The Ultimate Guide to Help You Get Started with Neurofeedback at Home

 

Maybe you’ve heard about neurofeedback from a therapist, another parent, a friend—or you found it at the end of one of those late-night searches for something that might help.

And now you’re wondering: Can you really do neurofeedback at home?

Yes. With the right system, you can.

I work with NeurOptimal® because it was designed to be simple enough to use at home without brain mapping, complicated protocols or regular appointments with a practitioner.

You can rent a professional-grade NeurOptimal® neurofeedback system, have it shipped directly to your home, and use it on your own schedule.

And yes, your kids can use it too.

In fact, my experience trying to help my own daughter is a big part of why Whole Family Neurofeedback exists.

What Is At-Home Neurofeedback?

Neurofeedback is a form of brain training that gives the brain information about its own activity in real time.

With NeurOptimal®, sensors placed on the scalp and ears monitor electrical activity from the brain. The sensors are only reading information—they don’t put electricity or anything else into your brain.

During a session, you listen to music or watch a movie. NeurOptimal® monitors changes in brain activity and provides feedback through very brief interruptions in the sound.

Think of it a little like a mirror.

A mirror doesn’t tell you what to do. It simply gives you information you couldn’t otherwise see. Neurofeedback does something similar for the brain, giving the central nervous system information about its own activity as it is happening.

NeurOptimal® is different from traditional clinical neurofeedback in an important way: it doesn’t require a diagnosis, brain map or practitioner-designed training protocol. It is designated by the FDA as a general wellness product rather than a medical treatment.

That simplicity is also what makes NeurOptimal® particularly well suited for neurofeedback at home.

What Equipment Do I Need to Do Neurofeedback at Home?

This was one of my questions when I first encountered neurofeedback.

It sounds like something that should require an office full of equipment and someone with a lot of technical training.

It doesn’t.

When you rent a NeurOptimal® neurofeedback system from Whole Family Neurofeedback, everything you need is included:

• A tablet with the NeurOptimal® software
• A small amplifier called a zAmp
• Sensors and ear clips
• Conductive paste
• The cables and accessories needed for your sessions

Your system arrives ready to use.

You don’t need to buy additional neurofeedback equipment, interpret brain scans or figure out settings yourself.

And you don’t have to figure out the setup alone. We provide personal setup assistance and support seven days a week throughout your rental.

What Is an At-Home Neurofeedback Session Actually Like?

This may be the easiest part.

You put a small amount of conductive paste on the sensors and place them on the scalp and ears. The sensors connect to the zAmp, which connects to the tablet.

Then you get comfortable.

You can listen to music or watch something on the tablet while NeurOptimal® runs. A standard session lasts about 33 minutes.

That’s it.

There are no exercises to perform and nothing you have to consciously make your brain do.

For families, this is one of the biggest advantages of doing neurofeedback at home. You don’t have to load everyone into the car, get to another appointment or convince a struggling child to sit in another professional’s office.

You can fit sessions into the life you’re already living.

Why Do People Try Neurofeedback?

People come to neurofeedback for many different reasons.

Some are parents looking for another way to support a child struggling with focus, attention, emotional regulation, stress or sleep.

Some adults are looking for support with anxiety and overwhelm, brain fog, sleep or the demands of a chronically stressed nervous system.

Others don’t have a particular “problem” at all. They’re interested in brain training, resilience or peak performance.

It’s important to be clear about what NeurOptimal® is and isn’t.

NeurOptimal® is a general wellness tool. It isn’t designed to diagnose or treat ADHD, anxiety, depression, PTSD, insomnia or another medical or mental health condition.

That also means you don’t need a diagnosis to use it.

Can Kids Do Neurofeedback at Home?

Yes—and this is where this gets personal for me.

Long before I owned a neurofeedback business, I was a mom trying to help my daughter.

She was struggling in school, particularly with focus and concentration. We had the 504 plan. We did the family work. We tried acupuncture, supplements and diet changes.

I kept researching. I kept making appointments. I kept trying the next thing.

Homework was a constant struggle.

Then we found neurofeedback.

Over time, I started noticing things I hadn’t expected. One of the moments I still remember was walking upstairs and finding my daughter quietly doing her homework.

No one had asked her to.

That may sound like a very small thing. If you’ve lived in a family where homework has become a nightly battle, you know it isn’t.

Our experience with neurofeedback eventually led me to create Whole Family Neurofeedback because I wanted other families to have access to this without having to build their lives around yet another set of appointments.

Why “Whole Family” Neurofeedback?

Because I’ve spent most of my professional life working with families, and I know something that parents already know:

When one person is struggling, the whole family feels it.

That’s one of the things I love about having a neurofeedback system at home.

You may initially rent it because you’re concerned about your child.

And then you realize you can use it too.

So can your spouse or partner. So can another child in the family.

NeurOptimal® doesn’t require us to decide which person’s brain is the “problem.” The same system can be used by different members of the family.

And sometimes supporting the whole family makes a lot more sense than focusing all of our attention on the person who appears to be struggling the most.

Is At-Home Neurofeedback Safe?

NeurOptimal® is non-invasive.

The sensors monitor electrical activity from the brain; they don’t send electrical current into it.

NeurOptimal® is designated by the FDA as a general wellness product and isn’t intended to diagnose, prevent, treat or cure a medical condition.

If you or your child has a medical or mental health condition, neurofeedback shouldn’t replace care or recommendations from your healthcare providers.

Should I Rent or Buy a Neurofeedback System?

If you’re new to neurofeedback, renting can be a very practical place to start.

It lets you use professional-grade neurofeedback equipment in your own home without committing to purchasing a system.

It’s also a chance to find out what it’s actually like to incorporate neurofeedback into your family’s life.

For some families, a rental is all they want. Others decide after using NeurOptimal® for a while that owning a system makes more sense.

We offer both options.

How Does a NeurOptimal® Neurofeedback Rental Work?

We’ve tried to make this part as simple as possible.

Your NeurOptimal® system is shipped directly to your home anywhere in the United States. Everything you need to get started is included.

We’ll help you understand how to place the sensors and run a session, and if you have questions once you start using it, we’re available seven days a week.

If you’re in the Denver area, personal setup is also available.

The goal is for you to feel comfortable using the system—not to hand you a box of neurofeedback equipment and leave you to figure it out.

Ready to Learn More About Neurofeedback at Home?

You don’t need to know yet whether neurofeedback is right for you or your family.

Start by learning how it works.

If you’re considering an at-home neurofeedback rental, you can explore our rental options, learn more about NeurOptimal®, or contact me with your questions.

I’ve been the mom looking for the next thing that might help.

That’s a big part of why we’re here.

Fill out our contact form or call us at 303-222-5118

 

References

1. Is There Anyone Else Up There? Miriam Bellamy.
2. Linear vs. Non-Linear Neurofeedback. What’s the difference?
3. What Parents Are Saying About Neurofeedback

 

Disclaimer: Please note that Neuroptimal® has been designated a general wellness product by the FDA. This site contains information about general health and wellness topics. Any information on this site or in any linked materials should not be taken as medical advice. The information on this site is not intended to replace any recommendation by your personal physicians.