Carl Shames, PhD Neurofeedback

Carl is great- I really like him.  That said, the treatment was slightly oversold.  I came to him for help with getting off of medication for psychiatric issues, and while helpful, it was not a cure all.  I did many more sessions than I originally had thought I would do and ended up with moderate results. I think neurofeedback is real, but is better for some issues than others, and you don't know until you have gone through the time and money commitment. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

If you have insomnia, anxiety, ADHD, or PTSD, this is amazing. Carl is compassionate, a good listener, and genuinely interested in his patients. I was skeptical, it seems too good to be true, but this has helped me resolve some issues in only a few weeks. I chose Carl because he seems genuinely interested in helping people and he's willing take patients on a sliding scale, which I couldn't find elsewhere. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I came to Dr. Shames with complaints about insomnia so severe that I could no longer function at my job and was afraild to drive as I was falling asleep in the car after 15 minutes on the freeway. And driving was the only case when I had no trouble falling asleep! I had no high hopes for neurofeedback as I had tried several medical treatments that failed. Per Dr. Shames' own admission, my case was one of the toughest he ever handled. Results speak for themselves: after about 5 sessions, I started sleeping better. After 14 sessions, I no longer need treatment. After a good night of sleep, I feel fresh when I get up in the morning and my overall outlook at life is much more positive. Dr. Shames is a true healthcare professional in the best sense of the term. He really cares about his patients and he puts his heart and soul into his work. He is highly intelligent and was creative and persistent in finding the solution for the challenging puzzle which my insomnia presented. I talked to several practitioners before I contacted Dr. Shames, and from his first response to my email I knew I could trust him. His office is not upscale, his fees are very reasonable, but you are getting a top-notch treatment. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I have nothing but good things to say about Carl Shames. Although my brain is stubborn and I have not been able to fix my insomnia, both the treatment and how Carl approaches things have been helpful during tough times. I am a severe insomniac, I've been told that I probably have one of the worst cases, inability to nap, taking as much as 5-7 hours to fall sleep if lucky and not being able to sleep for more than 20 min increments, totally on average 0-3 hours a night. When I came to Carl, I was very reluctant. I've tried every treatment from CBT to reiki and hypnosis... How is this going to be any different and I had a hard time wrapping around the idea that shifting lights on the screen was going to send messages to my brain to train it to produce slower waves. To my surprise the first session I could feel a calming sensation and I do notice a difference between when the electrodes are on or off. But after some time, I became a very "stubborn" patient and we weren't yielding the results we were looking for. Regardless of that Carl has been with me through thick and thin.In the past 24 years of my life, I've never met a practitioner who spent so much time and energy on the well being of his patient. Carl is not interested in money, he has a sliding scale and if he feels things didn't work, he would not charge me. Even after I stopped seeing him, he continues to lend support and is thoroughly interested in helping me to finding a solution. He goes far to look for other practitioners and ask for advice so he can pass them down to you. No other doctor I've seen has done that. Carl is honest and will do anything he can to help you even if it means it will compromise his schedule, or so it seems from my impression. Thanks Carl! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Writing this review for Dr. Carl Shames is an honor for me and I feel extremely lucky to have been referred to Dr. Shames. I finally devoted the time to explore what neurofeedback and biofeedback were all about. I was skeptical at first because this is a fairly new technology and there are not that many experts. At first, my hope was for neurofeedback to help me increase my attention span but later I realized that I got other benefits from it that eventually proved to be more important. I was aware that there was no proven link between neurofeedback and attention but I was ready to explore. Most practitioners of this new field in the Bay Area work outside of San Francisco. After calling several of them to inquire about their fees, I realized that I could not afford to drive or to take BART on a regular basis and pay their expensive fees. I was almost giving up when someone recommended that I meet with Dr. Shames whose fee is much less than others but provides exactly the same service as others with hefty fees. After a few sessions with Dr. Shames, I started to notice the effects. I had become calmer and less reactive to unpleasant, disappointing, and unexpected events in my life. I noticed I was less emotionally eruptive and less irritable during my PMS which was huge for me. I can personally attest to have observed Dr. Shames as a caring clinician who will listen to his clients' needs and goals and will do his best to help his client to achieve them.  I can recommend Dr. Shames with unlimited enthusiasm for anyone who is interested in freeing themselves of the reactivity and anger that gets in the way of having peaceful, harmonious and loving relationships.  Dr. Shames himself is incredibly peaceful and exudes a calm and collected demeanor.  I can recommend Dr. Shames with unlimited enthusiasm for anyone who is interested in transforming their lives especially to women who tend to become extremely angry and irritable during their PMS. In my search for the perfect fit as the neurofeedback clinician, I met a lot of intelligent experts.  But I had not met another individual who combined more naturally the attributes most sought in a neurofeedback clinician. His office is modest because he does not charge an arm and a leg like others in the field. At first, I also noticed a few minor side effects such as delay in sleep and a minor sadness that was temporary but overall my symptoms of anger, irritability, and reactivity were reduced and I had become more peaceful, calmer, less reactive, and happier individual in my relationships. You just have to go for it and see for yourself. I am excited for you to make 2010 the year when you explore something new that could transform your relationships. You are in good hands with Dr. Shames. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

If you have a child who may suffer from ADD, ADHD, OCD, depression, anxiety, or many other neurological difficulties, even if you haven't gone the traditional route and gotten them diagnosed, I would strongly urge you to consider neurofeedback with Dr. Shames.  His practice is very casual, in a pretty funky little office, but that is offset by the fact that he charges a fraction of what other practitioners do.The bottom line is that this stuff works!  It is relatively non-invasive, and children enjoy it, since it is just like playing a video game, albeit a rather boring one, with some electrodes on the outside of their head.  Basically the brain adjusts itself, and eventually learns where it needs to do so in order to function in a way that's better suited to everyday life.  At the same time, it does not seem to diminish the spontaneity, joy, or depth of feeling that the child exhibits.  I have watched my son go from a really wonderful kid with kinda lousy impulse control and infinite distractability to a really wonderful kid who can focus on school tasks and stay out of people's faces.  His teachers and friends (and I) have noticed a dramatic difference.  He is able to take direction the 1st or 2nd time, instead of the 25th.  His grades have risen, and I am not nearly so tired!Dr. Shames is not a businessman, and doesn't really bother promoting himself very actively, so I'm sure he relies mostly on word of mouth.  He also treats adults, although I haven't had any personal experience with that.  If you are opposed, as I am, to more pathologizing and pharmaceutical treatments for kids,but still know that your child could use a little support,  this is a great alternative. More...

Reviewed on Yelp