Locations: 3430 Independence Drive in Suite 120 (Homewood) and 200 Cahaba Park Circle, Suite 214 (Highway 280)
Social: @braincorebham
For those struggling mentally and emotionally, treatment options may seem limited to medication alone. But at BrainCore of Birmingham, clients can explore an alternate, drug-free route to strengthening and healing their mind.
Founded in 2019 by Alice Churnock, BrainCore of Birmingham uses neurofeedback to help create new neural pathways in the brain. Using a noninvasive software that detects and monitors electrical impulses within the brain, clients perform exercises to help the brain better self-regulate and heal.
BrainCore targets multiple problem areas: attention and focus, anxiety, autism, depression, sleep issues, learning challenges, memory loss, headaches, PTSD and substance abuse disorders.
A licensed professional counselor and a certified eating disorder specialist, Churnock said she first became intrigued with the treatment for her son, who struggled with sleep and anxiety.
To begin the process, each client receives a brain map, called a qEEG, which utilizes scans of focal and global sites in the brain to put together a comprehensive chart for each client. These maps highlight the most dysregulated areas of the brain and give insight on which protocol would be most effective.
Prior to beginning training, the client will also receive a metabolics screening to see if there are any pre-existing health conditons that may affect how long it will take their brain to change.
From there, the client can choose to continue to move forward with a protocol fit to their needs. For example, Churnock said for someone with ADHD, a focus and attention protocol would have them practicing 35 to 40 30-minute training sessions; Or for someone with anxiety, around 20 training sessions.
“The majority of people do what we call fast-wave training, which means we paste one or two sensors onto the head that merely monitor your brainwave activity,” Churnock said.
“The best part is that to train, clients then get to watch their favorite TV show. As they watch TV, when their brain starts using waves that are unhelpful, the screen becomes darker and the sound fades in and out. So the brain learns that if it wants the reward of getting to watch TV, it has to use the brainwaves we are teaching it to use. This is feedback of neurofeedback.”
These sessions can be done at a BrainCore office or at home.
For those training at home, they will be using a laptop which comes with the proper software and a required four-week commitment.
Churnock said clients should begin noticing effects within 10 to 15 sessions, but each brain responds differently.
Neurofeedback training at BrainCore of Birmingham has no age limit, though Churnock said the neuroplasticity of a younger mind is an advantage. For those who are older, the process will likely take more time.
“The younger we can do this, the better the results,” she said.
Additionally, the treatments can be done in tandem with medication, but the process will take longer, according to Churnock.
“I am not against medication,” she said. “I believe God has given us multiple tools to help us thrive. So even if a client doesn’t want to do neurofeedback, just have a brain map done. That can help get us in the ballpark for which medication may be most helpful.”
BrainCore has two Birmingham area locations, one in Homewood and one on U.S. 280, as well as an office in Huntsville.
For more information, testimonials, or videos on how BrainCore Neurofeedback works, visit BrainCore’s website at braincorebham.com.
