Inside this issue:

I. Quantum Biofeedback - Is it really biofeedback? - by Harry Campbell

II. Honorable Mention

III. Communication Technology Improvements:

IV. Training Opportunities Schedule through Spring 2010

V. Special Free On-Line Introduction to Biofeedback Workshop

I.Quantum Biofeedback - Is it really biofeedback? - by Harry Campbell

I have been approached by a few people recently who had an interest in biofeedback. What they had heard about biofeedback involved what is called "Quantum Biofeedback". I am sure that for the few people who have approached me there are probably at least hundreds more who have been made to think that this is what biofeedback is. That is dead wrong. I hope to shed some light on the confusion caused by this mislabeling.

With real biofeedback clients learn to regulate their own physiology based on the feedback from the instruments that are measuring them. The physiological measures involved in true biofeedback include EMG (electromyography) for measurement of muscle activity, Skin Temperature, Skin Conductance, Heart Rate, EEG (Electroencephalograph) for the measurement of brainwave activity, and Respiration. True biofeedback instruments are not directly diagnosing disease or specific problems with internal body organs like the liver and kidneys. The labeling of instruments that claim to do these things as biofeedback is causing confusion especially for people who are just learning about biofeedback for the first time. I am not passing judgment at this time on the effectiveness of such systems although I do question it. Biofeedback does not directly treat internal organs by introducing signals into the body. Biofeedback helps a person learn how to self-regulate their physiology which in turn helps to improve their health, quality of life, and performance.

Microcurrent therapy is a non-biofeedback modality that I do promote as an effective therapy but I do not call it biofeedback. That would be inaccurate and misleading. It is a modality that can be complimentary to biofeedback. It is not biofeedback because it is not measuring the physiology and it is not feeding back information to the client. It is introducing an electrical signal into the body that is therapeutic.

"Quantum Biofeedback" is also a non-biofeedback modality. It should not be called biofeedback. I have not tried one of these devices myself so I am not going to say what they can or cannot do from experience. I have read several articles that were written about them though. Here are several links to articles that describe some of the problems with this type of device. "Fraud", "snake oil", and "banned by the FDA" are all terms that are mentioned in the articles. Please be careful!

http://o.seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/2004061364_miracle09m.html
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004020583_miracle18m2.html
http://wcbstv.com/seenat11/epfx.cancer.systemic.2.655756.html
http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/article/116647
http://www.epfx.blogspot.com

I strongly suggest that you investigate and try to understand how these devices really operate before you use them. Also do not refer to them as biofeedback. They are not biofeedback according to the accepted definitions, including the AAPB (Association for Applied Psychophysiology & Biofeedback) and BCIA (Biofeedback Certification Institute of America) definitions. Referring to these instruments incorrectly as biofeedback can be confusing and misleading to other professionals like other biofeedback therapists and referring healthcare providers, clients, and insurance companies.

Please visit websites like the following to learn about true biofeedback:
http://www.biofeedbackinternational.com
http://www.aapb.org
http://www.bcia.org
http://www.isnr.org
http://www.nrbs.org

All of these sites offer free information on biofeedback.

II. Honorable Mention

I am very proud to announce that I was featured in the summer 2009 issue of "Biofeedback Magazine". This special issue featured advances in the use of Biofeedback and Neurofeedback for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The article that featured me is in the Professional Issues section starting on page 43. The article is titled: "Biofeedback Certification Institute of America Educators Who Have Made a Difference" (Part 2) by Fred Shaffer, Ph.D., BCIAC, and Judy Crawford. My picture is on page 44 between Celeste DeBease of Widener University and Les Fehmi author of "Open Focus". The article also features Tony Hughes, Erik Peper of San Francisco State University (who also teaches for Biofeedback Resources International), and Leslie Sherlin. I feel fortunate to be considered in the same company as these people who are so important to the biofeedback field. Adam Crane, my mentor, who brought me into the field and with whom I worked for over 21 years, was featured in Part 1 of this article in the spring 2009 issue of "Biofeedback Magazine".

III. Communication Technology Improvements

I will be taking advantage of some of the available technology in order to improve communication. Please join me on:

Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/biofeedbackman
and
Google talk - http://www.Google.com/talk (user name: biofeedbackman)

This will allow me to get information to you faster than in the past.

Some of the things that I will be sending notices on include: seminars and workshops, new product announcements, software updates, special value offers, industry news, etc.

I will also announce travel plans in case I will be in your area and I might be able to meet with you and help in some way.

You can also find Biofeedback Resources International and me (Harry Campbell) on Facebook.

IV. Training Opportunities Schedule through Spring 2010

Biofeedback (BCIA Certification)
Oct 24-28, 2009 - Hawthorne, NY
Jan 16-20, 2010 - Houston, TX
Apr 10-14, 2010 - Hawthorne, NY

Neurofeedback (BCIA Certification)
Nov 13-16, 2009 - Hawthorne, NY
Apr 30-May 3, 2010 - Hawthorne, NY

Additional One-Day Workshops
Using Low Cost Biofeedback Workshop - Sep 12, 2009 - Hawthorne, NY
Practical Biofeedback Skills Workshop - Sep 26, 2009 - Hawthorne, NY
ProComp BioGraph Infiniti Training - Nov 7, 2009 - Hawthorne, NY
Introduction to Biofeedback - Dec 5, 2009 - Hawthorne, NY
Introduction to Biofeedback - Dec 13, 2009 - Miami, FL
Introduction to Neurofeedback - Jan 30, 2010 - Hawthorne, NY

For more information or to register for any of these programs please go to:
http://www.biofeedbackinternational.com

V. Special Free On-Line Introduction to Biofeedback Workshop

This seminar is for you if you are interested in learning more about biofeedback but are not ready to register one of our standard training programs yet.

We will preview the basics of:

• What is Biofeedback?
• Biofeedback Instrumentation
• Peripheral Biofeedback
• Neurofeedback
• What is Stress?
• Negative Effects of Stress
• Peripheral Biofeedback Modalities
• Neurofeedback Basics
• Peripheral vs EEG Biofeedback
• Psychophysiological Stress Profiling

Date: August 31,2009
Time: 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time

You will receive an email confirmation with detailed instructions including login information to prepare for the workshop.

Please enjoy the rest of your summer.