Help Control Cravings

 

NeuroAdvantage™ offers two different types of light & sound neurotherapy (LSN) programs designed to decrease dysfunctional cravings for substances and/or behaviors that may be engaged in compulsively, while simultaneously reducing the associated psychophysiological over-arousal.

 

The first are a series of LSN sessions that increase alpha/theta brainwave patterns and are associated with deep relaxation, increased spirituality, and sense of personal wellbeing.  Research has found that alpha/theta training decreases cravings and improves the likelihood of sustained recovery (Peniston & Kulkosky, 1989 & 1991; Saxby & Peniston, 1995).

 

These NeuroAdvantage™ Trainer sessions are provided in either an individual or group-therapy format and used in conjunction with appropriate audio coaching CDs from our library.  The recordings use positive suggestions, affirmations, and guided visualizations to assist in craving control and help people make desired changes in their lives.  Appropriate audio coaching titles include:

 

• Control Cravings
• Step 1:  Acceptance
• Mindfulness Meditation
• Deep Relaxation
• Christian Meditation

 

The second is NeuroAdvantage’s “Letting Go of Cravings” program and is designed to desensitize clients to their relapse triggers.  This program includes:

 

·         A NeuroAdvantage workbook that assists clients in identifying their relapse triggers, develop their own personal mastery script visualizing success, and provides daily exercises fostering desensitization to their relapse triggers and their associated cravings;

·         A Letting Go of Cravings therapist group-leader manual; and

·         A 35-minute Trainer LSN session with accompanying audio coaching CD.  The first 20-minutes of this session uses alternating bilateral stimulation while the audio coach prompts clients to visual the trigger and then focus on the alternating stimulation that is occurring in their “eyes and ears.”  The session ends with 15 minutes of alpha/theta stimulation while the audio coach prompts the clients’ mastery visualization script.

 

References:

 

Peniston, E.G., & Kulkosky, P.J. (1989). Alpha-theta brainwave training and beta-endorphin levels in alcoholics.  Alcohol: Clinical & Experimental Research, 13(2): 271-279.

Peniston, E.G., & Kulkosky, P.J. (1991). Alcoholic personality and alpha-theta brainwave training. Medical Psychotherapy, 2(1): 37-55.

Saxby, E., & Peniston, E.G. (1995).  Alpha-theta brainwave neurofeedback training:  An effective treatment for male and female alcoholics with depressive symptoms.  Journal of Clinical Psychology, 51(5): 685-693.