A list of the questions we are commonly asked:
Will my health insurance cover the costs/can I get tax relief?
This depends on your policy. You should ask your insurer if they cover Clinical Psychology. We can take care of the rest.
You can claim tax relief at 20% on all of our service through your Med-1 form. Some health insurance plans will cover some of the services we offer, particularly those related to Clinical Psychology. This will depend on your plan, and we can give you some advice about this. Feel free to get in touch with any queries.
“Neurofeedback can be considered a non-pharmacological treatment option for ADHD with evidence of treatment effects that are sustained when treatment is completed and withdrawn.”
What services do you provide at Actualise?
We provide a range of services related to clinical work: assessments and intervention in areas like depression, anxiety and ADHD.
In our Clinical work, we conduct Clinical Psychology interventions and assessments (e.g. WAIS, WMS), Educational Assessments, and provide Neurofeedback Training, Psychotherapy, Counselling, and a range of workshops and seminars.
We also provide seminars, workshops and group activities related to Brain Health in the workplace, including Mindfulness and Stress Reduction. We tailor solutions for each workplace, so contact us to find out how we can best suit your needs.
“In our most recent service evaluation, 79% of our clients said NFT led to a significant or very significant reduction in their or their child’s symptoms.”
What is Neurofeedback Training?
Neurofeedback Training (NFT) is a scientifically validated method of ‘brain training’ that helps your brain to learn how to work in a more efficient way. It is based on operant conditioning - learning by reinforcement. Please click here to read more.
What are your opening hours?
We are open Wednesday to Saturday, as follows:
Wednesday 8am - 6pm
Thursday 11am - 8pm
Friday 9am - 6pm
Saturday 9am - 2pm
We are closed from Sunday to Tuesday. If you leave a message during this time, please note it will not be picked up until Wednesday.
Do you provide services outside of Dublin?
Yes We currently have a remote NFT service which allows you to train at home, while we can monitor online. You can read more about Home Neurofeedback here.
Are you actively involved in any academic work?
Yes, we are currently working on a number of projects with a range of clinical, educational and business partners. These include collaborations with Trinity College, Dublin City University, Sheffield Hallam University, Maynooth University, IES Abroad, St. James's Hospital, Craigavon Area Hospital, The Brain & Behaviour Foundation, and The Migraine Association of Ireland.
What age groups do you deal with?
We deal with all age groups. About 60% of our clients are children and adolescents, and about 40% adults.
How does Neurofeedback training work?
NFT is a work out for your brain. In the same way you would train a specific muscle group in the gym to achieve a physical goal, NFT helps you to train parts of your brain to also reach personal goals. NFT uses instruments to measure your brain activity and ‘feeds’ this back to you on a computer screen, in a way that’s easy to understand. By learning to control the feedback on screen, you gain more control over your brain function and make your brain more efficient. If your brain works better, you work better! Learn more about Neurofeedback Training and how it works here.
Is Neurofeedback Training safe?
Yes. In 60 years of research and practice, nobody has been harmed from NFT. There may be some reported side effects, which are transient and will pass.
Will it hurt or will I feel anything?
Not at all. When you do NFT we monitor and record what your brain is doing using passive sensors (like recording your pulse or your heart rate) and nothing is sent to your body via these sensors. These sensors are called electrodes and are part of our EEG cap. To help these sensors get a good signal, we use a little conducting gel, and that might be a bit cold, but that is the only thing you’ll feel!
What can Neurofeedback Training be used for?
NFT can be used for a range of issues. At Actualise, we specialise in ADHD, depression, anxiety and trauma.
How effective is NFT?
A recent study on NFT in ADHD compiled data on over 500 children with ADHD. Published in the journal European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, this study found NFT to have sustainable effects in the longer term, with positive and significant effects observed after six months of treatment. The findings show that the effects of Neurofeedback show a tendency to improve over time, with no ongoing therapy sessions needed after the initial program compared to the group, which was still taking medication at six-month follow-up. The results showed NFT to be equivalent to medication in the treatment of ADHD symptoms.
