Question 1

Who are eligible to be trained as a Neurofeedback therapist in SA?

Accepted Answer

Clinicians that are registered with HPCSA, AHPCS and SACSSP or relevant regulatory bodies could apply to BCIA (International Certification Board) to become certified.  Clinicians must abide within their trained scope of practice as set out by the relevant governing body and abide to code of ethics of profession, as well as BFSA/ BCIA ethics.  BFSA recommend that clinicians in SA follow guidelines provided by BCIA - International Certification body (www.bcia.org).

Question 2

How do I go about acquiring the training?

Accepted Answer

Follow the guidelines set out by BCIA or view the journey to certification: https://www.bcia.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3277

Question 3

Must I be a member of BFSA to receive training in the field of Bio- or Neurofeedback?

Accepted Answer

BFSA’s role is to guide new clinicians in the field and provide mentoring. BFSA members have benefits of negotiated rates with training institutions and international bodies like BCIA and ISNR. Members also receive discounted rates for continual education webinars

Question 4

How do I know a clinician is certified to do Neurofeedback?

Accepted Answer

Clinicians can either be a BCIA certified practitioner or under current mentorship in their journey to become BCIA certified. They should therefore be able to demonstrate at least basic competency levels of using Bio/Neurofeedback. You may ask your clinician about her/his level of certification and competency

Question 5

How many sessions of Neurofeedback is needed to address anxiety?

Accepted Answer

Depending on the type of neurofeedback training you receive, you can expect to start to seeing results after 6 to 30 sessions

Question 6

Is it safe to do Neurofeedback or will I receive an electrical shock?

Accepted Answer

Neurofeedback is a non-invasive modality, and it is impossible to receive an electrical shock from the electrodes attached to your skull.

Question 7

Is Neurofeedback effective to help my ADD/ADHD child to cope with school and family life?

Accepted Answer

Neurofeedback successfully treats symptoms of ADHD in approximately 75-80% of clients. A course of Neurofeedback sessions can have the same effect as ongoing intake of psychostimulant medications like Ritalin, for example. The benefit of Neurofeedback, however, is that ongoing treatment is rarely needed after the course length and medications can be avoided altogether. For research in the field of efficacy for ADD see www.isnr.org/isnr-comprehensive-bibliography

Question 8

Do I need a referral and diagnosis to embark on Neurofeedback training?

Accepted Answer

You do not need a referral for training.  Based on your intake interview and presenting complaints as well as EEG assessment (QEEG test) a trained therapist will decide whether Bio/Neurofeedback is the best option for you and discuss training plan options with you based on goals that you both identify and agree on.

Question 9

How many sessions will I need?

Accepted Answer

The number of sessions varies from one individual to the next. It also depends on what adjunct therapies are decided upon for you. Improvement is frequently noted after five to ten sessions. On average, people need 25-30 sessions for optimal results. A  better estimation of the number of sessions necessary can be given, once a thorough assessment has been done and your brain’s response to training can be evaluated

Question 10

Are the effects of Neurofeedback a lasting effect?

Accepted Answer

Studies of long-term effects of Neurofeedback show that the symptoms improve after the first treatment with Neurofeedback and remain stable after the treatment course. Research shows that attention, impulsiveness, and hyperactivity further improved after 6 months and had remained stable after 2 years. Generally, once the brain has adopted a new pattern, the results last.  However, if you are confronted with an unexpected life challenge that affects the brain (trauma, brain injury, loss of a loved one, extreme stress), you might need maintenance sessions or “tune-ups.” These typically involve only two or three sessions to get the brain re-stabilized and back on track. For information see: www.isnr.org/isnr-comprehensive-bibliography

Question 11

Cost of Neurofeedback Sessions?

Accepted Answer

Each profession is guided by its own fee and coding structure, but clinicians can decide on their own fee structure and time allocated per session. Clinicians that are more specialised will ask higher fees than a more newly qualified clinician. Sessions are often billed according to time and can range from R450 – R900 per hour. Please clarify with the clinician before embarking on training.