Neurofeedback therapy: A pathway to recovery from emotional trauma
Neurofeedback therapy is offering a new path to healing and emotional recovery.
Image: IOL: Ron AI
In a world where the word “narcissist” is trending on every social platform, it’s easy to forget that behind the headlines are real people who are often deeply hurt, confused, and emotionally exhausted.
For survivors of narcissistic abuse, the aftermath can feel like an invisible injury: difficult to name, harder to explain, and even harder to heal.
A growing number of people are turning to an unexpected source of relief - neurofeedback therapy, to help rewire the emotional damage left behind by psychological manipulation.
When singer Cassie Ventura recently testified in court about the alleged abuse she endured during her relationship with music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, she mentioned a crucial part of her healing journey: neurofeedback.
At a trauma and addiction treatment centre in Arizona, Cassie received weekly sessions of the therapy to help her cope with PTSD.
The treatment, which she described as a process where “they hook your brain up to a machine and you watch something and it regulates your brain waves,” has since gained global attention for its role in trauma recovery.
Kerry Rudman, a Neurofeedback Specialist, explains that neurofeedback isn’t about diagnosing or labeling, it’s about helping the brain shift out of survival mode.
“Victims of narcissistic abuse often walk away questioning their reality, dealing with anxiety, brain fog, and emotional exhaustion,” she says. “Neurofeedback has helped many of our clients find calm, rebuild self-trust, and regulate their own emotional responses after years of psychological manipulation.”
Unlike talk therapy, which can be challenging for survivors who may lack the words to articulate their experiences, neurofeedback is entirely non-verbal.
Using EEG technology, the therapy monitors brainwave activity in real-time, allowing the brain to learn how to function more efficiently, much like physical exercise strengthens muscles. “It’s like giving your nervous system a reset,” says Rudman.
For many survivors, including those who have been gaslit or emotionally worn down by narcissistic partners, this reset is essential.
Emotional abuse doesn’t just affect your feelings, it affects how your brain responds to stress, processes information, and even how you connect with others. Healing, therefore, has to include the brain.
While Cassie’s story is just one example, Rudman notes that it’s echoed in many of her clients’ experiences. Survivors come to neurofeedback therapy seeking relief from chronic anxiety, sleep disturbances, and emotional instability, all common after long-term exposure to manipulation and control. “It’s incredibly validating for survivors to hear someone speak about real recovery,” she says.
Importantly, neurofeedback isn’t a miracle cure. It’s one part of a larger healing process. “Someone with entrenched narcissistic traits needs to want to change,” Rudman adds. “But for those shaped by trauma — whether they were the victims or the ones repeating patterns — neurofeedback can support profound emotional shifts.”
The growing awareness around emotional abuse, fuelled by public cases like Cassie’s, has brought these conversations into the light. And while the media often fixates on the abuser, it’s the survivor’s story - their strength, their healing, and their rediscovery of peace that truly matters.
Neurofeedback may be one gentle but powerful step towards that healing.
IOL Lifestyle