Frequently Asked Questions.

What is brain state conditioning™?

Developed by Lee Gourdes, Brain State Conditioning™ is a method of balancing and optimizing the brain. This process includes targeted solution training and personalized exercises, tailored to your specific brain frequency ratios, to balance and organize the brain. We call this tailored procedure Brain State Conditioning™.

The first step in doing any conditioning is to assess where you are at the current time. In Brain State Conditioning™ an assessment is performed on the initial visit and provides brain wave data on many parts of your brain. The brain waves generated in the different regions of your brain are then compared to determine the optimum brain wave configuration to achieve your personal and private wish list.

How does Brain State Conditioning work?

Brain activity creates electromagnetic energy, which can be captured and observed as brain waves using EEG amplifiers and computers. This activity indicates how well the control unit or, your command center, is functioning. If some brain waves are encouraged and others are discouraged the brain will begin to function differently - it will create a balanced condition. This balance will happen based only on the brain wave changes. Changing the brain waves happens by you watching the brain waves and listening to the wave based sound feedback created by the firing of your brain. This balancing - or conditioning - of the brain waves, balances them into optimized patterns.

What happens in my Brain?

Brain activity is based on cells called neurons which interact and connect with each other forming groups or neuro-nets. These neuro-nets are activated based on stimuli. So when a certain stimulus is experienced - like a mouse jumping out from behind a counter - we have a brief moment of fear and jump back. Neuro-nets were activated that created a pathway for us to jump, for our hearts to race a bit, and possibly for us to utter a noise.

Sometimes pathways are exercised from stimuli that are similar but not exactly the same as other stimuli. For instance, if our teacher asks us harshly, "why are you always late?" and we cower in response, we may have a negative reaction later in life based on the pathways that were formed from that experience to anyone who asks us "why" anything.

How do I change my pathways?

How do we change the pathway(s) that are formed that don't serve us well - that happen automatically - that make us less than we could potentially be? Brain state conditioning activates networks of neurons (neuro-nets) based on an optimum performing and balanced brain. When neurons in the brain connect, they do so with electric energy and this energy can be recorded by electrodes on the skull. The waves of energy from the brain are fed into a computer that diagnose them, based on a personalized protocol. This protocol is created to optimize for specific purposes of the individual. Golfers can improve concentration and guide the club smoothly into the ball. Artists can tap into realms of creativity when they want to do so. CEO's can lead and manage by using consistently positive and creative leadership skills. And all of these people do so based on the creation of new pathways and therefore new consciousness afforded by the optimized brain.

What happens during the assessment and how is this information used?

Like fingerprints, every brain is unique. Readings of your brain waves from 7 different positions are taken with your eyes closed, half open, and wide open while doing a mental task like simple math or reading.

The assessment can reveal areas of imbalance, such as areas where communication between sections of the brain are impaired, sluggish, or even non-existent or areas of the brain that are over and under stimulated.

At the end of the assessment, a report is created which outlines the specific training required to balance and optimize your brain function.

After brain balance (also known as brain-homeostasis) is achieved, we then move onto specific client goals and evolve neurofeedback training plans and exercises as our client's experiences and lives change accordingly.

How quickly will I see results?

Most people begin to notice results within 5 sessions.

How many sessions do I need?

Every brain, like every person, is unique. The recommended minimum is 1 assessment and 12 sessions. Each session uses the protocols recommended to train your brain back into balance and harmony over 5 to 6 days with 2 - 3 sessions per day. You will need to schedule enough time to fulfill the training in this short period of time. People dealing with a stroke or brain injury may require 50 to 70 sessions.

Do I need to do anything to prepare for my sessions?

To receive the maximum benefit from your sessions it is important to follow the recommendations outlined below:

• No alcohol or recreational drugs for at least 48 hours before your session. Brain neurons become "rubberized" with alcohol and drug use and fail to take best advantage of the training. For maximum results, do not drink alcohol or use recreational drugs for a minimum of 3 weeks following your sessions.
• If you are doing the Smoking Cessation Intensive, absolutely no tobacco during this period as well. We can recommend a homeopathic remedy to help reduce the cravings. Cravings should be gone by the third day.
• Please make sure you eat large amounts of high quality protein before and after your session. Building new neural networks requires an abundance of protein to ensure your brain has all the amino acids it needs to build new pathways. New Life Energetic's ProGreen SuperFood and Essential Nutrition provide superior sources of amino acids and are a good option for vegetarians and/or those looking for a protein powder.
• Do not have any type of energy work, chiropractic work, acupuncture, etc during your sessions.
• Drink plenty of pure water.
• And finally, please listen to the audio and video interviews by Lee Gerdes, the founder of Brain State Technology and developer of Brain State ConditioningTM. This will give you a good orientation for your upcoming experience.

Are the changes permanent?

Once you have succeeded in creating new neuro pathways that balance the brain, these pathways are permanent and can become dominate. The brains natural tendency and desire is to remain in balance (homeostasis). After you have created the pathways that optimize brain function the brain will naturally seek to maintain this balance and it will be more difficult to get out of balance than to remain in balance.

This assumes you have followed the recommended protocols including abstaining from alcohol, drugs, (and tobacco if doing the smoking cessation) long enough for the new pathways to develop and that you have completed enough timely sessions to establish the new pathways as the dominant neuro nets.

It is important to note that for the first few sessions, a brain training session will allow newly created pathways to dominate for a period of time - 24 to 48 hours - and then the older more established pathway will usually return to a more dominate position. However, if enough sessions are completed in a condensed timeframe, the old pathway does not have an opportunity to gain a dominant position and therefore the newly created pathway has an opportunity to extend itself more fully and more quickly than in a training based on a once a week effort.

What can I expect after my training sessions?

After undergoing Brain State ConditioningTM, you may find that you no longer desire or have a need for depressants, drugs or stimulants, such as alcohol, cigarettes, and caffeine. You may even find that food cravings decline. By balancing and harmonizing the brain, your need for exogenous substances to make you "feel good" diminishes and you are able to naturally maintain a state of balance.

Exactly how your brain will respond is different for each person but you may notice your sleep is deeper, you wake up easily, you feel well rested, you have more energy, are happier for no apparent reason, you have a greater ability to focus, little things that used to irritate you no longer matter and you experience a renewed feeling of enthusiasm for life.

Are there any contraindications for using Brain State?

Yes. Anyone who is taking Beta blockers for their heart should not do Brain State ConditioningTM. And, special arrangements will need to be made for children under the age of 8.