Biofeedback

Biofeedback is a tool that makes the invisible more visible. You can learn how various physiological functions, such as blood pressure, temperature, and heart rate can be adjusted simply by paying attention. Real-time measurements are viewed to gain information about our bodily processes. In particular, diaphragmatic breathing, heart rate variability (HRV), skin conductance (sweat response; GSR), peripheral temperature (extremities/ finger tip), and muscle activity (surface EMG) are measured. 

By listening to your body’s cues and practicing how to adjust the body’s physiology, you can experience improved physical and mental health.

Usually, breathwork is the main target. Based on your individual heart rhythms, a breathing pace of diaphragmatic, slowed breaths is practiced. This synchronizes the internal metronomes of the heart, lungs, and gut. This improved variability of the heart strengthens and expands the heart’s range—a strong marker for overall health.  

By listening to your body’s cues and practicing how to adjust the body’s physiology, you can experience improved physical and mental health.

How Is Biofeedback Conducted?
Various electrodes are placed on fingers, your belly, and sometimes on specific muscles (trapezius) that read the electrical activity in the body. The electrodes do not send any electricity to your body and there is no risk of harm by placing these electrodes. Each area measured gives information that guides the provider to know where adjustments can be made to create meaningful improvements in your health. 

What Will Biofeedback Do For Me? 
Biofeedback is the tool that enables us to see what is happening in your breathing, heart rate, sweat response, exterior temperature, and muscles. Once we can see the usual patterns of your body, we can pick certain areas to improve for overall health. Usually, the breathing rate and depth is adjusted so that your heart can handle more rigorous activity and go back to a slowed baseline for relaxation.

Many clients have responded well to biofeedback-guided interventions. Whether you have stomach/abdominal pain, headaches, IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), or other poorly explained physical symptoms, they can be improved through biofeedback interventions. There is extensive research showing biofeedback interventions that address Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and Resonant Breathing. The results of these studies show significantly improved outcomes that are greater than treatment as usual and can enhance outcomes when combined with other interventions.   

What Will I Need To Do? 
The information we gain from using the biofeedback software is used as a guide to show how well your practice is affecting changes physiologically. It is up to each person to make these changes happen through daily practice. Breathing adjustments, like meditation practice, have an additive effect. This means that over time your body can adjust and you will begin to see healthy changes the more you practice. Sessions typically are short-term, up to 10 sessions. When physiological goals have been met, there may still be unwanted symptoms. This may mean that other factors need to be addressed in order to continue to improve not only your physiological health, but your psychological health as well. Psychotherapy or medication management may be recommended if troubling symptoms persist after biofeedback interventions have been completed.  

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