How Trisha Yearwood Used LENS Neurofeedback to Restore Clarity

When country music singer Trisha Yearwood opened up publicly about her cognitive struggles after COVID, countless people saw themselves in her story. She described experiencing significant brain fog, forgetfulness, and cognitive issues, symptoms many people experience after illness, chronic stress, or trauma, until she tried LENS (Low Energy Neurofeedback System).

What Is LENS Neurofeedback?

LENS, or Low Energy Neurofeedback System, is an FDA-approved direct neurofeedback technology that uses EEG (electroencephalography) to measure the brain’s electrical activity and administer a gentle electromagnetic signal to the brain. This signal helps to stimulate the brain, disrupt ineffective brainwave patterns, create new neural pathways, and improve overall brain functioning. A typical LENS session is simple and noninvasive:

1. Sensors are placed on either the scalp and ears or the body to read brain activity.

2. The system sends a very low-energy, brief signal, often lasting just a few seconds.

3. You may feel nothing in the moment, or you may notice subtle shifts such as relaxation, lightness, or tiredness.

4. You monitor for continued changes after session, often lasting only 24-48 hours at first.

5. Sessions are adjusted based on your sensitivity, reactivity symptoms, and reported responses.

Trisha Yearwood’s Experience With LENS

Yearwood shared that after recovering from a mild case of COVID, she was left with persistent cognitive issues, such as difficulty recalling familiar words, trouble with focus and forgetfulness, and brain fog. These symptoms are hallmarks of both long COVID and chronic stress. She experienced initial hesitation because she “didn’t understand what this does,” but after a friend recommended it, she decided to try it. According to Yearwood, she noticed:

• Significantly improved sleep, stating that it was the best sleep she had in 10 years

• Reduced brain fog and improved mental clarity, stating that her brain feels like it did in her 30’s

• How gentle and passive the treatment felt, emphasizing that sessions are short and don’t require talking like traditional therapy does

To her, the changes felt so profound that she referred to LENS as “life-changing.”

Considering LENS Neurofeedback?

Although effectiveness can vary by condition, over 85% of clients are reported to benefit significantly, and often dramatically, from LENS. LENS can be used to improve symptoms associated with the following conditions:

• Neurodevelopmental and behavioral conditions

• Mental health conditions and emotional dysregulation

• Brain, cognitive, and neurological conditions

• Sleep issues

• Addictions and dependences

• Chronic pain

• Trauma and stress

In a world where our nervous systems are constantly overstimulated by technology, emotional overload, or simply the pace of daily life, LENS offers something unique: a quiet, gentle nudge back towards balance. It doesn’t force the brain to change; it simply reminds it of its capabilities. If you’re curious about how you might benefit from LENS, we’d love to talk with you and explore whether it could be a good fit. You can schedule a free consultation call through our website.

You can also refer to our page on LENS or Ochs Labs website directly for more information: https://main.ochslabs.com/about/

Watch the full interview with Tricia here (she starts talking about LENS 30 minutes in).

Written by: Hailey Adams, M.Ed., LPC

Understanding Dissociation: Signs, Symptoms, and Brain-Based Treatment Options

Dissociation is one of the most misunderstood mental health experiences—but it’s incredibly common. Many people live with dissociation without realizing what’s happening or why their mind seems to “check out” during stress, conflict, or emotional overwhelm.

In our practice, we specialize in brain-based therapy for dissociation, including neurofeedback and EMDR therapy, which help clients reconnect with their bodies, regulate their nervous systems, and safely process the root causes of dissociation.

Whether you experience mild spacing out or more intense detachment, this article will help you understand what dissociation is, why it happens, and how modern brain-based treatments can contribute long-term healing.

What Is Dissociation?

Dissociation is the brain’s way of protecting you when it senses danger or emotional overload. Instead of going into fight-or-flight, the mind might:

• shut down

• disconnect

• numb out

• escape inward

There can shame around dissociation when we begin to realize it's a stress response. But dissociation is not a weakness—it’s a survival strategy. Many people experience dissociation related to:

• trauma or adverse childhood experiences

• chronic stress

• emotional neglect

• overwhelming anxiety

• sensory overload

• long-term nervous system dysregulation

Understanding dissociation is the first step toward healing it.

Common Signs and Symptoms of Dissociation

Dissociation, like so many mental states, exists on a spectrum. For some people, it shows up subtly; for others, it can be intense and disruptive.

