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EEG Neurofeedback (Children & Adolescents)

Topic Areas
Scientific Rating
Child Welfare Relevance
Anxiety Treatment (Child & Adolescent)
3  — Promising Research Evidence
High
Trauma Treatment - Client-Level Interventions (Child & Adolescent)
3  — Promising Research Evidence
High

About This Program

Target Population: Children and adolescents who have been traumatized and suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), symptoms of PTSD, or anxiety

For children/adolescents ages: 3 – 17

Program Overview

EEG Neurofeedback is a type of biofeedback therapy (also known as EEG Biofeedback) that involves monitoring and regulating brain activity to improve cognitive function, emotional regulation, and overall well-being. It is a noninvasive therapy that helps individuals train their brain to function more efficiently. EEG Neurofeedback is based on the principle that the human brain can adapt and change, a concept known as neuroplasticity. By using technology that provides real-time visual and auditory feedback, individuals ideally learn to regulate their brain activity.

Program Goals

The goals of EEG Neurofeedback are:

  • Decrease PTSD symptoms
  • Reduce anxiety, depression, and intrusive thoughts
  • Reduce suicidal ideations
  • Increase the ability to overcome addictions
  • Reduce emotional regulation, (e.g., fewer angry outbursts and improved emotional control)
  • Improve coping with stress
  • Improve executive functions such as decision-making, impulse control, and planning
  • Improve relationships with family members
  • Reduce psychiatric emergency room visits and hospitalizations

Logic Model

The program representative did not provide information about a Logic Model for EEG Neurofeedback (Children & Adolescents).

Essential Components

The essential components of EEG Neurofeedback include:

  • Technology:
    • Provides real-time visual, auditory, and/or tactile feedback to individuals
    • Like a “workout” for the brain that is designed to let the client train their brain to function more efficiently
  • Neurofeedback session:
    • Noninvasive sensors placed on the scalp to measure brainwave activity
    • Brainwave activity relayed to a computer
      • Processes the data
      • Provides feedback to the individual in the form of visual, auditory, and/or tactile cues
    • Example: If someone is working on reducing stress, they might receive positive feedback, such as a calming image or sound, when their brainwaves indicate a relaxed state
    • Goal is to teach the brain to produce more of the desired brain waves and less of the undesired ones
    • Repeated sessions necessary so the brain learns to more readily generate and maintain the desired brainwave patterns
  • Uses:
    • Can be used as a complementary therapy for a wide range of conditions
      • Allows people to participate in other therapeutic modalities due to improved focus and emotional regulation
      • For example, utilized to help individuals manage PTSD symptoms such as hyperarousal, intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, and emotional dysregulation
    • FDA Cleared for ADHD
  • Professionals:
    • Need to be trained in EEG Neurofeedback to keep it safe for clients
    • Do not need to prescribe medication or use stimulation techniques
    • Can use EEG Neurofeedback as an adjunctive therapy alongside traditional treatments like medication and psychotherapy
    • Can develop personalized treatment plans tailored to each patient’s unique brain activity patterns as seen while utilizing neurofeedback assessments

Program Delivery

Child/Adolescent Services

EEG Neurofeedback (Children & Adolescents) directly provides services to children/adolescents and addresses the following:

  • PTSD, traumatic experiences, difficulty in concentrating, flashbacks, impulsiveness, irritability, intrusive memories, reckless behavior, stress, traumatic nightmares, trouble sleeping, anxiety, addictions, anger, depression, or suicidal ideations

Recommended Intensity:

One to three 50-minute sessions weekly for a total of 20+ sessions

Recommended Duration:

3 – 6+ months

Delivery Settings

This program is typically conducted in a(n):

  • Outpatient Clinic
  • Community-based Agency / Organization / Provider

Homework

This program does not include a homework component.

Resources Needed to Run Program

The typical resources for implementing the program are:

EEG Neurofeedback therapist and EEG Neurofeedback equipment, which includes a computer and software

Manuals and Training

Prerequisite/Minimum Provider Qualifications

Providers must either be a licensed medical or mental health provider or be working under the supervision of a licensed provider.

Manual Information

There is a manual that describes how to deliver this program.

Program Manual(s)

Manual details:

  • Biofeedback Certification International Alliance. (2020). BCIA intro to neurofeedback sample forms manual. Sadar Psychological Services.

This is a training manual that supplements the didactic portions of the training and is provided upon enrollment:

Training Information

There is training available for this program.

Training Contact:
Training Type/Location:

There is a choice of training options: onsite at the trainee’s organization; at various sites during the year; and hybrid option that includes asynchronous learning combined with Zoom meetings.

Number of days/hours:

The length depends on the delivery method but at least 36 hours.

Implementation Information

Pre-Implementation Materials

There are no pre-implementation materials to measure organizational or provider readiness for EEG Neurofeedback (Children & Adolescents).

