Pediatric Neurofeedback Services

Advancing Cognitive Wellness for Growing Minds

Neurofeedback is a type of therapeutic treatment that helps train your child’s brain to function more effectively!

Neurofeedback therapy is designed specifically based on the information and analysis captured in an qEEG brain. Neurofeedback training protocols will target the cortex's of your child’s brain that are most needing support and regulation. A consistent feedback loop is offered through visual and auditory stimulus using patterns and repetition that are direct, real-time responses to their brain wave activity.

When their brain is actively participating in the training exercises, the feedback loop will offer them a reward. The adolescent brain engages in sensory stimulus and is always working to comprehend and define information in order to correct and create the most direct transmission of energy.

Think of it as exercise for their brain—training it to become stronger, calmer, and more flexible. Neurotherapy can be helpful for children and teens dealing with issues like anxiety, PTSD, ADHD, depression, sleep problems, and much more.

What is Neurofeedback?

Our Framework

At Lighthouse Neurofeedback & Behavioral Health, we align our services with the National Institute of Mental Health’s (NIMH) Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) framework.

NIMH’s research represents a shift away from traditional symptom-based diagnoses towards a neuroscience-informed, dimensional understanding of mental health. 

Instead of viewing mental disorders as isolated diagnoses, RDoC emphasizes dysfunction in brain networks and behavioral systems that cut across many diagnostic categories. This framework is deeply compatible with how we approach healing and growth in our clinic. 

A qEEG, Quantitative electroencephalogram, or brain mapping, measures and records electrical activity produced by the brain. By placing non-invasive sensors along your child’s scalp, we will be able to take snapshots of how their brain is working. These sensors pick up the adolescent’s brainwaves, which present patterns of activity that their brain creates while they think, feel, and process information.

The data we collect helps us understand which areas of their brain might be overactive, underactive, or not communicating as well as they could. Think of it as creating a “map” of your childs’ brain’s activity, showing us where things are in balance and where they might need some support.

We will use this gathered information to tailor neurotherapy exercises to enhance their mental and or behavioral health. Personalizing their treatment with insights into how we can help them feel and function better.

What is a QEEG?

Pediatric Intake Process

For adolescent clients, our neurofeedback intake process begins with three separate sessions.

Your child’s first session will be a Virtual Intake with our Lead Neurotherapist. The Lead will begint his session by providing a breif introduction to how neurofeedback works and the expectations of care for your child. '

Following this discusssion, they will initiate a detailed conversation about your child’s symptoms, medical history, mental health history, lifestyle, and family dynamics. treatment objectives. This step ensures the neurofeedback plan is personalized to fit your childs needs.

Session 1: Virtual Intake Interview

How To Prepare For Their Virtual Intake Interview:

  • Come to the intake with a list of symptoms or areas in need of improvement (ex: behaviorally, socially, cognitively, etc.). This information is essential for a productive and successful Intake.

  • List of current and/or past medications (dosage is preferred but not required).

  • Please let the Lead know if your child will need any extra accommodations as they proceed with their furture services.

Your child’s second session, will be their quantitative EEG (qEEG) with their assigned clinician. A qEEG is a a non-invasive therapeutic procedure where we measure the electrical activity in your child’s brain. A brain map uses a qEEG to measure electrical activity in the brain. It creates a visual representation of brainwave patterns (Delta, Theta, Alpha, Beta, Gamma) to identify areas that may be overactive, underactive, or dysregulated. This helps guide personalized neurofeedback treatment.

A soft cap with small sensors will be placed on your child’s head. We will use a conductive gel to help the sensors read their brain activity accurately. Your child will need to sit still and quiet while we record their brainwaves. We will conduct the qEEG with their eyes open (looking at a blank screen or object), and then with their eyes closed. The session will usually take 60 minutes.

We like to think of it as creating a “map” of their brain’s activity. We will reassure them throughout the session that the cap will be showing us a map where things are in balance and where they might need some support.

Session 2: qEEG (Brain Map)

  • Make sure your child has a good night's sleep prior to the day of the qEEG

  • Double check the office you are scheduled to be at. We have 3 locations for neurofeedback services. 

  • We recommend prolonging the consumption of any stimulants before your child’s qEEG session. This includes caffeine, ADHD medications, or sugar. Stimulants can drastically affect their qEEG results.

  • For their safety, your child will need to arrive with clean, dry hair. Having wet hair during an qEEG can negatively effect their qEEG results.

  • If your child wears earrings, we may ask that the earrings being taken out during their sessions as they can interfere wth the qEEG equipment.

  • We use a special gel during the qEEG process, and it may stick to their hair or scalp after we finish the qEEG. We will gently wipe down their scalp and hair to the best of our ability after the qEEG is completed.

  • Let the therapist know if your child has any sensitivities to salt-based products (We have hypoallergenic gel as well).

  • Please let the clinician know if your child needs any extra accommodations to feel more comfortable during this process (ex: blankets, pillows, lights dimmed, etc.).

How To Prepare For Their qEEG:

Session 3: Virtual qEEG Review

Your child’s third session will be their Virtual qEEG Review. This session is also conducted virtually by our Lead Neurotherapist. We use the time between the qEEG and Review to interpret your child’s qEEG assessment, determine appropriate training protocols, and develop a treatment plan that best fits your child’s needs. During this session, you’ll be shown their qEEG assessment, qEEG interpretations, and visual representations of the information we collected during their qEEG.

Individual circumstances, current state of wellbeing, and medical history are all taken into consideration when curating your child’s personalized treatment plan. This information is essential for a productive and successful review. Based on their goals and qEEG results, our Lead Neurotherapist curates an individualize neurofeedback treatment to provide the most optimal care for your child

How To Prepare For Their Virtual qEEG Review:

  • This meeting is conducted virtually a few days after your childs’ QEEG is completed. We use the time between the qEEG and Review to interpret their qEEG assresults, determine appropriate protocol, and develop a treatment plan that best fits your needs.

  • During this session, we welcome you to ask any questions, bring up any outstanding concerns, and or learn more about our mission in terms of your child’s specialized treatment.

  • Come to the review with a list of symptoms or areas in need of improvement (ex: behaviorally, socially, cognitively, etc.). This information is essential for a productive and successful review.

  • List of current and/or past medications (dosage is preferred but not required).