Common questions people ask before getting started

You are probably here because something in your life is not working the way you want it to — anxiety that has not budged, ADHD or focus difficulties, the aftermath of trauma, depression that has been hard to shift, concussion or brain injury, sleep that does not restore, relational patterns that keep repeating, or emotional reactions that feel out of proportion. These are all things the methods I use can help with.

If you have tried other methods without success, if you do not want to rely on medication, or if you are chronically overwhelmed and don't know how to calm your nervous system down — these all point to being a right fit. If you are unsure which treatment approach fits your situation, a free 15-minute conversation is an easy way to figure that out together.

Most talk therapy works at the level of insight — understanding why you do what you do. That can be valuable, and for many patterns it is enough. For some, it is not. Understanding why a pattern keeps happening is different from actually supporting restoration of the nervous system. IFS works at deep psychological layers: processing and releasing the stuck psychological patterns on an experiential level, rather than just talking about them and understanding where they come from. Neurofeedback works at a layer talk therapy cannot reach directly — the brain's electrical patterns that influence whether settling, focusing, or staying present is even available to you. If previous therapy left you with insight but not change, these elements may be what were missing.

Yes. Neurofeedback is non-invasive — the sensors placed on your scalp read the electrical activity your brain produces, the way a thermometer reads temperature. No electricity or current enters the brain, the sensors only receive the signal from the brain. There are no known serious side effects, and the method has been used clinically for decades. Most people notice mild fatigue or a brief sensation of “pressure” on the head, which typically resolves after the initial sessions as the brain adjusts to the new feedback. Other effects can occur, but are individual specific — a part of the brain's reorganization process — consideration of which is built into the treatment process. If you have specific concerns about your situation, the free 15-minute consultation is the right place to raise them.

Yes — the same safety profile described above applies to children. The sensors only read the brain's electrical activity; nothing enters the brain. A child doesn't need to talk about their feelings or explain what is wrong for the training to work — they sit comfortably and watch a screen while the training runs. Neurofeedback is commonly used with children and teens, particularly around focus, learning difficulties, and emotional regulation. If you have questions about your child's specific situation, the free 15-minute consultation is the right place to ask them.

Honestly, it varies. Some people notice shifts within the first few sessions — sleeping more deeply, less reactive to the usual triggers, a quieter mind. Others notice gradual changes over several weeks that they only see clearly when they look back. For neurofeedback, many clients notice something within the first 5-10 sessions, though some take longer depending on what the nervous system is working through. For IFS, the timeline depends on the depth of the work and the specific situation. There are occasions where both a psychological and a neurological approach are needed to support nervous system release, which is what the Neuro-IFS approach is for. A more useful framing than “how fast” is “what would tell you it is working” — this is worth talking through on the consultation call.

Weekly is standard, and that is what most people start with — for IFS therapy, neurofeedback, or the Neuro-IFS Integration format. Frequency can be adjusted as the work progresses or as schedules require. Some clients move to every other week once the early work has settled in. For some clients it is indicated to meet twice a week, particularly for neurofeedback with individuals who are struggling with complex situations. The right cadence depends on what you are working on and what your life can accommodate.

Yes — and for many people, that is the most useful way to do this work. You can run them as separate weekly sessions, or do them together in the Neuro-IFS Integration format, which combines both into a single two-hour session. The integration format is designed for people who want concentrated, deeper progress — the neurofeedback hour settles the nervous system first, and the IFS hour that follows lands in a more receptive system. Many clients do both in whatever sequence makes sense for their situation.

More about the Neuro-IFS Integration format

Amplitude training is protocol-based: it targets specific frequency bands at specific electrode sites, and the feedback rewards the brain as its activity moves toward those targets. Infra-low frequency (ILF) training works below those traditional bands, following the brain's slowest activity and gently shifting its baseline arousal state. In practice, amplitude training aims at defined targets, while ILF gives the nervous system room to find a more comfortable operating point — which of the two fits best depends on what your nervous system is showing and how it responds.

Yes. Physicians, psychologists, and therapists refer clients for neurofeedback in certain clinical situations — particularly when standard approaches have not produced the result the client was hoping for. If you are a professional considering a referral, or have questions about whether this work might fit a specific client, feel free to reach out directly.

The starting point is a free 15-minute consultation call — a way to ask questions, share your situation, and see if this is the right fit for you. You can book the consultation directly online, send me an email, call the phone number provided, or use the contact form on the site to get connected. On this call if you feel ready to move forward, we will find the time to schedule the first session.

The practice has offices in Ann Arbor, Plymouth, and Novi, Michigan. Specific office addresses can be found on the contact page. IFS therapy sessions are also available by video for clients who prefer a remote format or live outside Southeast Michigan — the IFS work is effective regardless of whether it is in-person or virtual. Neurofeedback sessions are in-person only, since the sensors and equipment require it.