Exploring the Path to Clinical Neurofeedback Training for Future Mental Health Counselors (New Mind Academy & UPSI)

 

Are you aware that the Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI) offers a Master's in Counseling program specializing in Clinical Mental Health Counseling? This program equips students with the knowledge and skills to become well-rounded professionals in mental health, and now, it’s offering an exciting opportunity: an introduction to Clinical Neurofeedback Training in collaboration with New Mind Academy.

I’m delighted to see that these future counselors are eager to explore the pathway to becoming certified Clinical Neurofeedback Practitioners. Neurofeedback is gaining recognition as an innovative tool to help individuals manage various mental health concerns, such as anxiety, ADHD, and stress-related disorders. Through this program, students learn the basics of neurofeedback, from understanding brainwave patterns to how this technology can be ethically integrated into their counseling practice.

With the support of SBCIA, the first Neurofeedback Training Center in Asia, we aim to ensure that neurofeedback is used ethically and responsibly. Neurofeedback training can be a powerful adjunct in fields like neurocounseling, helping clients improve emotional regulation and cognitive functions. However, it’s crucial that practitioners have a solid foundation in mental health and are trained under proper supervision to utilize this technology effectively and ethically.

At New Mind Academy, we’re committed to providing high-quality training for health-related professionals who are interested in enhancing their practice with neurofeedback. With the right guidance and training, these students can integrate neurofeedback into their counseling sessions, offering clients a holistic approach to mental health care.

This collaboration between UPSI and New Mind Academy is a significant step toward broadening the scope of mental health services in Malaysia. By incorporating neurofeedback into mental health counseling, future practitioners can provide more comprehensive and individualized support to their clients.

We look forward to seeing more professionals trained in this innovative field, ready to make a difference in the lives of those seeking mental health care.

Innovation Symposium on Brain-Computer Interfaces (Suzhou, China) - Guest Speaker to share about the application of Trauma-Informed Neurofeedback

 

一转眼，我已经提供脑波神经反馈训练neurofeedback training多达10多年了。在马来西亚，本来我是很孤独的，因为在这行的人实在不多，这个领域的专家也很少。但这几年，越来越多知音人出现，这个应用脑科学如今也被多国重点关注，亚洲各地都开始越来越多人重视脑机接口这一块。

今天除了感到很荣幸受邀给与讲座，跟中国民众分享创伤知情催眠与脑波反馈疗法的科学与益处，当看到中国各个顶流专家都给脑波反馈训练背书，我真的也倍感兴奋与感动。

In simple terms, I've been doing neurofeedback training for over 10 years. In Malaysia, it used to be quite lonely because not many people were into it. But in recent years, more people who understand it have shown up, and now several countries are paying serious attention to applying neuroscience.

Today, seeing top experts in China endorsing neurofeedback training, it really touched me.

Neurofeedback Malaysia, A Promising Tool For Stroke Rehab Treatment

 

Stroke is a health condition whereby there is an insufficient blood supply that carries the oxygen, O2 and nutrients needed by the brain. The lack of blood supply will cause a damage to the brain cells and even worse, it leads to the death of brain cells which had a big impact on the patient’s well-being such as memory loss and the physical and functional disabilities (Boehme et al., 2017).

As stroke cases are starting to increase among the old age group, the experts had invented the F-A-S-T stroke recognition to raise the awareness and help people to identify the stroke signs earlier (Khatri, 2019). Early intervention is better. According to Beckerman (2020), the F-A-S-T stroke recognition stands for face, arms, speech, and time. First, tell the person to smile and observe if their face drops. Second, tell the person to raise both of their hands and observe if one side of the hand is weak. Third, ask the person to say a simple word and observe if there is a strange sound or slurred. Lastly, dial the emergency number right away as every minute counts for stroke patients.

Apart from F-A-S-T method, did you know that EEG Neurofeedback training is one of the promising tools for stroke rehabilitation?
Most of the stroke patients that took part in a study to evaluate the effectiveness of Neurofeedback training had shown a significance improvement on their memory, mood, concentration, energy, reading and speech ability, and motivation (Kober et al., 2015; Renton et al., 2017). Therefore, this shows that Neurofeedback training had successfully helped to improve the memory deficit among stroke survivors.

References:
Beckerman, J. (2020, March 9). Stroke Signs and Symptoms. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/stroke/guide/understanding-stroke-symptoms
Boehme, A. K., Esenwa, C., & Elkind, M. S. V. (2017). Stroke Risk Factors, Genetics, and Prevention. Circulation Research, 120(3), 472–495. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.116.308398

Neurofeedback Training for Autism in Malaysia (Research Article)

 

Article 1

Ever wondering how to improve cognitive functioning of ASD?

Basic cognitive function impairment in autism spectrum disorder can be reduced through neurofeedback treatment including cognitive, social and attention domains.

