Described as a “brain spa” by Tanya Stewart’s clients, Neuroflex brain training monitors brain activity and provides audio cues to guide people toward a relaxed state of mind.
Stewart has worked in the health industry for 20 years. She taught radiology for 12 years. Her experience in health care and education in psychology, mental health and life coaching inspired her to pursue her Neuroflex business.
“I think of the brain as sort of the last frontier,” Stewart said. “There’s so much that’s a mystery.”
When a client begins Neuroflex, Stewart sits them in a chair before connecting sensors to their head and earlobes. The sensors relay brain wave information to a computer, which analyzes the activity recorded by the sensors. The client is given an eye mask to reduce unnecessary brain activity from visual stimuli. They are then provided headphones to listen to nature-themed audio based on their brain activity.
As the sensors analyze the brain waves, the audio will skip when unusual spikes of activity happen. Unusual spikes are increases in brain activity that should not occur when in a relaxed state, often caused by factors like stress, depression or wandering thoughts, Stewart said. These spikes are not necessarily good or bad, but the machine provides neurofeedback — an audible indicator of brain activity — through skipping music tracks to indicate the mind isn’t reaching a fully relaxed state.
The training teaches clients to become aware of the subtle changes in their mental activity, Stewart said. The audio cues from Neuroflex heighten awareness, and, with time, clients can learn to identify increased brain activity outside of their sessions. Stewart recommends her clients complete 20 sessions to fully train themselves.
“We’re creatures of habit. Even in our brains, we take the same roads. Neurofeedback is like putting that road under construction,” Stewart said. “The skips in the audio are like slow or caution signs. All of a sudden, you have more awareness.”
Neuroflex training does not require sharing personal information, and the machine and sensors only recognize patterns of brain activity. The machine does not understand what the brain waves “mean” but recognizes increased activity, Stewart said.
“You don’t even have to share your story, your problem or your goal. The neurofeedback will still work,” Stewart said.
Clients have reported success with Neuroflex across many different areas of life, she said. Many began Neuroflex because they suffer from depression, anxiety or traumatic experiences. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Stewart said she has seen more of those cases.
Stewart said one of her successful cases involved a client suffering from night terrors and post-traumatic stress disorder. Stewart said her client experienced night terrors daily since young adulthood. With Neuroflex treatment, he began having regular, undisturbed sleep, free of night terrors, Stewart said.
Stewart opened her business in January 2023, but she already plans to expand. She would like to add a second Neuroflex system, so couples and families can train together. She would also like to expand her offerings, based on client feedback.
Stewart believes neurofeedback technology is a valuable asset to mental health treatment.
“Neurofeedback has been around since the ’60s, and now the technology has caught up a bit more with state-of-the-art equipment, and it’s just stronger,” Stewart said. “With the mental health crisis, it’s another tool that can be used.”
To learn more about Neuroflex, visit neuroflexneurofeed.wixsite.com/neuroflex-general-we, or call Stewart at 360-209-4465. Her office is located at 209 E. Main St. Suite 121, Battle Ground.
