Part 3: ILF Neurofeedback for Childhood Trauma – The Treatment That Works

Posts in this series:
Part 1: Neurofeedback for Childhood Trauma – Why Therapy Isn’t Enough
Part 2: Neurofeedback for Childhood Trauma – Our Story
Part 3: Neurofeedback for Childhood Trauma – The Treatment That Works

Why Neurofeedback Works for Trauma

Most trauma treatments ask children to do things they simply can’t—think clearly, talk openly, self-regulate. But the specific kind of neurofeedback we used with Kayla doesn’t require any of that. It doesn’t depend on a child’s ability to explain their feelings, reflect on the past, or stay calm in the moment. It meets the brain where it is—stuck in survival mode—and works from the bottom up.

Infra-low frequency (ILF) neurofeedback (also called EEG biofeedback) targets the slowest brainwaves—the ones responsible for the body’s most automatic functions. These aren’t things we consciously control, but they shape how we feel and behave. Kent explains, “Other types of treatment are working with the conscious part of our brain—the ripples on top of the ocean. We’re working at the bottom of the ocean.”

That’s part of what makes ILF neurofeedback so effective for kids with early trauma. Their brains are often led by an overactive amygdala—the part that constantly scans for danger. “A way to think of the amygdala is like a scared child,” Kent says. “I look at it as, it just got scared. Something back there scared it. And it’s still scared.”

By working at extremely low frequencies, ILF neurofeedback helps calm that fear directly. “We’re giving the brain the opportunity to turn itself off for a couple minutes and calibrate on its own,” Kent says.

Because this treatment works below the level of conscious thought, the child isn’t actively trying to change anything. The brain is simply guided into regulating itself. “The brain is learning things, but it’s not because of the conscious choice that the person makes,” Kent explains.

That self-regulation is what makes deep change possible. “Our neurology is dragging us around, and all we’re trying to do is be free of that and use our neurology—instead of it using us,” Kent says.

In addition to calming the nervous system, ILF neurofeedback also helps optimize brainwave activity. We operate in many frequencies at once. As Kent puts it, “We’re in all these frequencies all the time. It’s just how much energy we put into this one versus that one.” This form of neurofeedback helps shift energy away from high-alert patterns and toward more stable, regulated ones. It’s like adjusting a dimmer switch—not turning off the light, just tuning it to the level that fits the room.

When brainwaves are more balanced, everything from focus to sleep to mood can improve.

This doesn’t replace therapy—but it can make therapy much more effective. “Therapy offers tools,” Kent says. “Neurofeedback gives you the ability to use those tools much better. And if we’re really successful, we might reduce or eliminate the need for those tools.”

For kids like Kayla, this bottom-up, brain-first approach helps calm hypervigilance and reset the brain’s baseline. That alone is life-changing. But it also makes other therapies finally possible.

Getting Started With Neurofeedback

While many types of neurofeedback can be helpful, infra-low frequency (ILF) neurofeedback (also called the Othmer Method) stands out as especially effective for children with early developmental trauma. That’s because it directly calms the amygdala—the part of the brain responsible for detecting threats. For a child who’s lived in fear or chaos, even if they’re now physically safe, their brain may still act like danger is right around the corner. ILF neurofeedback helps slow things down just enough for the brain to recognize, I’m okay right now.

As Kent puts it, “We’re giving the brain the opportunity to turn itself off for a couple minutes and calibrate on its own.”

Does it work for everyone? No treatment is one-size-fits-all, and Kent is clear that ILF neurofeedback doesn’t erase trauma or automatically resolve behavior. But it gives kids more agency—more ability to pause, self-regulate, and benefit from other forms of therapy. For children with the most devastating early experiences, it may not be a complete fix. Still, Kent says,“It can help. It’s definitely the thing to do. It’s the most effective thing I know of to do, but it’s going to be a lot, lot harder to get them to 100%.”

One major advantage of ILF neurofeedback is that it works below the level of conscious thought. That means children don’t have to be developmentally “ready” to engage in it. They don’t have to talk about feelings or follow complex instructions—they just sit and watch a cartoon. That’s why it’s safe to start early. Kent has worked successfully with children as young as two.

When looking for a provider, it’s important to find someone who specializes in both ILF neurofeedback and developmental trauma. Some practitioners focus on chronic pain, peak performance, or athletic optimization. But for kids with trauma histories, you need someone who understands how adversity reshapes the brain—and knows how to target the amygdala with the right frequencies and protocols to support healing at the nervous system level.

Most protocols begin with an intake session and a “symptom map,” which helps match the child’s challenges to specific areas of the brain. Kent does not recommend brain mapping as a standard, which he describes as just a snapshot in time—not very useful for guiding treatment.

A typical course of ILF neurofeedback includes about 20 sessions, though it can vary. Many families notice changes early on, which helps validate the time and financial investment.

Unfortunately, most insurance companies don’t cover neurofeedback. But if your child is still in foster care—or was adopted from foster care and receives a subsidy—you can petition to use those funds. It’s also often reimbursable through Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs).

Families often have to get creative to make it work financially. But when they do, it’s worth it.
The results can be life-changing.

Real Hope for Real Change

ILF neurofeedback isn’t a magic fix for early childhood trauma—but for kids like Kayla, and so many others, it offers something we rarely see in traditional approaches: real, measurable change. Not just coping strategies or behavior charts, but deep nervous system regulation that makes everything else more possible.

As Kent says,

“I could shut my eyes and pull out a file and show you incredible things that are happening [with people I have treated with ILF neurofeedback]. You could have done therapy for two years and nothing happened. It’s nothing against therapy, it’s just this is different. It’s not about making sense of the problem, it’s not about getting tools to solve the problem. It is getting to the root of the problem.”

For children living with the effects of early trauma, that kind of shift can change everything—from their ability to feel safe, to how they learn, connect, and grow. It’s not a silver bullet, but for many families, it’s the breakthrough they’ve been searching for.

Recommended Resources:

What Is Neurofeedback ? – EEG INFO Videos

Neurofeedback in the Treatment of Developmental Trauma: Calming the Fear-Driven Brain

This website contains Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases — but I only recommend books and resources I’ve personally used or truly believe will help families.