Friday, October 25, 2013

We recently had a chance to speak to Dr. Swingle about his ClinicalQ and BrainDryvr method and its use in assessing and treating clients with post traumatic stress disorder. 

What are the advantages of using neurotherapy as part of the treatment for PTSD?Neurotherapy can normalize or improve the brainwave architecture - that is, the way the brain is functioning - and then we typically combine that with some other psychological process for helping the person deal efficiently with the overwhelming emotions associated with the exposure to the traumatic event. It marries well with other kinds of therapy whether its experiential, EMDR, cognitive behaviour and so forth. Once the brain is functioning more efficiently, then it just markedly enhances the efficacy of these other procedures.

When exposed to the same traumatic experience, why do some experience PTSD, while others do not?
When I was treating combat veterans at Harvard Medical School McLean Hospital, we had situations in which we would have 3 or 4 veterans, one of whom was hospitalized with PTSD. He was disabled by the event whereas although all of the other people experienced the same thing and might have such problems such as bad dreams, they weren't disabled by the event. The difference with the person who was disabled was his neurological condition prior to walking into the combat theatre. So, we know one of the areas that we can work with in terms or increasing stress tolerance, but what about the damage that's been done - namely the post traumatic stress disorder - and that is a marked impact on the ability to regulate emotional reactivity. The flashbacks, and all of the rest of it, are associated directly with neurological conditions that we can identify when we do EEG assessments. And if we can identify it, then we know where to go to help correct the problem.

How does the ClinicalQ assessment work?
The ClinicalQ is an EEG assessment that measures brain activity at five critical locations. The results of the assessment are then compared to a clinical database that is remarkably accurate in terms of indicating why a person is coming to see us. I saw a client the other day - a young man who had been exposed to a recent severe emotional stressor that triggered a predisposition to depressed mood states. When I explained this to him, his jaw dropped to the floor. How could I possibly know that from looking at brainwave activity? Well, the brain tells us everything. If you've been exposed to a severe emotional stressor recently, it is very likely that the brain is going to show the effects. And if you have a predisposition for a certain disorder such as depression, exposure to severe emotional stressors may likely trigger that condition.

Do you think that combat veterans - most of which are young men - are hesitant to seek treatment for PTSD because of stigmas that exist?

That's really a crucial point. Decades ago, when we were dealing with PTSD there was a presumption of a weakness of character and that an individual that was disabled by the exposure to this severe emotional stress had some kind of deficit. We know now that there are neurological conditions that render us more susceptible to one type of disorder than another. With regard to post traumatic stress disorder, there's a very specific area of the brain that's associated with this vulnerability. So, if the client was a police cadet, prior to going into the policing theatre we would have a look and see if he was neurologically vulnerable and we would do some preventative neurotherapy to better prepare him for the severe stresses of police duty. The focus is on brain functioning - it's exactly what we would do for an Olympic level athlete, exactly what we would do for a CEO of a large company. It's just making the brain more efficient to deal with severe stress. It has absolutely nothing to do with strength of character or mental illness or anything of that nature.

Are there other therapies that are effective with post traumatic stress disorder?
As I said before, all therapies marry perfectly with neurotherapy. I do a lot of hypnosis for these kinds of conditions. Once you get the brain so it's functioning efficiently you can use hypnosis for trying to modify the core emotional belief that gets triggered in these post traumatic stress disorder conditions. A good example is the feeling that you're not safe. One of the situations that we get with get severe stress...automobile accidents are a good example of this. When you're driving through an intersection and you have the green light, somebody t-bones you there's a situation where something came right out of the blue. So, after you get all of the physical things sorted out you still have this angst about the world not being a safe place and that's a core emotional belief - its beyond the arena of words. So hypnosis is often an extremely efficient way of having the person reorganize that emotional belief.

