Your brain can be brilliant and still get stuck. When it does, more effort is not always the answer, sometimes it needs a nudge. Tina Wilston sits down with Yvonne, our Director of Neurofeedback, to explain Higher Performance Neurofeedback (HPN), a style of neurofeedback that acts more like neuromodulation. We talk about how HPN sends tiny frequencies back to the brain based on what it is already doing, with the aim of interrupting rigid patterns and supporting neuroplasticity. Many clients describe the shift as “clearing out the cobwebs,” especially when stress, trauma, or a head injury knocks them off their baseline. We get practical about what an HPN session actually looks like, including the five-electrode setup, how we choose placements, and how we decide on levels. We also explain over-stimulation (over-stim), what it can feel like, and why it is usually information rather than a disaster. You will hear how we think about dosing with “sites,” why we start gently, and how some people notice changes within 24 to 48 hours, especially around deeper sleep, calmer nervous system regulation, and reduced panic. We also dig into who HPN is best for, when traditional neurofeedback is the better long-game, and how HPN can pair beautifully with therapy to create more capacity for trauma processing and clearer thinking. We cover the QEEG brain map question too: when it is best practice, when HPN can be done without it, and the safety screens we take seriously. Finally, we zoom out to peak performance and the real-world reports we have seen, including focus, clarity, and sensory regulation support. Subscribe for more neurofeedback conversations, share this with someone who is curious about brain-based therapy, and leave a review so more Canadians can find the show. What would you want HPN to help you with? About Yvonne Burwash Yvonne Burwash is the Director of Neurofeedback at MindSpa Mental Health. She works with clients across the lifespan using QEEG-guided neurofeedback and collaborates with the clinical team to develop individualized training protocols based on each person's unique brain activity. Connect With Yvonne Burwash Website | Instagram | LinkedIn The MindSpa Podcast Thoughtful conversations about mental health, relationships, identity, healing, grounded in clinical expertise and steady human insight. Hosts Tina Wilston, M.Ed., Registered Psychotherapist Co-Owner, MindSpa Mental Health Centre https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinawilston/ https://www.instagram.com/tinawilstontherapy/ https://www.facebook.com/tinawilstontherapy/ Michelle Massunken, MSW, RSW Co-Owner, MindSpa Mental Health Centre https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-massunken-msw-rsw/ https://www.instagram.com/michellemassunken.therapy/ https://www.facebook.com/MichelleMassunken/ MindSpa Mental Health Centre Ottawa - Kanata & Gloucester themindspa.ca https://www.linkedin.com/company/themindspa/ https://www.instagram.com/themindspa.ca/ https://www.facebook.com/themindspa.ca/ Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube
