A holistic foundation

Every brain, like every person, is unique.  Still, the consciousness of all people includes many realms – physical, mental, emotional, spiritual. All of these realms have been considered together as the basis for brain state conditioning™.  Brain state conditioning™ does more than simply treat a diagnosis or symptom; it deals with the entire person.  The founder, Lee Gerdes, has a background in math, physics, psychology, and theology – and has brought all these disciplines together in providing brain state conditioning™.

The medical model

The allopathic medical community runs tests for physical functioning or tests for mental functioning.  These tests enable the medical professional to diagnose a problem or disease of the individual patient.  The diagnosis then allows the medical professional to prescribe a medication for alleviation of the diagnosed problem or disease.  When a medication is prescribed to work on the brain, the entire brain is affected.  This means that any medication to affect the brain, affects the entire brain even though only certain functioning of the brain needs the medication.

The psychological model

There are many psychological models practiced to deal with personal problems experienced.  Some of the psychological models are based on in-depth questionnaires and interviews with the patient.  The information collected in the questionnaires and interviews is compared to standardized results which are regarded as “normal” and a diagnosis is made.  Talk therapy and/or behavioral models are established to assist the patient in changing their perspectives in order to alleviate the diagnosed problem(s).

Unfortunately, the psychological model doesn’t include the possibility that the diagnoses and recommended therapy could be based on stimulus which changed the brain pathways to produce the undesired result or problem reported by the patient.  Also, the psychological model requires the brain to change from out-side-in based on talking and/or behavior therapy.  Thus, change can happen but often requires a long time – months and years – and is as ultimately costly as it is time consuming.

“Other” neurofeedback models

Some neurofeedback methods are based on a Quantitative Electroencephalographic Analysis (QEEG).  Using a QEEG, the neurofeedback provider compares the brain waves of the client to a normative data base of other brain waves and irregularities are noted for neurofeedback training.  QEEG assessment can take up to six hours and cost $350 to $1200.  The problem with a QEEG is the basic assumption that the data base of brain waves is helpful to establish a normal or healthy brain wave pattern for an individual.  Can I compare my brain wave patterns to many others and determine if I am normal and where my abnormalities exist?

Other neuro-feedback providers will train for 30 min to 40 min 2 to 3 times per week.  This often requires 40 to 100 sessions to complete a training process.  Benefits are sometimes not seen for 20 sessions or more.

Brain State Conditioning™ model

Brain state conditioning™ is a type of neurofeedback which allows an individual to train their brain to accomplish what it is that they desire.  Brain state conditioning™ stresses total individuality in a holistic context.  Brain state conditioning™ is based on the ratios of brain waves within an individual brain.  Nothing from the outside is used as normative to compare to the individual to determine abnormalities.

A Balanced Mind understands the brain to be like a finger print – totally unique.  We also understand that interviews can be beneficial in helping to isolate areas of our brains where the brain wave ratios provide answers for training the brain.  Brain state conditioning™ is consistent in dealing with brain state, not brain content.  Comparing brain wave frequency ratios at major points across the scalp allows us a standardized way to test brain balance.  This means that we create a personalized training plan, tailored to the brain frequency ratios of the individual.  We then use client feedback to fine tune the training session exercises to more completely satisfy the desired changes of the client.  Brain state conditioning™ uses internal brain wave ratios, client self assessment, and client input to create a brain balanced for physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual optimization.

The efficiency of brain state conditioning™ which incorporates visualization, deep relaxation, optimum performance, and targeted solution training is much greater.  A brain state conditioning™ training session usually lasts about 75 minutes.  Sessions are often done every day, or even multiple times per day, for the first part of training.  Multiple things are trained at the same time so when one area becomes balanced, other areas do not get out of balance.  Usually clients recognize benefits in the first one to three sessions, and require 5 to 30 sessions to make the benefits permanent.