Does NeurOptimal have side effects? NeurOptimal is non invasive and generally well tolerated: the sensors only read brain activity, and nothing is transmitted into the brain. Some clients notice temporary responses after a session, such as tiredness, vivid dreams, or emotions sitting closer to the surface, and these typically settle within hours to a couple of days.
Written by Jonathan Wieser, Registered Clinical Counsellor and Registered Marriage and Family Therapist. Jonathan has provided neurofeedback at Sojourn Counselling and Neurofeedback in Surrey, BC for more than sixteen years.
Why NeurOptimal Is Considered Low Risk
It helps to start with what NeurOptimal actually does. During a session, small sensors rest on the scalp and ears and read the brain’s electrical activity while you listen to music. When the system detects shifts in that activity, it briefly pauses the sound. That is the entire intervention: information, offered in real time, that the brain can use to support its own self regulation.
Unlike some approaches, NeurOptimal does not push the brain toward a preset target, does not stimulate the brain, and does not require a diagnosis. It is brain training rather than a medical treatment, which is a large part of why it is considered low risk and why it was designed to be safe for home use.
What Clients Sometimes Notice After a Session
In more than sixteen years of running neurofeedback sessions, the most common thing clients report afterward is simply feeling relaxed, sometimes noticeably tired, as if the brain has done a workout. Beyond that, a smaller number of clients describe temporary responses in the first days of training:
- Feeling mentally quiet, foggy, or sleepy for a few hours after a session.
- More vivid dreams, or sleep that feels different for a night or two.
- Emotions sitting closer to the surface, especially for people who have been holding stress in the body for a long time.
- Brief restlessness or a wired feeling, which tends to show up early in training and settle quickly.
- A mild headache, which in our experience is more often about hydration, posture, or tension release than the training itself.
These responses usually fade within hours to a couple of days, and they do not build up over time when sessions are paced sensibly. Many clients notice nothing at all beyond feeling calmer.
Why These Responses Happen
NeurOptimal gives the brain feedback about what it is already doing, and the brain decides what to do with that information. When a nervous system that has been running on high alert begins to settle, the shift itself can be noticeable: sleep patterns adjust, emotions that were pushed aside get some room, and energy levels change. We think of these as signs of a system reorganizing rather than side effects of something being done to it. Our article on how neurofeedback supports a calmer nervous system explains this process in more depth.
How NeurOptimal Compares With Linear Neurofeedback
Sojourn offers both NeurOptimal and linear neurofeedback, so we have no stake in overselling either. Linear systems train the brain toward specific frequency targets, and because of that, protocol choices matter: training the wrong pattern too hard can leave someone feeling wired, anxious, or flat until the protocol is adjusted. That is manageable with careful assessment and monitoring, and it is exactly why linear training at our clinic is protocol based and supervised. NeurOptimal, by design, has no protocol to get wrong, which is why its temporary responses tend to be milder and why it is our usual starting point for home rentals.
Who Should Talk With Us Before Starting
NeurOptimal is training, not treatment, and it is not a substitute for medical or mental health care. If you live with a neurological condition, are adjusting psychiatric medication, or are in a period of acute crisis, it makes sense to talk with your physician and with us before starting so we can think through timing and support together. If you are unsure whether neurofeedback fits your situation at all, our guide Is Neurofeedback Right for You? is a good place to start.
How We Handle This at Sojourn in Surrey
Every client trains with a provider who checks in at each session about what came up in between. If responses show up, we adjust pacing, space sessions further apart, or slow down. Because we are a counselling clinic first, clients whose training stirs up emotional material can move that into counselling with a therapist rather than carrying it alone. That combination of brain training and relational support is, in our experience, the safest way to do this work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is NeurOptimal safe?
NeurOptimal is a non invasive brain training system. The sensors only read the brain’s electrical activity and the feedback comes through brief pauses in music, so nothing is transmitted into the brain. Most clients experience sessions as relaxing, and it is generally well tolerated.
Can NeurOptimal make anxiety worse?
A small number of clients notice brief restlessness or more vivid emotions early in training as the nervous system adjusts. In our experience these responses settle within hours to a couple of days. If anxiety is a concern, we can pace sessions and pair training with counselling support.
Are there long term side effects from NeurOptimal?
We are not aware of lasting negative effects from NeurOptimal training, and its design does not push the brain toward any target state. The responses clients describe are temporary and tend to fade as training continues.
What should I do if I feel off after a session?
Let your provider know. Feeling tired, emotional, or mentally quiet for a few hours is common and usually passes on its own. If something feels stronger or lasts longer than expected, we will slow the pace, space sessions out, and talk through what you are noticing.
Thinking about trying NeurOptimal? View provider profiles and book online through JaneApp, or contact us if you have questions about whether it fits your situation. Sessions are available in Cloverdale, Surrey, and 30 day home rentals are available for the surrounding area.
