biofeedback society of california vol. 21, no. 1 winter ... · direct all correspondence and...

VOL. 21, No. 1 Winter 2005

THE NEWSLETTER OF THE BSCBIOFEEDBACK SOCIETY OF CALIFORNIA

INSIDEFrom the President. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

From the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

BSC 30th Annual Conference Highlights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

BSC Invites You to Join!. . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Mark Your Calendars . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

In Memoriam. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Learning about Biofeedback from Home. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Continued on page 8

In today’s world, everything and everyone is getting closer, first

via air travel and now, through the Internet. As I booted up my computer this morning to write this article, I saw on CNN a story about a Romanian couple that met on the Internet. They just had their first child and were so grateful that they named him Yahoo.

Bio-and neurotherapists are begin-ning to take advantage of this close-ness by offering their clients home, or remote training. Communication with the client has become quite easy, and very inexpensive. Hooking up a client for a bio- or neurotherapy session is the least challenging aspect of the process. Deciding the correct protocol, includ-ing type of training, the duration of the sessions, acknowledging the clients

changes and when to change protocol are the more advanced aspects. The clinician can decide these while the cli-ent or his/her parent or caregiver acts as the technician in the comfort and convenience of their own home. And its progression can be monitored via

the Internet and/or through regularly scheduled in-office sessions.

Many software and hardware manufacturers have developed sys-tems that can easily be used in the home training format. For example, BrainMaster has a great system that makes communication and transfer of information practically seamless. The pRoshi, or Personal Roshi, a neuro-

feedback light stimulation system is very easy to use outside of the clinic. HeartMath’s Freeze Framer and the new “game” Journey to the Wild Divine provide the client with easy to install software and usability. The AlphaStim is very easy to apply and can be used anywhere.

For neurotherapy, one system has recently emerged that offers an easy client-clinician communication for-mat. The BrainMaster’s 2.0 software has what they call “Session Librarian.” With it, the client easily sends the re-sults from his sessions via email. If the clinician needs to alter the protocol, she can easily send the new one to the client. The client, then uploads it into his software, makes the electrode site changes suggested by the clinician and continues his training.

Clients often presenting with ADD or other learning difficulties are school aged. With their busy schedules, the two weekly after-school sessions can be challenging to meet. Completing these sessions at home after dinner, or before school for the very-motivated youth is much easier on him and his

In the Comfort of Their Own HomeA Review of Home Training Systems

Cynthia Kerson, MA

Many software and hardware manufacturers have developed systems that can easily be used in the home training format.

California Biofeedback — Winter 2005 3

Thought Technology --New on Disk


BIOFEEDBACK SOCIETY OF CALIFORNIA 2005 BOARD

JAMES DeJARNETTE, MA, PhDPresident

BOB GROVE, PhDPresident Elect Finance Chair

DOUGLAS MATHESON, PhDPast President

CYNTHIA KERSON, MAExecutive Director Web Site Committee Finance Chair

RICK HARVEY, MAAcademic AffairsResearch Committee

YAIR LURIE, MSMember at Large

VICTORIA IBRIC, PhDNeurofeedback Research Applications Committee Alternative Health and Nursing Education Comittee

CHRISTINA CHESLEY, BAInstrumentation and Exibitor Liason, Advertising Chair

JANETTE SPERBER, MSNewsletter Comittee

MASSOUD MAHMOUDI, MDEthics and Peer Review Committee

RUBY NG, MD Certification Chair, Regional Conference Chair

SHARI ST. MARTIN, PhD, ATRMexico Affiliate

Direct all correspondence and inquiries, including commercial advertising information and classified ads to: Biofeedback Society of California, Executive Office, Biofeedback Society of California, 2859 Sacramento St., San Francisco, CA 94115.Phone: (800) BSC-6966 or (415) 550-0200Web site: www.biofeedbackcalifornia.org

CALIFORNIA BIOFEEDBACK

EDITOR: Doug Matheson, PhD

PUBLISHER: Biofeedback Society of California

California Biofeedback is the official publication of The Biofeedback Society of California. Opinions expressed herein are those of the respective authors and do not necessarily reflect the official view of the BSC. The BSC is not responsible for the products or programs of private companies advertised herein.

California Biofeedback is published three times a year and will consider all materials pertaining to the practice and/or promotion of biofeedback in health care in California. Send all correspondence to: Biofeedback Society of California, PO Box 4384, Huntington Beach, CA 92605-4384.

A yearly subscription to California Biofeedback is available for $25.00. Please send your check to the Executive Office listed above.

From the President

Now that the holidays are over and things are beginning to return to normal, our thoughts can

turn to what our hopes are for this New Year. Swimming through this mental maze of mine are thoughts of how to best be of service to the BSC during the coming months. Membership has always been the focus of my predecessors. Like them, I wonder how best to expand our membership so that more and more people understand the great benefits of biofeedback and neurofeedback.

I am proposing to you our truly faithful and dedicat-ed membership that each of you bring two people into the Society this year before the annual conference in November 2005. As a thank you for this, I am proposing to the Board of Directors that we pay for your continuing education credits at the Southern California Statewide Convention. If you get the two new members to join before the Regional Summer Workshops, we will pay for your credits there also.

At the 2004 Convention, I heard many people complaining about the cost of the continuing education credits as compared to other professional organizations. By just bringing in two new members to the Society you are not only helping the entire field of biofeedback and neurofeedback, but you are also saving money. For those of you who do not need the continuing education credits, I will propose that the Society give you a credit toward the admission to the events as outlined above.

In the continuing pursuit of finding interesting and informing speakers for the various BSC events, I would appreciate your input as to people you would enjoy hearing. Please either e-mail, snail-mail or call Dr. Thomas Browne, our great Ex-ecutive Director with your ideas.

