Andrew Sether

Andrew Sether has over 18 years of experience working with children, adolescents, adults, athletes, and business professionals to improve health and performance through various biofeedback techniques and quantitative EEG (qEEG) assessment. He is a Board Certified Fellow in Neurofeedback by the Biofeedback Certification Institute of America and also possesses a Masters in counseling psychology and school psychology. His specialties include helping children as well as adults, to improve brain health and functioning. Andrew is skilled in neurodiagnostics such as qEEG and the implementation of neurofeedback as a holistic treatment for Asperger’s, ADD/ADHD, traumatic brain injury including sport concussion, learning disabilities, migraines, anxiety/depression and anti-aging. Previously he has established and coordinated neurofeedback training programs in school settings, including Lord Sterling in Basking Ridge, NJ and Johnson Park Elementary in Princeton, NJ as well as in hospital settings while at Meadowlands Hospital in NJ.

Individuals all over the world work with Andrew to help them improve their cognitive functioning as well as health using both neurofeedback and HRV biofeedback. For clients who reside outside of the New York/New Jersey area, Andrew has created a unique biofeedback program that allows clients to engage with him remotely from their computer after an initial office visit and assessment. Above all, however, Andrew is a concerned, compassionate, and caring clinician who combines neurofeedback, HRV biofeedback and optimal performance strategies to help his clients improve health and performance. Andrew lives in NJ with his family and enjoys coaching youth sports for his two young boys, playing golf and hiking.

Quantitative EEG (qEEG)

We offer clients the ability to better understand their brain health and symptoms utilizing quantitative EEG (qEEG) technology. Electroencephalography (EEG) is the measurement of electrical patterns at the surface of the scalp which reflect cortical activity. This activity is commonly referred to as ‘brain waves’.  Brain waves occur at various frequencies (or speeds) – some are fast while some are quite slow.  These frequencies are associated with specific behaviors, such as sleep vs concentration.  Quantitative EEG is the analysis of the digitized EEG, which can be called ‘brain mapping’.  A qEEG can compare these brainwave values with a “normative” database which helps us understand which brain waves are deviant and in which region of the brain. 

These findings will help provide insight into your unique brain profile and how these features are influencing your symptoms, health and/or performance.  The processed EEG is commonly converted into color maps of brain functioning called ‘head maps’, such as those seen in these images:

Recording of the EEG is a completely painless and non-invasive procedure. The process involves placing an elastic cap on the head, with 19 sensors on the scalp.  Once the cap has been placed, a water-based conductive gel is inserted into each of the 19 sensors to enable a good connection with the scalp’s electrical activity. These head maps allow us to customize a treatment plan for each client using Neurofeedback. These specialized evaluations are also used to determine progress when they are repeated and compared to the initial assessment.

We are a leading provider of brain mapping, with over 30 years combined experience in the field, working closely with many experts in qEEG technology and assessment.

Neurofeedback Training

Neurofeedback is a state-of-the art therapeutic training tool, also known as biofeedback for the brain. In essence, it exercises and helps strengthen the brain, calms it, and improves its stability and functioning.  Using computerized feedback the brain learns new EEG patterns that will optimize functioning and efficiency.  It is completely medication free, painless and non-invasive.  Over time, the new brain behavior is ‘learned’ and the result is a healthier and better regulated brain.

Enhancing the Brain’s Self-Regulation

The brain helps regulate sleep, emotions, thinking, behavior, and much more.  When you give the brain information about itself, it has an enormous capacity for change (neuroplasticity).  Neurofeedback makes information available to the brain instantly, and asks it to make adjustments. This gives the brain a greater ability to self-manage or regulate. Changing the EEG helps improve activation, inhibition, and cortical stability, while impacting regulatory mechanisms that are necessary for optimal health, well-being, and cognitive performance.

How is Neurofeedback Being Used?
Based on decades of research, and breakthroughs in technology, neurofeedback is being used efficaciously for a wide variety of symptoms and issues, including but not limited to:

ADHD
Anxiety
Depression
Concussion/Head Injury
Cognitive Health/Memory Loss

Peak Performance
Sleep Disorders
PTSD
Stress Management/”Busy Brain”
Migraines

What is the Neurofeedback Training Process?

Assessment:  A qEEG brain mapping provides a map of dysregulated, or abnormal, EEG patterns in the brain that are the root of your experiences.  This will give a unique view of the brain from an electrical perspective and provide a more specific and detailed understanding of your brain’s unique makeup. This brain-map customizes the neurofeedback program to meet your brain’s specific training needs.  Following an initial qEEG assessment and a comprehensive review, an individualized treatment plan is developed and training will begin.  Once or twice per week is often recommended.

Training:  Each session is approximately 40 – 50 minutes long and consists of interactive computerized feedback (visual and auditory) with 2 — 3 comfortable, non-invasive sensors on your head and ears.  During the training, based on your brain’s performance, you will receive feedback in the form of a game, DVD, YouTube video or simple animations.  Over time the brain learns how to change its behaviors and function more optimally.  Client progress is tracked every session and adjustments are made as needed.  Repeat qEEG’s are done every 10 – 20 sessions to illustrate changes in brainwave activity.

“The only active ingredient in neurofeedback is your intention”

– Dr. Ed Hamlin

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: CAN WE DO NEUROFEEDBACK FROM HOME?

