Biofeedback is a
safe, powerful, non-drug intervention. It is often a learning process which
helps you gain control of your body's responses to stress, anxiety, physical
strain and emotional stimuli. Being a learning process, it also requires
time, a consistent schedule of treatment sessions, practice inbetween sessions,
and personal motivation. This not like taking a pill and waiting for a
magical cure! It is more like starting to learn the piano, taking it a
step at a time and not expecting to play Bethoven in the second lesson.
Many people have been able to reduce medications through biofeedback and
other non-drug interventions.
Biofeedback has developed rapidly as an alternative medical
treatment since it was discovered by researchers, meditators and healthcare
clinicians in the 1960s. Since then, treatment protocols have been refined
and procedures have been standardized to begin to meet the criteria required
for documentation of efficacy as a "hard science" medical procedure.
The primary function of biofeedback could be thought of
as similar to that of a mirror. A mirror returns information about yourself
to you that would be otherwise difficult to acquire. Once you have the
information, you can make a choice as to what to do with it, such as combing
your hair a certain way. In the same manner, biofeedback returns physiological
information to you that was likewise, not readily accessible without the
assistance of the instrument. With biofeedback training, a person may be
able to effect change upon body areas previously not under volitional control.
Biofeedback instruments can monitor muscle tension, heart-rate,
blood pressure, peripheral blood flow (vasoconstriction), galvanic skin
response, EEG brain waves and other measures. These instruments can vary
from simple thermometers to high-tech, multi-channel computerized systems.
In the hands of an experienced biofeedback therapist, however, the mechanics
of the instrument are pretty much transparent. The emphasis is on re-training
the body to gain volitional control of the physiology. The biofeedback
therapist typically assumes a "coaching" role, and techniques to help facilitate
change may include breathing instruction, guided imagery, music, discussion,
autogenics and other techniques. The real power of the treatment though,
is the immediate feedback which reveals the direction physiological change
is occurring of there is any change at all. With this information, the
body begins to learn how to change.
While commonly thought of in conjunction with relaxation
training, Biofeedback is used in the treatment of:
Headaches/ Migraine & Muscle contraction
Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
Anxiety
ADD/ADHD
Seizures/Epilepsy
Depression
Neck & Back pain
Addiction
Stroke/neuromuscular reeducation
Other muscular and vascular complaints
Biofeedback is a non-invasive, client-centered method
of training the body in which the learner actively participates in treatment
and the doctor or therapist assumes the role of coach or guide. It is rewarding
because it is based on a series of small successes which typically leads
to a reduction in symptoms and improved quality of life.
Practitioners that employ biofeedback include: physicians,
nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists, chiropractors, social workers, dentists,
music therapists, and other health professionals. A standard course of
treatment may run 10-20 sessions or until mastery is achieved. EEG biofeedback
may run 40-80 sessions. The process is usually enjoyable and gains made
typically are maintained.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Eric Miller is a psychotherapist, certified biofeedback
therapist and board-certified music therapist with experience in inpatient,
outpatient, corporate and educational settings. He instructs in capacity
of adjunct faculty at Antioch University, Montgomery County Community College
and Harcum College, and has guest lectured at Allegheny University (formerly
Hahnemann) and at the Naropa Institute. He is a published author and presents
internationally on music & healing. Dr. Miller was recently appointed
Executive Director of Music for People and he serves as President of Expressive
Therapy Concepts, a non-profit organization dedicated to the creative arts
therapies and related disciplines. He also directs the Association for
Integrative Medicine http://www.IntegrativeMedicine.org.
For more info on Biofeedback training, consultation and
clinical work, email:
Eric Miller Ph.D miller@biofeedback.net
or visit http://www.Biofeedback.net
