Neurofeedback for Nervous System Regulation
Neurofeedback is a gentle, non-invasive training approach that helps your brain improve self-regulation. Many people explore neurofeedback when they feel “stuck” in patterns of stress, fatigue, overwhelm, poor sleep, hypervigilance, anxiety, low mood, or cognitive fog — even when they understand what’s happening psychologically.
At Presenting Past, neurofeedback is offered integrated with psychotherapy (including trauma-focused and relational work). The aim is simple: to support your nervous system to become more stable, more resilient, and easier to live in.
What is ILF Neurofeedback?
ILF (Infra-Low Frequency) neurofeedback supports nervous system regulation using very slow frequencies. It is often a good fit when people experience:
chronic stress, anxiety, or panic patterns
hypervigilance, startle responses, or feeling “on edge”
trauma-related symptoms (including complex trauma)
sleep disruption or unrefreshing sleep
emotional reactivity, shutdown, numbness, or “too much / too little” activation
fatigue, brain fog, concentration difficulties, or low motivation
migraines, tension patterns, and stress-related physical symptoms
ILF is not about “trying harder” or consciously controlling your brain. Instead, it supports your system to discover a more regulated baseline over time — often experienced as improved sleep, steadier mood, reduced overwhelm, and better capacity for daily life.
What happens in a session?
A session is calm and straightforward:
Small sensors are placed on specific areas of the scalp (they only read activity — nothing is put into your brain).
You relax in a comfortable chair while watching a screen (often a film or simple visuals).
Your brain receives moment-to-moment feedback and gradually learns to regulate more efficiently.
Most people describe sessions as neutral to pleasant. Some feel calmer immediately; for others the changes are gradual and build across sessions.
How the training is personalised
ILF neurofeedback is tailored carefully. We adjust:
Placement: where we read from
Training frequency: what best supports your system
Dose and pacing: how long we train for and how we sequence sessions
Your plan is guided by your goals, your symptoms, and your response to sessions. We keep it collaborative and paced — especially for trauma presentations or highly sensitive nervous systems.
How many sessions do I need?
It depends on your goals and how long the pattern has been present.
Some people use neurofeedback short-term for sleep, stress, or performance support.
Others choose a steadier course when symptoms are longstanding (for example trauma patterns, chronic anxiety, neurodevelopmental differences, or persistent fatigue).
We review progress regularly and adjust as needed.
Frequency-Based Training (a note)
Alongside ILF neurofeedback, some clients may also benefit from Frequency-Based Training (often called “traditional” neurofeedback). This uses targets in more familiar frequency ranges and may be useful when the goal is more specifically related to:
focus, attention, and cognitive performance
over-activation or under-activation patterns
building steadier alertness and task engagement
If it fits your presentation, I’ll explain how it works and whether it should be integrated with ILF or offered as a separate approach.
Neurofeedback and psychotherapy together
For many people, a more regulated nervous system makes therapy more effective. Neurofeedback can help reduce overwhelm, improve sleep and emotional steadiness, and widen your “window of tolerance” — making trauma processing and relational therapy feel more manageable and less exhausting.
If you’re already in therapy (with me or elsewhere), neurofeedback can also be used as a supportive adjunct. For some clients, stabilisation through neurofeedback may be a helpful first step before psychotherapeutic trauma work.
Once enough nervous system stability is reached, we can consider whether to alternate neurofeedback sessions with trauma-processing sessions, or combine them within an overall plan.
Practicalities
In-person: Neurofeedback requires in-person attendance (Shinfield/Reading).
Session length: 50 minutes.
Recommended minimum: a course of 20 sessions is often recommended to establish reliable change.
Tracking and review: symptom tracking is reviewed session-by-session; a fuller review is completed at baseline and after 20 sessions.
Fees: these are available from here.
Is neurofeedback right for me?
If you’re curious, the next step is a brief consultation where we clarify your goals, relevant history, and what you’ve already tried. You’ll have space to ask questions and get a clear sense of what a sensible plan could look like.
You are welcome to request an initial complimentary 20 minute consultation.
W - Get in Touch Here
T - +44(0)7803049039
E - Paolo@presentingpast.co.uk
Served areas: Based in Shinfield (Reading, The United Kingdom). I typically work locally (around a 15-mile radius) and online where appropriate. Neurofeedback requires in-person attendance.