Professional Biofeedback Certificate Program - Course Content

"I've been in contact with the Stens Corporation for nearly eight years. They have always been highly professional, effective and generous. The BCIA review course presented by Tony Hughes was outstanding. Steve Stern has always gone out of his way to help in any way he can. I consider the Stens Corporation to be a "home" and birthplace for my career in biofeedback. "

Introduction

During the past ten years new and innovative approaches to healing have altered the face of health care in America. Patients can now actively participate in their own treatment.  Biofeedback, a powerful treatment and diagnostic tool, has played an increasingly important role in that transforamtion as one of the most effective adjunctive techniques currently available to health practitioners.   Reimbursement through third party insurers and workers' compensation.

An intensive, nine-day training workshop, The Professional Biofeedback Certificate Program combines a relaxed seminar learning process with hands-on instruction and clinical practice.  The program's flexible structure provides an incomparable learning environment for the beginner and allows experienced practiotioners to pursue more advanced applications such as surface EMG in chronic pain and clinical applications in EEG.

What is the Professional Biofeedback Certificate Program?

During the past ten years new and innovative approaches to healing have altered the face of health care in America. Patients can now actively participate in their own treatment. Biofeedback, a powerful treatment and diagnostic tool, has played an increasingly important role in that transformation as one of the most effective adjunctive techniques currently available to health practitioners. Reimbursement through third party insurers and workers compensation is available.

An intensive, nine-day training workshop, The Professional Biofeedback Certificate Program combines a relaxed seminar learning process with hands-on instruction and clinical practice. The programs flexible structure provides an incomparable learning environment for the beginner and allows experienced practitioners to pursue more advanced applications such as surface EMG in chronic pain and clinical applications in EEG.

Who Takes The Training Program?

Biofeedback is currently used by psychologists and physicians, nurses, physical and occupational therapists, speech pathologists, social workers and marriage/family counselors, dentists, chiropractors and many other allied health professionals. Positive results have been achieved in both inpatient and outpatient programs.

What will you learn?

The Professional Biofeedback Certificate Program will give you the fundamental skills necessary to use self-regulation techniques that teach your patients to listen to the language of their bodies. Most simply put, you will help them help themselves. Our core curriculum is specifically designed to give you a clear biofeedback model that allows immediate use with stress disorders and explores other new and innovative directions. It is a step-by-step learning process that requires no previous experience with either biofeedback instrumentation or computers. You will learn to conduct clinical biofeedback sessions as well as the basics of clinical hypnosis, autogenic training, guided imagery and other helpful techniques.

What Makes this Program Different?

Locales & Lodging

Ours is the only national biofeedback training program with more than 15 programs each year across the US and Canada, offering convenience and reduced travel expenses. The workshops are held at comfortable hotels, providing amenities you will find most welcome over the course of the training.

Flexible Scheduling

With more than 15 programs per year, you have a variety of training choices that mean greater flexibility and ease of scheduling. The program is offered in two parts. Some clinicians find it difficult to be away from their practice for nine days and prefer to take first Part I, followed by Part II later in the year. Others want to complete the program in a single session. The choice is yours.

The Latest in Biofeedback Technology

The Stens Corporation is one of the leading distributors of state-of-the- art biofeedback instruments. This distinction allows us to supply the training program with all the equipment needed to give each student extensive experience with the latest technology.

Technical Support

The level of technical support we offer is another unique feature of our organization. On our staff are two full-time technical support specialists who have expertise in the capabilities, installation and operation of the leading biofeedback instruments. Before your training youll receive a questionnaire about your potential uses for biofeedback which you complete and return to us. Well review your questionnaire, talk with you about your needs, and ship appropriate equipment to the training program for you to use. Youll not be restricted to one brand of instrument and you may work with several state-of-the-art systems that are appropriate for your practice.

A Special Approach to Learning

One highly trained instructor will lead you through the first two-thirds of the program. You will avoid many of the pitfalls inherent in training programs that utilize too many instructors, often resulting in the students inability to understand and integrate a coherent model of biofeedback. During the final third of the program, youll learn from recognized experts in the field a variety of clinical perspectives and multi-disciplinary approaches to treatment.

