Capital District Neurofeedback

09/12/2025

Be Cautious Of the ‘In the Moment’ Emotions
We’ve all been there. The resolution to eat healthier crumbles when you’re eyeing that gooey slice of pizza. The commitment to exercise fades the moment you whisper, “I just don’t feel like it today… maybe later.” And of course, there’s the promise to be calm and patient with your child, right up until the chaos strikes, and your emotions hijack the wheel.

And what about happiness, and the intention to focus on what feels good? The moment we have a smidge of negative emotion, we run with it – completely forgetting our intention to stay positive!

Here’s the truth: Most of us decide what to do based on how we feel in the moment. And why wouldn’t we? It’s immediate. It’s powerful. It’s persuasive. But it’s also unreliable, fickle, and often misaligned with what we really want.

Think of the times you planned to make a change, only to hear that quiet voice in your head say, “I’m not up for it… I’ll handle it later.” If you allow those feelings to dictate your actions, progress becomes a rare and fleeting thing.

Why Feelings Are Misleading...

Read the whole article at the link below:

https://capitaldistrictneurofeedback.com/be-cautious-of-the-in-the-moment-emotions/

09/10/2025

Preventing and Eliminating Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
man with ocd conditionObsessive Compulsive Disorder also referred to as OCD is a two-faceted condition based on obsessive and compulsive behaviors. With this, an individual repeats behaviors, as well as thoughts. To the average person, this might not seem bad but to someone living with OCD, the effects are devastating. This condition is usually debilitating to the point of life being almost impossible to manage.

One thing that makes OCD extremely difficult to deal with is that so many of the physical behaviors are irrational, making them humiliating and embarrassing. For example, an individual may have an overwhelming urge to check a locked door hundreds of times in a row or feel the need to wash hands 50 or 60 times a day. To someone looking on from the outside, the behavior makes zero sense, thereby creating a stigma that the person with OCD is crazy.

Read the whole article at the link below:

We can eliminate symptoms associated with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, OCD Here's how:

09/10/2025

From Complaints to Influence: How to Transform Frustration into Positive Impact
Frustrations happen. Whether you’re on a small, close-knit team or navigating a massive corporate machine, stuff goes wrong. Maybe it’s the same software glitch, haunting you like a tech-savvy ghost. Or a process so convoluted it makes building a boat out of marshmallows seem reasonable. Or perhaps it’s your boss, who seems allergic to reason, or the coworker who treats effort like it’s a contagious disease.

It’s normal to feel annoyed. It’s even normal to vent. But be careful: chronic complaining is a habit. And like any habit, it tends to grow roots.

Many of my clients assume therapists like hearing their complaints. Not really. Not because we don’t care-but because we know that habitual complaining slowly rewires your attention. You begin to focus more on what’s wrong and less on what’s right. You see obstacles instead of opportunities. And if you’re not careful, you’ll be complaining about work, friends, family, politics, weather… even puppies.

So, let’s focus on how to shift the pattern at work—because if you can do it there, you can do it anywhere.

Why Complaining Leaves You Stuck

Read the whole article at the link below:

https://capitaldistrictneurofeedback.com/from-complaints-to-influence-how-to-transform-frustration-into-positive-impact/

09/08/2025

Why We Humans Struggle to Do What’s Good for Us (And How to Change That)
I hear it all the time from my clients — and it usually comes with a sheepish grin.
“Dr. Cale, I know I said I was going to start meditating… but then my dog looked at me funny, and somehow Netflix just… happened.”

Or, “I absolutely planned to go to bed early — but then I got hungry, and then Instagram needed me, and well, here we are.”

It’s charming, it’s human… and it’s utterly predictable. We all know what would make life better. Most people don’t need a shrink to tell them what’s best to do! But somehow, despite our best promises, we don’t always follow through.

Let’s talk about why – and more importantly, what you can do about it.

Why We Don’t Do What We Know is Good for Us

Read the whole article at the link below:

https://capitaldistrictneurofeedback.com/why-we-humans-struggle-to-do-whats-good-for-us-and-how-to-change-that/

09/07/2025

Promising Results for Children with Learning Disabilities
For a child with a learning disability, life can be a major struggle. While things might be tolerable in the safe environment of home, at school and in other social settings, a disability of this kind is typically embarrassing and in fact, many children are bullied. Unfortunately, the effects of the disability eventually become evident in more than just struggles with learning. A child can become isolated, depressed, aggressive, and develop extremely low self-esteem.

If a child with a learning disability is not provided with appropriate treatment, the condition will likely worsen but in addition, the stigma of being mentally impaired will carry on into adulthood where it creates an entirely new realm of problems. For example, an adult might have a difficult time securing a good job or perhaps lack the confidence needed to form a healthy intimate relationship.

read the whole article at the link below:

We can eliminate symptoms associated with Learning Disabilities. Here's how:

09/07/2025

How Breathing Better Reduces Anxiety Mental Health Therapist Explains

In this episode of Neuroshifts, Dr. Cale explains the link between breathing and anxiety reduction. Cant learning to breathe more slowly and rhythmically can significantly improve mental well-being? Yes! Consistent practice over months is necessary to strengthen this beneficial communication pathway between the heart and brain. Enjoy the episode!

In this episode of Neuroshifts, Dr. Cale explains the link between breathing and anxiety reduction. Cant learning to breathe more slowly and rhythmically can significantly improve mental well-being? Yes! Consistent practice over months is necessar...

