Neurofeedback Training Course

Course Description

The introductory level training provides the participants with the knowledge and practical skills necessary to successfully integrate neurofeedback into their clinical practice. The training is also a necessary part of preparing the participants for Board Certification in Neurofeedback. 

This 36-hour neurofeedback training is accredited by Biofeedback Certification International Alliance (BCIA) and fulfills all the criteria of didactic training necessary for BCIA board certification in Neurofeedback. 

The training prepares its participants to immediately begin the practice of neurofeedback on the way to board certification. Neurofeedback is a powerful clinical tool that enables clinicians to successfully work with otherwise difficult to treat patients suffering from a variety of psychophysiological disorders. Neurofeedback has been empirically demonstrated to be an efficacious treatment of ADHD, epilepsy, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, autism, and many others.

Upcoming Dates and Times

October-December 2023

Dates: Weekly on Tuesdays (9 Weeks) from October 10th – December 5th, 2023

• October 10, 17, 24, 31
• November 7, 14, 21, 28
• December 5

Time: 10am-2:30pm ET (10-10:15 is a option review)

Location: Live on ZOOM

Languages: Live simultaneous translation into Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian

Costs

The cost for the October-December 2023 training is as follows:

United States: $1240 (if paid in full) and $1390 (in 4 installments)

Europe: $1090 (if paid in full) and $1250 (in 4 installments)

Latin America: $690 (if paid in full) and $840 (in 4 installments)

Discounts: 20% discount for students & groups of 3 or more from the same location

Scholarships: We offer 2 scholarships for each training. Contact us if you are interested in applying.

Have any questions or want more information?

Email us at info@bostoneurodynamics.com or call (617)-855-9295

Faculty

DIANA MARTINEZ, MD, PHD, LMCH, BCN

Co-Founder & Co-Director Boston NeuroDynamics ⋅ she/her ⋅  diana@bostonneurodynamics.com

MIRRET EL-HAGRASSY, MD

Assistant professor of neurology at UMass Medical School ⋅ she/her

Testimonials

“I learned a great deal from participating in this training. All of the instructors were wonderful, and well versed in their expertise. I appreciated that the instructors welcomed questions, and also provide opportunities for future learning and continued growth in neurofeedback through supervision. Due to COVID restrictions, the training was remote. In the future, I would like to also attend an in-person training that they host to integrate some hands-on learning as well…. I was new to neurofeedback when I signed up to participate in this training, as such most of the concepts specifically related to neurofeedback were new to me. I learned so much! I am excited to begin integrating neurofeedback into my practice and feel that this course gave me the foundation and confidence to do so.“

Course Guide

This document outlines a neurofeedback training course designed for clinicians seeking to acquire neurofeedback skills. The introductory level training provides the participants with the knowledge and practical skills necessary to successfully integrate neurofeedback into their clinical practice. The training is also a necessary part of preparing the participants for Board Certification in Neurofeedback.

This 36-hour neurofeedback training is accredited by Biofeedback Certification International Alliance (BCIA) and fulfills all the criteria of didactic training necessary for BCIA board certification in Neurofeedback.
The training prepares its participants to immediately begin the practice of neurofeedback on the way to board certification. Neurofeedback is a powerful clinical tool that enables clinicians to successfully work with otherwise difficult to treat patients suffering from a variety of psychophysiological disorders. Neurofeedback has been empirically demonstrated to be an efficacious treatment of ADHD, epilepsy, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, autism, and many others.

This training provides sufficient material so clinicians will gain:

• Knowledge the psychophysiological and electrical bases to understand the theory underlying neurofeedback
• Understanding of the conditions appropriate for neurofeedback treatment
• Familiarity with common assessments
• Understanding of different neurofeedback modalities
• Knowledge of the neurofeedback recording devices
• Practical experience to perform an effective neurofeedback session and assessments.

Learning objectives: To provide in-depth knowledge of the psychophysiology, electrical and neurofeedback training techniques required to perform neurofeedback training. This knowledge is crucial to effectively integrate and apply neurofeedback into the clinician’s practice. In particular:

1. Summarize the psychophysiological and electrical background as a basis to understand neurofeedback treatment
2. List the conditions appropriate for neurofeedback treatment.
3. Explain the theoretical knowledge of the different modalities and protocols and assess their appropriate use.
4. Demonstrate the ability to use neurofeedback equipment to successfully perform neurofeedback sessions and assessments.
5. Apply theoretical knowledge to implement both assessments and sessions.

For a complete list of learning objectives, please see Addendum 1.

BCIA-approved health care fields include: psychology, nursing, (including 2-year registered nurses with license; not LVNs or LPNs), physical therapy, occupational therapy, social work, counseling, rehabilitation, chiropractic, recreational therapy, physician’s assistant (with certification or license), exercise physiology, speech pathology, and sports medicine. The following fields require a master’s degree: music therapy and counseling education (M.Ed. in counseling). Appropriately credentialed doctors of medicine are also accepted. Degrees in health care fields other than those listed above must be submitted to the Certification Review Committee.

