Neurofeedback works: Van der Kolk

Thank you so much Kathy for posting.  And by the no. of views many have also appreciated it.  I loved that there were a few new concepts that came together for me.

Warning: slightly clumsy, non succinct rant ahead!

In the world of ideas of how to assist in dealing with trauma,  nothing and no one, to me, makes as much sense as van der Kolk, and the other people he sites that  are at the top of the game in this kind of research*, which he skilfully and articulately brings altogether and shares with the public. I wanted to cry with joy and relief that Kolk and his cohorts are really onto something profoundly closer to the 'truth' (yeah, yeah) as to what can actually help people!! His description of the functioning of the brain and why antidepressants do not help is so... logical.

Kolk himself acknowledges biofeedback is still primitive in its conception and delivery and that insurance companies etc will need to jump on board to assist its execution, as it is so costly both in further research and the individual delivery.  

Whilst certainly not a quick fix neurofeedback seems to deliver results, that perhaps cannot be achieved by other methods. - There was also the dual factor of a highly skilled, tuned in therapist. Carolyn's story, one hopes, is not necessarily an exception.

My only concern was that treating children with trauma injuries with neurofeedback only to return them to the place of origin of the trauma, could be misused, misguided etc.  (I know in my home state the government is paying some psychologists to administer this.  There was also some concern that biofeedback is not a one size fits all and that it doesn't help some conditions.  Don't know the details. Hence the need for very specific research and data.) Ie little consideration or intervention given to the abusers or what have you, by some agencies.  That there is something is wrong with the child, not parent approach.  Whilst this probably wouldn't happen in many instances, one being its cost prohibition, some families (with financial means) could take this tact.  I know there are some children who have for example anxiety issues, etc that maybe it could help, but I also see that the parents need help too in how they manage the child and themselves, who may or may not have issues themselves.

*Coincidently van der Kolk mentions Professor Sandy MacPharlane quite a few times in his recent book and in this video, who comes from my home town of Adelaide.  He rarely speaks in the public arena, although having said this, he did make an appearance recently on a topical issue on the tv news, yet he is doing some fascinating research.  My only theory as to why he's so little known is that our population is small, hence little funding and no type of trauma research centres that reach out to the public with information.  Pity.  Yet our government has very generously funded a Martin Seligman type of positive thinking centre. Ahem!!

This video and prior discussions about biofeedback has again made me want to rush off and try it.  But the cost!  And thinking of so many others whom it could possibly help, apart from me(!), who so desperately need help, makes me wonder how this is going to be possible.  But still,  it is a very interesting and promising medium in getting closer to helping people with hyper vigilant and other maladative brains, which through no fault of their own, make their lives quite miserable, when it doesn't have to be this way.