Our practice is located at 145 King William Road, Hyde Park, SA 5061 (see map). The formation of Brain Clinics is motivated by the fact that many of the symptoms of psychological disorder result directly from a dysregulation of the underlying brain, with the underlying disorder not effectively treatable via standard psychological therapies. Thus, whilst psychological therapies may help address the consequences of underlying dysregulation on mental function, they don’t really resolve the underlying problem. Neurotherapy in our view offers a more viable approach for the latter. In many cases both forms of treatment are needed and this is the approach offered by Brain Clinics.
Neurotherapy works by harnessing the natural plasticity of the brain – its ability to learn and adapt to the world, from childhood through to older adult age. There are many brain networks critical to neuroplasticity, working beneath the mind to shape the content of conscious awareness.
Dysregulation of these networks can result from a myriad of factors – such as genetic predisposition, negative life experience, and hindered brain development. Such dysregulation will detrimentally affect how the brain processes our experiences, in ways the conscious mind can’t control. This shapes how we interpret events, how we regulate behaviour, our ability to learn and remember, and the quality of our emotions and feelings.
Neurotherapy is a drug free treatment that directly targets brain function, seeking to identify and reverse underlying dysregulation. Treatment is based on individualised assessment of brain (qEEG), neuropsychological and emotional function.
Relationship between neurotherapy and psychotherapy
Conventional psychological interventions involve talk that focuses on beliefs, values, associations and choices – the world of thoughts and images. Neurotherapy focuses on the brain – the world of neurons and networks. In many conditions, intervention is needed for both to resolve both brain dysregulation and dysfunctional thoughts and feelings that emerge as a result. Neurotherapy & psychotherapy work in active partnership.
Neurotherapy and psychoactive medications
The conventional way of dealing with brain dysregulation is by medication. However, this is a relatively non-specific approach, often with side-effects. Further, the effects of medication are usually only temporary.
Both medications and neurotherapy work in changing the underlying processing of the brain, aiming to improve feelings, emotions and cognitive function. Psychoactive medications are designed to produce temporary change which reverses once stopped, though may lose effectiveness with long-term use. Because neurotherapy is based on a quantified assessment of brain activity, it targets brain dysregulation specific to symptoms and can produce long-lasting change without side effects. Slow withdrawal (titration) from medication under medical supervision can be considered following successful neurotherapeutic outcome.