Source:

Mekkawy, L. (2021). Efficacy of neurofeedback as a treatment modality for children in the autistic spectrum. Bulletin of the National Research Centre, 45(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s42269-021-00501-5

Retrieved from: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s42269-021-00501-5

 

Article 2

ASD children are lacking sociability, they tend to avoid eyes contact and refuse to connect with the world.

Appropriate brain responses, behaviour and emotions were linked during social interactions and thus resulted in significant symptom reduction for children with ASD.

Source:

Friedrich, E. V., Sivanathan, A., Lim, T., Suttie, N., Louchart, S., Pillen, S., & Pineda, J. A. (2015). An effective neurofeedback intervention to improve social interactions in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 45(12), 4084–4100. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2523-5

Retrieved from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26210513/

 

Article 3

To improve social interaction in ASD children, training their mirror neurons is utmost important.

The findings of strong correlations between behavioural improvements and activation changes specifically in these brain regions (human mirror neuron system) support the use of mu-rhythm neurofeedback training to improve clinical outcomes for individuals on the autism spectrum.

** human mirror neuron system (hMNS) is a potential neurobiological substrate for many aspects of human social cognition, particularly those directly relevant to the behavioural and cognitive deficits observed in ASD.

Source:

Datko, M., Pineda, J. A., Müller, R., & Wallace, M. (2017). Positive effects of neurofeedback on autism symptoms correlate with brain activation during imitation and observation. European Journal of Neuroscience, 47(6). https://doi.org/10.1111/ejn.13551 

Retrieved from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/314133941_Positive_effects_of_neurofeedback_on_autism_symptoms_correlate_with_brain_activation_during_imitation_and_observation

 

Article 4

ASD children can be trained to minimize their ASD symptoms and help them to have a better socializing skill.

Several case studies using QEEG and neurofeedback with individuals diagnosed with ASD have reported significant clinical symptomatic improvements for communication, socialization, anxiety, attention and even medication reduction or elimination.

Source:

Robert, C., Michael, L., & Thomas, E. M. (2010). Neurofeedback for Autistic Spectrum Disorder: A review of the literature. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback, 35, 83–105. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10484-009-9117-y 

Retrieved from: https://europepmc.org/article/med/19856096

 

Article 5                         

Training ASD children’s brain can bring more benefits to themselves in improving their functioning.

Reciprocal social interactions, communication skills, set-shifting skills improved after neurofeedback treatment. Results suggest that neurofeedback treatment has the potential to become an important and prominent intervention for children with ASD.

Source:

Kouijzer, M. E. J., van Schie, H. T., de Moor, J. M. H., Gerrits, B. J. L., & Buitelaar, J. K. (2010). Neurofeedback treatment in autism. Preliminary findings in behavioural, cognitive and neurophysiological functioning. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 4, 386-399. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2009.10.007

Retrieved from:

https://www.brainmaster.com/software/pubs/brain/Kouijzer_2010_NFB_Autism.pdf

 

 

Article 6

One of the waves in our brain acts as a key to help ASD children initiate socialization.

Our findings showed that the implementation of neurofeedback sessions improved Theta brainwave, which leads to better social communication.

Source:

Hemmati, S., Vameghi, R., Sajedi, F., Gharib, M., Pourmohammadreza-Tajrishi, M., & Teymori, R. (2016). The effect of neurofeedback on brain waves in children with Autism spectrum disorders. Iranian Rehabilitation Journal, 14(3), 133-138. https://doi.org/10.18869/nrip.irj.14.3.133

Retrieved from: http://irj.uswr.ac.ir/article-1-563-en.pdf

 

 

Article 7

Tremendous improvement showed in ASD children after neurofeedback training

Improvements achieved through neurofeedback training include increases social and daily living skills, as well as communication and relationship advances.

Source:

Coben, R., & Myers, T. E. (2010). The relative efficacy of connectivity guided and symptom-based EEG biofeedback for autistic disorders. Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, 35(1), 13-23. doi:10.1007/s10484-009-9102-5

Retrieved from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19649702/

 

Article 8

Neurofeedback training improves not only social issues in ASD children, but also other common emotional and behavioral management issues.

Neurofeedback has shown promise in improving the negative symptoms associated with autism such as repetitive behaviours, aggression, problems with communication and social ineptness.

Source:

Akhawan, R. (2018). The efficacy of neurofeedback in the treatment of Autism [Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies]. ScholarWorks.

Retrieved from: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=7243&context=dissertations

 

Article 9

The use of mu rhythms in neurofeedback training is prominent in reducing ASD symptoms.

The results showed that symptoms in children with ASD have been reduced through the use of neurofeedback by targeting training to the mirror neuron system (MNS) via modulation of EEG mu rhythms.

