Neurofeedback in Petaluma, Sonoma County, & the North Bay
Drug-Free Solutions for Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, & More…
Neurofeedback in Petaluma · Sonoma & Marin County
Children and teens
Drug-free, brain-based training that teaches the nervous system to regulate itself. Offered to children, teens, and adults.
Common Challenges
When you know you are stuck and coping strategies are not enough.
How We Work Together
Neurofeedback teaches the brain to better regulate itself for calm and improved performance.
What You Can Expect
Drug-free, brain-based training that teaches the nervous system to regulate itself. Offered to children, teens, and adults.
About This Specialization
Neurofeedback in Petaluma, Sonoma County & the North Bay
Cutting-edge, EEG training that helps the brain regulate itself — used therapeutically since the 1960s and supported by over 2,000 peer-reviewed studies. Healing symptoms of anxiety, depression, trauma, pain, and more at their source – the nervous system dysregulation that drive them.
“The brain is wider than the sky…”
New to neurofeedback?
How neurofeedback works
Neurofeedback teaches the brain to better regulate itself for calm and improved performance.
Neurofeedback is a drug-free, non-invasive way to help your brain regulate itself by retraining brainwave patterns. When stress, trauma, injury, or other factors leave the nervous system stuck in overactive, underactive, or unstable patterns, symptoms like anxiety, poor sleep, inattention, and emotional overwhelm can develop.
During a neurofeedback session, sensors placed on the scalp read your brainwave activity in real time. Advanced software identifies dysregulated patterns, and provides feedback through visual, auditory, tactile, or pulsed frequency signals. Feedback helps the brain to shift into healthier frequency patterns, which are reinforced during training. The process improves brainwave distribution and restores balance, stability, calm, focus, and emotional regulation.
Essentially, neurofeedback gives the brain a gentle mirror of its own activity so it can practice shifting toward calmer, more balanced patterns. When this occurs, symptoms and functioning improve and clients thrive.
Neurofeedback training is easy – no effort is required. The client simply sits comfortably while the training runs. Over a series of sessions, clients notice improvements in mood, focus, sleep, and resilience. Neurofeedback has been used therapeutically since the late 1960s and is supported by a large body of peer-reviewed research.
What a session actually looks like
If you have never tried neurofeedback, here is a straightforward picture of what to expect in my Petaluma office:
- 1
We check in
We start by talking briefly about how you have been doing since your last visit – noting progress and continued challenges that can be targeted with training.
- 2
Sensors are placed comfortably
The skin on the scalp is prepared for a good connection, then a few small sensors are placed on the head. This is painless and non-invasive.
- 3
You receive real-time feedback
Depending on your plan, you may watch a movie or game, sit quietly, or notice gentle tactile cues while your brain receives feedback about its activity. For some modalities, a very low-energy signal is sent back to the brain for brief intervals.
- 4
You notice shifts and we adjust together
Within a few minutes, many clients begin to notice changes in how they feel – calmer, clearer, or more settled. You share what you notice and we adjust the session accordingly in real time. Training is also modified based on session-to-session progress.
- 5
Typical session length
Most sessions run about 20–40 minutes depending on the modality. We will choose the approach that fits your assessment and goals.
Curious about the research?
If you would like to read a little more, these resources summarize decades of neurofeedback research in plain language — no need to wade through technical journals.
- ISNR patient resources
Overview of neurofeedback from the International Society for Neuroregulation & Research.
- ISNR research bibliography
A maintained collection of peer-reviewed neurofeedback studies.
Neurofeedback - Common Challenges | Petaluma, CA
When talk therapy and coping strategies are not enough.
Ready when you are
Start with a free 15-minute consultation
A no-pressure conversation to see if we're a good fit and answer any questions you may have.
Also helpful
Modalities Offered · Petaluma, CA
Neurofeedback modalities tailored to you
Each approach has its own page with details on how it supports regulation, resilience, and lasting change.
QEEG & Brain AssessmentUnderstanding the Brain by Mapping How It Functions
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EEG NeurofeedbackEliminating Symptoms by Optimizing the Brain's Activity
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ILF NeurofeedbackFostering Stability & Calm Throughout the Nervous System
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HPN/LENS NeurofeedbackCutting-Edge Technology to Move the Brain from Stuck to Flexible
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Alpha-Theta NeurofeedbackFor the Gentle Resolution of Trauma, Addiction, & Unwanted Behavior
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Synchrony NeurofeedbackEnhancing Self-Awareness, Calm, Resilience, & Focus
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HEG NeurofeedbackTraining Concentration, Focus, and Open, Calm Awareness
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“When we provide feedback to the brain we are, essentially, providing it with a mirror of its own function and "inviting" it to make more of some frequencies and less of others. In neurofeedback, we seem to be nudging the brain to set up new oscillatory patterns that enhance both its natural complexity and its inherent and necessary bias toward self-regulation.”
