What is biofeedback, and how is it used in counseling?
Biofeedback is a term used when a client is hooked up to any of various devices that feed back what their body is doing; for example, blood pressure, heart rate, skin temperature, EEG, EKG, Skin Conductance Activity (SCA) and Surface Electromyography (EMG) are all popular modalities used in biofeedback sessions. There is also a device that allows you to see how you are breathing, which is essential in acquiring certain skills. These sensitive machines allow the client to see and/or hear what their body is doing in a way that, without the machines, would be very unlikely to know. Through the use of these instruments, clients can modify their blood pressure, skin temperature, brain waves, muscle tone and various other mind-body phenomena. I like to incorporate biofeedback instruments when teaching relaxation skills, monitoring bodily responses to counseling goals and/or coaching a client to listen to their body when learning to be still. The Biofeedback Certification Institute of America
