The Basics
Located northwest of Los Angeles in Woodland Hills, California, The Missing Peace is an outpatient treatment center for mental illness and dual diagnoses. It also offers an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP). The facility’s approach is mainly focused on neurofeedback, though a number of adjunctive therapies are also available. Founder Laura Rhodes-Levin, who herself is in recovery, is a neurofeedback therapist, an LMFT and a hypnotherapist/HMI.
Treatment and Staff
The Missing Peace uses neurofeedback therapy to treat ADHD, epilepsy, autism, headaches, insomnia, anxiety, substance abuse, traumatic brain injury (TBI), learning and developmental delays, emotional and behavioral dysregulation, concussions, depression, obsessive thoughts and pain disorders. Neurofeedback trains the brain with a reward-based therapy in order to discourage maladaptive behaviors and thoughts. It uses the brain’s electrical functioning to manage self-regulation and give a baseline for the therapeutic training regime. Electrodes are used to track brainwaves and the therapist helps clients enable or discontinue certain patterns.
In terms of things like school performance or attention, neurofeedback helps to change “the timing of the brain.” It is focused on changing the brain itself rather than “the mind”—that is, the behaviors or resulting symptoms of these brainwaves, as is the case in traditional therapy.
Treatment begins with a 90-minute intake assessment involving a questionnaire and initial EEG reading. Electrodes are attached to the head to measure and show images of brain activity, and then the therapist guides clients into changing their usual patterns. The process is compared to learning to ride a bicycle, where the brain learns how to do something new and adjusts its patterns and performance accordingly. Neurofeedback is backed by research studies and evidence. It can be used on both children and adults and typically takes 20 to 40 sessions to be effective.
In cases of addiction, 12-step participation is encouraged but not mandatory.
The IOP runs three hours a day three times a week and includes two hours of alpha stimulation (alpha-stim), which is a way to get clients to relax in the moment and differs from neurofeedback. In addition, clients receive three hours of weekly neurofeedback, one hour of massage, one face-to-face therapy meeting and, for women, two gender-specific therapy groups. Men are permitted in the IOP but do not participate in group therapy. Talk therapy uses evidence-based techniques such as CBT and DBT.
Ms. Rhodes-Levin has a Master’s degree in counseling. Also on staff are massage therapists, additional neurofeedback therapists and talk therapists.
Extras
The Missing Peace offers hypnotherapy and meditation treatments. Massage and art therapy are also available.
In Summary
The Missing Peace focuses on neurofeedback, a method commonly used in mental health and rehab facilities around the country. It is a solid option for people who do not want to enter an inpatient treatment in order to explore this therapy. Additionally, for those interested in a 12-step alternative or additional addiction treatment, the Missing Peace offers a way to combat addiction in a brain-focused and holistic manner.
The Missing Peace
21243 Ventura Blvd #118
Woodland Hills, CA 91364
The Missing Peace Cost: Depends on treatment (insurance only accepted for the IOP). Reach The Missing Peace by phone at (888) 531-7279 or by email at 4missingpeace@gmail.com. Find The Missing Peace on Facebook
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Sponsored DISCLAIMER: This is a paid advertisement for California Behavioral Health, LLC, a CA licensed substance abuse treatment provider and not a service provided by The Fix. Calls to this number are answered by CBH, free and without obligation to the consumer. No one who answers the call receives a fee based upon the consumer’s choice to enter treatment. For additional info on other treatment providers and options visit www.samhsa.gov.
