What Is Brain Mapping (QEEG), and Why Would My Therapist Recommend It?
Brain mapping doesn’t diagnose mental health conditions. It provides another piece of information that helps us better understand how your brain is functioning.
If you were seeing a cardiologist because you were experiencing chest pain, you probably wouldn’t expect the doctor to simply ask a few questions and immediately recommend treatment. You would expect your cardiologist to listen to your heart, run appropriate tests, perhaps order an EKG, echocardiogram, CT scan, or MRI, and then combine all of that information before discussing a diagnosis and recommending treatment.
Why?
Because the more information they have, the more confidently they can understand what’s happening and develop the most appropriate treatment plan.
If we want to help the brain heal, shouldn’t we learn as much about it as we reasonably can?
For many years, mental health professionals have relied primarily on clinical interviews, observation, symptom checklists, and psychological testing. Those tools remain essential and continue to be the foundation of good mental health care. Today, however, we also have technologies that can provide additional objective information about how the brain is functioning.
One of those technologies is called Quantitative Electroencephalography, more commonly known as QEEG or brain mapping.
What Is Brain Mapping?
Brain mapping is a painless, non-invasive assessment that measures the brain’s natural electrical activity. It doesn’t send anything into your brain. It simply records the electrical signals your brain is already producing.
Think of it like a heart monitor. Just as an EKG records the electrical activity of the heart, a QEEG records the electrical activity of the brain. The information is then compared with a large database of people of similar age to identify patterns that may help us better understand how the brain is functioning.
Notice I didn’t say diagnose. That’s an important distinction.
Does a Brain Map Diagnose Anxiety, ADHD, or Trauma?
No. A brain map does not diagnose mental health conditions.
A mental health diagnosis is not based on one test. Instead, it combines many pieces of information, including your personal history, current concerns, symptoms, observations, and a thorough clinical evaluation.
However… A brain map can significantly assist in the diagnostic process.
It provides objective information about how the brain is functioning that may confirm clinical impressions, help rule out some concerns, may raise additional questions worth exploring, or help guide treatment planning.
It’s one important piece of the puzzle. It’s not the entire picture.
What Information Can a Brain Map Provide?
A brain map doesn’t tell us everything about a person, but it can provide valuable information about how the brain is functioning at the time of the assessment.
Rather than looking for a diagnosis, we’re looking for patterns. Are certain areas of the brain working harder than expected? Are some areas unusually quiet? Are the different parts of the brain communicating efficiently with one another? Are there patterns that might help explain difficulties with attention, emotional regulation, sleep, stress, or other concerns?
The answers don’t provide a diagnosis by themselves, but they can give us valuable information that helps us understand the bigger picture.
Just as importantly, they sometimes raise questions we might not have thought to ask.
What Happens During a Brain Mapping Appointment?
Brain mapping is simple, painless, and non-invasive. Nothing is sent into your brain. It simply records the electrical activity your brain is producing.
Our units involve a band you place around your head over your forehead. A small sensor is placed on various places on your scalp using a conductive paste. The procedure is completely painless, leaves no mess (unlike former styles involving a cap and gel in your hair), and only takes 20-30 min. During the recording, you’ll spend a few minutes with your eyes open and a few minutes with your eyes closed while the computer records your brain’s natural electrical activity.
Most people are surprised by how simple the process is.
How Does Brain Mapping Help Develop a Treatment Plan?
The goal isn’t to treat a brain map. The goal is to better understand the person sitting in front of us in order to treat them.
At TADAS Counseling, we combine information from many different sources such as your personal history, current symptoms, strengths, goals and clinical observations. Information from brain mapping adds to this information.Together, those pieces help us develop a treatment plan that is individualized rather than based on guesswork.
Sometimes that plan usually includes traditional therapy and can lead to other recommendations such as neurofeedback.
The brain map doesn’t tell us what to do; it helps us make more informed decisions.
Does Everyone Need Brain Mapping?
No. Brain mapping is an excellent tool, but not everyone has to have one. Yet, I have never found one to not be helpful.
Many people make tremendous progress through therapy without ever having a brain map completed. Others have situations where additional information can be especially helpful. Deciding whether brain mapping would benefit you is something we discuss together after learning more about your history, concerns, and goals.
We believe in using the right tool for the right person—not simply using technology because it’s available.
Why Does TADAS Offer Brain Mapping?
Our philosophy is simple. If we want to help the brain heal, shouldn’t we learn as much about it as we reasonably can?
We believe every person deserves an individualized approach to care. That begins with listening to your story. And listening “between the lines” too. It continues by understanding how your nervous system has learned to respond to life’s experiences.
When appropriate, brain mapping gives us another valuable source of information that helps us see a more complete picture.
We don’t treat brain maps – we treat people. A brain map simply helps us understand the person more completely.
If you’ve ever wondered whether brain mapping might be appropriate for you or someone you love, we’d be happy to answer your questions.
At TADAS Counseling, we believe informed decisions begin with good information. Whether brain mapping becomes part of your care or not, our goal is always the same—to understand your unique experiences and develop the treatment plan that best fits your needs.
If you’d like to learn more, call 248-284-6050 or click here to speak with one of our clinicians.
Continued Learning
- What Is a Nervous-System-Centered Approach to Therapy?
Could My Childhood Be Affecting Me More Than I Realize? 10 Signs to Look For
https://tadascounseling.com/could-my-childhood-be-affecting-me-more-than-i-realize-10-signs-to-look-for/ - International Society for Neuroregulation & Research (ISNR)
Janet Schryer Donahue, LPC, NCC, CCTP, ADHD-CCSP is a nervous-system centered licensed professional counselor and Director of TADAS Counseling in Michigan, specializing in Trauma, Anxiety, and ADHD using both traditional therapy and advanced brain- and body-based approaches.
📅 Last updated: