 |
| Clients can quickly learn to regulate physiological reactions to reduce stress, worry and pain. |
Biofeedback is a treatment technique in which people are trained to improve their mental and physical health by using signals from their own bodies. Psychologists use it to help tense and anxious clients learn to relax, reduce worry, cope with pain, and improve focus.
Most people have used biofeedback without realizing it. Taking our weight on a scale and taking our temperature are both forms of biofeedback that provide us with information about our body. Using this information we are able to choose behaviors that may change our weight if it is a problem or reduce our temperature if we have a fever.
Psychologists use sophisticated biofeedback instruments that allow clients to "see" subtle changes in physiological activity. The computerized programs act like a mirror that allows clients to understand how they react to external and internal stressors. External stressors may include pressure at work or sitting in traffic, while internal stressors are often our thoughts and perceptions of situations. When we gain an understanding of how our bodies react in subtle ways we are better equipped to change our responses that cause stress, pain, and emotional discomfort.
Clients quickly become proficient at changing responses like breathing patterns, heart rate, muscle tension, and brain wave activity. The psychologist acts like a coach, offering strategies and techniques that guide clients to better health and performance.
Contact Behavior Therapy of New York to Learn more about how these approaches can help.
|
