Addictions • Chronic Pain • Sleep Disorders • Memory
Focus • Concentration • Depression • Anxiety • ADD/ADHD
Hyperactivity • Impulsivity Language & Central Auditory Processing Disorders
Dyslexia • Cerebral Palsy • Conduct Disorders/Other Behavioral Problems
PDD • Autism • Aspergers Syndrome Tourettes • OCD
Head Injuries • Sports Injuries

Gay Larned, Ph.D., Talks About Neurofeedback and Dual Diagnoses. Dr. Larned has been a leader and educator in the field of drug-free programs for serious neurological disorders. She has found that neurofeedback is the safest and most effective way to restore a balanced brain, especially when there are co-occurring disorders, because neurofeedback 'retrains' the entire cortex Dr. Gay Larned Dr. Gay Larned is a neuropsychotherapist, Ericksonian Hypnotherapist and Board Certified Neurofeedback Trainer. In private practice for over 35 years, Dr. Larned has found that neurofeedback is particularly suited for dual diagnoses. She specializes in addictions, learning challenges, head injuries, memory loss, and other neurological disorders. Dr. Larned opened the Neurofeedback and Brain Rehabilitation Institute of Santa Barbara in 2006 - a center for neurofeedback and other groundbreaking technologies from the neurosciences. She has taught neurofeedback, lectured, and conducted workshops at international conferences. "I use only the most advanced neurofeedback system available, exclusively from Canada, because they are ten years ahead of any other NF system." G.L. Over three decades ago findings from the neurosciences presented a safe, proven and low-cost EEG/brain technology called neurofeedback. This remarkable modality balances cortical functioning, rehabilitates addictive disorders, learning disabilities, concentration, memory, depression, anxiety, impulsivity, chronic pain, behavioral disorders and more. NEUROFEEDBACK TRAINING is non-invasive and drug-free and has been researched and well-documented for over 40 years. It's used widely outside the U.S., especially for addictions, reducing recidivism dramatically. The Menninger Clinic and the U.S. Military have used neurofeedback training since the 1970's. NASA uses neurofeedback for flight training. The brain is a self-regulating, self-renewing system. When given the right tools, it will correct itself easily and naturally.

Technology is dramatically altering our approach to addictions, learning challenges, head injuries, depression, anxiety, memory loss, sleep disorders, autism and other serious neurological disorders. NEUROFEEDBACK TRAINING deals with the source of the problems, not just their symptoms. It uses sophisticated EEG software with a laptop computer connected to a small encoding device, and small sensors placed on the head, to read the brain's energy levels. The brain is 'trained,' or reinforced, to make critical energy changes simply through the use of sounds and images in real time with the brain's activity. Through this training the brain is balanced and multiple symptoms disappear. Training time is short and the changes and improvements are permanent. NEUROFEEDBACK TRAINING is a cost-effective way to deal with many neurological problems called 'untreatable' as well as dual diagnoses/multiple disorders that can be 'rewired' or trained all at the same time. I made the leap from the behavioral sciences to today's high technology because it just made sense. • Addiction and Relapse Disorders are eliminated, or significantly reduced, for alcohol, cocaine, opiates, heroin, methamphedamines; cravings are replaced with a sense of self, identity, purpose, hope and goals. • ADD/ADHD and other learning and reading challenges make permanent improvements; youngsters calm down, focus, concentrate and study without drugs; sleep is regulated, along with greatly improved memory, comprehension and fluency. • Head injuries, general memory loss and 'fog brain' can be retrained for greatly improved functioning. • The symptoms of cerebral palsy, autism, Asperger's and PDD are dramatically improved. The Neurofeedback & Brain Rehabilitation Institute of Santa Barbara Gay Larned, Ph.D., Founder and Director doctorgay28@gmail.com • 805-448-2994

• The neurosciences are exploding with new technology. I switched from psychotherapy to neurofeedback as a modality for change because it offers the best drug-free intervention for learning disorders, behavioral problems, addiction recovery and other serious neurological disorders in adults and children, as well as multiple disorders.

• PET scans and MRIs let us see blood flow and oxygen levels in the brain; electroencephalographic (EEG) measurements show us the brain's electrical activity and energy. It’s from these findings that we’re able to develop the cutting edge and drug-free approaches to neurological disorders that we now have.

• Neurofeedback has been the most important innovation to date. It is a major technological breakthrough that lets us normalize electrical activity in the neural pathways. Neurofeedback is the leading edge of brain technology.

