depression, anxiety, and destructive self-talk. Other approaches, such as EMDR therapy, can support trauma processing. Neurofeedback offers another pathway by working with brain activity and nervous system regulation more directly.
The brain produces waves of electrical activity when groups of neurons fire together. This activity can be measured through sensors placed on the scalp and then amplified through computer technology. Certain brainwave patterns have been associated with states such as sleep, relaxation, alertness, and focus. Other patterns may be associated with experiences such as fear, anxiety, irritability, emotional volatility, or difficulty settling.
In the 1960s, Barry Sterman found that cats could learn to modify the production of specific brainwave patterns when reinforced. Later, while studying the effects of rocket fuel exposure, Sterman discovered that cats previously trained to increase sensory motor rhythm activity were more resistant to seizures than cats that had not received this training. He later applied similar methods with humans experiencing epilepsy, helping establish neurofeedback as a meaningful area of clinical research.
Sterman’s work helped launch broader interest in neurofeedback, and researchers began exploring how different brainwave frequencies could be increased or decreased to support symptom relief, regulation, and improved functioning. Today, neurofeedback is often explored for concerns such as ADHD, epilepsy, stress, sleep disruption, trauma symptoms, anxiety, depression, and emotional regulation. At Sojourn Counselling and Neurofeedback, clients may access both in-office neurofeedback therapy and NeurOptimal® neurofeedback therapy, depending on their goals and needs.
Unlike medication, neurofeedback does not require the body to absorb a substance. Instead, it uses feedback from brain activity to support learning, regulation, and flexibility. Some clients are drawn to neurofeedback because they are looking for a non-invasive approach to nervous system support, especially when stress, sleep problems, attention difficulties, trauma symptoms, or emotional overwhelm are affecting daily life.
Neurofeedback may also be used alongside counselling. Some clients combine neurofeedback with counselling services, trauma therapy, anxiety counselling, or relationship support when they want to address both nervous system regulation and the emotional or relational patterns connected to their concerns. Others explore home neurofeedback rentals when they want the flexibility to train more frequently from home.
In addition to anxiety, depression, ADHD, and PTSD, neurofeedback is sought by people looking for support with post-traumatic stress, attachment-related distress, relationship functioning, athletic performance, stress reduction, improved sleep, and academic or professional performance. For many clients, the goal is not simply symptom reduction, but greater flexibility, resilience, and self-regulation.
If you or someone close to you is interested in improving brain functioning through neurofeedback, contact Sojourn Counselling and Neurofeedback or book a neurofeedback appointment online. Our Surrey office supports clients from Surrey, Cloverdale, Langley, South Surrey, White Rock, and the broader Fraser Valley, with some services also available through online counselling across BC.
References and Relevant Reading
- Sterman, M. B., LoPresti, R. W., & Fairchild, M. D. (2010). Electroencephalographic and Behavioral Studies of Monomethyl Hydrazine Toxicity in the Cat. Journal of Neurotherapy, 14, 293–300.
- Sterman, M. B., & Lisanby, S. H. Interview on neurofeedback and the brain.
- Hammond, D. C. (2007). What is Neurofeedback? Journal of Neurotherapy, 10(4), 25–36.
