Many people come to therapy feeling overwhelmed, anxious, distracted, or mentally exhausted. You may struggle to calm your nervous system, stay focused, or feel emotionally steady — even when you’re doing “all the right things.” For some, anxiety shows up as constant tension or overthinking. For others, attention difficulties make it hard to stay organized, present, or regulated.
Neurofeedback offers a gentle, research-informed way to help your brain learn more balanced patterns. Most people don’t come to neurofeedback looking to “optimize performance” — they come because they want relief: from anxiety, from mental chaos, from feeling stuck in a brain that won’t slow down or focus.
As a therapist in Los Angeles, the majority of people I work with are seeking support for anxiety, ADHD symptoms, or both — and neurofeedback can be a powerful complement to therapy in addressing these challenges.
What neurofeedback is — explained simply
Neurofeedback is a form of brain-based training that gives your brain real-time information about how it’s functioning. Small sensors placed on your scalp measure brainwave activity while you watch a video or listen to audio. When your brain shifts toward more regulated, stable patterns, the feedback continues smoothly. When it shifts toward dysregulation — often linked with anxiety, distractibility, or emotional reactivity — the feedback briefly changes.
Your brain naturally learns from this information. Over time, it becomes better at moving toward calmer, more focused states on its own.
There is no shock, pain, or forced stimulation. Neurofeedback works by supporting your brain’s natural capacity to learn and self-regulate.
How neurofeedback helps with anxiety
Many people with anxiety live in a chronically activated nervous system. Even when nothing is “wrong,” their brain remains on high alert. Neurofeedback can help by:
- Supporting calmer baseline brain activity
- Improving the brain’s ability to shift out of fight-or-flight
- Reducing physical symptoms like restlessness, tension, or racing thoughts
- Increasing emotional resilience and recovery from stress
People often report feeling less reactive, less overwhelmed, and more able to respond thoughtfully rather than automatically.
How neurofeedback supports ADHD symptoms
For individuals with ADHD, challenges often include difficulty sustaining attention, emotional impulsivity, mental restlessness, and trouble transitioning between tasks. Neurofeedback can support:
- Improved focus and sustained attention
- Better impulse control
- Greater emotional regulation
- Reduced mental fatigue
- Increased ability to stay present and organized
Rather than forcing concentration, neurofeedback helps the brain practice the patterns associated with attention and regulation, which can make daily life feel more manageable.
What high performers — including athletes — show us
While anxiety and ADHD are the most common reasons people seek neurofeedback, high performers sometimes speak publicly about it because mental regulation is so visible in their work.
Kirk Cousins, an NFL quarterback featured in the Netflix series Quarterback, described using brain-training to stay centered under pressure and mentally present during games.
MLB pitcher Lucas Giolito has spoken about incorporating neurofeedback during the period when his performance rose from inconsistency to becoming an All-Star.
Olympic beach-volleyball athlete Kerri Walsh-Jennings has shared that she integrated brain-training into her preparation for competition.
NBA player Chris Kaman has described using neurofeedback to support mental steadiness throughout his career.
These examples don’t suggest neurofeedback is “only for athletes.” They highlight something universal: when the brain regulates better, life tends to feel easier — whether you’re managing anxiety, ADHD, work stress, or performance pressure.
What sessions are like
During neurofeedback sessions:
- Sensors are placed gently on your scalp to read brain activity
- You sit comfortably while visual or audio feedback responds to your brainwaves
- Your brain learns through repetition, without effort or strain
Many people find sessions calming and grounding. Over time, they often notice improvements in focus, emotional balance, and stress recovery.
Who neurofeedback is for
Neurofeedback may be helpful if you:
- Experience anxiety or chronic stress
- Have ADHD or attention-related challenges
- Feel emotionally reactive or mentally scattered
- Are recovering from burnout
- Want better nervous system regulation
- Are looking for non-invasive brain-based support
You don’t need to be an athlete or a “high performer.” Neurofeedback is for people who want their brain to work with them, not against them.
A steadier brain can change daily life
When anxiety softens or attention improves, people often notice changes across their lives — in relationships, work, sleep, and self-confidence. Neurofeedback doesn’t promise perfection, but it can support meaningful shifts in how you experience your mind and body.
If you’re curious whether neurofeedback could support anxiety, ADHD symptoms, or overall regulation, I’d be happy to talk with you.
Reach out to schedule a consultation with me, Jennifer Willemsen, MA, LMFT.
Suggestions for further reading
Arns, M., Heinrich, H., & Strehl, U. (2014). Neurofeedback in ADHD and insomnia: Implications for performance and attention training. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 44, 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2012.10.015
Mirifar, A., Beckmann, J., & Ehrlenspiel, F. (2017). Neurofeedback as supplementary training for optimizing performance: A systematic review. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 75, 419–428. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.02.001
Rauch, H. G., Schack, T., & Gruber, M. (2020). Neurofeedback and performance: A review of current research and applications. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 13(1), 1–27. https://doi.org/10.1080/1750984X.2019.1632675
Vernon, D. (2005). Can neurofeedback training enhance performance? An evaluation of the evidence. Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, 30(4), 347–364. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10484-005-8421-4
Wilson, V. E., Peper, E., & Moss, D. (2006). The use of biofeedback in performance training. Biofeedback, 34(3), 13–18.
