Brain Snapshot
A short educational self-questionnaire across the 14 networks. Your top three out of balance, plus a clear next step.
- No email required
- Browser-only, no data stored
- Educational orientation
Frequently asked questions
Honest answers to the questions we get asked most.
Sectioned by topic — your first visit, qEEG and brain mapping, the 12-week program, the four-tier online platform, scope of practice, funding, and the practical logistics. If we haven't covered your question, call reception or send us a message.
AHPRA-registered clinician-led
Clinical-grade qEEG hardware
Co-care with your GP & psychologist
Geelong · Camperdown · Australia-wide
80+
questions answered
AHPRA
compliant care
Same
evidence base sitewide
Co-care
with your GP
Section 1
First visit & preparation.
Do I need a GP referral?
No. You're welcome to book directly. We will, however, encourage you to stay connected with your GP and other treating clinicians, and we coordinate with them where helpful.
How long is the first appointment?
Initial qEEG appointments run 45–60 minutes — including setup, the 20-minute recording itself, and clean-up. Your first-visit guide walks through the full timeline.
Will the qEEG hurt?
No. The cap is comfortable. The conductive gel is room-temperature and rinses out with water. Nothing is being put into your brain — we're only recording the electrical activity it's already producing on its own.
What should I do to prepare?
Wash your hair the night before (shampoo only, no conditioner). Skip caffeine on the day. Eat a balanced meal with protein within 2 hours of your appointment. Get 8 hours sleep the night before. Avoid over-the-counter brain-active supplements for 3–4 days prior. Don't change prescription medication without speaking to your prescriber. Full preparation guide on the first visit page.
What if I forget the no-caffeine rule?
Tell us when you arrive. If you've had your usual coffee, the recording reflects a slightly more activated baseline — we factor that in. If significantly more than normal, we may suggest rescheduling so the recording reflects your typical brain rather than a stimulated one.
Can I bring a support person?
Yes — we welcome a partner, parent, or support person at any appointment, particularly the Week 2 review when there's a lot of information to take in. Just tell reception when you book so we can plan the room.
What if I'm anxious about the cap or the recording?
It's a common concern. The cap is light and removable at any moment. Patients are welcome to take breaks, stop, or reschedule. We've fitted caps on hundreds of nervous first-timers — the typical experience is "much less of a thing than I was expecting."
Section 2
qEEG & brain mapping.
What is a qEEG, in plain terms?
Quantitative EEG is a 19-channel recording of your brain's electrical activity, processed against a normative database (we use NeuroGuide, the gold-standard for clinical qEEG analysis). It produces a map of how your brain is producing rhythms across regions and frequency bands — and where those patterns sit relative to age-matched norms. Same principle as an ECG, but for the cortex rather than the heart.
Is qEEG the same as an MRI or fMRI?
No. MRI shows brain structure (anatomy). fMRI shows brain activation while you do a task, indirectly via blood flow. qEEG shows brain function directly — the electrical rhythms the cortex produces. They measure different things and answer different questions. qEEG is what we use because it tells us about ongoing functional patterns relevant to mood, focus, sleep, recovery, and learning.
Can a qEEG diagnose depression / ADHD / anxiety?
No. A qEEG cannot diagnose any psychiatric or neurological condition. It can identify patterns associated with various presentations and help us build a picture of how your brain is functioning — but diagnosis remains a clinical decision made by your treating GP, psychologist, psychiatrist, or neurologist. We're explicit about this scope.
What is swLORETA and why does it matter?
swLORETA (standardised weighted Low-Resolution Electromagnetic Tomography) is a source-localisation method that estimates which deep cortical regions are producing the electrical activity recorded at the scalp. It lets us target specific cortical regions during neurofeedback rather than working only at the surface — meaningful precision when the picture warrants it.
What are the "14 networks" you talk about?
