“My experience of neurofeedback has been that it is a subtle but powerful tool that opened up new possibilities emotionally and psychologically for me and has really supported my therapeutic process.

I felt heard and supported by the staff at BrainTrain UK. I particularly appreciated the fact that they were willing to be flexible at a point where I was still unsure about the benefits and they didn’t try to push me to continue – but I’m glad I did!”

MdJ, age 56.

Here’s a testimonial from Lea who describes her experience with BrainTrainUK to help her overcome challenges including anxiety and inattention.

“My experience with biofeedback and BrainTrainUK has been life changing. For the last few years I have struggled with anxiety, depression, and adhd. I have tried many different treatments counselling, CBT, medication, to name a few, and even though this have be helpful biofeedback has benefited me the most! I can now focus more, I’m less anxious and more calmer, and because of that my mental health has definitely improved overall which I’m very happy about!”

Dominic, age 29.

Neurofeedback reaches the parts CAMHS can’t reach

Stuart Black was watching a Facebook Meeting with Surrey County Council’s Cabinet in the middle of COVID lockdown July 2020 when Gracie’s mum, Liani, asked a desperate question about her inability to get useful help from the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) in Surrey.

Stuart reached out to Liani, and the next week Liani and Gracie were in our Egham clinic, we explained what we did and they decided to go ahead.

Gracie’s response was strong, but we encouraged them to continue through to 20 sessions to let the learning bed in and stick:

Gracie and her mum wanted to explain how BrainTrainUK helped when CAMHS couldn’t:

 

Heart warming card tells how BrainTrainUK made a difference

Mum says “Dear Stuart, I wish more people knew about your life changing business. It’s made a huge difference to our family life!

Daughter says  Dear Stuart, “You are very funny and you make me laugh (a lot). I wish I could see you more often.”

I don’t think its much of an exaggeration to say that Neurofeedback saved my life.

She was screaming all the time but now she is happy…before she started brain training she did not understand anything, it was like talking to a brick wall. But now she can understand, she can follow simple instructions whereas before she would look at you like you were on another planet.

Mikolaj’s concentration increased from three minutes to 15 minutes, which had a huge impact on his confidence and self-belief.

How Neurofeedback gave me back my life

My name is Raquel Abreu.

In 1999 after 8 months of struggling with low grade fevers, increasing fatigue, sleep disturbances and galloping muscle pain I was diagnosed with an overlap of Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome and Fibromyalgia.

The illness progressed quite rapidly from October 1999 on and soon I had to walk with crutches for short distances and use a wheelchair for longer distances and plane travel. By Christmas my short memory was gone, my concentration was poor and I simply couldn’t read a book.

In 2000 I started Neurofeedback training (the classic approach) with the aim of decreasing all these symptoms. I did Neurofeedback training twice a week for 2 years and at the end some symptoms were totally gone: brain fog, poor memory and poor concentration. Fatigue was still there but more manageable as well as pain. In 2003 I resumed work despite still needing crutches to walk and afternoon naps.

Nonetheless I kept going and by July 2005 I stopped using crutches altogether. I started practising sports and reached a level of good physical fitness. I created my own company and until 2009 I worked tirelessly and happily. I kept needing some extra time to rest my pain was gone!

From 2009 to 2012 I moved to Africa where I worked as Humanitarian Relief Worker in war countries. I came back to Europe and in January 2013 I started a new business as Patient Advocate. The plasticity created by Neurofeedback made it possible for me to learn an extra foreign language in 8 months long after my training end (August 2002).

Neurofeedback made all this possible.

When I started as PA establishing partnerships with top doctors and clinics I knew I had to find a practice so I could offer my clients the same amazing possibility I once had (the clinic where I got treated closed in 2004).

I then came across BrianTraunUK (BTUK) and the new approach they offered in Neurofeedback training.

I read all I could about them and Infra Low Frequency training and decided to try it. Despite leading a normal life I still had an amount of residual fatigue that I wanted to get rid of. I did 20 sessions with ILF and my fatigue was gone!!! I know have this amazing energy and an ABSOLUTE CONFIDENCE in BTUK and ILF!!

My journey to recover from developmental trauma with Neurofeedback

“Just over two years ago I began psychotherapy for developmental trauma. Since then I have done somatic therapy, EMDR, Internal Family Systems therapy, and traditional mindfulness exercises such as meditation and yoga.

These therapies have helped me tremendously and I would recommend them to anyone who is on their journey to heal from PTSD.

Still, after two years, I started to feel that my progress was slowing and decided to look for more therapy options.I first discovered neurofeedback training while reading Bessel van der Kolk’s “The Body Keeps the Score” and thought I’d give it a go.