Critically, many different experts with differing views on NFT were brought together for this study. The authors concluded:
"Our meta-analytic results of NF treatment follow-up suggest that there are sustained symptom reductions over time in comparison with non-active control conditions. The improvements seen here are comparable to active treatments (including methylphenidate [Ritalin]) at a short-term FU of 2–12 months. As such, NF can be considered a non-pharmacological treatment option for ADHD with evidence of treatment effects that are sustained when treatment is completed and withdrawn."
How does the whole process begin?
Everyone begins with an Initial Assessment which you can learn about here.
How many sessions do I need?
This differs from person to person, and particularly from children to adults. Traditionally, the ‘industry standard’ for traditional NFT was 60/80 sessions, but with our more advanced technology and improved protocols, our clients generally require much fewer.
Depending on individual needs, in general, our clients require around 20 one-hour sessions, with 'tapering sessions' after that. Tapering consists of three sessions roughly one, three and six months after your last session.
How often can I do the sessions?
This can vary with your personal circumstances. A minimum of at least one session per week is needed in order to satisfy the requirements for efficient learning. We always start with an initial consultation and assessment, and we can work out your schedule after that.
What will happen at the NFT sessions?
During each NFT session, you will wear the EEG cap. You will be asked to watch the screen and get a movie to play or get a video game to work. The video/game will play based on your brain activity and as your brain activity is being fed back to you, you can begin to gain some control over it. Sessions are generally comfortable, if a little tiring.
When will I see the benefits?
Some people report feeling some positive effects as early as 3 or 4 sessions in, but for most people it tends to take longer (again it varies based on goals, your own input, age etc.) The early positive effects tend to be subtle and short-lived, and it is with continued reinforcement and training that these benefits become more noticeable and stable.
NFT is strengthening new and more efficient neural pathways and patterns, which is much like exercising a muscle in the body. As with physical training, people see benefits at different rates and factors apart from the training itself will have an influence. As a result, it can take varying amounts of time to see changes.
Will the effects last?
A recent study on NFT in ADHD compiled data on over 500 children with ADHD. Published in the journal European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, this study found NFT to have sustainable effects in the longer term, with positive and significant effects observed after six months of treatment. The findings show that the effects of Neurofeedback show a tendency to improve over time, with no ongoing therapy sessions needed after the initial program compared to the group, which was still taking medication at six-month follow-up. The results showed NFT to be equivalent to medication in the treatment of ADHD symptoms.
Critically, many different experts with differing views on NFT were brought together for this study. The authors concluded:
"Our meta-analytic results of NF treatment follow-up suggest that there are sustained symptom reductions over time in comparison with non-active control conditions. The improvements seen here are comparable to active treatments (including methylphenidate [Ritalin]) at a short-term FU of 2–12 months. As such, NF can be considered a non-pharmacological treatment option for ADHD with evidence of treatment effects that are sustained when treatment is completed and withdrawn."
Results gained with NFT are generally well maintained; especially once you maintain the behavioural changes that go along with them. As NFT trains towards greater efficiency, it is easier for your brain to maintain this new way of working. With this in mind, it is important to try not to let yourself fall back into old habits which would support old brain patterns. Continuing to break old habits is continuing to practise using your improved brain patterns and new neural pathways. Practise will make them more dominant over old ones, and thus maintain effects.
As we change and develop, especially when we are young, our brains may go back to the ‘old way’ of working. This may just occur as we change, as old habits begin again, or it may be triggered by particular events. If this happens, our brains can ‘relearn’ what it learned before with a small number of top-up sessions.
Do you have a cancellation policy?
When you book a consultation, we take a €50 non-refundable deposit. This is then deducted from your consultation fee. For NFT sessions, you are required to give at least 24 hours’ notice. Otherwise, a €40 cancellation fee will apply. We appreciate you adhering to our policy.
Do you have a waiting list?
Generally, yes. Due to the increasing demand for our services, as well as the positive outcomes, demand for our services is high. We try to keep waiting times down, but you may experience a wait before your consultation. We can give you an estimate of waiting time once you make contact with us.
Can I skip to the top of the waiting list?
No.