We use a 14-network clinical framework that includes the standard triple-network model (Default Mode, Salience, Central Executive) plus eleven others — Dorsal & Ventral Attention, Sensorimotor, Limbic, Language, Episodic Memory, Thalamic, Cerebellar, Interoception, Social, and Posterior Cingulate / Precuneus. Together they cover the major functional brain systems in clinical neuroscience. The Tier 0 Snapshot screens across all 14 and returns your top 3 most likely out of balance.
Section 3
The 12-week in-clinic program.
What does the program actually cost?
The program is itemised, not packaged. Initial qEEG is $495. Each personalised swLORETA neurofeedback session is $220. The 12-week follow-up qEEG with side-by-side comparison is $375. A typical 12-week pathway with ~10 neurofeedback sessions sits around $3,070, but the actual session count is set by what your initial qEEG findings indicate. See the 12-week program page for the full week-by-week breakdown.
Is the 12 weeks a hard limit?
No. The 12-week program is a starting point, not a destination — designed to get the brain working in the right direction. At Week 12 we evaluate together. Some patients continue to improve on their own; others benefit from longer ongoing care. If you continue, the price stays at $220 per weekly session for as long as the work is making measurable progress.
How quickly will I notice changes?
It varies, and we don't promise outcomes. Many patients begin to notice shifts somewhere between weeks 4 and 8 — but the brain doesn't reorganise on a marketing schedule, and the rate of change depends on your starting picture, your protocol, and the contributors in your life. Reassessment at Week 12 gives us a clear before-and-after on the brain measures themselves, regardless of whether the subjective experience has caught up.
Can I do just the qEEG without the rest?
For most patients, the qEEG and the Week 2 review go together — there's no point in collecting data we won't sit with you to interpret. A stand-alone qEEG appointment with raw-data only output is available by referral from a third-party clinician (psychologist, psychiatrist, paediatrician, neurologist) who needs the data for their own work. For all other patients, the review appointment is part of the package.
Is neurofeedback safe for children?
Yes — when done by a trained clinician with appropriate paediatric protocols and in coordination with the child's existing care team. We work with children from approximately age 8 upward where neurofeedback is clinically indicated. Younger children, or complex paediatric presentations, may be referred to a specialist paediatric neurofeedback service.
Section 4
Online platform & the four tiers.
What's the difference between the Snapshot, the Assessment, and Membership?
Tier 0 — Brain Snapshot (free): 5-minute screen returning your top 3 of 14 networks. Runs entirely in your browser. No data leaves the page.
Tier 1 — Brain Health Assessment ($47–$97): Full 14-network clinical assessment with severity grading, personalised 30-day plan, neuro-supplement protocol, exercises, HRV training, and 30 days of the Daily Diary engine.
Tier 2 — Brain Health Progress ($497/yr or $59/mo): The full measurement-and-adaptation engine running indefinitely. Daily Diary, clinician red-flag oversight, monthly 14-network reassessment, evolving plan.
Tier 3 — In-Clinic care ($495 initial qEEG + sessions): Direct brain measurement and personalised swLORETA neurofeedback designed by Dr Ash.
Do I have to start with the free Snapshot?
No. You can enter at any tier. Most patients find the Snapshot a useful starting orientation, but if you already know in-clinic care is right for you, book directly. There are no prerequisites.
Is the platform private and secure?
The Snapshot runs entirely in your browser — your responses never leave your device. The Assessment, Membership, and patient records are hosted on our practice management platform (Australian-hosted, ISO 27001 certified) under our privacy policy.
Will I see Dr Ash if I'm only online (Tier 1 or Tier 2)?
Tier 1 and Tier 2 are clinician-supervised but not 1:1 consultations. Your plan is built using the platform's clinical-decision logic, designed by Dr Ash. The red-flag oversight in Tier 2 means the clinical team is alerted if your data shows concerning patterns — at that point we'll reach out. For 1:1 time with Dr Ash, the in-clinic Tier 3 pathway is the right entry.
Can I cancel my Tier 2 membership any time?