Do you have advice for PTSD sufferers that might not have access to neurotherapy?
A lot of it depends on extent of disability. If you're dealing with somebody who has full blown flashbacks where they become absolutely incapacitated and they're not present, then the notion of giving them advice or home treatment is completely misguided because you need somebody to be able to shepherd the person through all of that. For lesser conditions, we use things like my sweep harmonic, for example, which is something akin to EMDR, but it uses sound. If you listen to that sound while you are trying to make the fear as intense as possible, you'll find that it blows it away. So any situation in which the individual is trying to feel, what every cell in their body is telling them to avoid, under conditions in which it is manageable is a positive treatment. For military veterans, it is best to inquire with their case worker who should be familiar with these options.

The BCIA (BiofeedbackCertification International Alliance) website provides a list of practitioners that have been certified in neurofeedback.
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You can learn more about Dr. Swingle and his methods on the BFE Website or by
visiting the Swingle Clinic website.

In a recent webinar, Dr. Swingle discussed his approach to treating PTSD.The recording of that presentation is available in the BFE Online Shop.

Presented by: Dr. Paul G. Swingle


Any questions can be directed to Dr. Swingle's BFE Team at blueswingle@gmail.com.

Friday, April 26, 2013

Using the ClinicalQ and BrainDryvr Software Suite

We are pleased to announce an upcoming online class on the use of the ClinicalQ and BrainDryvr suite. 

Whether you are new user of the ClinicalQ and BrainDryvr suite and just want to learn the basics to get started, or if you've been using the suite for a while and just need a refresher - this class is for you! The 6-hour class will be taught by BFE Research Manager, Jon Bale, who worked as part of the team that created the software with Dr. Swingle. During the first 3 sessions, Jon will demonstrate the use of the software, the QuickQ Assessment and Excel report and Braindriving. Dr. Swingle will join the final session to discuss the interpretation of data and to answer any clinical questions from the participants.

Dr. Swingle's ClinicalQ and BrainDryvr Online Class
Instructor(s): Jon Bale and Dr. Paul Swingle
Date: May 21, 28, June 4, 11, 2013
Time: 3:00-4:30 Eastern Time (US & Canada)

Editor's Note from October 30th 2013 - please feel free to check the BFE Shop for the latest listing of the online class, or email blueswingle@gmail.com with any questions you may have.

Monday, March 25, 2013

Train with Dr. Swingle in Vancouver

Each year Dr. Swingle presents a number of workshops at the Swingle Clinic in Vancouver, Canada as well as at a number of locations around the world. Users of the ClinicalQ and BrainDryvr suite who have trained online with Dr. Swingle, or a member of his BFE Team, can now enjoy the benefits of a hands-on workshop in beautiful Vancouver. The upcoming workshops include two at the introductory level and one at the advanced level.


ClinicalQ and Braindriving: 
Fundamental Neurotherapy for Professionals
Presenter: Dr. Paul G Swingle
Date: April 12-14, 2013
Download Brochure


ClinicalQ and Braindriving: 
Fundamental Neurotherapy for Professionals
Presenter: Dr. Paul G Swingle
Date: June 21-23, 2013
Download Brochure


ClinicalQ, Braindriving & Synergic Therapies: 
Advanced Neurotherapy for Professionals
Presenter: Dr. Paul G Swingle
Date: October 4-6, 2013
Download Brochure






Any questions about the Vancouver workshops can be directed to rita@swingleclinic.com.


Friday, March 15, 2013

Dr. Swingle in Montreal, Canada

Dr. Swingle will be presenting a one-day ClinicalQ and BrainDryvr workshop for Infiniti users on May 31, 2013 in Montreal, Canada. Take advantage of the early registration discount by registering before April 2nd. For more details, click on the flyer below.


Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Video of New Features in the ClinicalQ and BrainDryvr Suite Update

As you may know, we recently updated the ClinicalQ and BrainDryvr software suite. All registered users of the suite were notified and invited to attend a live online session during which Jon Bale, BFE Research Manager, demonstrated to new features of the software. Thanks to all who attended and those who emailed us with follow-up questions.

If you were unable to attend, you can watch the video right here:




And remember, after watching the video, if you have any questions, send them along to the BFE Swingle Team at blueswingle@gmail.com.

