Substance use problems are, at the brain level, a hijacking of reward and stress circuitry: the substance becomes the nervous system's fastest route to relief, and everything else fades. That's why recovery is so much harder than "just stopping" — and why supporting the brain's own regulation makes such a difference to staying stopped.
Neurofeedback has a long research history in addiction settings as an adjunct that supports recovery. Our work complements — it does not replace — medical detox, recovery programs, and community support.
Signs it may be time to reach out
- Using more, or more often, than intended — and finding it hard to cut back
- Anxiety, insomnia, or low mood driving use (or driven by it)
- Early recovery that feels white-knuckled and fragile
- Past relapses triggered by stress, sleep loss, or overwhelming emotion
How we support recovery
A qEEG brain map shows the arousal and regulation patterns your nervous system is running — often the same patterns that make cravings and stress feel unbearable. Neurofeedback trains toward calm, stable functioning; biofeedback builds in-the-moment tools for urges and anxiety; and psychotherapy addresses the underlying patterns — trauma, depression, anxiety — that so often sit beneath substance use.
What to expect
Honest, stigma-free care that fits alongside whatever recovery structure you use — 60-minute sessions at our Oakland and Santa Rosa clinics. We coordinate with your other providers whenever that helps.