At FamilyTime Center, we understand that trauma affects individuals in unique ways and that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to healing. That's why we take a holistic approach to trauma-based therapy, focusing on a range of evidence-based treatments that address the mind, body, and spirit. We specialize in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Neurofeedback, Somatic Therapy, and other types of trauma-based approaches.

By addressing trauma from multiple angles, we provide our clients with the tools and support they need to heal and thrive. We believe in empowering individuals to access their innate capacity to heal and build resilience. Our trauma-based therapy programs are designed to help individuals reclaim their sense of safety, connection, and purpose, and move towards a brighter, more fulfilling future.

Trauma services offered in Valley Village, Los Angeles, CA

Trauma is a prevalent problem — around 70% of Americans experience some type of traumatic event during their lives. At FamilyTime Centers, located in the Valley Village area of Los Angeles and in Inglewood, California, Ronald Kaufman, PsyD, diagnoses trauma and offers personalized treatment plans to help you learn to cope with your memories, emotions, and thoughts. Don't let trauma continue to disrupt your life. Call FamilyTime Centers or make an appointment online today.

PTSD causes four specific categories of symptoms:

1. Intrusive thoughts: unwanted and distressing memories, nightmares, or flashbacks of the traumatic event.

2. Avoidance behaviors: avoiding situations, people, or places that might trigger traumatic memories.

3. Alterations in cognitive processes and moods: negative thoughts, mood swings, irritability, and difficulty concentrating.

4. Increased reactivity and arousal: hyper-vigilance, easily startled, and difficulty sleeping.

Traumatic Stress Disorder

Traumatic stress disorder is a broad term that refers to the emotional and psychological response to trauma. It is not limited to those with PTSD, but also includes people who have experienced developmental trauma, complex trauma, and trauma history of other forms of trauma that may not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD.

Symptoms of traumatic stress disorder can include intense emotions, angry outbursts, physical sensations like muscle tension, and difficulty managing day-to-day activities. If post traumatic stress disorder is left untreated, these symptoms can lead to a constant state of stress and anxiety, reducing one's overall quality of life.

Neurofeedback Therapy For PTSD: Does It Work & Is It Safe?

Neurofeedback therapy for PTSD has proven effective and safe. Since the 1980s the Drake Institute uses neurofeedback to treat anxiety, mania and other generalized anxiety. Tell me the mechanism? Neurofeedback training can help patients utilize mind-body connection for deep relaxation. Neurofeed back treatment allows patients to detect symptoms such as anxiety symptoms and to "shift" brain activity to a healthier state for symptom-free behavior.

Neurofeedback Therapy for Trauma: Understanding PTSD and Traumatic Stress Disorder

Trauma is a common experience that can affect people from all walks of life. It refers to the emotional and psychological response to a dangerous or life-threatening event that can cause significant distress and interfere with daily life. According to the National Center for PTSD, about 60% of men and 50% of women experience at least one traumatic event in their lifetime, with around 7-8% of the population developing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

At FamilyTime Centers, located in the Valley Village area of Los Angeles and in Inglewood, California, Dr. Ronald Kaufman offers comprehensive assessment, trauma therapy, and personalized treatment plans to help individuals cope with the effects of trauma. In this blog post, we'll explore PTSD, traumatic stress disorder, and the benefits of neurofeedback therapy for trauma.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

PTSD is a specific type of trauma that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. While nearly everyone experiences trauma symptoms after living through or witnessing a life-threatening event, those symptoms often decrease over time. However, PTSD symptoms usually emerge several weeks or even months after the traumatic event and can persist for years if original trauma is left untreated.

Neurofeedback Therapy for Trauma

Neurofeedback therapy is a non-invasive and effective form of therapy that has been shown to help individuals with trauma and anxiety-related symptoms. This therapy aims to improve brain function by targeting specific brain waves that are linked to trauma symptoms, such as alpha and theta waves.

Neurofeedback training involves placing sensors on the scalp to monitor brain activity while the individual is engaged in an activity, such as watching a movie or playing a game. The sensors provide real-time feedback on the individual's brain waves, allowing them to learn how to regulate their brain activity and enter a healthier state.

Neurofeedback therapy can also help individuals with PTSD by improving their information processing abilities and reducing anxiety. This therapy has been shown to be particularly effective for those with dysregulated brain activity and neural pathways due to brain trauma.

At FamilyTime Centers, Dr. Kaufman combines elements of clinical practice of psychotherapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and neurofeedback therapy to address each individual's unique needs. He also assigns homework and recommends lifestyle modifications, such as improving diet and exercise habits, to enhance overall wellness.