09/06/2025

How Fear Feeds on Itself and Heightens Anxiety
Anxiety rarely storms in loudly. At least not at first. It slips in quietly-disguised as overthinking, people-pleasing, perfectionism, or the urge to control every detail. It feels like we’re solving problems or being responsible. But in truth, we’re training our brains to stay anxious.

Fear feeds on attention. It thrives when we keep scanning for threats, rehearsing what-ifs, or obsessing over the future. The more attention we give it, the stronger those neural patterns become. Over time, anxiety stops feeling optional—it becomes the brain’s default. We start believing the thoughts that keep us circling the same worries, while anxious feelings quietly take over.

Fear’s Stealth Strategy: Pay Attention!
Here’s the challenge: fear doesn’t announce itself as fear. It hides behind helpful-looking behaviors—triple-checking plans, asking for reassurance, or avoiding discomfort. It convinces us it’s there to protect us. These patterns create the illusion of safety, but never bring peace. Why? Because they keep our attention glued to what we fear, and false strategies to keep the fear at bay. And as I often say: what you feed with attention will grow. Fear is no exception.

When fear dominates our focus, the brain reinforces the anxiety circuit. Each round of worry makes it fire faster and more automatically. Without realizing it, we become experts in fear. And anxiety then owns our lives, or the lives of our children. What to do?

Calm Is a Skill: Small Shifts That Weaken the Anxiety Loop

Read the whole article at the link below:
https://capitaldistrictneurofeedback.com/how-fear-feeds-on-itself-and-heightens-anxiety/

09/05/2025

Getting Long-Term Relief from Migraines with Neurofeedback

Migraines is a type of headache that produces extreme pain, as well as secondary problems with various senses such as seeing bright flashes of light, noticing distinct blind spots, feeling a tingling sensation in the arms and/or legs, becoming nauseated, and experiencing sensitivity to sound. Even when mild, this type of headache is usually debilitating but when severe, a migraine can prompt a trip to the hospital emergency room.

Typically, a migraine will last for several hours but some people who suffer for days without any relief. Although there are several different triggers, this type of headache is the result of blood vessels becoming enlarged, coupled with the release of chemicals from nerve fibers that wrap tightly around those blood vessels. In some cases, an individual can detect the onset of a migraine while at times pain comes on suddenly.

Read the whole article at the link below:

We can eliminate symptoms associated with Migraines. Here's how:

09/04/2025

Why Less Is More: The Parenting Paradox We Keep Missing

Parents often show up in my office mentally, emotionally, and physically tired. Not because they’re doing too little, but because they’re doing too much. Too much talking, too much coaxing, too much explaining, too much rescuing, too much… everything. And despite all this effort, things aren’t improving. In fact, they’re often getting worse. The kids are more demanding, not more respectful. More anxious, not more confident. More emotionally reactive, not calmer. More dependent, not independent.

This came up just this week when a parent called for help with her 17-year-old daughter. She was still giving directions, reminders, and emotional pep talks as if her teen were six. Like many well-meaning parents, she didn’t realize that this constant over-involvement was part of the problem-not the solution.

When “More” Becomes the Problem

Read the whole article at link below:

https://capitaldistrictneurofeedback.com/why-less-is-more-the-parenting-paradox-we-keep-missing/

09/02/2025

Understanding and Addressing Depression's Neurological Basis

This episode of Neuroshifts highlights recent research indicating that depression is not primarily caused by a serotonin imbalance, explaining the limited effectiveness of long-term antidepressant use for some individuals. Instead, Dr. Cale focuses on brain activity patterns, specifically an "Alpha asymmetry" observed in client brain maps. He explains that this imbalance, often developing over years, correlates with the emergence of mood disorders. Enjoy the episode!

This episode of Neuroshifts highlights recent research indicating that depression is not primarily caused by a serotonin imbalance, explaining the limited effectiveness of long-term antidepressant use for some individuals. Instead, Dr. Cale focuse...

09/02/2025

Why Counseling Often Fails for Kids—And – What To Consider that Works!

Many of the parents I coach arrive at my office frustrated and exhausted, carrying a hefty list of past efforts that “should have worked.” They’ve invested in counseling-sometimes for years-with the hope that a trained professional could talk their child into better behavior.

Whether it’s explosive tantrums that seem to escalate every month, a teen who refuses to engage with school or family, or a chronically defiant child who seems to thrive on conflict, these parents often share a similar story: counseling felt like a band-aid-if that. Home life continued to decline, and their child became more skilled at resisting change.

Why does this happen? Why does counseling often fall short, even when led by caring, competent professionals?

Let’s look at what’s really going on.

Who Wants the Change?

This is the single most crucial question to ask:
Who is actually invested in making a change?

Read the whole article at link below:

https://capitaldistrictneurofeedback.com/why-counseling-often-fails-for-kids-and-what-to-consider-that-works/

08/31/2025

Neurofeedback for OCD and Anxiety Relief

In this Neuroshift episode, Dr. Randy Cale explains neurofeedback as a treatment for OCD and anxiety. OCD often presents with frontal lobe dysregulation, which may require longer neurofeedback training compared to other anxiety disorders. However, patients typically experience some symptom relief within the initial weeks of treatment, providing reassurance of progress even if full resolution takes several months. This early improvement is crucial for continued engagement in neurofeedback therapy.

Dr. Randy Cale's latest Neuroshift episode, he explains neurofeedback as a treatment for OCD and anxiety. OCD often presents with frontal lobe dysregulation, which may require longer neurofeedback training compared to other anxiety disorders. Howe...