Note: Some users may have downloaded the suite update before Jon Bale was able to add in the additional Harmonic-Testing protocols & Excel reports. Feel free to re-download the encoder-specific setups for the suite, which now contain those extra software components. Need the download link again? Just email the team (blueswingle@gmail.com) and we'll send you the link and password. Jon and the BFE apologize for this oversight.

Saturday, February 9, 2013

ClinicalQ and BrainDryvr Software Update


Over the past year or so, the BFE's Swingle Team has been slowing making changes to the ClinicalQ & BrainDryvr Suite based on feedback provided by Dr. Paul Swingle, his technicians and independent clinicians using the software. We are happy to announce the release of an updated version of the ClinicalQ & BrainDryvr Suite than includes several changes starting with a new name.

QuickQ is now ClinicalQ

As you may or may not know, the name of the suite has been changed from QuickQ and BrainDryvr to ClinicalQ and BrainDryvr. There are a number of places in the software where this cosmetic change has been made.

New features of the suite include:
  • Additional statistic measures in the ClinicalQ Assessment excel report
  • More BrainDryvr training screens
  • Sound feedback has been modified to avoid onset delays
  • Altered on-screen logic for Frontal Balancing BrainDryvr training screens
  • Reworking size of feedback videos/animations
  • Quick Start sessions have been added to the ClinicalQ & MiniClinicalQ Assessments, as well as Testing Effects of Harmonics
  • Software manual is updated - improving greatly on instruction quality


 


This update is free for all registered users of the QuickQ & BrainDryvr Suite or ClinicalQ and BrainDryvr Suite. The new update to the suite will not replace or delete the older version of the suite, nor will it render any previously recorded session data useless. It's an update we recommend all users take advantage of. And remember, your feedback is important to us. Let us know about the features you like (or dislike), any suggestions you have for improving the software and your "wish lists" for future updates.


All registers users will automatically be sent instructions on downloading the new software. If you're using the suite and haven't received an update message please contact us at blueswingle@gmail.com.



Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Public Lecture on Biofeedback for the Brain



Those of us working in this field are well aware of the benefits biofeedback and neurofeedback can have on a number of disorders. We also know that despite the benefits, many in the general population are not aware that these treatments exist.

For anyone who knows Dr. Paul Swingle and his body of work, it comes as no surprise that he is a strong proponent of educating not only his fellow professionals but those in his community who can benefit most from his knowledge. In a public lecture tomorrow in Vancouver, he will discuss the use of neurotherapy in treating a number of common disorders.

Biofeedback for the Brain
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
7:00 PM
Central Library, Peter Kaye Room
350 W. Georgia, Vancouver, BC

 If you are in Vancouver and want to learn more, we encourage you to attend the lecture. Click on the link above for more details.

Not in Vancouver? The Swingle Clinic provides a wealth of free information in the form of recorded webcasts - each focusing on a different subject. Click here to view the entire list and take a moment to learn more about this exciting field.











Wednesday, January 16, 2013

The Mind WorkStation Add-On

We recently notified all users of the ClinicalQ and BrainDryvr software suite about an upcoming class on the Mind WorkStation Add-On and have received a number of questions about its use. So, here's a brief description of what it is, what it does and how you can learn more about it.

Not long ago, a few clinicians contacted us - the Biofeedback Federation of Europe's (BFE) Swingle Team - about an idea. They thoroughly appreciated Dr. Swingle's efficient ClinicalQ Assessment method and his BrainDryvr training screens, but they wanted to take the training feedback one step further. They hoped to integrate more dynamic sound and vivid visual feedback into the training process, using outside equipment. With a significant amount of work, that idea created the ClinicalQ Mind WorkStation (MWS) Add-On.

