Discover a transformative path to enhancing your mental, physical, and spiritual well-being without invasive procedures or pharmacological interventions. Welcome to Midwest Neurofeedback, where we embrace a holistic approach to optimizing your overall quality of life through enhancing neuro-regulation.

Our mission is to empower our community by enhancing its neuro-regulatory capacity, one individual at a time. A better regulated nervous system is more resilient and promotes a higher quality of life!

Our skilled clinicians tailor individualized protocols that precisely align with your unique needs and desires. We understand that every individual’s journey is distinct, and that’s why we meet you exactly where you are on your path to wellness.

With years of experience, Avery Bratt, Ph.D., and Laura Bratt, M.A., founded Midwest Neurofeedback to bring their passion for healing to Kansas City. As the oldest and most established neurofeedback therapy center in the greater Kansas City area, we offer a range of services, including neurofeedback, bioregulation, biofeedback, and psychotherapy, all designed to support your journey towards resiliency and health. Conveniently located in Overland Park, Kansas, our licensed staff continues to grow, dedicated to serving our expanding clients’ needs.

Our Staff

We are a group of expertly trained neuro-regulation clinicians – utilizing cutting-edge neurofeedback, biofeedback, bioregulation, and psychotherapy interventions.

Midwest Neurofeedback forever honors the legacy of co-founder Avery Bratt, Ph.D.

With a career of over 40 years, Avery dedicated his life to fostering psychological, emotional, and mental healing for clients. Starting as a University of Oklahoma undergrad, his journey of exploring the human experience led him to become the Director of Behavioral Medicine in Melbourne, Florida, Director of Mental Health Services at Samuel U. Rodgers Medical Center in Kansas City, and to establish his private practices in both Florida and Kansas City; the latter would become Midwest Neurofeedback.

Avery’s impact extended beyond clinical practice. He contributed to creating a PTSD program for Vietnam Veterans, established multiple private practices, and contributed research to the studies of trauma, PTSD, hypnosis, gerontology, grief and loss, addiction, and neurofeedback. He even shared his expertise as a teacher in a variety of these fields.

Upon relocating to Kansas City, Avery discovered neurofeedback and his calling. In his study of neurofeedback, he discovered a modality that combined a rich understanding of the biological basis of the brain with the power to directly impact the human experience. In 2004, he and his wife, Laura, established AHA Psychological Services, soon to become Midwest Neurofeedback, which became his avenue to delve into the intricacies of the human brain and provide many people the opportunity to directly impact their lives through optimizing neural regulation.

Avery’s passion and dedication remain foundational to Midwest Neurofeedback today as Laura continues to promote the passion for healing and regulation that was alive in Avery. His memory continues to bless all who were fortunate to have known him and those who were touched by his work.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find the right provider?

How do I find the right provider?

Although neurofeedback is an extremely powerful and successful intervention for both remediating issues and enhancing optimum functioning, it’s effectiveness is highly dependent upon the expertise of the provider. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that you find the right provider. In choosing your clinician you need to check out his or her credentials and experience, both with your issues and with the practice of neurofeedback. Ask as many questions as you can before deciding on a clinician. Below are some guidelines:

  • Ask specific questions about background.  Look carefully at credentials, experience, and education in both their clinical and neurofeedback training.
  • Make certain that they are licensed in a medical field. What is their degree; a Master’s should be the minimum requirement.
  • Ask if they (the licensed individual) provide the service directly or if they use technicians.
  • Find out where were got trained professionally.
  • Ask how much training they have in neurofeedback? How many courses have they taken? How much continuing education do they receive? Ask if they are certified in neurofeedback?
  •  Ask how long have they been practicing neurofeedback? How many clients have they actually done neurofeedback with? How many people with your kind of situation have they dealt with?
  • If their experience is limited, ask if they work with a mentor, or get supervision on difficult cases. Ask who their mentor is.
  • Inquire about other kinds of therapies and modalities they practice?

At Midwest Neurofeedback, we welcome your questions and will do all we can to help you feel comfortable and ready for therapy.

What actually happens in a neurofeedback session?

What actually happens in a neurofeedback session?

  • Sensors are placed on the scalp and ear. Brain waves are recorded, amplified and sent to a computer that processes the signal and provides the proper feedback.
  • Feedback about brain activity is given to the client/trainee, typically by means of a video game. The client/trainee is simply asked to play the video game with his/her brain. As desirable brain wave frequency increases, the video game responds. The brain responds to the information given and gradually develops alternative brainwave patterns.
  • Once this new learning is consolidated, the new pattern of regulation stabilizes and the changes appear to last. Continued neurofeedback becomes unnecessary.

What is the Neurofeedback (Arousal) Model?

What is the Neurofeedback (Arousal) Model?

All human activity is dependent upon the flow of information through elaborate neuronal networks in the brain. It is the combined effect of this neuronal activity that produces the wavelike electro-chemical discharges (brainwaves) that we work with in neurotherapy. Different activities or states of consciousness are associated with different brainwaves. A healthy brain shifts through different brainwave states dependent upon the task at hand. A deregulated brain may be underaroused and unresponsive or overaroused and anxious, resulting in a diminished ability to shift states in response to environmental demands; we become “stuck” in a specific state of arousal, style of responding or mood state. Neurofeedback is designed to enhance brain function by improving the brain’s ability to switch states. That is, neurofeedback is used to “teach” the brain to increase its production of “situationally healthy” brainwaves and decrease the production of “situationally unhealthy” brainwaves. Over time, the brain adapts, resulting in greater flexibility and regulation of brainwave state.

