Presented by Glenn Weiner, PhD: There are many ways to do neurofeedback. This workshop will review the various ways that it is being done and the supportive research. Most clinicians learn one approach, work with patients for a bit and want to expand their toolbox to get success with the patients whom they have not succeeded with. While we will review all of the major neurofeedback approaches, we strongly believe that good clinical outcomes can take place regardless of the primary approach utilized, and that clinical skills play a significant role in outcomes.
We will focus on protocol decision making and the protocol adjustment process. Time will be spent in presenting practical methods for monitoring progress to assist with this. We will discuss decisions about how to train, where, what frequency, uptraining vs. downtraining, how many channels to train, surface vs LORETA, amplitude, coherence, Z scores or not, alpha-theta and infralow.
Part of improving clinical outcomes is managing the various psychotherapeutic aspects that are inherent in doing this work. We will discuss the issues of orienting patients for neurofeedback; managing the issues around medication; coaching in session; issues around increasing awareness; homework; threshold setting; decision making with feedback displays, etc. Time will also be spent in reviewing some of the auxiliary approaches such as entrainment; HRV; meditation; home training; self-monitoring; and journaling. Some neurotherapeutic tactics for working with children will also be discussed.
Dependent upon participants interests we can discuss the protocol decision logic for patients from our clinic with the full range of disorders which tend to seek treatment in an outpatient setting (e.g. PTSD; OCD; ADHD; Chronic Pain; Depression; Anxiety; Sleep, etc.).
Some case presentations on various disorders will be shared. Participants are welcome to bring cases they would like help with depending upon participant interest and as time allows. This is meant to be a very practical workshop with participants able to implement some new tactics immediately in their offices. A progress monitoring tracking spreadsheet will be shared.
