Today we’d like to introduce you to Dianne Kosto.
Hi Dianne, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
I am a mom on a mission. My mission is to help other families avoid the trauma that my family experienced as a result of my son’s brain dysregulation. I do everything in my power to ensure neurofeedback is a household word just like the names of commonly prescribed medications for ADD/ADHD, anxiety, depression, and a host of other symptoms linked to dysregulated brainwaves.
My son had impulsivity that was off the charts. From kindergarten until the eighth grade I looked for answers and environments that would help him thrive. I was doing all I could and I knew it wasn’t working, I didn’t want him to get labeled as a troubled teen. So I tried private school, homeschool, boarding school, homeschool again, and a Military Academy. None of that worked, he was kicked out repeatedly. The pit of my stomach would ache when the phone rang because I knew someone was calling to say; “We really love him, he’s a genius, but he’s not following the program. You need to come and get him.”
Neurofeedback found me when my son was around 12 years old and on the verge of getting kicked out of another therapeutic program. I was introduced to the founder of a Neurofeedback company. He was creating a Neurofeedback system that was easy to use. When he heard my family’s story he said “that’s the kind of kid we can help”.
I was overjoyed to try a new approach. I went through the training and set up a plan to incorporate neurofeedback into my son’s program. The doctor entrusted me with a $22,000 neurofeedback system. I packed it in my car and drove from South Carolina to the therapeutic program for “troubled teens” in Utah where my son was about to get expelled. I educated the staff about neurofeedback and started running sessions. I was amazed at the positive response of the students and the staff in the program.
Within the first couple of weeks of doing Neurofeedback sessions, I saw noticeable improvements in my son. For example, he started to sleep better and participate in the program. Seeing the spark in his eyes and self-confidence return was incredible. The most amazing change was his off-the-chart impulsivity stopped. He developed a pause before reacting that he never had before. I know neurofeedback saved his life.
After years of professionals shaking their heads not knowing what to do for my son, I was blown away to learn his impulsivity correlated with his dysregulated brainwaves. A physical pattern in his brain that was easily better regulated through neurofeedback.
I was grateful and enraged at the same time. It didn’t make sense that no one offered Neurofeedback as an option to help my son and our family. My perspective on labels like ADHD and ODD changed after I learned that many negative behaviors and unwanted symptoms correlate with brainwave dysregulation. Then I had an epiphany; everybody deserves the opportunity to use Neurofeedback. Families shouldn’t have to be traumatized when a loved one is struggling.
My mission to save my son’s life expanded to being a Mom on a Mission to change the world, one brain at a time. I continued to work for the doctor who loaned me the neurofeedback equipment. I became a neurofeedback trainer and provided support and case management to professionals who wanted to provide Neurofeedback. I expanded into multiple locations providing neurofeedback in order to help other families avoid years of trauma like what we went through.
In 2017 I launched my own company, SYMMETRY Neuro-Pathway Training. My mission is to provide Neurofeedback services and systems to professionals, therapeutic programs, families, and individuals. Currently, we serve multiple programs and families in office or remotely across the US and in Mexico
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road hasn’t always been smooth. I didn’t know a lot about marketing, but I had a product people desperately needed even though the majority didn’t have a clue that they needed it. I was (and still am) confident in my mission, intention, and product.
The challenge was figuring out the best way to reach all of the markets that needed neurofeedback. I enrolled in marketing courses, listened to the experts, and tried to come up with the best plan. I was optimistic, excited, and certain; but I didn’t know it would take multiple attempts and years for some people to actually buy into Neurofeedback, because it is not mainstream and supported by big pharma. Ultimately, I had to rely on my faith and trust in the process. As I started to connect with people and my product was well received, my confidence grew. People really do get excited about neurofeedback.
Funding a small business was more difficult than I expected. Finding a way to bootstrap funds to start and keep SYMMETRY Neuro-Pathway Training moving forward while working through past trauma and health challenges was tough. Persistence, tenacity, and passion continue to propel the mission forward.
As you know, we’re big fans of SYMMETRY Neuro-Pathway Training. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Families are traumatized when a loved one is struggling. Not knowing what is wrong or how to help leaves you feeling hopeless with an ache in the pit of your stomach. Anxiety, depression, and sleeplessness can be from brainwave dysregulation. Neurofeedback helps the brain learn to better regulate. When the brain is functioning better, hope and relationships are restored and life is brighter.
At SYMMETRY Neuro-Pathway Training, we provide neurofeedback services and systems that help the brain better regulate, because everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive.
Mission Statement: When people have dysregulated brains they struggle with physical and emotional pain, life is hard and relationships are damaged. At SYMMETRY Neuro-Pathway Training, we empower people with neurofeedback services and systems that help the brain better regulate, because everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive!
Key Characteristics of our Team
-Mission Driven – Recognize that neurofeedback should be mainstream
-Ability to exude calm and positive energy in all situations
-Empathic – The ability to sense other people’s emotions and imagine what else they may be thinking or feeling
Critical Actions we take daily:
-WOW our clients and customers: We make sure our clients and customers know they are heard and valued
-We continually Plan, Do, Check, and Adjust: Ensures consistent systematic growth
-Attentive to details: Follow the branding and systems that we have in place
What sets us apart from other neurofeedback companies is our service and support to help “Newbies” provide without having to be a “Neuro-Guru” and take 5 years and a fortune!
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out.
Focus on your mission and reason as well as your guiding principles and look to that for every decision you make. Always strive for a win-win scenario and serve others.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.symmetryneuropt.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/symmetryneuropt/
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/symmetryneuropt
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/symmetryneuropt
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC52hEehDheZTZ3NrzIWmHOQ
- Other: http://pinterest.com/symmetryneuropt/pins