What types of neurofeedback therapy are helpful for trauma or PTSD?

Neurofeedback can be defined in terms of various kinds of brain waves training. Neurofeedback appears to be a particularly effective technique when treating trauma.

Research on Neurofeedback Therapy for Trauma

Several studies have explored the effectiveness of neurofeedback therapy for treating PTSD and traumatic stress disorder. In a study published in the Journal of Traumatic Stress, a group of PTSD patients who received neurofeedback therapy showed significant improvement in PTSD symptoms compared to a control group who did not receive any neurofeedback treatment or therapy.

Research on the effectiveness of neurofeedback therapy for PTSD is still in its early stages, but initial studies have shown promising results. One study compared the outcomes of PTSD patients who received neurofeedback therapy to a control group who did not receive the therapy. The study found that the patients who received neurofeedback therapy showed significant improvement in PTSD symptoms compared to the control group who did not receive the therapy.

Another study evaluated the effectiveness of neurofeedback therapy for PTSD in veterans. The study found that the veterans who received neurofeedback therapy had significant improvements in their PTSD symptoms, including decreased levels of anxiety and depression. The study also showed that the veterans who received neurofeedback therapy had improvements in their brain function, including increased activity in the prefrontal cortex and decreased activity in the amygdala.

Neurofeedback therapy has also been shown to be effective in treating other types of trauma, such as developmental and trauma patients and complex trauma. A study on the use of neurofeedback therapy for developmental and trauma patients found that it was effective in improving emotional regulation and reducing symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and dissociation. Another study found that neurofeedback therapy was effective in reducing symptoms of complex trauma, such as intense emotions and difficulty with daily activities.

In addition to reducing symptoms, neurofeedback therapy can also lead to healthier brain function. By using brain cells and training the brain to regulate itself, neurofeedback therapy can strengthen neural pathways and improve information processing, leading to better brain activity and overall mental health.

Neurofeedback therapy is a non-invasive and effective form of therapy that can help individuals who have experienced trauma, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional and developmental trauma, child abuse,, and other traumatic events. By improving brain function, neurofeedback therapy can help individuals gain greater control over their emotions, reduce symptoms of trauma, and improve their overall quality of life.

Trauma is a prevalent problem that can have significant impacts on mental and physical health. PTSD and other trauma-related disorders can be debilitating, affecting daily life and overall well-being. While talk therapy and medication can be effective in treating trauma, neurofeedback therapy offers a non-invasive and effective alternative treatment.

Research has shown that neurofeedback therapy can be an effective treatment for PTSD and other types of trauma. By training the brain to regulate itself, neurofeedback therapy can improve brain function, reduce symptoms of trauma, and lead to a healthier state of mind.

If you or someone you know has experienced trauma, including PTSD or other trauma-related disorders, consider seeking help from a qualified mental health professional who offers neurofeedback therapy. With the right treatment, it is possible to overcome the effects of trauma and live a fulfilling life.

Experimental Programs in Neurofeedback for Treating Trauma

There are very few discussions of AlphaTheta training without referring to Eugene Peniston. Beginning in 1979 Peniston used a multimodal protocol developed by the Menninger foundation for the treatment and prevention of alcohol in Vietnam Veterans Centers in Flovina, Colorado. The protocols included pretraining in Temperature Biofeedback and a 30 Alpha-Thea training session based on script-based guided images. Suggestions of relaxing induction followed specific suggestions of behavior changes like alcohol rejection and anger management (Peniston and Kulkosky 1989).

Trauma Q & A

What is trauma?

Trauma is the response to a dangerous or life-threatening experience. It interferes with your ability to function in your daily life, reducing your capacity to cope with stress and other stimuli. In addition to affecting your mental health, trauma also contributes to physical health issues such as heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension.

Everyone responds to traumatic events differently. Some of the experiences that can cause trauma include:

• Physical or emotional abuse

• Personal or sexual assault 

• Childhood neglect

• Natural disasters

• Automobile accidents

• Active shooter situations

• Military combat

You can also experience trauma after witnessing one of these events.

Is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) different from trauma?

PTSD is a specific type of trauma. While nearly everyone experiences trauma symptoms after living through or witnessing a life-threatening event, those symptoms often decrease over time. 

PTSD symptoms usually emerge several weeks or even months after the traumatic event. Additionally, PTSD causes four specific categories of symptoms: intrusive thoughts, avoidance behaviors, alterations in cognitive processes and moods, and increased reactivity and arousal. 

