In addition to counselling sessions that can be provided by telephone by Dr. Lynda Thompson and Andrea Reid-Chung (both hold registration with College of Psychologists of Ontario) and Lena Santhirasegaram (registration with College of Psychotherapists of Ontario), the following at-home options are available through the ADD Centre.
The following may be a lot of material in one posting. Please call if you have questions and we will call you back as soon as possible.
eVu TPS Home Biofeedback Training:
The eVu TPS is a portable sensor for at-home biofeedback training with a smartphone or tablet. The sensor is designed for users who do not necessarily have high level of experience with biofeedback equipment. The sensor is applied to a single finger with a fabric strap and detects and transmits highly researched measurements of psycho-physiological health, including heart rate variability. The TPS measures Temperature, Pulse and Skin conductance. By resting the sensor over your diaphragm, you can practice synchrony between breathing and heart rate changes, thus training heart rate variability.
DeStress Solution Training Program
The eVu TPS sensor can be used for a stress-reduction training program administered remotely via online conference.
This program provides:
- a method for assessing and reporting stress,
- training screens for self-regulation (biofeedback)
- relaxation therapy exercises
The program begins with an initial stress test and analysis. The user’s physiological stress-response provides guidance for the at-home biofeedback training screens. Ultimately, the user learns to become aware of their negative physiological stress responses, such as noticing that your hands are getting cold when you are stressed. You then practice how to voluntarily shift to a more desirable response, such as warming your hands.
Systems will be available to rent for a small fee and then online training sessions billed per session. Sessions would be done with our staff and may include Biofeedback plus Metacognitive strategies as requested. This program runs on an Android phone or tablet.
Audio-Visual Entrainment (AVE)
Audio-Visual Entrainment (AVE) is a technique that utilizes pulses of light and sound at specific frequencies to gently and safely guide the brain into various brain wave patterns.
Through the process of entrainment (the tendency of physiological processes to mirror environmental stimuli) you have the ability to alter your brain wave frequencies to improve mental performance.
It is an effective, inexpensive alternative therapy for many symptoms such as anxiety, inattention Deficit Disorder, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), PTSD, and chronic pain. AVE may also increase brain health by increasing cerebral blood flow and stimulating beneficial neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and endorphins. AVE devices have been used successfully to boost physical performance for athletes, academic performance for students and cognitive performance for seniors.
Recommended AVE Program examples:
A1- Sensory Motor Rhythm (SMR) - Use to achieve relaxed attention.
A2- SMR for Sleep - Use to improve sleep for those with insomnia due to a “racing” mind but relaxed body.
A4- ADD and Learning - This session has rapid transitions for mental stimulation to
help keep the user “engaged” in the session. Used in the ADD study published in the
Journal of Neurotherapy.
This system is available for rent and will include a recommendation as to which session(s) would be best for you.
- Cogmed Working Memory Training Program:
Cogmed Working Memory Training is an evidence-based program for helping children, adolescents, and adults sustainably improve attention by training their working memory. It does so through web-based training programs that are age and ability appropriate. It was originally developed in Sweden and has considerable research behind it. It is only available through accredited psychology service providers, such as the ADD Centre.
The research-based program, clinically proven to increase working memory capacity, is delivered under the supervision of a qualified Cogmed Provider—a “Coach”. The training consists of a specific set of working memory tasks that are performed on a computer or tablet in the convenience of the trainee’s home, school, or designated health care facility.
These Programs are “built around three easy-to-use and age-specific applications, the Cogmed program guides the trainees through multiple working memory exercises, automatically adjusting them in real-time to a level that is challenging but not so difficult that it becomes intimidating. It adapts to the trainee’s ability. Each application shares the same underlying design and algorithms – the differences are in the user interface.
This program involves an initial interview and then weekly coach calls to check on progress. The program runs for 5 weeks, 5 days per week. We are offering this at a special discount due to the COVID-19 epidemic. As many children are home from school over the next few weeks this program can be a productive way to use this time off.
www.cogmed.com for more information.
- iLS Listening Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP):
WHAT IS THE SSP?
Developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is a five-day auditory intervention designed to reduce stress and auditory sensitivity while enhancing social engagement and resilience. Based on Dr. Porges’ Polyvagal Theory, by calming the physiological and emotional state, the door is opened for improved communication and more successful therapy.
The SSP is a research-based therapy showing significant results in just five days in the following areas:
- Social and emotional difficulties
- Auditory sensitivities
- Anxiety and trauma related challenges
- Inattention
- Stressors that impact social engagement
More recently this has been recommended for Concussion.
At the ADD Centre we are involved in a joint research project with the University of North Carolina (on hold due to COVID-19) concerning this intervention and feel this is a helpful approach.
- ProComp2 Home Neurofeedback Training
This program allows you to do regular single channel neurofeedback sessions from home. For the most part, you would be continuing your program as done at the ADD Centre. One of our neurofeedback trainers would login remotely at regular times to help you run your sessions. This can include metacognitive strategies.
We would arrange an initial session to put the software on your computer. It is helpful if you have EXCEL already installed in order to graph your learning curve.
PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL TO addcentre@gmail.com to ask questions and/or inquire about pricing.
Dr. Lynda Thompson and her husband have written the basic textbooks in this field, The Neurofeedback Book and The Functional Neuroanatomy book, that describe why and how biofeedback and neurofeedback works. These books include the background behind the methods described above. They have done over 150 presentations as invited teachers to large professional groups in 25 countries on 5 continents.
