Frequently Asked Questions

We usually recommend 10-15 sessions; however, it is hard to tell exactly how many treatments each client will need. A good analogy for neurostimulation is exercise. It is difficult to tell how many times you will need to go to the gym to reach your fitness goals. The same is true for neurostimulation. Once Kelly has looked at your QEEG, she may provide a rough estimate of how many sessions you would need, until you will see significant changes. Twice weekly sessions are the minimum required for neurotherapy to be effective, particularly early in treatment.

Every 10 - 15 sessions, you will require a re-QEEG to track your progress. You will also receive appropriate psychological screenings at intervals. We can then compare your brain mapping data and questionnaires to your initial data, to measure the progress you have made in a standardized and detailed manner. 

A very small proportion of patients report headaches after a treatment, particularly if you do not eat or drink enough water before neurotherapy. The extensive research on cranio-electric stimulation demonstrates safety.

Once your brain achieves a new stable capacity to sustain changes between sessions, we recommend reducing treatment frequency slowly over time from twice weekly, to once weekly and finally once bi-weekly. At this stage the brain is able to maintain the changes provided you continue to practice the habits of mind and health and wellbeing practices learned during treatments.

Although both treatments involve electricity, the similarities stop there. Neurostimulation involves tiny amounts of electrical charge delivered to specific parts of the skull and a small percentage of that reaches the brain itself. Shock therapy delivers enough electricity to cause a brief generalized seizure and requires anaesthetic with high level monitoring of life signs by an anesthetist.

Typically, 70 to 120 volts are applied externally to the patient's head, resulting in approximately 800 milliamperes of direct current passing between the electrodes, for a duration of 100 milliseconds to 6 seconds, either from temple to temple (bilateral ECT) or from front to back of one side of the head. In neurostimulation, there is a maximum limit of 2.5 milliamperes that our equipment will deliver and is often effective at very low levels of 1.5 milliamperes. To put it in perspective, neurotherapy is about .25% (or 400 times weaker than)  the amperage delivered compared to electroconvulsive shock therapy, if we give maximum 2 milliamperes in a session. Our clinic philosophy is to provide the minimum amount of stimulation required to achieve results and we often treat at very low levels with good outcomes.

The College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP) is the governing board of psychologists in Alberta. After individuals finish their education in psychology, they may be eligible to register with CAP. Upon initial registration, individuals are allotted the title provisional psychologist and require a period of supervised practice by a fully registered psychologist. After this period is completed, Provisionals are required to take an extensive licencing exam (like the MCAT) to become fully registered. The Provisionals at our clinic are under the direct supervision of Kelly Fredell. 

If you have any questions or would like additional information, please visit CAP’s website https://www.cap.ab.ca/

Neurofeedback systems are built on a model of operant conditioning, allowing the brain to “learn” new wave forms. Biofeedback also uses operant conditioning to train physical functions such as heart rate and blood pressure. Neurostimulation is founded on a model of disrupting cellular messaging molecules by changing voltage at the level of the cellular membrane. This in turn alters the microenvironment of the neuronal architecture in the specific brain areas being stimulated and results in changes at the microenvironment of the brain cells. Neurostimulation cultivates a neuroplastic state in the brain allowing for greater capacity for learning and change and building new or accessing previously established neural networks. This supports change at the level of both the mind and the brain.

For psychotherapy, yes. But not for neurotherapy and QEEG assessment.

We accept e-transfers, credit, cash and cheque.

We do not provide direct billing. Please submit to your insurance company for reimbursement.

We offer payment plans to maximize benefits and pay off the QEEG incrementally

We ask that you cancel within 48 hours before your scheduled appointment time. If you fail to cancel within this time frame, you will be charged the full price of the session. If your sessions are paid for by insurance, you must pay the cancellation fee out of pocket.

In the same vein, we are unable to book you an appointment less than 24 hours in advance. We recommend booking psychotherapy and neurotherapy appts well in advance, in order to maintain a consistent treatment regime and avoid being on the waitlist for an appointment. This is particularly important in the early stages of neurotherapy, as it requires a minimum of twice weekly sessions for it to be effective.

If you are sick, we ask that you not come into the clinic and you will not be charged a late fee provided you advise us of your illness.

Neurofeedback is a non-invasive therapeutic technique that utilizes real-time brainwave monitoring to train and regulate brain activity. By providing immediate feedback on brainwave patterns, neurofeedback empowers individuals to self-regulate and optimize their brain function.

At Foothills Integrative, we offer neurofeedback and neurotherapy as well as psychotherapy to bring together changes in the brain and the mind. Our experienced team of therapists combines their extensive knowledge of brain function with state-of-the-art software and equipment to create and safely deliver personalized and effective treatment plans.