What are the advantages of the ClinicalQ Mind WorkStation Add-On?
The MWS Add-On provides superior sound and unrivaled visual feedback, through the MWS program. The normal feedback sounds and music included in the original ClinicalQ & BrainDryvr Suite can still be used, but the MWS system can plays tones that evenly change in pitch, wave and volume. The sounds can be linked to individual EEG bandwidth amplitudes for entrainment, such that as the amplitudes go up or down, so does the sound change in stepwise manners. Individual sounds can also be muted/unmuted at will. The MWS can also use audiovisual headgear (although not required) to outrival the feedback animations of the ClinicalQ & BrainDryvr Suite. There are many additional feedback options available with the MWS program that are open for the clinician to set themselves.

Who should get the Add-On?
The Mind WorkStation Add-On can be complex for the clinicians operating their computer system. Both the Biograph Infiniti program and the MWS program are running simultaneously, since the Biograph feeds EEG data to the MWS in real-time. The MWS program has its own user interface for monitoring data and feedback.


Therapists should first be comfortable with the standard ClinicalQ & BrainDryvr Suite before they decide to embark on using the MWS. Naturally, the individual also has to purchase the MWS program to use our add-on.

How do I download the ClinicalQ Mind WorkStation Add-On?

Please send an email to the BFE's Swingle Team (blueswingle@gmail.com) to notify us. Due to the complexity of the add-on, we are currently giving out the ClinicalQ Mind WorkStation Add-On at no charge, for anyone who signs up for the MWS online class that we are providing. The online class is 6 hours (4 x 1.5 hour sessions) of instruction guided by Elizabeth Tegan, the main software designer for the Add-On. It is the best way to take advantage of this training opportunity.

There is a change in what programs and equipment are used:

The standard and original ClinicalQ & BrainDryvr Suite collects data using the Thought Technology-made EEG sensor(s)/encoder and then processes that raw data in the Biograph Infiniti program to yield statistics and provide feedback. The ClinicalQ MWS Add-On uses a similar process, however the statistics calculated by the Biograph Infiniti are imported in real-time to the MWS program to provide high quality sound and visual feedback. The MWS program and visual equipment is manufactured by TransparentCorp (http://www.transparentcorp.com/) and must be purchased from them. The standard Thought Technology equipment (ProComp Infiniti or ProComp 2 encoder with 2 EEG sensors, and Biograph Infiniti program) are still necessary for recording data with this add-on.



  





THE MIND WORKSTATION - ADD-ON
Presented by: Elizabeth Tegan 
If you are interested in exploring what the Mind WorkStation add-on can do for you, we invite you to join the upcoming class followed by grand rounds sessions during which specific cases or questions can be asked of Elizabeth. Click on the links below for more details.

Mind WorkStation Class
Jan 18, Feb 1, Feb 8, Feb 15, 2013 
Time: 12:00 - 1:30 PM Eastern Time (US & Canada)
$169.00   

Mind WorkStation Grand Rounds
Feb 22, Mar 1, Mar 8, 2013
Time: 12:00 - 1:00  PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
$149.00

As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at blueswingle@gmail.com.


Monday, January 7, 2013

2013 Online Grand Rounds

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Swingle will be back in 2013 to host monthly Grand Rounds sessions for ClinicalQ and BrainDryvr users. These sessions are ideal for anyone using Dr. Swingle's methods - regardless of the hardware used.

Participants are given the opportunity to present challenging cases to Dr. Swingle for review and to listen in on a wide variety of topics and questions that arise for software usere around the world. Join us for the winter series, the spring series or a single session if your time is limited.


We invite you to join us online and take advantage of a 25% discount on any purchases made in our online shop by the end of the month. Just enter the coupon code: mdas684 when placing your order.


THURSDAY GRAND ROUNDS
Presented by: Dr. Paul G. Swingle

Winter Series
January 10, 2013 - February 14, 2013 - March 14, 2013
Time: 3:00 - 4:00 PM Eastern Time (US & Canada)
$149.00

Spring Series
April 11, 2013 - May 9, 2013 - June 13, 2013
Time: 3:00 - 4:00 PM Eastern Time (US & Canada)
$149.00

Single Session
Time: 3:00 - 4:00 PM Eastern Time (US & Canada)
$69.00