Childhood ADHD · Portland, Oregon
Reshaping the ADHD brain from the inside out
At Bluebird Neurofeedback, we measure what's actually happening in your child's brain, then gently train the brain toward steadier focus. Non-invasive, drug-free, and led by a licensed psychologist.
- Drug-free
- Non-invasive
- Psychologist-led
If this feels familiar, you're not alone
Homework that should take twenty minutes turns into a two-hour standoff.
Teachers keep using the same words: bright, capable, "just needs to focus."
Bedtime drags on for hours, and your night owl still can't wind down.
You've read the books, tried the charts and the apps, and you're worn out.
You are not failing your child.
ADHD is a difference in how a developing brain manages attention and impulses. The encouraging part: the brain can be trained, and that is exactly what we do.
Book a ConsultationIt's not a willpower problem
ADHD isn't about trying harder
When a child with ADHD can't focus, sit still, or hold it together, it isn't laziness or defiance. The parts of the brain that manage attention, impulse, and self-control are simply working differently, and willpower alone can't close that gap.
That is why "just concentrate" has never worked. It is also why a physiological approach makes sense. If the pattern lives in the brain, that is where we can help it shift.
- Won't focus.
- Won't sit still.
- Won't listen.
- Impulsive.
- Attention networks struggle to stay engaged.
- Executive function has trouble organizing action.
- Impulse control is delayed or overloaded.
- Movement helps the nervous system regulate.
How neurofeedback works
Training the brain to focus, on its own
Neurofeedback is a non-invasive, drug-free method that trains your brain to function more efficiently. By utilizing EEG brainwave monitoring and real-time sensory feedback, your brain rewires itself, enhancing cognitive abilities, emotional stability, and overall mental well-being.
Measure
Sensors measure brain activity in real time.
Feedback
The screen responds based on brain activity.
Reward
Positive feedback rewards the brain's target patterns.
Practice
Repeated sessions build and strengthen the desired brain activity.
Monitor
Progress is monitored and documented through ongoing clinical sessions and protocol evaluation.
What a session looks like
During a session, your child watches a show or plays a simple game while sensors read their brainwaves. When their brain produces the steadier, more focused patterns we're aiming for, the show plays clearly and the game responds. When attention drifts, it gently pauses. There are no shocks and nothing your child has to consciously do.
Over a series of sessions, the brain gets better at finding those focused states on its own. The goal isn't to mask symptoms for a few hours. It's to help your child build self-regulation skills that can carry into the classroom, homework, and home.
Visual feedback
Friendly on-screen feedback responds to your child's brain activity in real time.
Comfortable and awake
Your child sits in a comfortable chair with a few soft sensors, awake the whole time.
The clinician monitors
The clinician watches the live waveforms beside your child. Nothing is sent into the brain.
The qEEG assessment
Every training plan starts with a brain map
A painless picture of how your child's brain is working
Using a soft sensor cap, we record your child's brain activity with a qEEG (Quantitative Electroencephalography). Nothing is sent into the brain. We're simply measuring its natural electrical activity to understand how different brain networks are functioning.
The information we gather helps us create a personalized neurofeedback plan tailored to your child's specific needs. Most kids find the process easy, and many enjoy seeing their own brainwaves on screen. The entire appointment takes about an hour.
Crafting your child's unique plan
Parent & teacher input
Observations, challenges, and opportunities for growth for your child.
Goals that matter
The outcomes your family wants most, from focus and homework to calmer days and better sleep.
qEEG snapshot
A quantitative map of your child's brainwaves, comparing activity across brain regions and frequency bands to show where attention and self-regulation networks are overactive or underactive.
Personalized training plan
We combine your child's history, your goals, and the qEEG findings to tailor the training and track progress over time.
- Individualized
- Tracked
- Adjusted
Here is where Bluebird Neurofeedback is different
An automated color map
Software generates a color-coded summary, and many practices stop there.
The raw brainwaves underneath
Dr. McCleary reads the actual EEG signal, where the real detail lives.
Both come from the same recording. Reading the underlying data, rather than a software summary alone, gives a more detailed and reliable picture, and it's the difference between a generic readout and a plan built around your specific child.
The same psychologist, from the first reading to the last session
At many practices, the person who interprets the brain data isn't the person guiding care. At Bluebird Neurofeedback, Dr. Tiffany McCleary personally reads each child's raw EEG and shapes the plan from it.
That continuity matters. The clinician interpreting your child's brain activity is the same experienced psychologist who gets to know your child.
Wondering whether neurofeedback could help your child?
Book a Consultation
Meet your psychologist
Dr. Tiffany McCleary
A licensed psychologist (Psy.D.) with 20 years of clinical experience, Dr. McCleary leads every plan at Bluebird Neurofeedback. ADHD shows up in the brain and in a child's daily life: their confidence, their friendships, and how they feel about themselves. Tiff understands both, which is why every plan starts with the whole child, not just the data.
- Psy.D., licensed psychologist
- 20 years of practice
- Portland native
What working together looks like
A clear path, not a mystery
You'll always know where you are in the process, with no pressure to go further than feels right for your family.
Book a consultation
A relaxed first call about your child and what's hardest right now. No pressure, and no commitment to go further.
qEEG brain map
We measure your child's brain activity to see what's actually happening, so the plan is built on data, not guesswork.
A personalized plan
We build training from your child's own brain map, then track progress and adjust as your child grows.
Ready to see what your child's brain map could show?
Book a ConsultationPersonalized and measured
You won't be left guessing whether it's working
We check in every 10 sessions, and adjust
Every ten sessions, we sit down with you to look at the data together, re-rate the goals that matter most, and fine-tune the plan from there. You see real, measurable change instead of vague reassurance. And because no two children respond the same way, we keep adjusting as your child grows.
Now that we're fighting fewer battles, we have more opportunities to genuinely connect with our son. That has been priceless.— SM, parent of a Bluebird Neurofeedback patient
Questions parents ask
The things you're probably wondering
Is it safe for my child?
Yes. Neurofeedback is non-invasive and drug-free. Nothing is sent into the brain. We're reading its activity and letting your child's own brain respond to feedback. It is widely used with children and is generally well tolerated.
Will the results last?
Because neurofeedback helps the brain build its own self-regulation skills, the aim is lasting change rather than a temporary effect. Results vary from child to child, which is why we measure progress and adjust along the way.
Is there evidence it works?
Neurofeedback for ADHD has been studied for years, with encouraging results, particularly for attention. The research is still developing, and it isn't a guaranteed fix, which is exactly why we measure your child's progress and adjust as we go. We're glad to walk you through what the research does and doesn't show at your consultation.
What about medication?
We are not anti-medication. For some families neurofeedback is an alternative they prefer. For others it works alongside what their child already takes. We will never ask you to change your child's medication. That is a decision for you and your prescriber.
What's a session actually like?
Calm and low-key. Your child sits comfortably, watches or plays, and the feedback does the work. Most kids find it easy, and many enjoy it.
How long does it take?
It depends on your child and your goals. Neurofeedback plans typically run over a series of sessions across several months. We'll give you a realistic picture after the assessment, and we re-evaluate every ten sessions.
What does it cost?
Neurofeedback is usually paid out of pocket and isn't typically covered by insurance. You can see current options on our pricing page.
Ready when you are
See what's inside your child's mind, and what's possible
A consultation is a relaxed conversation about your child, your concerns, and whether neurofeedback is a good fit.
Book a Consultation