Neurofeedback therapy is an alternative and effective treatment method that helps address various neurological conditions and mental health concerns. By utilizing state-of-the-art equipment and personalized treatment plans, our experienced neurofeedback therapists at Foothills Integrative guide you through the process of self-regulation and brain optimization.

Neurotherapy at Foothills Integrative employs pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (pEMF) and a variety of cranioelectrical stimulation (CES) technologies included tDCS, tACS, tAPNS among others to teach your brain more effective and optimal ways of communicating with itself and functioning. These changes in the brain facilitate symptom resolution and a return to well-being, regulation, and peace of mind.

Neurofeedback therapy is beneficial for individuals of all ages who seek to enhance their mental well-being and cognitive performance. Whether you're dealing with anxiety, depression, ADHD, brain fog, traumatic brain injury, or trauma-related issues, Neurotherapy can be a transformative solution.

At Foothills Integrative, our neurofeedback therapy offers a multitude of benefits for our clients in Southern Alberta. Some of the advantages include:

Improved Focus and Attention: Neurofeedback training enhances concentration, attention span, and cognitive abilities, leading to increased productivity in work, school, and daily activities. Our neurofeedback therapists use advanced techniques to target specific areas of the brain associated with focus and attention, helping you achieve optimal performance.

Stress and Anxiety Reduction: By promoting relaxation and regulating brainwave patterns, neurofeedback therapy helps alleviate symptoms of stress, anxiety, and panic disorders, leading to a calmer and more balanced state of mind. Our personalized treatment plans in Okotoks, Calgary are designed to address your unique needs, providing a holistic approach to stress and anxiety management.

Better Sleep Quality: Neurofeedback has shown positive outcomes for improving sleep patterns, aiding in the management of insomnia and other sleep-related issues. Our neurofeedback therapists at Foothills Integrative understand the importance of quality sleep in overall well-being and work closely with you to optimize your brain function for better sleep.

Enhanced Mood and Emotional Stability: Neurofeedback therapy can effectively address mood disorders, such as depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder and PTSD, by promoting emotional regulation and stability. Our dedicated team focuses on identifying and targeting specific brainwave patterns associated with mood regulation, helping you achieve a more positive and stable emotional state of mind.

Our neurofeedback therapy process at Foothills Integrative is comprehensive and personalized. It begins with a thorough assessment of your unique needs and goals. We use cutting edge neuroscience technology to assess neurological functioning; the quantitative electroencephalogram (QEEG or more simply a “Q”), independent component analysis (ICA), and event-related potentials (ERP) provide invaluable data to understand what is happening in the brain. We combine this with an intake and assessment interview to identify priorities, and goals, and create a plan to realize your intended treatment outcomes.

Based on these assessment outcomes, our skilled psychologists will design a customized treatment plan to address your specific concerns. Throughout the therapy sessions, your symptoms will be closely monitored to inform the treatment process. You will have access to the latest trauma processing treatments and psychotherapy to optimize your time and resources. After 10 – 15 treatments we reassess using the QEEG, ICA and ERP’s as well as changes in symptoms to evaluate progress.

Neurofeedback and neuromodulation can lead to lasting and stable changes in brain functioning. Individual results vary. Once changes have been stabilized most people do not need follow-up or ongoing treatments. A few individuals require ongoing maintenance sessions. What we find most helpful is the combination of Neurotherapy and psychotherapy so the habits of mind that maintain old habits can change and support the new way of functioning at the level of the brain.

Neurofeedback and neuromodulation have demonstrated safety after many studies and is generally safe when managed by a trained professional. To be most effective, patients need to consider cost, time commitment, and the need for multiple sessions as well as a willingness to address changes in habits of mind to support changes.

Brain mapping is non-invasive and low-risk, with no known side effects. It's a safe procedure.

Brain mapping sessions at Foothills Integrative typically last 90 minutes. In addition to the data gathered for the Quantitative Electroencephalogram (QEEG) which other practitioners offer, we also incorporate data gathering to reveal event-related potentials (ERP) and independent components analysis (ICA) to best understand how the brain functions at rest and during a simple task. Collectively, these data sources reveal a great deal about how the brain is functioning and how best to re-establish optimal functioning.

Brain mapping (QEEG) is an assessment tool that records brain activity, while neurofeedback and neuromodulation is a brain training technique. The Q provides the data about how the brain is functioning and is used to create a protocol and treatment plan to regulate and optimize brain function. Neurofeedback and neuromodulation are the strategies used to train the brain to more optimal functioning.