Overview

With its emphasis on the mind,  the field of psychology often focuses on the brain and fails to consider how its functioning is integrated with other bodily systems. If we understand a client’s basic physiology and how they are using it, we can address many complicated behavioral problems with simple biofeedback interventions. Much of what occurs in the brain which has behavioral consequences starts with the breath.

Breathing biofeedback is a readily applicable technique that does not require extended training. It can be very effective teaching client’s how to listen to their bodies and access the parasympathetic nervous system through the breath. This presentation will focus primarily on this intervention since it is the most accessible to therapists without equipment. We will also introduce ancillary biofeedback methods and cost-effective devices one might wish to add to their practice.

The modality of neurofeedback (which is a subset of biofeedback) can enhance trauma work such as EMDR, provide nervous system regulation, reduce symptoms of anxiety, aid in stress management, emotional regulation, and generalized relaxation. It can be used alongside talk therapy, as an integrated modality, or adjunct with a separate practitioner with an ROI to communicate with the primary therapist to deepen the therapeutic process.

Please note that this is an introductory level presentation, and not a comprehensive training. The presenters each use biofeedback, including neuromodulation, in their work, and will discuss how this can be integrated into one's psychotherapy practice.  We will provide an overview of several topics in the field, including how key data are collected and analyzed, what such results can tell us, and how they can steer your client toward optimal functioning. They will also indicate when findings may justify referring clients out for more complicated medical issues, which prevent them from attaining nervous system regulation, for which talk therapy cannot address.

Objectives

After this presentation, participants will be able to:

• Define Biofeedback and describe the terms commonly used in the field.
• Explain the general uses of Biofeedback, and why it is deemed helpful within a psychotherapy practice model.
• Describe what a Quantitative Electro Encephalogram (qEEG) is, why it is used, and how it is useful.
• Describe how brain frequencies relate to a person’s social-emotional presentation.
• Obtain guidance to find an allied practitioner or where to learn the necessary skills to add this type of work to one's own repertoire of interventions.

Target Audience

This program is open to clinical psychologists, counselors, psychotherapists, social workers, marriage & family therapists,  other mental health professionals and those working within the LGBTQ community. It is not appropriate for the general public.

There are no potential conflicts of interest for the instructor in providing this seminar on behalf of Gaylesta.

Gaylesta, Inc. is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.  Gaylesta, Inc. maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

This presentation is sponsored by Gaylesta: The Psychotherapist Association for Gender and Sexual Diversity. These CE units may also be credited to other licensed mental health professionals, such as LCSWs, LPCCs, and LMFTs. CE credit will only be awarded for full attendance. 

Seminar Leaders

Taylor Capozziello, PhD, BCN, BCB, CMT, of Elite Physiology, has a PhD in clinical psychology with a specialization in applied psychophysiology. She is certified in providing both general biofeedback and neurofeedback. In her private practice she carries out complex multimodal assessments and training programs for a wide variety of behavioral health conditions. She also provides clinical supervision, mentorship, consultation, and instruction, and has presented at numerous symposia. A research interest is QEEG differences in people taking testosterone for gender identity related reasons, dysponesis and how that relates to posture and breathing, breathing biofeedback, and plantar fasciitis and hip angle.

Bonnie Cardell, LMFT, from Sound Mind Neurofeedback & Healing Center, is a psychotherapist who brings years of yoga, meditation practice, mindfulness-based and relaxation techniques to promote emotional regulation in her clients. She is an Advanced LENS Neurofeedback Practitioner, and integrates biofeedback, neurofeedback, and hypnosis into her practice. She helps clients with aggravated symptoms of the central nervous system such as ADHD, anxiety/panic disorders, depression, OCD, PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, disordered breathing, and chronic pain. She offers groups, classes, and lectures on brain health, trauma-informed care, and the psychophysiological underpinnings of symptoms and behaviors.