Here are the most common signs of dissociation:

1. Feeling “Checked Out” or Numb

A sense of emotional flatness or detachment from feelings.

2. Losing Time or Having Memory Gaps

You may not remember parts of conversations, events, or your day.

3. Feeling Disconnected From Yourself

A sense of watching yourself from the outside, or feeling like you’re not fully in your body.

4. Feeling Disconnected From Reality

The world may feel foggy, dreamlike, or unreal.

5. Difficulty Focusing

Trouble staying present, hearing information, or staying engaged in tasks.

6. Automatic or Robotic Behavior

Going through the motions without feeling mentally “there.”

7. Emotional Shutdown During Conflict

You may freeze, go blank, or feel like you disappeared inside.

Dissociation becomes problematic when it interferes with daily life, relationships, or functioning—or when you feel you have no control over it.

Why Dissociation Happens: The Brain-Based Explanation

Dissociation is fundamentally a nervous system response. When the brain perceives danger and believes fight or flight won’t work, it may shift into:

• freeze

• shutdown

• collapse

• detachment

This is regulated by neural circuits in the brain responsible for threat detection and survival. Over time, if someone experiences repeated stress or trauma, the brain learns that dissociation is the safest option—and begins using it even during non-dangerous situations.

This is why many people say:

• “I go numb when emotions get too big.”

• “I disappear inside during arguments.”

• “My brain shuts down without warning.”

It’s not intentional—your brain is doing exactly what it learned to do to keep you safe.

Brain-Based Treatment Options for Dissociation

Healing dissociation is absolutely possible, especially when treatments address the nervous system, not just thoughts or behaviors. The most effective approaches help retrain the brain to feel safe enough to stay present.

Below are two of the most research-backed, brain-based treatments available.

1. Neurofeedback Therapy for Dissociation

Neurofeedback helps stabilize the brain and reduce the shutdown patterns that contribute to dissociation. It trains brainwave activity so the nervous system feels calmer, more regulated, and more connected.

Potential benefits of neurofeedback for dissociation include:

• increasing here and now presence

• improved emotional regulation

• decreased freeze and shutdown responses

• greater focus and awareness

• greater ability to stay connected during therapy

• reduced overwhelm and nervous system overload

Many clients report that neurofeedback helps them feel “anchored” in their body in a way they’ve never felt before.

2. EMDR Therapy for Dissociation

EMDR therapy is one of the most powerful tools for treating trauma, which is often at the root of dissociation. But EMDR is especially effective because it:

• helps reprocess traumatic memories

• reduces the need for dissociation as a coping mechanism

• integrates fragmented experiences

• builds the brain’s tolerance for emotional material

• strengthens the ability to stay present during stress

EMDR helps the brain complete the processing that dissociation has been blocking. For clients with significant dissociation, EMDR is often paired with stabilization work and nervous system strengthening before deeper reprocessing begins. This ensures therapy feels safe, grounded, and productive.

Why Combining Neurofeedback + EMDR Works Best

For many clients, dissociation is rooted both in brainwave dysregulation and unprocessed trauma. This is why combining neurofeedback and EMDR often leads to the fastest, most stable improvements. Together, they help clients:

• build nervous system capacity

• stay present and grounded

• process trauma without shutting down

• reduce dissociative episodes

• increase emotional resilience

• reconnect with their bodies

• strengthen long-term stability

This integrated approach treats dissociation at the source—not just the symptoms.

Dissociation is a natural response to overwhelming experiences, but it doesn’t have to remain your default. With the right support, your brain can learn new patterns, reconnect with your body, and feel safe enough to stay present. Our practice specializes in neurofeedback therapy, EMDR therapy, and trauma-informed treatment designed specifically for clients struggling with dissociation. If you’re ready to feel more grounded, more connected, and more in control, we’re here to help.

Written by: Mary Beth Stevens, LPCC, BCN

How Neurofeedback Has Helped Me Personally

I’ve done neurofeedback at least twice a week for over a year in both forms that we offer here at Alternative Therapeutics. Every person is vastly different in how they will respond to neurofeedback training, but I thought it might be helpful to offer some real-life examples of how things can change. For more case examples, check out the book Neurofeedback 101 here.  

