Biofeedback - Stress Management Specialty
MaryJane
is a certified Biofeedback Therapist with a specialty in stress management.
She is licensed by the NBCB (neurotherapy & Biofeedback Certification
Board). Certification number #2513
See www.nbcb.org
for details.
WHAT
IS BIOFEEDBACK?
• 'Bio' is the Greek prefix meaning `life'.
• Feedback is a term for receiving information on current behavior.
A 'Biofeedback is used to influence or modify future behavior.
• Thus biofeedback is the process in which a client is given information
about specific body events through the use of instrumentation.
Advantage: non-invasive, non-drug therapy, preventative value.
'Yoga of the West' or `Electronic Zen'
Biofeedback is a method, which teaches subjects to control bodily functions,
such as heart rate, blood pressure, headache pain, and muscle tension
through a process, which includes conditioning, feedback instrumentation,
behavior modification, and adaptation mechanisms. With BF, the individual
can increase awareness and learn self-regulation of some bodily functions.
These may be considered the `2 pillars' of Biofeedback.
BIOFEEDBACK
IS TRAINING:
• A research methodology and training procedure through which
people can learn voluntary control over their internal physiology.
• Biofeedback yields quantitative and repeatable data, and is
thus compatible with the Scientific Method.
• BF Training develops an increased awareness of relevant internal
physiological functions.
• BF Training Establishes control over these functions.
• Purpose: to generalize control from an experimental or clinical
setting to everyday life, and focus attention on mind-body integration.
• Biofeedback is a formal training program, which can, with daily
practice, integrate these techniques into the course of daily living
(like learning to play the piano).
•
When a technique is mastered (i.e.: relaxation training), the subject
has to continue the training to continue to benefit.
• Improvements are expected within 10 sessions. If not, reassess
program or Therapist suitability
CYBERNETICS:
• A basic principle
of Cybernetics is that one cannot change a variable in a system unless
new information is added.
• By feedback (sound, image, etc.) new information on the variable
(behavior) is made available.
• Cybernetic feedback makes learning possible.
• Trainees receive clear and direct feedback about their internal
states helping them to learn to control such functions, leading to a
healthier lifestyle.
BIOFEEDBACK
APPLICATIONS:
IMPROVE-
• General
Relaxation
• Stress Reduction
• Mental Peformance
• Improve Peak Performance
• Personal Self Development
TREAT-
• Tension Headaches
• Migraine Headaches
• Muscle Tension
• Back Pain
• Chronic Pain
• Hypertension/ High Blood Pressure Problems
• ynaud's Syndrome
• TMJ/ Bruxism
• Asthma
• Epilepsy
• Tourette's Syndrome
• Autism
• Anxiety and Panic attacks
• Normalize Behaviour
• Stabilize Mood
• Attachment Disorder
• Attention Deficit Disorder
• Learning Disabilities
• Conduct Disorders
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
• Eating Disorders
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Insomnia
• Sleep Disorders
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Pre-Menstrual Syndrome
• Autoimmune Dysfunction
• Depression
• Alcoholism
• Addiction
• Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Incontinence
• Physical Therapy Enhancement including:
• Muscle Spasms, Neuromuscular Re-education, and Stroke and Paralysis
Rehabilitation
CONTRAINDICATIONS
Biofeedback is contraindicated for treating seizures, infectious diseases, toxicities, psychiatric disorders, genetic disorders and cases of nerve-severed paralysis. Biofeedback is contraindicated for treating any diagnosed disease or organic disturbance unless referred by a Physician.
