Vitalae Mind & Body Services

Good psychological care includes developing healthy mental behaviors as well as improving brain physiology. Mental health also includes improving the health of the body.  At Vitalae, we utilize a variety of modalities to assist our clients with developing the skills to achieve and maintain mental wellness and elevated mood and optimal concentration:

  • Peak Performance – sharpen mental acuity for business professionals, competitive athletes, students and other academics, as well as those engaging in creative pursuits.
  • Neurofeedback - also called brainwave biofeedback, helps to optimize brain function. 
  • Heart Rate Variability- optimize the heart-respiratory system coordination, which increase when healthful factors are introduced.
  • Guided Visiual Imagery For Relaxation – individualized techniques are integrated to reduce anxiety, manage stress levels, and prevent signs of depression.
  • Somatic Awareness – sensory techniques are employed to regulate the body’s natural energy, improve health & wellbeing, and prevent illness.
  • Lifestyle Coaching – improves a heightened sense of self-satisfaction through focusing on setting goals and achieving results.
  • Sleep Skills – increases the quality of nightly sleep patterns, which improve energy levels, mental productivity, and optimum physical energy.

 

What is Neurofeedback &Quantitative Electro-encephalography (QEEG)

Neurofeedback, also called EEG (electroencephalogram) biofeedback or brainwave biofeedback, works to train the brain to function optimally. Neurofeedback is on the leading edge of mind-body medicine. It provides a mode of treatment that yields similar results with medication without negative side effects.

 

Before initiating treatment with neurofeedback, some clinics, such as Vitalae Wellness, utilize quantitative EEG (QEEG) to assess a patient’s brain function and develop a customized treatment protocol. QEEG is an assessment of the electrophysiological functioning of a brain. It is an analysis of the dynamic changes taking place throughout the brain during periods when an individual is performing challenging tasks or resting with eyes-open or closed. It helps determine which areas of the brain are processing efficiently and what areas are dysfunctional or performing less than optimally.

QEEG identifies variations in brain functioning that are associated with different types of neurological disorders such as ADHD, learning disabilities, head injuries, depression and anxiety disorders. It can also analyze brains without diagnosable disorders to find the subtle variations that prevent people from achieving optimal brain functioning. 
 
Most psychological assessments look at the dysfunctional thinking and emotions that produce problems in performance and living, whereas QEEG looks at the physiological functioning that is the foundation for such thinking and emotions.
 
The assessment is a 60 minute noninvasive process entails recording the electrical output of the brain from 19 electrode channels attached to the scalp.   Once completed, the record can be processed and analyzed using a variety of computer algorithms. These programs are designed to statistically quantify the various brainwaves, localize the source, and often compare the results to a normative database. The information is then compiled to produce topographic brain images which identify the parts of the brain that are producing an excess or deficiency of given brainwave frequencies. From this, we are able to make clinical correlations to brain processes and determine which areas of the brain are being affected by a disorder or prevent more effective performance. 

 

Neurofeedback serves as a clinical application of QEEG findings. Based on topographic brain imaging, the practitioner assesses which areas of the brain would perform better if producing less or more of a given brainwave. An electrode is painlessly attached to the patient’s scalp in a particular location with conductive paste and wired into a computer. What is seen on the computer screen is somewhat similar to a video game, but in this scenario, there are no hand controllers; the patient is actually playing by using his/her brain. As the “correct” brainwave activity is produced (parameters are set by the practitioner), the patient is visually rewarded by advancement in the game. As one becomes more adept at this training, the clinical picture improves. Neurofeedback sessions are designed to give real-time feedback of how an brain’s electrical system is working. By continuing to train the brain in such a way, we are able to directly impact the brain’s electrical signaling and indirectly its physiological processes. Typically, 20–40 sessions are required to make lasting changes in the brain’s electrical functioning. Follow-up studies have confirmed permanency of results eight to ten years later. Although not a “quick fix,” Neurofeedback can offer patients a long term solution towards a life long problem. It can be effectively used to decrease or discontinue a regimen of a variety of medications.

In addition to effectively managing symptoms, one of the main benefits of using Neurofeedback is inherent to the therapy itself. It allows the patient, to play an active role in his/her own health. It helps him/her gain an understanding of his body and how to better its function—quite the contrary to “swallow a pill to fix me” mentality, which creates a sense of dependence and lack of control.   Neurofeedback facilitates the notion of being proactive in health; an invaluable concept that is imperative in achieving wellness for all of our patients regardless of age.

Peak Performance & Neurofeedback

In addition to alleviating pathological conditions, neurofeedback is utilized for the development of peak performance. The term peak performance is used by those seeking to train towards optimum potential in athletic or cognitive tasks. Peak performance is achieved when the central nervous system and sensory nervous systems are in balance. One aspect of this balance is the systems arousal level. For a given task, the system need to be not overstimulated or overaroused and neither should it be understimulated or underaroused. For academic peak performance, for example, underarousal, in the form of sleepiness or boredom or the opposite overarousal, such as anxiety or impatience, are extreme arousal levels that will not serve the system well in academic pursuits. In academic performance, peak performance suggests that in a given study session, a student will be able to integrate and retain more new information or achieve the same results in a shorter period of time.

Conditions treated:

  • Insomnia & Sleep Disorders
  • Migraine & Head Injury
  • Chronic Pain, Chronic Fatigue
  • Cardiovascular Disease, Stroke
  • Concentration & Memory
  • High Blood Pressure
  • Stress & Anxiety Reduction

Provider Profile

David Stuckey, PsyD.

 

Dr. David Stuckey is the Chief Health Psychologist at Vitalae, working in collaboration with a team of healthcare professionals. His passion is to integrate psychological and physiological methodologies in order to empower clients to achieve their personal goals.
At an early age, he was constantly intrigued with the mind. He studied memory enhancing techniques and meditative practices. As a gymnast in high school, he experienced first-hand the effects of visual imagery as a technique for improved athletic performance.
Dr. Stuckey graduated from Occidental College in 1987 with a major in psychology and minor in religious studies. He then moved to Japan to further his interest in martial arts (aikido) and meditation, as well as study the Japanese language. He decided to return to the US to pursue a doctorate in clinical psychology (PsyD) at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) in 2004. Dr. Stuckey’s extensive travels, including regions in Asia, South America, Finland, the Netherlands, Italy, and the former Soviet Union, gave him valuable life experience, which includes studying with shamanic practitioners and Tibetan dream yoga masters.

 

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Menu of Services

  • Quantitative Electro-encephalography (QEEG)
  • Neurofeedback
  • Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback
  • Psychotherapy
  • Mind/Body Skills Training
  • Life Coaching

 

Cancellation Policy: As a courtesy to other guests & our service providers, we respectfully ask that you notify us a minimum of 24 hours in advance if you must reschedule or cancel your appointment.  There will be a $25 charge for any cancellations made less than 8 hours before a scheduled appointment.  Cancellations must be made over the phone.  No email cancellations will be accepted.  In order to ensure quality service to our valued clients, we will strictly enforce this policy effective March 1, 2010.

**Helpful hint: Get you & your friends involved!  If you find a replacement for your appointment, we will not charge the cancellation fee.

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