After some research I came across BrainTrainUK and booked a consultation. From the very start, I found the people at BrainTrainUK to be extremely friendly and approachable, which I really appreciated as I have often struggled with anxiety in social situations as a result of my trauma.

During the consultation I was able to ask any questions I had and was offered a trial session with the neurofeedback apparatus. After that, my practitioner worked with me to create a training plan that fitted my therapy needs as well as my budget and schedule.

My training program was flexible and was shaped around my ongoing development.

Throughout the program, I felt well looked after and that my comfort was the main priority. I had progress reviews every session to make sure everything was going well.

Now, as a result of the training, I feel significantly more organised and focused in my goals, and I’m in an all-round calmer, happier state of mind. More than that, I feel renewed optimism regarding my trauma recovery and my future in general.

I now view neurofeedback training as an essential part of my therapy, and I only wish I had come across it sooner. I am very grateful to the folks at BrainTrainUK and for how they have helped me, and I would happily recommend them to anyone who is looking to use neurofeedback to address PTSD.”

Adam, age 32, October 2016.

How BrainTrainUK Helped Me Overcome Severe Life Destroying Migraines

“It was as if a spell had been lifted off me. I haven’t been sick in months.”

For over 28 years Sue Lane suffered from severe migraines that were so bad she feared she would lose her job working for an airline at Heathrow.

“My migraines where so severe they would often be accompanied by days of pain and vomiting. I couldn’t sleep properly and I even ended up in hospital when the NHS thought I was having a stroke”.

Sue says she tried everything to cure her headaches from acupuncture and hypnotherapy to injections and even colonic Irrigation, but nothing worked.

“I first read about the benefits of Neurofeedback from a book called the Migraine Revolution. I Googled it and I couldn’t believe there was a practice here in Egham called BrainTrainUK”.

BrainTrainUK provides a completely non-invasive treatment that uses Neurofeedback technology, originally discovered by NASA in the 1960’s, to retrain the brain.

Participants wear electrodes on their head to monitor their brainwaves while they watch specifically designed videos or play BrainTrainUK video games.

The video/video games are then adjusted according to the participants brainwave patterns and this visual feedback helps stimulate/train areas of the brain that are either underperforming or need support.

Sue says “After 18 sessions I felt like a different person, it felt as if a spell had been lifted off me. I haven’t been sick for months, which is unheard of and everyone says I look better.”

She continues “if I hadn’t read that book I would have never have known this was available. In my opinion it should be made available on the NHS and anyone suffering from migraines should seriously consider it as an alternative to medication”. 

We continued to monitor Sue’s symptoms for 7 months after we last saw her.  After 7 months she told us “Thank you for helping me, I really feel like I’ve escaped from a prison sentence.  It’s really strange not feeling ill most of the time, I can  now do so many things. I think I don’t need to be tracked on migraines now as they are now a thing of the past. Once again many thanks.”

Holloway businessman: ‘Video games are best cure for concussion’

A businessman who suffered serious head injuries in a taxi crash has credited video games with his recovery.

Martin Bauer, 46, of Queensland Road, Holloway, suffered post-concussion syndrome in November after his taxi collided with a van in Leeds city centre.

While he escaped “dazed and confused” on the night, Mr Bauer, began to suffer splitting headaches a couple of days later, and was taken to A&E.

Mr Bauer, an IT programme director at the Big Data Partnership in Old Street, was forced to scale back to part-time work.

Strong painkillers meant he was unable to focus for more than two hours at a time, while he suffered further symptoms including mood swings and fatigue.

He said: “My job is really stressful and high-powered and I’d been finding it hard to focus since my head injury. Doctors advised me to rest and take painkillers but they just seem to mask the problem.”

But Mr Bauer’s fortunes changed when his sister mentioned an article she had read about neurofeedback therapy, a treatment using video games and animations to re-train areas of the brain that are “under-performing”.

So now, as part of his treatment, Mr Bauer wears electrodes on his head, which monitor brainwaves while he plays games – for example, guiding a spaceship through tunnels or driving a car.

The game is adjusted according to his brainwave patterns and this visual feedback helps stimulate the under-used part of his brain.

In the four months he has been undergoing treatment with BrainTrainUK, he has been able to concentrate for gradually longer periods and expects to return to full-time work in April.

“I was really sceptical about brain training,” Mr Bauer admitted.

“It’s not very well known in this country – but I’m so glad I gave it a go.

“I never expected it to be effective, but I thought I had nothing to lose.

“Even after the first session, I felt calmer, and it has made a difference.”

© 2016 Islington Gazette