Is there enough research?

Is there enough research?

Neurofeedback started in animal research.  This early research, which has been validated in many peer-reviewed journals since the 1970s, showed:  1) the EEG can be changed through operant conditioning (based on Skinner’s work), and 2) that seizures are reduced with EEG training.  These early studies were done with animals – with no chance of placebo effects.  The basis for this field is extremely solid.  There are a number of good outcome studies.  No one has published any significant study suggesting that neurofeedback doesn’t work.

To date, the areas with the most empirical research involve ADHD, addictions, anxiety disorders, autistic spectrum disorders, depression and seizure disorders.  A well recognized medical journal in child and adolescent psychiatry (JACP) devoted much of a special issue to research in neurofeedback in January 2005.  It is well worth reviewing.  It was edited by an associate professor from Brown Medical School, a psychiatrist from Harvard Medical School and a psychiatrist from University of California, Davis. (ask you practitioner for a copy).

Frank Duffy, a noted Harvard Neurologist, reviewed the literature in 2000.  He wrote an editorial that identified some unresolved research issues.  Then he added:

“The literature, which lacks any negative study of substance, suggests that EBT (EEG Biofeedback Therapy) should play a major therapeutic role in many difficult areas. In my opinion, if any medication had demonstrated such a wide spectrum of efficacy it would be universally accepted and widely used.”

What is the evidence on neurofeedback effectiveness?

What is the evidence on neurofeedback effectiveness?

Studies from around the world have demonstrated the effectiveness of neurofeedback in treating a variety of conditions and in enhancing abilities.  A study at London’s Royal College of Music (2006), for example, illustrated the beneficial effects of neurofeedback on musical ability.  In a controlled study, subjects receiving neurofeedback were judged significantly better than control subjects on measures of musical understanding, stylistic precision and imaginative interpretation.  To date, the areas with the most empirical research involve ADHD, addictions, anxiety disorders, autistic spectrum disorders, depression and seizure disorders.  Numerous controlled studies, including a recent study published in Pediatrics (2006), have documented the effective use of neurofeedback in the treatment of ADHD, anxiety, autism, chronic pain, traumatic brain injury, depression, learning disabilities, neurodevelopmental difficulties and migraines.  In addition to controlled studies, evidence for the effectiveness of neurofeedback comes from an extensive number of clinical studies.  A comprehensive bibliography on the research on neurofeedback can be obtained at www.isnr.org.

Are there adverse effects?

Are there adverse effects?

Neurofeedback has been used for over 30 years clinically, with hundreds of thousands of training sessions.   There are no known situations where a long term adverse effect has been identified.  There has never been a lawsuit for adverse effects of neurofeedback training.

Yet anything with the power to change things powerfully for the better could potentially have adverse effects.  That’s why good professional training is critical.  This tool can help improve sleep.  In the short term, training a site and frequency not optimum for an individual could make sleep worse.  Training can improve depression – or in the short term, it could exacerbate that symptom if done inappropriately.

Typically, change in any one session is very minor.  Training effects can be rapidly reversed by changing protocols (sites and frequencies) – even within the same session.  Monitoring change and shifting training protocols is part of the responsibility of a trained professional.  Just as short-term side effects lead to changes in medications, short-term effects provide information useful in adjusting the client’s training.

What is Neuroplasticity and Brain Evolution?

What is Neuroplasticity and Brain Evolution?

Simply stated, neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to change itself.  Current research shows many aspects of the brain remain changeable (or “plastic”) throughout the life-span. This notion contrasts with the previous belief that the brain develops during a critical period in early childhood, then remains relatively unchangeable (or “static”) afterward. It was also believed that each of us was born with a finite number of brain cells and when cells died there was no new growth possible.

Neuroplasticity shows that both neurons (nerve cells) and neural networks in the brain are capable of changing their numbers, connections, and behavior in response to new learning, stimulation, damage or dysfunction. If specific areas or networks in the brain are damaged, other areas can sometimes take over and new neurons can be activated. The brain compensates for damage in effect by reorganizing and forming new connections between intact neurons.  New learning and thus brain change occurs throughout our lives.

What are Brainwaves?

What are Brainwaves?

Brainwaves are generally classified into 4 distinct frequencies or speeds – delta, theta, alpha and beta – and our state of consciousness depends on which waves are dominant. Delta waves (.5-4 Hz) are dominant during sleep. Theta waves (4-7 Hz) emerge as you drift off to sleep; this is the “twilight,” hypnogogic state in which dream like images can surface. Between 8 and 12 Hz are alpha waves, characterized by calm, relaxed and meditative feelings, day dreaming and unfocused thought. Beta (12-36 Hz), which dominates our normal waking state, has been subdivided into SMR (12-15 Hz), beta (15-18 Hz) and high beta (19-36 Hz). SMR is characterized as a relaxed, but alert state; it is sometimes described as “highly alert, physical stillness.” Focused concentration, mental acuity and mental activity are characteristic of beta. High beta (>18 Hz) may be described as a hyper-alert state, sometimes leading to tension, anxiety and agitation.

A healthy person will shift through the different states dependent upon the task-at-hand. Different activities require different brainwave states. Increased theta is adaptive when we are drifting off to sleep, for example, but not when we are driving a car.  Brainwave training protocols are designed to enhance brain function by increasing the brain’s production of “situationally healthy” brainwaves and decreasing the presence of “situationally unhealthy” waves. Training protocols affect a combination of signals, depending upon therapy goals and any brainwave dysregulation that may be present. There are specific protocols appropriate for different problems, but each protocol is individually designed to fit the person.