A number of modern treatment options can be used to help you recover from addiction or mental health issues. One such option is neurofeedback therapy, also known as neurotherapy. With help from this therapy, you can learn how to change thoughts and emotional responses that support addiction. This means that a neurofeedback treatment program may play a useful part in your addiction recovery.
At Women’s Recovery, we use a variety of methods to help you regain your sobriety. We can also help you overcome the effects of illnesses that occur alongside substance problems. Neurofeedback therapy is included among our many treatment options. Along with other forms of treatment, the benefits of neurotherapy help further your goals of health and well-being.
Basics of Neurofeedback Therapy
All brains have some flexibility built into them. This flexibility allows you to change how you think, respond and behave. Neurotherapy takes advantage of this fact. It uses information from your own brain to help you undo unhelpful mental habits.
This therapy is non-invasive. During a treatment session, small sensors called electrodes are placed on your scalp. At the other end, these sensors connect to a device that reads the electrical signals from your brain. A trained neurofeedback professional can read these signals. In addition, information from them is relayed to a screen so you can watch what’s happening.
Next, you will do something that activates your brain. This may include such things as:
- Listening to music
- Watching a series of images
- Playing a video game
As your brain activates, the screen linked to the electrodes responds in real-time. Some responses indicate a healthy pattern of brain activity. Others indicate an unhealthy pattern. Your therapist will help you understand these responses. Without you consciously trying, this feedback process helps your brain change. This change affects the ways you respond to sounds, images, and situations. In the typical program, neurotherapy is provided twice a week. Treatment takes a total of 20 weeks.
The Benefits of Neurotherapy for Addiction Treatment
You may wonder if neurofeedback therapy could possibly have any real-world benefits. Research shows that it does. Neurotherapy has been found to be useful for people addicted to several substances. That includes such things as opioid drugs and medications, cocaine and alcohol. Specific reported benefits include reduced substance consumption. They also include improved feelings of health and wellness.
The Benefits of Neurotherapy for Additional Mental Health Issues
It’s common for people affected by addiction to also suffer from other mental health issues. When these two problems appear together, they’re commonly referred to by a single name: dual diagnosis. The list of mental illnesses that can occur in cases of dual diagnosis includes:
- PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder
- Major depression
- Panic disorder and other anxiety disorders
- Schizophrenia and related conditions
- ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Studies show that a neurofeedback treatment program can help ease the effects of many of these illnesses. Studies also show that such a program may play a beneficial role in dual diagnosis treatment. That’s important because dual diagnosis is often challenging to treat. The addition of another beneficial option may help make it easier for you to recover.
Learn More About Neurofeedback Treatment Programs at Women’s Recovery
Need more information on the benefits of neurotherapy? Women’s Recovery can provide the answers you need. We’re also a trusted source for the treatment of women affected by addiction or dual diagnosis. All of our treatment plans are customized to fit your needs. Where appropriate, your options may include neurofeedback therapy. Call us today at 833.754.0554 for more specifics on our addiction and dual diagnosis programs. You can also reach us through our online form.
