- 7 mins
It's that time of year when a new school year is starting and parents and teachers are looking for ideas to help kids with back to school stress and anxiety. In this article NYC psychotherapist, child therapy specialist, and Certified NeurOptimal® Trainer, Alison Pepper, LCSW, explains how neurofeedback training in conjunction with therapy can be a powerful support for kids to reduce their back-to-school fears and help with classroom performance. The goal: for students to ease into a new school year with more confidence and focus.
What are the signs of Stress in a child?
Going back to school can be a very stressful time. Your child or teenager may experience sleepless nights, worrying thoughts and be more nervous than usual. If your child is feeling anxious about going back to school, some signs to look out for are; regression in maturity, bedwetting, nightmares, as well as acting out (yelling, fighting, door slamming). The stress of a new school year, new teacher, and new classmates can be overwhelming for many children. Neurofeedback training or therapy – or both – can help.
Read Also: Stop Worrying; 5 Brain Training Tools To Manage Stress
How Does Neurofeedback help Coping With Stress?
Neurofeedback is a noninvasive holistic brain training that helps build resilience and flexibility. At Neurofeedback Training Co., we use the NeurOptimal® Advanced Brain Training Systems developed by Zengar Institute. It works by training the brain to use present moment information to decide what to do next, rather than old, often out-of-date information. Rooted in technology, designed by clinical psychologists and developed in part by NASA-level engineers, the NeurOptimal® neurofeedback system works by triggering the orienting response, which is the brain’s ability to sense a change in the environment and take in new information about what is different millisecond by millisecond.
When we are in an anxious state, much of our suffering comes from pervasive recurring thoughts and feelings in which our minds (our automatic-functioning-brain) become emotionally stranded or cognitively “stuck”. Neurofeedback prompts the brain to draw from its existing resources and pull itself out of these mental “ruts”. The result is a more open and positive mindset in which obstacles are more manageable and problems more resolvable.
Much like physical training for the body, neurofeedback training is a workout for the brain. It can be one of the most effective ways at helping the brain stay out of the fight or flight response and stay in a more open, calm, focused, and resilient state.
Want to learn more about Neurofeedback? Watch this video to learn what happens in a NeurOptimal® neurofeedback session.
How does Neurofeedback and Therapy work together?
At our NYC Neurofeedback Clinic, neurofeedback can also be combined with talk therapy. By combining the two, one gets the supportive holding environment of working with a therapist as well as the powerful brain training effects of neurofeedback. Neurofeedback will keep the central nervous system regulated and out of the fight or flight response to benefit most from the learning and processing taking place with the conscious brain in the therapy session.
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Is Neurofeedback Effective? Read Latest Client Reviews
What if my child needs therapy? Learn the Different Types of Therapy for Children
Therapy can be a safe space for kids to process thoughts and feelings. It is unique and different for every person, child or adult. It is also important for parents to remember that therapy for kids is not the same as psychotherapy for adults. How so? Because a child's main language is play and children learn and communicate through play therapy a therapy session for a child will also include other nonverbal modalities like play therapy, dance therapy, bibliotherapy, art therapy, music therapy, and nature therapy. Many children and teens have problems that affect how they feel, act, or learn and the therapeutic space, or playroom, can be a safe place for children of all ages to explore thoughts and feelings in a creative way. The sessions vary; your child's therapy session might be loud and messy and the next session may be quiet and still. When it comes to therapy for children, there is space for everyone and everything in a playroom. All are welcome; all parts of a family and child are welcomed and allowed to express oneself during a therapy session.
See Also:
Mindfulness and Parenting: How Neurofeedback Helps Parents Be More Flexible and Resilient
How can Neurofeedback Help Your Kid? Talk to a Neurofeedback Trainer Coach
To learn more how neurofeedback and or therapy could help you and your family in New York City this back to school season. Contact us to set up a session or schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation.
