ILF neurofeedback in Reading
ILF neurofeedback is a non-invasive training approach that helps the brain improve self-regulation.
Where it fits, I may integrate ILF neurofeedback in person within psychotherapy — particularly when stress, fatigue, overwhelm, poor sleep, hypervigilance, anxiety, low mood, or brain fog have been difficult to shift.
What is ILF neurofeedback?
ILF (Infra-Low Frequency) neurofeedback supports nervous-system regulation using very slow frequencies.
It works with the brain’s underlying regulatory systems, helping other functions become more effective over time.
I tend to consider it when nervous-system strain is making daily life — and sometimes psychotherapy itself — harder to benefit from.
It is often a good fit when people experience things like:
chronic stress, anxiety, or panic patterns
hypervigilance, startle responses, or feeling on edge
trauma-related symptoms
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. It supports your system in gradually finding a more regulated baseline over time.
Common patterns ILF neurofeedback may support
ILF neurofeedback can support a range of symptom patterns that often sit alongside psychotherapy.
Before we begin, you will complete a questionnaire covering common nervous-system symptoms. We then track the highest-scoring areas over time and tailor the training accordingly.
This helps keep the process individualised, reviewable, and grounded in how your system is actually responding, rather than assuming the same training suits everyone.
Source: ILF clinician protocol guide
What happens in a session?
Small sensors are placed on specific areas of the scalp
You sit in a comfortable chair while watching a screen, listening to music, and, if helpful, holding a vibrating pillow
Your brain receives moment-to-moment feedback and gradually learns to regulate more efficiently
If you feel tired, wired, headachy, or emotionally stirred after early sessions, we adjust dose and placement promptly
We go by your response, not by forcing progress.
How the training is personalised
Training is tailored through:
placement
training frequency
dose and pacing
The aim is not to apply a standard protocol, but to find what genuinely helps your system.
Neurofeedback and psychotherapy together
For many people, a more regulated nervous system makes psychotherapy easier to use and benefit from.
This can make trauma processing and relational therapy easier to tolerate.
At other times, psychotherapy on its own is the better place to begin.
A note on Frequency-Based Training
Alongside ILF neurofeedback, some clients may also benefit from Frequency-Based Training.
I consider this more selectively, usually when the main goals relate to cognitive performance, alertness regulation, or more specific patterns of over- or under-activation.
Practicalities
Neurofeedback requires in-person attendance in Shinfield, Reading
Session length: 50 minutes
A course of around 20 sessions is often a useful starting point, depending on your goals and how established the pattern is
We review as we go, so the process stays guided by your response
We go slowly, prioritising sleep and stability over pushing for progress
If you are considering ILF neurofeedback
If you are curious about ILF neurofeedback, you are welcome to book a free 20-minute consultation.
You can tell me a little about your sleep, stress sensitivity, and how your system responds under pressure, and we can explore whether neurofeedback makes sense for you.
Part of the conversation is working out whether neurofeedback, psychotherapy, or a combination of both is the best place to begin.
No pressure.
Read more:
Further reading
Neurofeedback Advocacy Project ›
Clinical and academic research and advocacy