 Marlene Stenlund, RN Certified Biofeedback Therapist BIOFEEDBACK. . . A WHOLE PERSON APPROACH TO WELLNESS What can biofeedback do for me? It can provide you with information about your body which is not normally available to you. It helps you learn conscious control of many internal functions including muscular relaxation, heart rate, blood pressure and blood flow to the extremities. As a result, you can learn to alter your body's harmful responses and experience a greater degree of health and well being. How does it feel? The training is an exercise in awareness and control of internal states. As we learn to release internal tensions, we may feel more warmth, peace and comfort. How does it work? Biofeedback training reveals what is already happening with you - it does not "do" anything to you. Like a mirror, it reflects an image of "internal workings". You learn to control the internal states being monitored by practicing self-regulation techniques and observing the results. What role does the therapist play? Your trainer or therapist is much like a coach, providing guidance, encouragement and expert advice as you learn self-regulation. Biofeedback training is literally "training" in the same sense that you would train to perfect a skill in the performing arts or in athletic ability. You improve your skill by practicing specific self-regulation techniques, developing a "feel" you can then re-create on your own, in any situation, without assistance. This training program is designed to provide excellent results in a relatively short time. How soon can I expect results? One-hour biofeedback training sessions are usually scheduled once or twice weekely. Most people begin to experience relief from symptoms in one to six weeks. A high degree of control is often achieved in 10 sessions or less. Will biofeedback help pain that is physical in origin rather than emotional? Our biofeedback techniques are useful with all types of pain whether physical, emotional, or mental in origin. It is often easier to treat physical pain because the cause is more readily identifiable. This is not always the case with emotional or mental pain. Locating the cause often expedites training. Medications offer short-term help, but the long-term solutions often require making changes. Is biofeedback expensive? Compared with medication costs and other medical procedures, biofeedback is quite cost effective. Results are usually very long lasting. The goal is for you to learn to maintain a state of superior health which requires no ongoing treatment; and follow up biofeedback sessions are often helpful after three to six months. Most health insurance plans cover the major portion of the costs involved. Benefits of biofeedback Training can help you control or eliminate:
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