Boston NeuroDynamics and BCIA will consider requests for special review for the demonstration of equivalency for most of our requirements, including prerequisite education. However, degree review requests must be compared to a BCIA-approved clinical health care field.

This training consists of :

• 36-hours of didactic teaching, through a live, interactive in-person and online format
• Live demonstrations of practical skills
• All workshop materials provided in a PDF format
• Discussion group and exam review
• Official certificate of course completion
• Help with completing BCIA application

Credit hours: This workshop provides participants with the 36 didactic hours necessary for BCIA certification. These hours correspond to the BCIA blueprint requirements for each area of knowledge.

CE Credits: up to 36 CE credit hours are available through R. Cassidy. Evaluations and Certificates are available by email and online following course completion at www.ceuregistration.com

For more information about CE credits, see Addendum 2

Neurofeedback blueprint and hours:

I – Introduction (4 hours)
II – Anatomy and Physiology (4 hours)
III – Electricity (4 hours)
IV – Research and Protocols (2 hours)
V – Psychopharmacology (2 hours)
VI – Assessments (4 hours)
VII – Protocol Development (6 hours)
VIII – Treatment Implementation (6 hours)
IX – Trends (2 hours)
X – Ethics (2 hours)

Total: 10 units / 36 hours

Schedule and format: The October-December 2023 training will take place weekly on Tuesdays for 9 weeks from October 10, 2023 – December 5, 2023 virtually over ZOOM.

The schedule will be as follows:
10:00 – 10:15 Review/Q&A (optional)
10:15 – 12:00 Lecture
12:15 – 12:30 Break
12:30 – 2:30 Lecture

All times are in Eastern Time. This schedule may change slightly. 

While this is a virtual training, we are making it as interactive as possible. The majority of the presentations will be live, with options to ask questions, have conversations, and see each other. It will also include demonstrations and an optional review each week. This 36-hour training is sufficient to get BCIA accreditation.

A hands-on intermediate practicum, called “From Protocol Development to Conducting a Neurofeedback Session: Theory and Hands-on Practicum”, will be offered to supplement this training. The training is an intermediate neurofeedback course that will focus on the intricacies of performing neurofeedback sessions and theoretical knowledge of protocol development. It will be held in-person in June 2024 in Boston, MA (COVID permitting).

Location: Virtual over ZOOM. The link will be provided prior to the start date. All presentations will be emailed in a PDF file format.

Language: The sessions will be taught live in English, with real-time translation into Spanish and Portuguese. All presentation PDFs will be provided in English and Spanish.

Tuition and fees: Tuition for the training in October-December 2023 training is $1240 (if paid in full) and $1390 (in 4 installments). Separate costs are available for Europe and Latin America. An additional discount to students and groups will be given. In-house training may be arranged to train staff within an organization, with tuition negotiated separately, based on the number of attendees (minimum number applies).

Cancellation policy: All payments will be fully refunded if the cancellation is made 4 weeks prior to the training, with a $50 processing fee. Cancellations made less than 4 weeks, but more than 5 days before the training can be refunded at 50% or fully credited towards the next workshop. Cancellations made 5 days or fewer before class cannot be refunded or credited.

Disclosure Statement: There is no conflict of interset or commercial support for this program

Questions/Concerns: For questions or concerns, you can call us at (617) 855-9295 or email us at info@bostonneurodyanmics.com

Learning Objective (Addendum 1)

1A Introduction to Neurofeedback

1. List the different neuroimaging techniques
2. Define neurofeedback, its mechanism and uses
3. Name 4 assumptions related to neurofeedback

1B History and Development of Neurofeedback

1. Review the pioneers of neurofeedback
2. Describe the early clinical applications of neurofeedback 

1C Learning Theories and
Clinical Applications

1. Analyze and summarize classical conditioning and operant conditioning
2. Define important terms related to learning theories (secondary reinforcement, extinction, generalization, habituation, and shaping)

1D Arousal, Attention, EEG
and Neurofeedback

1. Define and identify arousal
2. Differentiate between the different types of arousal
3. Describe and analyze the relationship between arousal, attention, EEG and neurofeedback

1D Homeostasis, Allostasis, Feedback and Control Systems

1. Name two different feedback mechanism
2. Identify homeostasis and allostasis
3. Describe the physiological mechanisms of the stress response
4. Summarize the different types of stress mechanisms

2 Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology

1. Summarize the different parts of a neuron and their communication
2. List the three levels of the brain and their functioning
3. List the four lobes and their function
4. Describe how EEG is being generated
5. Define neuroplasticity and its role in NFB

