More About Our Integrative Therapy

In each of us, our bodies, brains, minds and emotions are all linked at the most basic levels of cause and effect. When something happens in one, something will change in all the others...almost instantaneously.

We’ve all experienced it. We look up and see flashing lights in the rear view mirror. Our mind thinks, “Oh no! What have I done?” Instantly, we feel the emotions of shock and fear. Our throats constrict, we find it hard to breath and many of us feel nausea. Our minds race, searching frantically for what we may have done wrong. Then the patrol car passes us in pursuit of some other driver.

In this example, deep within our brains, our minds interpret the flashing lights as big trouble. Our brains respond to that mental interpretation by biologically creating gut-wrenching emotional and physical responses to prepare us for an impending crisis. Then our minds are alarmed again but this time, not by the police car but by the harsh emotional and physical feelings we are experiencing inside. In an instant, the emotional and physical responses cycle again even more intensely.

The response cycle demonstrated above can be invoked by many things: chronic pain, depression, illness, injury, trouble sleeping, anger, disappointment, poor performance in any area of life. Many of the problems that we all face day-to-day result in, or are a part of these linked effects throughout all our internal systems.

The intertwining influences the body, brain, mind, and emotions have on one another (as demonstrated in the example above) are actually designed to protect us from physical harm. But this phenomenon also offers us what is perhaps our most powerful internal key for healing and developmental growth, as well.

That key is that we are not confined to a single therapeutic pathway for helping to overcome problems in any of our interconnected, internal systems. Our experience at Austin Biofeedback and EEG Neurofeedback Center teaches us that the best outcomes are achieved by approaching problems from not just one, but from every appropriate pathway available to us.

For example: One child with ADHD may be medicated to dull his symptoms or receive EEG neurofeedback therapy to help retrain his brain. A second child with the same symptoms may also receive EEG neurofeedback therapy, but in addition, this child may also receive biofeedback training to give him ways to control his fidgeting or other troubling physical symptoms.

His parents may receive nutritional counseling so they can avoid giving the child foods that exacerbate ADHD. They may also learn about foods and supplements they can provide to help reduce symptoms. The child may receive additional therapy to help him overcome the self doubt, social problems and other concerns that often accompany ADHD.

In terms of achieving positive outcomes, the comprehensive, integrative therapy received by the second child gives him a distinct advantage over the first. At Austin Biofeedback and EEG Neurofeedback Center, this kind of comprehensive, integrative approach to problem solving is what we provide.