I have known neurofeedback specialist, Dr. Eric Mintz, for over 20 years now and not only is he an exceptional doctor, but he is also one of my closest friends. I have witnessed the miracles that have occurred using neurofeedback under his care with patients suffering from ADD/ADHD, autism, and closed head injuries. For all these reasons and more I want to introduce you to him. Welcome, Dr. Eric.
Dr. Eric, what drew you to neurofeedback?
I learned about it from a colleague of mine I went to chiropractic school with. When I first heard about neurofeedback it sounded fascinating because I’ve always had more of a neurological, brain-based approach in my office. Sleep issues have always been a challenge for me and I decided to see if it would help my insomnia. It took a few months but soon I started noticing I was able to fall asleep and stay asleep better. I still have a hard time staying asleep once in awhile but neurofeedback made such a difference for me that I decided to bring it into the office as another “tool” to help my patients naturally. It’s also really helped our daughter with sensory processing issues.
What is neurofeedback?
Neurofeedback is a non-invasive drugless technology that can greatly enhance your well-being and generally help you get the most out of life. Brain training using neurofeedback can unlock untapped cognitive potential and help you better focus and pay attention, sleep, become less anxious, as well as achieve long-held goals and dreams. Neurofeedback has been around for almost 40 years, recent advances in technology have made it more accessible and more affordable.
Neurofeedback training for the brain is similar to physical training for the body. Much of our suffering comes from pervasive recurring thoughts and feelings in which our minds become emotionally stranded or cognitively “stuck”. Neurofeedback corrects these dysregulated brainwave patterns and transforms them into healthy, regulated patterns. The result is a more open, flexible and positive brain in which obstacles are more manageable and problems more resolvable. Much like a mirror that promotes self-correction, our neurofeedback program monitors your brain waves and then provides “feedback” to your central nervous system about what it has just done. When the software detects a shift in your brainwave pattern, it sends a signal that encourages the brain to “reset” and create a new healthy pattern. This is called neuroplasticity. What makes neurofeedback so exciting is that it’s safe, no medications are used, and the changes people receive are permanent.
How brilliant is the brain?
Because the brain craves balance and rhythm, it’s motivated to figure out how to keep the movie playing. Within milliseconds, the brain corrects itself and the movie resumes. This feedback loop happens thousands of times during your session.
During the entire course of the program, your brain learns a more balanced, efficient way to function.
Think about how you respond to most things in life. If you’re rewarded for a job well done, you will want to continue to work hard. If you are not rewarded for your hard work, you will likely stop working so hard. The same rules apply to your brainwaves. We can reward the good activity and not reinforce the bad, eventually creating new patterns and healthier habits in your brain, which is called neuroplasticity. These changes are permanent…just like learning to ride a bike.
Who does it help?
Neurofeedback helps people of all ages. The youngest patient I ever had was four years old and came in with attention and focus issues. While Neurofeedback is not a “treatment” for medical conditions, we’ve been able to help people with ADD/ADHD, sensory processing disorder, Asperger’s/Autism, Anxiety, Depression, Insomnia, PTSD, Memory Loss, Chronic Pain, Fibromyalgia and other neurological issues.
A boy named Scott
I had a young man named Scott come in with his parents – he was 6 years old. Scott was diagnosed with ADHD and ODD which is an oppositional defiant disorder. He was getting in trouble at school all the time for his behavior and unfortunately was kicked out of traditional public school. So then his mom put him into Montessori and he got kicked out of there too. Scott’s mom heard about our Neurofeedback program from a friend so she brought Scott in to see me and we started a neurofeedback training program for him. He did 24 sessions over the course of about 3.5 months and not only was he able to focus in school and didn’t get in any trouble for his behavior, but his immune system got stronger (fewer allergies and colds) and he was finally able to sleep through the night!
Do you hold workshops?
Yes, we offer complimentary workshops on a monthly basis about Neurofeedback at our office. I also offer a complimentary 15-minute consultation with anybody who wants to learn more and see if they or their child is a good candidate for Neurofeedback.
How can people contact you?
I can be reached at (248) 862-2202 or dreric@drericmintz.com. My office is Synergy Chiropractic and we’re located in West Bloomfield.