How does Trauma Change the brain?

Trauma can destroy an underlying sense of security and stabilize the amygdala. Amygdalas are parts of our limbic system which responds most primarily to basic signals about fear and safety. Here memory is preserved as lived experience containing feelings and physical feelings that are unlikely to be related by logical stories. Talk therapy reaches into our prefrontal cortex and communicates with limbic systems, but not with the prefrontal cortex.

When should I talk to a psychologist about trauma?

It would help if you considered seeking psychological treatment after a traumatic experience, whether you have symptoms or not. Taking time to tend to your mental and emotional health could help you avoid or reduce future issues. 

Additionally, you should make an appointment with Dr. Kaufman at FamilyTime Centers if you have trauma symptoms that interfere with your life. A typical trauma symptom is feeling like you deserve to live with negative thoughts or situations, but this is not the case. Help is available. 

What is neurofeedback therapy?

Neurofeedback is an evidenced-based non-invasive therapy that encourages healthy mental functioning via brainwave training. The human brain is connected through electrical signals, commonly called brainwaves. Normal brain waves are disrupted when traumatic experiences occur, which leads to the patient settling into unhealthy patterns in the brain. Neurofeedback helps the brain develop a healthy pattern and a healthy response, called neuroplasticity.

How does neurofeedback work?

When an individual reaches healthier brain wave levels the brain gets rewarded with pleasant music and videos. Like all animals, the brain always seeks rewards. During a one-time neurofeedback session, brains are allowed multiple opportunities for self correction and reward in return. Since neurofeedback allows patients to talk about their past experiences, they can relax and re-use their brains. However, the patient needs to consult with their mental health provider if associations, memories or emotions are made during or after sessions.

How Neurofeedback can help with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Neurofeedback has been widely employed to treat PTSD since the 1980s. This 1991 research compared two types of Vietnamese veterans with PTSD – one received Neurofeedback Brain Training and one did not. Neurofeedback showed considerably lower symptoms. 2.5 years after training PTSD symptoms remained with 20% of the Neurofeedback Group and 90% of the Control Group. The paper from 2009 discusses 2 other cases - military Canadian veterans of the Bosnian conflicts and a military Canadian veterans of Iraq.

Why is Central Nervous System Regulation Important?

The central nervous system plays an essential role in a healthy body and mental state. Its many functions are closely linked with daily life. This CNS regulates several vital functions including breathing and heart rate. They aren't possible without conscious action, and our system controls them. It's a two way system. Your brain does send commands in order to control your body and it also receives feedback from your spine.

Does neurofeedback therapy help with trauma? What's the evidence?

Neurofeedback has helped to help people shift their hyper agitated states to calmer states in order to feel more comfortable in life situations and respond more to everyday situations. There is evidence that neurofeedback is a useful technique in treating anxiety symptoms. It is believed that neurofeedback can improve PTSD brain functions using fMRI imaging techniques. A major increase in symptoms has also occurred in many studies. Statistically neurofeedback is more effective and safe than other medications to treat PTSD.

 

New treatments for calling the brain & Body after trauma

When we ask people to relax and think better it can alter their entire body response to trauma. We must find treatments of trauma which heal brains as well as body biological systems. Traditional treatments for PTSD have helped to relieve traumatic stress disorder more effectively by using conversation or reasoning instead of merely describing the events. A promising treatment that calms your mind and helps you to reach deeper levels in your brain.

How is trauma treated?

At FamilyTime Centers, Dr. Kaufman begins with a comprehensive assessment of your condition. This evaluation allows him to understand your needs and tailor a treatment program to address them. 

While each program is unique, Dr. Kaufman often does talk therapy that combines elements of psychotherapy, BrainPaint® neurofeedback, and eye movement desensitization and reprogramming (EMDR). Dr. Kaufman explains your treatment program and answers your questions, so you know what to expect.

He might also assign homework and recommend lifestyle modifications. Improving your diet and exercise habits can enhance your overall wellness, making it easier to cope with your symptoms. 

If trauma interferes with your life, call FamilyTime Centers today or make an appointment online for expert help.

How Does Neurofeedback Therapy Compare To Drug-Based Treatments?

PTSD is usually treated using prescription drugs. Although some medications may be useful to some people, results may last longer if not taken anymore. Besides that, patients can experience adverse side effects which are sometimes worsening. Although neurofeedback therapy for PTSD has no invasive effects, it does have minimal adverse reactions and its toxicity is low. Neurofeedback therapy helps relieve symptoms from trauma and depression and provides a safer alternative to traditional therapy for anxiety, depression and anxiety.