Formal Support for Implementation

There is formal support available for implementation of EEG Neurofeedback (Children & Adolescents) as listed below:

Formal support is optional, but available. The following are included with the didactic course:

  • Director of Learning available for email support - program engagement and pacing. Basic questions answered.
  • Discussion boards on course topics - peer support and program fidelity.
  • Live Q&A and practicum sessions - Fidelity monitoring & clinical support
  • Tech support from equipment providers

Additional support not included in the didactic course include:

  • Supervised case study groups - Fidelity monitoring & clinical support
  • 1:1 mentoring - Fidelity monitoring & clinical support

    • Fidelity Measures

    There are fidelity measures for EEG Neurofeedback (Children & Adolescents) as listed below:

    • Practicum participation
    • Unit quizzes / final exam
    • Photo assessment reviewed by instructor

    Implementation Guides or Manuals

    There are no implementation guides or manuals for EEG Neurofeedback (Children & Adolescents).

    Implementation Cost

    There are no studies of the costs of EEG Neurofeedback (Children & Adolescents).

    Research on How to Implement the Program

    Research has not been conducted on how to implement EEG Neurofeedback (Children & Adolescents).

    Relevant Published, Peer-Reviewed Research

    Child Welfare Outcome: Child/Family Well-Being

    Rogel, A., Loomis, A. M., Hamlin, E., Hodgdon, H., Spinazzola, J., & van der Kolk, B. (2020). The impact of neurofeedback training on children with developmental trauma: A randomized controlled study. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 12(8), 918–929. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0000648

    Type of Study: Randomized controlled trial
    Number of Participants: 37

    Population:

    • Age — 6–13 years
    • Race/Ethnicity — 21 Caucasian, 7 African American, 6 Multi-ethnic, and 3 Asian
    • Gender — 24 Male and 13 Female
    • Status — Participants were children with developmental trauma.

    Location/Institution: Boston, Massachusetts

    Summary: (To include basic study design, measures, results, and notable limitations)
    The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of Neurofeedback Training (NFT) [now called EEG Neurofeedback] on children, aged 6–13 years with developmental trauma. Participants were randomized to NFT or a waitlist control group. Measures utilized include the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF), Trauma Symptom Checklist for Young Children (TSCYC), Child/Adolescent PTSD Reaction Index (PTSD-RI), Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (K-SADS), Children’s Alexithymia Measure (CAM), Child Dissociative Checklist, Children’s Depression Inventory 2, NIH Toolbox, Caregiver NFT Symptom Checklist, and Child NFT Symptom Checklist. Results indicate that 24 sessions of NFT significantly decreased PTSD symptoms, internalizing, externalizing, other behavioral and emotional symptoms, and significantly improved the executive functioning of children aged 6–13 years with severe histories of abuse and neglect who had not significantly benefited from any previous therapy. Limitations include small sample size, lack of generalizability due to population demographics, missing complete trauma history of participants, and all participants having their own psychotherapists without the study controlling the quality of the therapy.

    Length of controlled postintervention follow-up: 4 weeks

    Salama, A. M., Abdel-Latif, S., Omar, T., & Abou El Wafa, H. (2022). Neurofeedback training and cognitive behavior therapy for treatment of generalized anxiety disorder in children and adolescents: A comparative study. NeuroRegulation, 9(1), 29–38. https://doi.org/10.15540/nr.9.1.29

    Type of Study: Pretest–posttest study with a nonequivalent control group (Quasi-experimental)
    Number of Participants: 30

    Population:

    • Age — 7–17 years
    • Race/Ethnicity — Not specified
    • Gender — 19 Male and 11 Female
    • Status — Participants were children and adolescents with generalized anxiety disorder.

    Location/Institution: Alexandria’s University Hospital, Egypt

    Summary: (To include basic study design, measures, results, and notable limitations)
    The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of neurofeedback (NF) [now called EEG Neurofeedback] and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Childhood Anxiety Disorder (CBT) on the reduction of anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents with generalized anxiety disorder. Participants received either NF or CBT. Measures utilized include the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAI-C). Results indicate that both CBT and NF are effective in reducing the level of anxiety in the study subjects with no significant differences between the two groups. The obtained results also showed that NF therapy is an effective method with more improvement on state anxiety score, while CBT showed more improvement in trait anxiety score. Limitations include lack of randomization, lack of a nontreatment control group, lack of follow-up, and small sample size.

    Length of controlled postintervention follow-up: None.

    Additional References

    Bonack, Z. (2021, Oct. 4). Treating neurocognitive disabilities in children: How neurofeedback improves your child’s mental health [Blog post]. NeuroHope Blog. https://neurohopepsych.com/2021/10/14/treating-neurocognitive-disabilities-in-children-how-neurofeedback-improves-your-childs-mental-health/

    CBH Staff. (2023, July 4). Neurofeedback for anxiety: Does it work?. Compassion Behavioral Health. https://compassionbehavioralhealth.com/neurofeedback-for-anxiety-does-it-work/

    White, L. (2022, Dec. 12). Neurofeedback: An emerging mental health therapy [Blog post]. American Family Physician Community Blog. https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/afp-community-blog/entry/neurofeedback-an-emerging-mental-health-therapy.html

    Contact Information

    Jenna Prada
    Agency/Affiliation: Sadar Psychological and Sports Center
    Website: www.sadarpsych.com
    Email:
    Phone: (631) 213-1475
    Mitchell Sadar
    Agency/Affiliation: Sadar Psychological and Sports Center
    Website: www.sadarpsych.com
    Email:
    Phone: (610) 933-9440

    Date Research Evidence Last Reviewed by CEBC: March 2025

    Date Program Content Last Reviewed by Program Staff: August 2025

    Date Program Originally Loaded onto CEBC: August 2025