To help celebrate yesterday’s International Women’s Day, this week we are speaking to successful women in business from across the Channel Islands, to get to know them and to help celebrate their achievements.
Today, we meet Elizabeth Demont, a Neurofeedback Therapist at Premier Biofeedback, to learn more about her work and her background.
What is your background?
I came over to Jersey in 2001, just after my graduation. I graduated in Poland at the University of Maria-Curie Sklodowska in Lublin as Bachelor of Social Work and two years later as Master of Arts of Pedagogy in the Faculty of Revalidation and Social Rehabilitation and Pedagogy of Work and Management in Educational and Protective Institutions. In 2004 I found a job at the Shelter Trust here in Jersey and for the next 8 years I worked as a support worker. This was a very demanding, challenging and rewarding job! I then moved to Social Security and worked as Income Support Adviser, subsequently moving to the Jersey Employment Trust, Mind Jersey, and Viscount Department as Enforcement Officer.
What did you want to achieve in your career?
I always enjoyed working with people and enjoyed helping them as I believe that we can overcome our fears and anxieties with a little bit of support. I worked with adults and children with mental health issues, autism and ADHD disorders, those feeling suicidal and so on…
Following my own experience of depression in 2005 and the barriers I faced of finding the right help for myself, I decided to use Neurofeedback as a form of therapy for my own wellbeing. The results amazed me!
Following this, I qualified as a neurofeedback therapist, travelled to the USA to meet the leaders of neurofeedback and here I am.
What do you think makes this stand out from other treatments, for example the medications route?
The most important and main reason that I love Neurofeedback is that it is an evidence-based and non-invasive! It is entirely drug and risk free, therefore anybody can train their brain with neurofeedback. There are no side effects, in contrast to medications which only treat symptoms of the condition and can have several side effects.
How does Neurofeedback work?
Neurofeedback uses the brain’s neuroplasticity and changes the wiring in the brain with no negative results. The positive results and benefits are long-lasting effects.
EEG Biofeedback is a mind-body technique using electronic instruments to help individuals gain awareness and control over their body and mind. Biofeedback
instruments measure muscle activity, skin temperature, electrodermal activity, respiration, heart rate, blood pressure, brain electrical activity, and brain blood
flow.
Biofeedback is useful in medical care, mental health treatment, physical and occupational therapy, and education.
Biofeedback is a useful self-help tool that can benefit almost every living human being. Biofeedback is a pathway to learning important voluntary control skills that are useful throughout life. It enables individuals to increase bodily awareness, acquire relaxation skills, and gain control over a variety of organ systems in the body. Many persons feel encouraged and ’empowered’ by biofeedback.
Anyone who is suffering from life stress and anxiety can benefit from biofeedback strategies for physical and mental relaxation. Anyone suffering from medical problems that are caused or aggravated by stress will benefit from biofeedback.
Neurofeedback has a high success rate with dedicated, continued practice. The technique is suitable for both children and adults and has been used by people from all backgrounds, including pilots, business professionals, professional athletes, and actors. It is an evidence-based therapy providing amazing results.
Biofeedback can benefit individuals with a broad range of mental health and medical problems, including: anxiety, head injury, depression, addictions, migraine, insomnia, irritable bowel syndrome, learning disabilities, nerve problems, ADHD, autism and many others.
Is there a need for alternative treatments in Jersey?
I think that an awareness about mental health and other psychological disorders is improving among the Jersey population. People who have experienced mental health difficulties are beginning to understand that the medication route is not the only route to recovery and that there are alternatives.
Living in fast-paced environments and with busy lives, we all struggle sometimes. Knowing that there is a holistic therapy available can be a relief for some people who decide to follow that route. I meet with clients on a daily basis who come to me with a wide range of difficulties as they struggle to find tangible and measurable mental health changes. I think that this is only beginning for Neuroscience and Neurodiversity study development.
What do you do with your free time?
I love travelling! The world is so beautiful and I would love to visit every piece of this earth. I also enjoy Lindy Hop dancing, and Ballroom and Street dancing. When I was a child, I wanted to be a professional dancer. I like cooking, driving, and reading psychology magazines and everything else which involves brain training.
Elizabeth Demont is a registered Biofeedback (often called EEG Biofeedback) Therapist at Premier Biofeedback. She has been passionate about psychology and sociology since childhood. She is registered with Social Work England – SW50503 as well as locally here in Jersey with Jersey Care Commission – Registration number 3101. For more information, please contact Elizabeth by email or by telephone on 07797 773267
Main picture: Elizabeth Demont. Photo credit: Oliver Doran