---

What is neurofeedback and how long has it been in use?
• Neurofeedback has been researched since the 1970's and used in clinical settings since the 1980's.
• Neurofeedback is a very advanced form of biofeedback. Biofeedback, however, only treats the frontal part of the brain where heart rate, breathing and body temperature are regulated. NEUROFEEDBACK TRAINING literally 'rewires' the entire neural cortex, including the brain stem.
• The results achieved using neurofeedback training for neurological disorders are supported by decades of research and scores of published articles.

How is neurofeedback used and what conditions can be helped -- How Is Neurofeedback Done?
• Neurofeedback is a completely safe and non-invasive technique. Sensors are placed on both sides of the head to measure the brain's electrical activity. This information is fed into a computer and sophisticated EEG software analyzes the data and 'retrains' the brain to generate new neural pathways with more energy and efficiency. Nothing electrical goes into the brain or the head. Neurofeedback uses operant conditioning through images and tones that 'cue' the brain and teach it to shape critical changes. Symptoms disappear as clusters of healthy neural pathways develop. I also use computer games and DVDs to achieve results. And youngsters love coming back.

• The list of uses for neurofeedback is long. In children neurofeedback is used for language and central auditory processing disorders, ADD, hyperactivity, dyslexia, struggling readers, focus, concentration, memory, comprehension, fluency, impulsivity, conduct disorders, cerebral palsy, autism, Aspergers Syndrome, PDD (Pervasive Developmental Delay), Tourettes Syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder, sleep disorders, depression, anxiety, closed head injuries (TBIs) and phobias. In adults neurofeedback is used for ADD, anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, pain control, motor and sensory disorders, chronic tension headaches, alcoholism and other addictions. Peak performance trains memory and improves overall performance and sports excellence.

Why did I become a neurofeedback therapist?
• I had a successful family therapy practice for many years but noticed increasing numbers of children on drugs for learning disorders and behavioral problems. The number of children and adolescents taking toxic psychiatric drugs has more than tripled since 1987. Children are also prescribed these medications for longer periods of time and at younger ages. In addition, the age group of children on drugs has changed dramatically. In 1987 children age 5 to 9 were most likely to be taking Ritalin or other stimulants but by 1996 pre-teens to young adults were most frequently taking these drugs.

• Stimulants like Ritalin, as well as anti-psychotic and anti-seizure medications, are prescribed for a collection of symptoms called ADD/ADHD (Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder). These amphetamines, or speed, along with other powerful drugs were never intended for children. They treat only the symptoms, not the underlying problem ~ a disruption of electrical energy in the neural cortex. These drugs can also have serious side effects such as stomach and sleep disorders, stunted growth and seizure disorder. And they could affect a youngster's career ~ you can't become an airline pilot if you've been on Ritalin.

Do pediatricians, neurologists or child psychiatrists use neurofeedback?
• Pediatric neurologists aren't aware of this breakthrough EEG technology. And, in spite of reams of research, educational specialists and centers for neurological disorders describe neurofeedback as experimental. Nothing could be further from the truth. Lasting breakthroughs have been going on for decades with neurofeedback.

If neurofeedback is so successful and effective, why don’t doctors use it? Is it used in the schools?
• Medical students are taught the ‘medical model’ in school, which diagnoses symptoms and prescribes drugs. The insurance industry doesn't let physicians explore other technologies despite proven effectiveness. Neurofeedback could easily be used in schools. One such program in a New York school district demonstrated a savings of $500,000 in special education costs; yet teachers were afraid of losing jobs and the program ended. Studies show that pediatricians and child psychiatrists have increasingly turned to pharmacology as the treatment of choice for depression, anxiety, attention disorder, obsessive-compulsives disorders and addictions.

How long is neurofeedback/EEG training? How long do the changes last?
• I see children as young as 2 years old. Central auditory and language processing disorders, ADD/ADHD, focus, concentration, memory, and behavioral disorders generally take 15–20 sessions. Each session lasts about an hour. More serious neurological disorders take longer and results vary. The changes that are achieved, however, are permanent. When new neural pathways are created they stay in place ~ once you learn how to ride a bike you always know how to ride one.

What about individuals and families who aren't near Santa Barbara?
• There are two home-based programs available through my website at www.readingresource.net. These programs have specifically patented devices that can 'rewire' critical areas of the brain for increased energy and focus and can be used in the home. One home program is for dyslexia and struggling readers and helps kids attain grade level reading and fluency skills. The second home-based program relieves chronic tension and migraine headaches by making changes in the 'fright and flight,' or limbic, center of the brain.

• Three and Five-day intensive neurofeedback programs for out-of-towners are available.

Call 805-448-2994 or email doctorgay28@gmail.com