Biofeedback

A New Way to Manage Stress, Pain, and Anxiety

Biofeedback is the use of an external device to provide information about processes occurring inside your body.  For example, a bathroom scale provides feedback concerning your body’s weight.  Other commonly used devices that can provide feedback about biological processes include a mirror, a blood pressure monitor, and a thermometer.

The medical field often uses these “vital signs” as an indicator of your overall physical health:

· BP (Blood Pressure): Measures the pressures involved with circulating blood through the body

· HR (Heart Rate or Pulse): Measures the frequency of heartbeats

RESP (Respiration Rate): Measures the frequency and depth of breathing

Biofeedback in the mental health field is often used to assess physiological symptoms of stress and monitor the effectiveness of relaxation techniques.  The most common forms of biofeedback in the mental health field include:

· sEMG (Surface Electromyography): Measures muscle tension with the use of non-invasive external electrodes applied to the skin

· GSR (Galvanic Skin Response): Measures the electrical resistance of the skin and the sweating response [also known as SCR (Skin Conductance Response)]

· HT (Hand Temperature): Measures the temperature of the skin of the hand or fingers

HRV (Heart Rate Variability): Measures beat-to-beat patterns, or heart rhythms, and heart rate fluctuations

Heart Rate Variability (HRV) feedback allows the activity of both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems to be monitored via computer technology.  The sympathetic nervous system stimulates the body and is responsible for the physiological changes seen in the “fight or flight” response.  The parasympathetic nervous system calms the body and is responsible for relaxation; sometimes referred to as “rest and digest” response.  If the body functioned like a car, the sympathetic nervous system would be the accelerator pedal and the parasympathetic nervous system would be the brake pedal.  The body is able to both accelerate and brake in order to adjust to different demands made on it throughout the day.  Stress can cause the sympathetic nervous system to over-work and inhibit the effect of the parasympathetic nervous system.

Unfortunately, stress has become a typical part of modern American life.  The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s research found that up to 75-90% of office visits to primary care physicians are for stress-related symptoms.  According to the American Institute for Stress :

“There are numerous emotional and physical disorders that have been linked to stress including depression, anxiety, heart attacks, stroke, hypertension, immune system disturbances that increase susceptibility to infections, a host of viral linked disorders ranging from the common cold and herpes to AIDS and certain cancers, as well as autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. In addition stress can have direct effects on the skin (rashes, hives, atopic dermatitis, the gastrointestinal system (GERD, peptic ulcer, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis) and can contribute to insomnia and degenerative neurological disorders like Parkinson's disease. In fact, it's hard to think of any disease in which stress cannot play an aggravating role or any part of the body that is not affected.”

(http://www.stress.org/topic-effects.htm)

Relaxation techniques such as changing your thoughts and emotions, controlling your breathing, using positive or relaxing imagery, and peaceful prayer can stimulate the relaxation response.  The relaxation response terminates the fight or flight response and restores balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.  You may be able to increase your ability to cope with stress, better manage chronic medical illnesses that are negatively affected by stress (such as high blood pressure, asthma, and diabetes), and reduce the severity of pain-related disorders (such as Fibromyalgia, back pain, and migraines) with relaxation response training.    Practicing relaxation techniques while using HRV feedback can help you identify which techniques work best for you.

Allen Counseling Associates uses computer software programs that measure and display your HRV so your counselor can help guide you into healthier nervous system functioning and relaxation.  A simple ear clip or finger clip is used to monitor your pulse for this purpose.  The data from your sessions can be saved so you can track your progress as you continue to practice relaxation techniques between sessions.  You may wish to bring a personal music device with your favorite type of relaxing or inspirational music to your appointment to see how that may help or hinder your body’s ability to initiate and maintain the relaxation response.  The goal of HRV relaxation response training at Allen Counseling Associates is to help you identify your body’s signs of stress, learn ways to relax and disengage the fight or flight response, and practice your relaxation techniques effectively so you can use them successfully without the HRV feedback software.

Allen Counseling Associates  214-509-6888

ACA Home  Our Staff  Location   Client Forms   Groups    Marriage Counseling  Children and Adolescents  Mediation and Co-parenting

Special Issues Biofeedback Seminars and Speaking Engagements  Coaching and Telephone Counseling  Supervision LPC Interns 

 Premarital Counseling  Career Counseling  Play Therapy  Trauma and Abuse Links and Resources

 

Solutions for Life

ACA Home  Our Staff  Location   Client Forms   Groups    Marriage Counseling  Children and Adolescents  Mediation and Co-parenting

Special Issues Biofeedback Seminars and Speaking Engagements  Coaching and Telephone Counseling  Supervision LPC Interns 

 Premarital Counseling  Career Counseling  Play Therapy  Trauma and Abuse Links and Resources

 

For information about our group or this website contact:

Michelle Nietert

1506 N. Greenville Avenue

Suite 220

Allen, Texas 75002

Phone: 214-509-6888

E-mail: solutions@allencounselingassociates.com

All staff associated with Allen Counseling Associates function as independent contractors with the exception of Michelle Nietert, M. A., LPC Supervisor, Center Director.  All Licensed Professional Counselor Interns are under the supervision of Michelle Nietert.                              Please contact her at 972-979-9720 if you have any questions or concerns.