3 International 10-20 System of Electrode Placement

1. Explain, use and apply the 10-20 electrode placement system
2. Demonstrate the ability to place electrodes according to the 10-20 system

3A Electricity and EEG

1. Explain the history and relevance of an EEG
2. Define and use the basic terms of electricity relevant to EEG
3. Describe the processing of electrical signals

3B Posterior Dominant Rhythm (PDR)

1. Describe the role of PDR
2. Identify PDR
3. Differentiate between normal and abnormal PDR
4. Measure PDR by using Minimaps as an assessment tool

3BC Montages

1. Summarize the different montages
2. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of the different montages
3. Compare and analyze the different montages and when to use them

3BC Artifacts

1. Identify a variety of artifacts in an EEG recording
2. Explain how to prevent and minimize artifacts

3C Band Widths and Wave Forms

1. Identify the different brain bandwidths and their functioning
2. Describe the connection between brain bandwidths and arousal
3. Summarize the different conditions of EEG

4 Research in Neurofeedback

1. Identify evidence-based research in neurofeedback
2. List the efficacy levels of NFB research
3. Demonstrate the ability to review a NFB research
4. List key research papers in neurofeedback
5. Describe clinical and research challenges in NFB

5 Psychopharmacology

1. Describe the effects of medications, drugs, alcohol and other substances on the brain and EEG
2. Explain the reward mechanism
3. Explain the physiological mechanism of substances

6 Client Assessment

1. Describe the importance of assessments
2. Summarize the different assessments for intake and ongoing sessions
3. Detect and address adverse reactions

Practicum: Arousal Assessment

1. Explain and demonstrate intake and assess the client’s arousal level
2. Create a NFB protocol based on different arousal assessments
3. Demonstrate the ability to perform a NFB session based on the arousal assessment protocol

Practicum: Minimap PDR

1. Explain the purpose of a minimap PDR
2. Demonstrate the ability to perform a minimap PDR
3. Interpret PDR data

7 Protocol Development

1. List four factors to take into account when defining a protocol
2. Describe how to accommodate client needs and practitioner’s experience when defining a protocol
3. List three factors needed to gather information
4. Select an appropriate treatment modality based on a variety of factors
5. Analyze a client case presentation

8 Treatment Implementation

1. Describe and demonstrate the role of a neurotherapist
2. Summarize alpha theta training
3. Explain the process of remote training and assess its pros and cons

Practicum: qEEG

1. Inspect the brain activity from a qEEG acquisition demonstration
2. Describe the steps to analyze the data
3. Create a NFB protocol based on a qEEG

Practicum: Running a Session

1. Explain and demonstrate the intake and assess the client’s arousal level
2. Demonstrate client’s preparation for a NFB session
3. Create a NFB protocol based on different arousal assessments
4. Conduct the first NFB session

Practicum: Protocol Adjustment

1. Evaluate the effectiveness of a previous NFB session
2. Adjust the reward band or the protocol based on (a) client’s feedback, (b) Symptom Checklist questionnaire, (c) modification in the arousal assessment
3. Discuss the role of threshold in performing a NFB session

9 Trends in Neurofeedback

1. List five different treatment modalities
2. Design trainings which combine neurofeedback with other modalities

10 Ethical & Professional Conduct

1. Review the different biofeedback organizations
2. Summarize the NFB code of ethics
3. Discuss the supervision/mentoring process

CE Credits (Addendum 2)

Cosponsored by R. Cassidy Seminars, P.O. Box 14473, Santa Rosa, CA 95402

Satisfactory Completion
Participants must have paid tuition fee, signed in and out each day, attended the entire seminar, and completed an evaluation in order to receive a certificate. Failure to sign in or out each day will result in forfeiture of credit for the entire course. No exceptions will be made. Partial credit is not available. Links to Evaluations and Certificates will be emailed and also available following course completion at www.ceuregistration.com

How Do I Register?

1. Fill out the registration form
Click in the link below to register for the course. We will only secure your spot once we receive payment.

2. Cost
US: $1240 (if paid in full) and $1390 (in 4 installments)
Europe: $1090 (if paid in full) and $1250 (in 4 installments)
Latin America: $690 (if paid in full) and $840 (in 4 installments)

3. Additional discounts
20%: Students from any student institution.
20%: Groups of 3 or more people who are from the same institution.

Two Scholarships are available for each training. They are awarded on a first come, first serve basis.

Note: Please contact us for the student and scholarship applications

4. Paid in Full
We offer a discount on the price for those who pay the course in full .

Early bird prices (saves $150):

US: $1240 
Europe: $1090 
Latin America: $690

5. Payment
We currently accept cash, check, credit cards and PayPal. After submitting the registration form, you will receive an email with more details on your preferred payment option.

Your spot will be secure once we receive payment.