You will learn to operate biofeedback instruments with the aid of well-written labs which are yours to take with you and use as a reference as you practice biofeedback or for your certification exam.

What is the Value of Certification?

Demonstrated Professionalism

Passing the national certification examination attests to your competency as a biofeedback practitioner and the completion of prescribed standards of performance and conduct.

Recognition

You will be listed in the Register of the Biofeedback Certification Institute of America, a national directory available to all groups and agencies interested in identifying qualified practitioners.

Credibility

National certification procedures are consistent with the guidelines of the Department of Health and Human Services and give you professional credibility as a qualified health care provider. The Re-certification process ensures that you maintain skills and continue your education.

How can I learn more about biofeedback?

Biofeedback: A Practitioners Guide, edited by Mark Schwartz, provides a comprehensive treatment of the field of biofeedback. It is highly recommended for new biofeedback students, practitioners preparing for the certification exam, as well as seasoned professionals. Mind Body Integration, by Erik Peper, et.al., and Biofeedback: Principles and Practice for Clinicians, edited by John Basmajian, are two other excellent references. These and many other books, audio and videotapes may be ordered directly from Stens Corporation by calling 1-800-257-8367.

How can I find out more about local biofeedback issues?

Each state or region in the US has a biofeedback society that can give you information about local issues such as employment, salaries, insurance reimbursement, and others. Contact the Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (AAPB) at 1-800-477-8892 for information about the biofeedback society in your state.

Primary Instructor

Phillip A. (Tony) Hughes, Ph.D., M.F.C.C.

Training Director, Professional Biofeedback Certificate Program, Stens Corporation. Director of Clinical Services, The Biofeedback Center of Berkeley. Consultant, San Francisco State University. BCIA-Certified.

*Instructors vary from program to program. For information on specific instructors and dates, please call us at 1-800-257-8367.

The Biofeedback Training Institute

The Biofeedback Center Of Berkeley, was established in 1972 for the treatment of stress-related disorders. Founder Stephen Stern began training seminars for therapists in 1976, and by 1980 an intensive course, adaptable to a variety of clinical settings, had been developed.

In 1986, under the direction of Phillip Hughes, The Professional Biofeedback Certificate Program was created. In 1991 this program was among the first to receive accreditation from the Biofeedback Certification Institute of America (BCIA).

The Stens Corporation is nationally recognized as a leading distributor of all major lines of biofeedback instruments. Incorporated in 1979, The Stens Corporation is based in Oakland, California. President Stephen Stern has been involved in biofeedback training and product development since 1972.

The Biofeedback Training Series

Stens Corporation offers a variety of courses which present the theoretical basis and clinical applications of biofeedback. The following is a description of the four courses in our Biofeedback Training Series. Those courses are: The Professional Biofeedback Certificate Program, Clinical Applications of EEG Biofeedback, Surface EMG and Chronic Pain Management, and the Review Course for the BCIA Certification Exam.

All courses offered by the Stens Corporation are approved for continuing education (CE) credit by the American Psychological Association and by the California Nurses Association. One hour of training yields one hour of CE credit (the 9 day program = 80 CE credits). No code number for our program is required to report APA approved CE credits. The Stens Corporation Provider Number for the California Nurses Association is #05489. Check with your state agency about reciprocal agreements with either the APA or the California Nurses Association.

The Professional Biofeedback Certificate Program - Course Content

Part I - Introduction and 'hands-on' instrument training

Didactic Education & Clinical Biofeedback Training

36 Hours, 4 Days (Saturday - Tuesday)

This portion of the program focuses on the introduction to and operation of biofeedback instruments. It also familiarizes participants with biofeedback practice from several points of view: theoretical, electronic, psychophysiological and operational. An introduction to clinical applications is reviewed. All hours acquired in this component may be applied to the BCIA requirements for didactic education and clinical training.