1.       Greater focus, concentration, and follow through on tasks

It’s much easier for me to follow through on tasks I know I need to do. I can sit down and finish something with greater efficiency and intention. That space in between, “I know I need to do something” and “I am doing that something” is smaller—I jump in there before procrastinating the task endlessly.

2.       Decreasing use of psychiatric medications

With strong family history of depression, I was on antidepressants as a support for many years. With neurofeedback training, I felt strong enough to wean down off of these medications. This has been a great personal triumph for me.

3.       Stabilization of emotional reactions

One of my favorite examples of this is when something frustrating happens in traffic. Instead of yelling alone in my car at the idiot who decides to slam on their brakes randomly, it rolls off of me like water off a duck’s back. I am able to recognize frustration but not get swept away into it, drowning in my own emotional reactions.

4.       Greater ability to examine past traumas

Instead of getting overwhelmed at certain memories, I can look at them with acceptance, without getting overwhelmed. Neurofeedback works in part by stabilizing the nervous system. So instead of my nervous system getting overactivated, I am better able to keep homeostasis even as I think through emotionally difficult topics.

5.       The ability to read a book

Okay, that sounds extreme. I can read books. But sitting down and just reading a book took a lot of effort for me before neurofeedback. The other night I sat down to read a nonfiction book that I had been intending to read for a while and sat there for a full hour, undistracted. That never happened before neurofeedback.

6.       More positive outlook

This was one of the first and most noticeable things I noticed from neurofeedback training. It’s like my brain takes hold of positive thoughts instead of negative ones more often than before. This has led to a less depressive outlook on life in general, which contributed to #2 above.

7.       Peak performance

I graduated with my master’s degree, studied for and passed my licensure exam, completed the licensure process, took a neuroscience course, started a new caseload, got trained in EMDR therapy, and completed my board certification for neurofeedback within a span of 2 months this year. I was also hitting neurofeedback training super hard during this time. I was efficient, focused, and goal oriented. This is not a typical standard of performance for me. I am more of the take it easy type than a super driven performer. But I was able to maintain focus on my goals and follow through with excellence. I believe I was able to perform these tasks smoothly without exhaustive effort because of neurofeedback’s incredible effects on my brain.

I always say everyone can benefit from neurofeedback. We can’t predict what it’ll do for you, the timeline it would occur in, or that it would work in the same way as it did for me. But I can say it is worth a try. You never know what might become a possibility.

Written by: Mary Beth Stevens, M.Ed., LPC, BCN

What’s the difference between biofeedback and neurofeedback?

I get this question literally daily, so I figured it would be a good question to address in a blog post. More and more people reach out to us after being referred for “biofeedback” by their healthcare provider. I’m amazed by this recent shift; family doctors, neurologists, psychiatrists and chiropractors are learning about the benefits of biofeedback and referring out their patients to seek this holistic approach.

Big picture, biofeedback is an umbrella term for many different approaches and technologies that all seek to improve control over our autonomic (automatic) physiological processes. Biofeedback can be used to train us to relax the muscle tension in our bodies, it can be used to help us control the rhythms of our heart (heart rate variability training),or the temperature of our bodies. In a general sense, biofeedback uses different types of FEEDBACK (visual cues, sounds, vibrations, etc) to give us insight, awareness and control over our BIOLOGY. Get it? Bio-feedback. As the body receives this FEEDBACK, it learns how to create the conditions to earn the positive feedback, thereby strengthening those physiological processes and over time, giving the individual the power of SELF-REGULATION. Woah.

Neurofeedback is a sub-type of biofeedback. With neurofeedback, the individual is learning to regulate their EEG activity or the electrical activity of their brain. Electrical activity is created in the brain as neurons fire off neurotransmitters and communicate with one another. If we can help a person shift and balance their EEG activity then theoretically, we can help shift (strengthen or weaken) neuronal pathways and regulate neurotransmitter function. Can you imagine how these types of changes in brain plasticity can have the power to improve symptoms of sub-optimal mental and cognitive health?? Powerful stuff.

At Alternative Therapeutics we often use the combination of biofeedback (HRV training) and neurofeedback to help our clients achieve optimal self-regulation. Both types of biofeedback appear to work synergistically, each helping to improve the depth of impact of the other. There are many other biofeedback clinics across the country and world who utilize the same combination with high levels of success.

Written by: Britney Cirullo, MA, LPCC-S, LICDC, BCN