Yes, we are able to offer remote training for all biofeedback modalities from the comfort of your home or office.  Our team has utilized a unique training program for remote clients for 20 years.  Training from home is a very effective and efficient way to engage in biofeedback training.  We work with clients around the globe using our carefully constructed protocols and methods HRV training and neurofeedback.  

Advances in technology have allowed us to offer a suite of remote biofeedback training approaches and programs from wearable device monitoring and coaching to full biofeedback training with the same medical grade equipment used in our office. 

Q: CAN NEUROFEEDBACK BE USED WHILE ON MEDICATION?

A: YES. However, after a number of neurofeedback sessions, a reduction in medication is common.

Q: HOW MANY TRAINING SESSIONS DOES IT TAKE?

A: It varies depending on the person. The goal is to complete enough training to ensure consistent and lasting effects. Initially, 2 sessions minimum per week and a base of 25—30 sessions overall is recommended. Consistency is very important for progress and changes to occur.

Q: HOW LONG DOES THE EFFECT OF TRAINING LAST?

A: In general, training is permanent when done consistently. Certain individuals may experience a relapse of symptoms at some point, so occasional “maintenance” sessions may be necessary.

Q: HOW COME I NEVER HEARD OF NEUROFEEDBACK? 
A: Neurofeedback is not new – it has been researched and used clinically for many decades.   Better, faster, cheaper computers are enabling cutting-edge technology for brain health to make its way to mainstream public awareness. 

The rapid acceleration of technology has finally brought neurofeedback to the public in a greater capacity over the past 15 years than ever before.  Neurofeedback has had widespread features and exposure in major forms of media; NY Times, ABC news, CBS, NBC, Wall Street Journal, ESPN, the American Psychological Association (APA), and Psychology Today to name a few.

Q: HOW MANY TRAINING SESSIONS DOES IT TAKE?
A: Depending on severity of symptoms and goals, training is typically between 15 – 30 sessions.  The goal is to complete enough training to insure consistent and lasting effects.  Like piano lessons, a lot of practice is needed for it to stick – the brain is learning a new pattern.  Consistency is very important for progress and changes to occur.  Often, people will continue to train their brains because it “feels good” or they may need occasional maintenance sessions when they “feel off.”

Q: HOW LONG BEFORE CHANGES ARE NOTICED?
A: If you send someone to the gym, how long will it take for them to get into shape? How long before they notice? The answer varies widely.  Neurofeedback is literally brain exercise and how long it takes for the brain to become better regulated can vary widely.  This variation depends on symptoms, frequency of training as well as other factors.  Some clients may notice changes, either subtle or dramatic, within 3 – 5 sessions, for others it might take 10 sessions.  Other’s may have changes occurring in the brain but have not manifested in a behavioral, emotional or cognitive manner quite yet.  

Q: HOW LONG DOES THE EFFECT OF TRAINING LAST?
A: In general, training progress is maintained when done consistently and correctly.  Once someone has gone through intensive training, occasional “maintenance” sessions can be sufficient to get them back on track.  It may require a tune-up once a month, once every 6 months or maybe once a year.  It is client dependent.

Heart Rate Variability (HRV) Biofeedback

HRV is a measure of your autonomic nervous system and a window into your body’s responses to the world around you.  Heart rate variability is literally the variance in time between the beats of your heart. So, if your heart rate is 60 beats per minute, it’s not actually beating once every second. Within that minute there may be 0.9 seconds between two beats, for example, and 1.15 seconds between two others. The greater this variability is, the more “ready” your body is to execute and perform in a healthy manner; in other words, the more resilience you will have!

Your HRV is influenced by several physical and psychological factors and is an important parameter to measure whether your ANS is healthy or imbalanced.

Physiological factors – age, gender, genetic factors, and circadian rhythm can impact your heart rate and HRV.
Lifestyle factors - diet, physical activity, stress, alcohol consumption, tobacco use, sleep, medications, etc.
Diseases – studies have shown that HRV is lower in people suffering from diseases such as diabetes, heart diseases, lung diseases (i.e. asthma).
Mental health – anxiety disorders, panic attacks, post-traumatic stress, depression and other psychiatric diseases.
External factors – variables that can cause changes in HRV include seasonal change, exposure to noise, and induced pain.

You can take steps to improve your HRV and retrain your autonomic nervous system with HRV biofeedback.  This is a technique that has been proven effective for increasing mood, reducing anxiety, and treating a variety of health and performance deficiencies and conditions.

Biofeedback therapy gives you millisecond accurate mirroring of what your heart is communicating to the rest of your body, eventually allowing you to gain control over how your body reacts to stress.

 A mixture of traditional psychotherapy and biofeedback therapy can help you to achieve optimal performance in health, career, and relationships.  Through this process, we will teach you the self-regulation tools and techniques you need to perform at your peak and feel your best.

The goal of HRV biofeedback is to amplify your body’s ability to respond effectively during stress and increase its ability to efficiently recover following a stressor.  HRV biofeedback is also useful beyond just navigating critical moments.  It hones your body’s natural response to stress and helps you achieve clarity, confidence, and resilience.  HRV training can be used to increase focus and attention, elevate mood, relieve trauma, improve sleep, reduce anxiety, and enhance your overall well-being.  As you increase your HRV and strengthen your parasympathetic nervous system, you may also find that your relationships improve as you become able to listen more empathetically, make better decisions under pressure, and enjoy a sense of mindfulness.

Sessions last 45 – 50 minutes and the techniques are non-invasive, allowing you to improve control over how you react to internal and external stressors.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HEART RATE VARIABILITY BIOFEEDBACK?