Neurofeedback Treatment: How does it work?

At a typical appointment, treatment takes between 30-45 minutes. All the appointments take place when the patient sits in the chair or takes part in activities. There are several types of therapy for this issue. Several sessions include audiovisual entertainment, while others contain lecture exercises. During the treatment, the cap has electrodes placed inside the skull to prevent any damage. The electrode measures your mental performance, allowing you to record its findings during treatment. Neurofeedback is an exercise that aims at improving your mind's health. During therapy, you can hear and see sound and sensory stimuli.

What are the different brainwaves during neurofeedback training

Neurofeedback therapy utilizes the natural communication of brain cells to improve brain function and reduce symptoms related to trauma. One approach is through alpha theta training, which focuses on the alpha and theta brain waves. These waves are just a few of the different brainwaves that neurofeedback training can target to help regulate and optimize brain function. By understanding how these different brainwaves work and their effects on the nervous system, we can better understand the potential benefits of neurofeedback therapy in treating trauma.

In this section, we will be discussing the different brainwaves that are involved in neurofeedback training and how they affect the treatment of trauma. Specifically, we will be focusing on Gamma Brainwaves, Beta, Alpha, Theta, Alpha Theta, and Delta. For each of these brain waves, we will delve into their scientific characteristics and how they play a role in the process of neurofeedback therapy for individuals with a history of trauma. Additionally, we will examine the effectiveness of alpha theta training in treating trauma-related symptoms. So, let's explore each brain wave in more detail.

Gamma Brainwaves in Neurofeedback Training for Trauma Treatment

Gamma brainwaves are the fastest brainwaves and occur between 30 to 100 Hz. They are associated with higher mental processing, including problem-solving and cognitive flexibility. Research suggests that Gamma brainwaves are linked to feelings of happiness and compassion.

Beta Brainwaves in Neurofeedback Training for Trauma Treatment

Beta brainwaves are the fastest brainwaves when you are awake, ranging from 12 to 38 Hz. They are associated with heightened alertness and are linked to anxiety and stress. With trauma treatment, individuals with high levels of beta activity may benefit from neurofeedback training that aims to decrease beta waves.

Alpha Brainwaves in Neurofeedback Training for Trauma Treatment

Alpha brainwaves are slower than beta brainwaves and range from 8 to 12 Hz. Alpha waves are linked to a state of relaxation and are associated with creativity and concentration. During neurofeedback training, individuals may learn to increase alpha waves in order to promote feelings of calmness.

Theta Brainwaves in Neurofeedback Training for Trauma Treatment

Theta brainwaves are slow and range from 4 to 8 Hz. They are linked to deep relaxation and are associated with creativity and intuition. In neurofeedback training, increasing theta waves may be beneficial for individuals who struggle with sleep issues or anxiety.

Alpha Theta Brainwaves in Neurofeedback Training for Trauma Treatment

Alpha theta brainwaves are a combination of alpha and theta brainwaves. This type of neurofeedback training can be effective in treating trauma as it helps individuals access their subconscious mind and process unresolved emotions and memories.

Delta Brainwaves in Neurofeedback Training for Trauma Treatment

Delta brainwaves are the slowest brainwaves, occurring below 4 Hz. They are associated with deep sleep and unconscious states. Delta waves are linked to physical healing, which is why they are often increased during neurofeedback training for individuals with physical trauma.

In conclusion, understanding the different brainwaves during neurofeedback training is crucial in treating trauma effectively. Neurofeedback training can help individuals learn to regulate their brain activity and promote a sense of calmness and relaxation. By focusing on specific brainwaves, individuals can learn to regulate their emotional states and work through unresolved traumas.

At our trauma therapy center in Los Angeles, we offer a comprehensive range of treatments to help individuals struggling with PTSD and trauma-related issues. Our facility provides cutting-edge therapies, including brain mapping therapy for trauma and neurofeedback therapy in 91607, specifically designed to address the unique needs of trauma survivors. With a focus on neuroptimal feedback and understanding how brain cells communicate, our dedicated team of professionals is committed to helping you resolve past painful memories.

Whether you're searching for PTSD treatment facilities in Los Angeles, brain mapping therapy for trauma, neurofeedback therapy in 91607, or neuroptimal feedback in Los Angeles, our center is here to support your healing journey. Contact us today to learn more about our services and take the first step towards a brighter, trauma-free future.