What can BioFeedback help with?

My favorite definition of Biofeedback was from a 12 year old student when I gave one of my talks years ago. I asked the group if they knew what biofeedback was or if anyone wanted to take a guess.

One student stood up. She said that if she broke the word down, then “Bio” is like biology and since we are talking about working with people, it must refer to the human body. “Feedback” means getting information back and since I had a machine there, it must mean receiving information back about oneself from the machine. Hmmm. Good answer! 

Biofeedback is actually a re-training process. A person is connected to sensors which pick up information such as heart rate, muscle tension, respiration rate, temperature and brainwaves from the person. Biofeedback is a re-training, so the person learns to change what (s)he is doing to reduce symptoms or improve performance in sports, academics or the arts.

Neurofeedback is also known as EEG or brainwave feedback. It is one of the many forms of biofeedback. We are one of the few biofeedback clinics that use all forms of  biofeedback including neurofeedback.

Biofeedback has been known to help many people reduce or eliminate their medications. Many physicians send clients to us for that reason. For example, pregnant women who can’t take certain medications, people who are sensitive to medications or even clients who refuse medication are frequently sent to us by medical doctors.

However, even though we are all licensed health care practitioners at our clinic, we do not prescribe medication. That is not our role. If medication changes are made, this is between you and your doctor. In these cases, we have worked with our clients’ medical doctors toward the desired goal.

Various sensors are placed on your skin and connected to a biofeedback machine. By the way, the sensors don’t do anything to you; the sensors just pick up information from you. It’s simply like standing on a scale. A scale gives you information about your weight.

Once we have your specific biofeedback profile, retraining can begin. The retraining is based on specific individual findings. The retraining consists of games on the computer and other non-invasive methods that help you make the desired changes.

Normally during the first session, we do a full intake. At the beginning of the first session we will ask you questions about your symptoms or the problems that you are seeing us for. We then measure your individualized biofeedback information.

Full testing is usually completed on the second session. This helps you and us to see your individualized patterns, the areas of concern that need retraining and identifies your strengths too. We review a plan of action together.

Training consists of the specific types of biofeedback that will expedite symptom reduction and increase your abilities. The sessions are very easy. You are in control of the biofeedback machine. As you are training on the biofeedback machine, you are learning how to change, then reduce, then in many cases eliminate your symptoms.

We normally begin with weekly sessions for about 4 weeks. We then go to every other week. As the symptoms are reduced and changes are made, we then go to every third week, monthly, then follow-up visits as needed.

Some people request “tune-up” visits as they call them once they’ve completed the basic program. They come in periodically when they choose to. Biofeedback expedites therapy because it addresses what your mind and body are doing. You get to see the actual changes you are making.