Source:

Pineda, J. A., Carrasco, K., Datko, M., Pillen, S., & Schalles, M. (2014). Neurofeedback training produces normalization in behavioural and electrophysiological measures of high-functioning autism. Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences, 369(1644), 20130183. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2013.0183

Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4006184/

 

Article 10

ASD children are able to improve their functioning to connect better with same age peers.

The results have shown most changes in behaviour (less aggressive, more cooperation, better communication), attention span and sensory-motor skills. According to the assessment of parents, teachers, therapists and other experts all children have accomplished a certain degree of improvement in the level of daily functioning.

Source:

Zivoder, I., Martic-Biocina, S., Kosic, A. V., & Bosak, J. (2015). Neurofeedback application in the treatment of autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). In Psychiatria Danubina, 27, 55- 291

Retrieved from:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/290290548_Neurofeedback_application_in_the_treatment_of_autistic_spectrum_disorders_ASD

 

Article 11

The social cognition issues in ASD can be reduced by training their brain.

Study providing moderate evidence for improvement in social cognition deficit following neurofeedback training with theta/ beta protocol in ASD population.

Source:

Kumari, M., & Sharma, A. (2020). Neurofeedback Training for Social Cognitive Deficits: Systematic Review. International Journal of Online and Biomedical Engineering (IJOE), 16(10), 151. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijoe.v16i10.15923

 

Retrieved from:

https://www.online-journals.org/index.php/i-joe/article/view/15923

 

Article 12

Neurofeedback improves their cognition skills that they are able to picking up communication skills.

After neurofeedback therapy, the patient began to use eight different single words, and his social responsiveness became significantly better. He demonstrated an increased ability to follow instructions, and his attention span increased.

Source:

Eroglu, G., & Ekici, B. (2020). Neurofeedback improves EEG complexity and social interaction in a boy with autism: A case report. Journal of Surgery and Medicine. https://doi.org/10.28982/josam.638667

Retrieved from: https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/1015398

 

Article 13

ASD children got to improve their language domain, including understanding and communicating after neurofeedback training.

The participant showed observable improvement in language comprehension and expression according to the subscale of the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC).

Source:

Mutang, J. A., Chua, B. S., Madlan, L. W., Bullare Bahari, M. I., & Soidi, T. (2018). Neurofeedback training to improve comprehension and expression of ASD child: A case study. International Journal of Pure and Applied Mathematics, 118(24), 1314-3395.

 

Retrieved from: https://acadpubl.eu/hub/2018-118-24/1/58.pdf

 

Article 14

Will all the improvement have shown in my ASD children back to square one after the neurofeedback training had been terminated? How stable and long-lasting is the effect of neurofeedback training?

The enduring effects of neurofeedback have been follow-up by researchers after the treatment period has ended one year. Analysis revealed there is a significant increase of all executive functions, including cognitive flexibility, planning skills, inhibition and attention skills. Another study also reported that there is no loss of nonverbal communication and general communication.

Source:

Coben, R. (2013). Neurofeedback for autistic disorders: emerging empirical evidence. In: Casanova, M. F., El-Baz, A. S., & Suri, J. S. (Eds.). Imaging the brain in autism. Springer, 107–134.

Retrieved from:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/289951696_Neurofeedback_for_Autistic_Disorders_Emerging_Empirical_Evidence

 

Article 15

The improvement is significant and prominent in ASD children after neurofeedback training.

The studies have confirmed that there is a significant improvement in sustained attention as well as in speech/language communication, sociability, health/ physical behaviour subscales.

Source:

Hurt, E., Arnold, L. E., & Lofthouse, N. (2014). Quantitative EEG neurofeedback for the treatment of paediatric Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Learning Disorders, and Epilepsy. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 23(3), 465 486. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chc.2014.02.001 

Retrieved from:

https://www.childpsych.theclinics.com/article/S1056-4993(14)00023-6/abstract

Gold Medal Innovation in Counseling Award for C-PROEEG Aide: Evidence-Based Clinical Neurofeedback Protocols for Mood Disorders

We won the Gold Medal Innovation in Counseling at the International Counseling Innovation Showcase & Competition (i-Counnovas 2019).

This is a collaboration between our New Mind Brain Health (Clinical Neurofeedback Practitioner: Hiro Koo, Chen Chen, Boon Tao) & UPSI (Dr Pau Kee). Our winning product is C-PROEEG Aide: Evidence-Based Clinical Neurofeedback Protocols for Mood Disorders. Bravo to teamwork!

 Special thanks to my mentor late Dr Kenneth Kang, this honour we would like to share with you.

我们New Mind Brain Health Centre与UPSI合作的”Clinical Neurofeedback脑电波反馈疗法治疗方案C-PROEEG Aide”在国际心理辅导科研展示与比赛中赢得了金牌！