Yes. The monthly plan ($59/mo) cancels any time, no lock-in. The annual plan ($497/yr) is a full-year commitment — but you can pause for up to three months. Cancellation is via the patient portal or by emailing reception.
Section 5
Scope & safety.
What can The Healthy Brain Clinic do — and not do?
What we do: qEEG-guided clinical examination, swLORETA-guided neurofeedback, HRV biofeedback, functional neurological exercises, neuro-nutrition guidance, and an integrated online platform — alongside primary medical and psychological care.
What we don't do: diagnose neurological or psychiatric conditions, prescribe or alter medication, conduct psychological therapy, run formal cognitive (WAIS / WISC) assessment, or provide stand-alone medico-legal reports. We refer for those where indicated.
Are you allowed to claim outcomes / show before-and-after results?
Australian health practitioners are bound by AHPRA's advertising guidelines (s133 of the National Law), which prohibit clinical testimonials and outcome claims in advertising. We comply with this — and we agree with the principle. Clinical testimonials, even given in good faith, aren't what evidence is made of. Read more on why we don't post testimonials.
What if I'm in crisis right now?
We are not a crisis service. If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call 000 immediately, or call Lifeline on 13 11 14, or go to your nearest emergency department. For non-urgent help, call your GP. For urgent mental-health support, call Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 or 13YARN (13 92 76) for First Nations support.
Can I still see my GP / psychologist while I'm a patient here?
Yes — we encourage it. We work alongside your treating clinicians, not in place of them. With your consent, we send a summary letter to your treating practitioner after the qEEG and at program conclusion, so the picture stays integrated.
Section 6
Funding & cover.
Can I claim through my private health fund?
Some funds cover sessions through their chiropractic extras. Cover varies considerably by fund and policy. Call reception with your fund and policy number — we'll give you the item codes to confirm cover with your fund directly before you commit.
Are sessions Medicare-claimable?
For some patients, yes — through Medicare's Chronic Disease Management (CDM) plans, depending on how your GP structures the care plan. We can advise on what to discuss with your GP. Medicare cover does not extend to the platform tiers (Tier 1 / Tier 2).
Can I use NDIS funding?
Self-managed and plan-managed NDIS participants can use their plan funds where brain health is part of their goals. NDIA-managed plans typically cannot. We provide invoicing in the format NDIS plan managers require.
Are there payment plans for the 12-week program?
Yes. The program is itemised by appointment, so you pay session-by-session as you attend rather than upfront. If a different structure would help, call reception to discuss.
Section 7
Access & logistics.
Where are your clinics located?
Geelong: Ground Floor, 200 Malop Street, Geelong VIC. Walking distance from Geelong railway station.
Camperdown: 128 Manifold Street, Camperdown VIC, on the Princes Highway.
What are your clinic hours?
Geelong: Monday to Wednesday 9am–5pm, Thursday 9am–6pm (extended for working patients).
Camperdown: Tuesday 6pm–8pm and Wednesday 10am–12pm (satellite hours — for appointments outside these windows, our Geelong clinic offers wider availability).
Reception phone: Mon–Thu 9am–5pm.
Can I do this via telehealth?
Initial intake, review consultations, biofeedback coaching, neuro-nutrition reviews, mindset work and follow-up appointments can run via telehealth. The qEEG itself requires in-person attendance at one of our clinics (the recording equipment isn't portable to home). See our telehealth page for what works and what doesn't.
How far in advance do I need to book?
Most first appointments are scheduled within two weeks. Specific time-slot preferences (e.g. a Thursday-after-5pm slot at Geelong) may have a longer wait. Call reception if you have urgent timing constraints.
What's your cancellation policy?
24 hours notice please. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before an appointment may incur a fee equivalent to the appointment cost. We're flexible with genuine emergencies — call reception and we'll work it out.
Scope & safety
We work alongside — not in place of — primary medical and psychological care. We do not diagnose neurological or psychiatric conditions from EEG, and we do not prescribe or alter medication. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 000 or Lifeline 13 11 14.