Introduction to Biofeedback and Clinical Applications, Instrumentation and Clinical Biofeedback Training

Saturday

Sunday

Monday

Part II - Clinical Applications & Case Conference

44 Hours, 5 Days (Wednesday - Sunday)

For trainees who have completed Part I or its equivalent. This portion of the program covers clinical applications of biofeedback over a wide range of stress disorders. Clinical literature reviews and specific cases are presented. Completion of Parts I and II meet the BCIA requirements for didactic education, clinical biofeedback training and case conference hours.

Note: The last two days of Part II are dedicated to either EEG Biofeedback or Surface EMG theory and applications. These topics are also extended for two additional days beyond the 9-day program. You may wish to register for the additional two days to study these applications further. Refer to the Workshop Schedule to see the locations of each. The content of the first three days of Part II will be adjusted to avoid duplication of these topics.

Stress-Related Disorders and Procedures - Clinical History and Evaluation

Business & Financial Issues

Adjunctive Techniques

BCIA Education and Training Requirements

Our program provides most of the hours required to sit for the Biofeedback Certification Institute of Americas national examination. Only Clinical Supervision and Direct treatment hours are not included. Refer to Clinical Biofeedback Supervision for Certification in this brochure. Requirements are subject to change, and the current blueprint should be confirmed. Contact BCIA at (303) 420-2902.

Education

Minimum of bachelor degree level in a health related field or equivalent college level education. Contact BCIA for requirements for nurses and to obtain list of approved health care fields. (Licensed RNs may use an AA degree.)

Training & Clinical Experience

200 Hours as follows

Direct Clinical Biofeedback Treatment

Other Requirements

Course in Human Anatomy 3 semester Hrs. or Human Physiology 4 quarter Hrs.

Course in Counseling 3 semester Hrs. or 4 quarter Hrs.

Practicum (Internship in Counseling) 40 Hours

Documentation Of Your Training

Students will receive a letter after completing each part of the training program documenting the number of hours they have satisfied from the BCIA blueprint. Upon completion of the 9-day program, each student will receive a certificate of completion suitable for framing which demonstrates that the student has attended a biofeedback training program accredited by the BCIA.

Clinical Biofeedback Supervision For Certification

(30 Hours over a minimum of 10 weeks)

Individual arrangements can be made through Phillip Hughes, Training Director, Stens Corporation, to provide up to 30 hours of BCIA Clinical Biofeedback Supervision. Of these hours, three must be in the form of direct observation (audio tape, video tape or in person). Small group conferencing is available at a reduced fee.

Members of the Stens Corporation Board of Advisors who are located around the US may also act as clinical supervisors. Stens will be happy to help you contact our Advisors to make your supervision arrangements.

Direct Clinical Biofeedback Treatment

(90 Hours over a minimum of 10 weeks)

Trainees will acquire 90 hours of Direct Clinical Treatment with patients over a minimum of 10 weeks. It is the responsibility of the trainee to arrange for a field placement. Stens Corporation learns of a limited number of field placements around the US. When they are available, Stens is happy to share them with our students.

Review Course for BCIA Certification Exam

Stens Corporation offers a three-day Review Course for the BCIA Exam designed to help you pass the certification exam the first time. This course concentrates on the most significant areas of examination content and maximizes limited study time, focusing on instrumentation, clinical applications and ethics. A valuable role-play scenario assists in preparing students for the practical examination. Any participant who fails the exam will be allowed to repeat the review course free of charge. See our schedule for the course date and location.

Software for Review of Biofeedback Concepts

Flash for Biofeedback is a computer-based review of pertinent biofeedback concepts and vocabulary. Self-Assessment in Biofeedback, based on the BCIA test blueprint, provides a multiple choice exam with answer key to help identify your strengths and weaknesses as you prepare for the exam. They can be ordered in DOS or Apple versions from the Stens Corporation at 1-800-257-8367.

On-site and International Training Opportunities

In certain circumstances, it may be practical to bring our training program to your site, especially if you are located outside of the US and have a group of 15 students or more. Contact Stephen Stern at 1-800-257-8367 for fees and further information.