You sit in an easy chair, and Martha does a "baseline" reading with you - 15 seconds of your looking at a flower on the monitor screen with your eyes open, 15 seconds with them closed. Then you decide if you want to listen to music, or watch a movie.

For the next half hour or so, you just sit back and relax. As you watch or listen, your brain wave patterns are being fed through the neurofeedback program. When it detects a signal variability, it creates a short "stop" in the music or movie. Your brain notices this, scans itself for the problem, fixes it, and the movie or music starts again. Your brain, thus rewarded, does it again and again. As it continues this information processing and correcting, it's actually creating new pathways for it to communicate to itself at all levels of its frequencies. Your brain uses more of itself, more effortlessly.

After about 35 minutes, Martha does another baseline with you, as before. She may review the results, if you're interested. The most important thing, however is less about the brainwave activity, and more about how you feel, especially over time.

How Many Sessions Does it Take?
Usually, it takes about 6 sessions to notice changes occurring, though sometimes people notice them right away. The changes are seamless and effortless, so it's important to decide ahead of time how to measure results. The results you notice may not be exactly why you came in, but they are clearly changes your system needed to make.

You may notice that you feel lighter, brighter, clearer. You may notice you are sleeping better. You may notice that didn't get annoyed at your spouse or kids the way that you had before. You may notice that some pain has disappeared. You may notice that you feel more relaxed in general, or that it's easier to get things done.

To make deeper changes, it often takes 10 or more sessions. The more complex the issue, the more sessions it takes. Think of it as going to the gym: if you are really out of shape, it may take some time to train your body to become fitter. Every time you go, you improve it's functioning and fitness. Pretty soon, you're taking the stairs two at a time and you're not even out of breath! It takes time and persistance.

Often what people notice is that the good feelings after a session last for a few hours, then a day or two, then a few days, then until the next session. This is your brain training itself, becoming more flexible and resilient - able to hold onto the changes it's been making. New patterns are emerging and holding.

Are there side effects?
Because your brain is not being pushed in one direction or another, and because your brain is training across many frequencies - each balancing one another -- side effects are minimal. Any side effects you experience are temporary. You may notice feeling a little headachy, or spacey, after a session. (Please take care of yourself and wait before you drive if you feel this way.) You may notice a little more of what you came in to clear, such as a little anxiety during a sesssion, or some sleeplessness that first night, or a little more irritability or pain.

This is unusual, but it sometimes happens, and it means that your brain is working to rebalance those brainwave patterns, but it's not done yet.

Most clients really enjoy and look forward to their sessions. They often feel it's their opportunity to really relax and be at peace with themselves. And they feel great afterwards!

Are the Results Permanent?
Much like learning to read, once your brain has created the patterns and pathways for it, it can't not know how to do it. The effects can be affected by stress, an accident, anaesthesia, chemicals or alcohol, but usually you can easily get back to your optimal level of flow and functioning in just a couple of sessions.