What can neurofeedback address?
Both research and clinical practice suggest that neurofeedback may be helpful for symptoms associated with a broad range of mental health, neurodevelopmental, neurocognitive, and physiological concerns — all explained in terms of patterns of brain dysregulation. Neurofeedback can be especially helpful when traditional psychotherapy and medical care are not enough, or when clients prefer a drug-free treatment option.
As a psychologist in Sonoma County, I provide neurofeedback for many of the conditions below.
Mental Health & Emotional Issues
- Anxiety
- Panic
- Depression
- Trauma & Neglect
- Behavioral Problems
- Emotional Reactivity
- Anger Problems
- Eating Disorders
- Relationship & Attachment Issues
- Dissociation
- Self-Injury & Suicidality
- Addiction
- Peak Performance
Neurodevelopmental & Neurocognitive Issues
- ADD & ADHD
- Sensory Processing Issues
- Cognitive Issues
- Tics
- Tremor
- Autism Spectrum Issues
- Developmental Disorders
- Brain Injury & Concussion
- Neurological Lyme
- Reading Problems
- Verbal Problems
- Cognitive Deficits
- Balance Problems
Mind-Body & Physiological Issues
- Insomnia
- Restless Leg Syndrome
- Chronic Pain
- Fibromyalgia & Autoimmune
- Chronic Fatigue
- Chemical Sensitivity
- IBS
- PMS & Menopausal Issues
- Migraine Headaches
- Tension Headaches
- Bruxism (teeth grinding)
- Vertigo
- Muscle Tension
Is Neurofeedback Right for You?
Whether you're seeking help for you or your family dealing with ADHD, anxiety, trauma, depression, sleep issues, brain injury, or you simply want greater emotional balance, resilience, and clarity, neurofeedback offers a powerful pathway toward change. As a licensed psychologist in Petaluma and seasoned neurofeedback provider, I tailor every training plan to the individual — integrating neurofeedback, biofeedback, and other mind-body therapies to support deep, lasting change.
Schedule Consultation
“In my opinion, if any medication had demonstrated such a wide spectrum of efficacy, it would be universally accepted and widely used.”
Neurofeedback with Children & Teens
Children and adolescents often respond quickly to neurofeedback training because their brains are highly adaptable. I provide developmentally-informed, gentle neurofeedback tailored to some of the most common issues affecting children and teens, including:
- ADHD and issues with focus, concentration, and hyperactivity
- Anxiety
- Autism-spectrum & neurodivergence-related issues
- Behavioral problems
- Emotional dysregulation
- Trauma-related symptoms
- Concussion and head injury
- Sleep problems
- Depression
- School-related stressors
Families in Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa, and surrounding Sonoma and Marin County communities regularly seek neurofeedback to support long-lasting emotional, behavioral, and academic growth.
Benefits of Integrative Approaches to Mind-Body Wellness
Neurofeedback case example:
An 8-year-old client with a highly sensitive nervous system, birth trauma, ADHD, anxiety, and emotional reactivity. After 30 neurofeedback training sessions, the client and family noted remarkable improvements, including better sleep, reduced anxiety, improved emotional regulation and focus. Physical issues such as bedwetting, constipation, and seasonal allergies also improved during training.
Neurofeedback teaches the brain to better regulate itself for calm and improved performance
Real-time feedback helps your brain develop healthier patterns — supporting lasting change rather than temporary relief.
Drug-free and non-invasive
A natural option when you prefer to avoid medication or when talk therapy alone has not been enough.
Pairs with biofeedback and somatic work
Integrated mind-body care addresses both brain regulation and the emotional roots of symptoms.
Evidence-based with decades of research
Supported by well over 2,000 peer-reviewed studies across a wide spectrum of clinical concerns.
“A different person arises out of a regulated brain.”
A Welcoming Space
The Office
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Somatic Therapy Corner
A welcoming space for healing.
My office provides a warm, comfortable, confidential environment designed to help you feel safe and supported. I've created a calm space where you can focus entirely on your journey toward wellness and growth.
Visit Us
Sil Machado, Ph.D.
7 Fourth Street, Suite 45, Petaluma, CA 94952
Supportive care in Petaluma.
Sil Machado, Ph.D. offers a calm, welcoming space for in-person care in Petaluma, serving Sonoma & Marin County.
Rates & Insurance
Initial intake: $250. Ongoing session: $200. Neurofeedback and biofeedback are not covered by insurance.