Get involved with your Society! Leaving things to the Board of Directors or to me, as the President, doesn’t allow the entire Society to enjoy the richness and diversity we have among you. We are a creative group, and in this Society each of you can and do make a great difference.

My e-mail is [email protected]. It is my pleasure to be of service to you as your elected President. Please contact me with your thoughts, concerns, ideas, or just to say hello.

James E. de Jarnette, M.A., Ph.D.

From the Editor

A funny thing happened on the way to the conference last year. I was nominated to become a board member.

This was an offer I couldn’t refuse and soon became involved in the BSC’s organization. Part of my responsibilities was to revamp the web site. While it’s still under construction, I think the site is informative and easier to navigate – have a look http://www.biofeedbackcalifornia.org.

Most recently, Christina Chesley, Janette Sperber and I became coeditors of the newsletter. Dr. Matheson hap-pily relinquished his post as the editor in his never-ending effort to retire. We three look forward to bringing useful and interesting articles to you on issues that are important to you as a clinician. Each of us holds a unique specialty that will help to keep the contents of the news-letter interesting for everyone.

This past year, the board has suffered some setbacks. Dr. Browne took over for Lawanna Heald as the business manager. He also enlisted to be the conference chair. Brave man! The transition for the board was overwhelming, as Lawanna has

Continued on page 9


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BSC 30th Annual ConferenceNovember 4-7, 2004

Conference HighlightsJanette Sperber, MS

One thing that struck me about this year’s conference was

the extraordinary diversity of presentations, ranging from “Verbal First Aid,” to the free Meditation seminar (thanks again to Naras Bhat), Eastern AND Western medical perspectives, and the role of humor, not to mention our usual strong showing of neurofeedback-related presentations. I think we are doing well as a State Society to be able to cover such a broad range of topics from pelvic floor disorders (John Perry) to swallowing issues (Jeff Cram & Bob Grove)!

The presentations on insurance billing and workers’ compensation is-sues were quite popular; it was reas-suring to hear about the efforts being made by the BSC worker’s compen-sation subcommittee to address this difficult situation. Anyone wanting to contribute to the committee and stay in the loop on this important issue may contact me at [email protected]. I will forward your information to members of that committee.

I personally appreciated that El-eanor Criswell chose to give a work-shop on Somatics & Self-Care for the

Biofeedback Practitioner. I was glad to have a chance to give some attention to my own needs as a practitioner. I think the majority of us (myself included) could use a long look in the mirror while we ask ourselves if we are really “practicing what we preach.” For ex-ample, are we ourselves maintaining a daily meditation and/or relaxation practice that supports us in our mis-sion to assist others? Explaining to oth-ers how to do this does not count!

Judith Prager, Ph.D., presented us with a video and discussion about her

conversations with mind-body pioneer Elmer Green, which was in one attendee’s words, phenomenal. She talked about her encounters with him and his experience of being with his wife, Alyce Green, as she strug-gled with Alzeimer’s Disease.

One of our Enrichment speakers, Gary Darby, Ph.D., from Ireland, explored the pos-sibilities of interactive biofeed-back software, and also offered fun to watch and exciting dem-onstrations exploring the fu-ture of biofeedback equipment. We were honored with the presence of one of the true pio-

neers in our field, Joe Kamiya, Ph.D., who addressed us on the subject of the long range future of biofeedback. I also personally enjoyed the thought-pro-voking address of Gabor Mate, M.D., entitled “When the Body Says No.” My apologies to those presenters I have not included – I am discovering it is impossible to get around to all the dif-ferent events at the conference when you are on the Board!

One highlight for many of us was the unique and funny presenta-tion of our enrichment speaker, Larry Meredith, PhD (area: history and phi-losophy of religion). His talk, entitled “Religion of the Body: Life Before Death,” had me rolling in the aisles. One of his main points was that reli-gion overly emphasizes what happens after death, while what we should re-ally care about is the quality of life we have BEFORE death. I have to admit, his talk was twice as funny because of his “Southern Baptist Preacher” style of delivery. My favorite anecdote from

Future States of

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Dr. Judith Prager and Chuck Davis

Drs. Hudspeth and Toomim

Continued on page 6

Drs. Toomim and Kamiya

6 California Biofeedback — Winter 2005

his talk is his description of a post-elec-tion CNN story that featured a woman stating that now “God was in the White House.” “That’s funny,” said he, “I didn’t know God was a Repub-lican!” and furthermore we know that Jesus was bipartisan since he did ride into Jerusalem on a donkey!

There was constant traffic in the Vendor/Exhibit room, which featured a diverse group of vendors. I know I had a fun & informative experience trying out some of the new software and hardware, and chatting with the vendor representatives. Hershel Too-mim demonstrated HEG, HeartMath promoted the Freeze-Framer, Terry

Argast demonstrated the Alpha-Stim, Stens Corporation promoted high-end biofeedback systems and sup-plies, Better Physiology demonstrated capnometry, Chuck Davis promoted Roshi, and Yuri Kronn promoted his company Energy Tools International. Jeff Cram presented a well-attended workshop on how to use the “Wild Di-vine” Game in clinical practice.

With your help, our silent auc-tion was a tremendous success. We are thankful for generous donations from our vendors, conference present-ers, and BSC members. We would also like to appreciate two of our long-term vendors and suppliers, Stens Corpora-tion and J&J Engineering, who helped us cater a reception for attendees on Friday night.

Thanks to all who helped make

this a successful conference, and we look forward to seeing you next year, November 4, 5, and 6, 2005, in Irvine.

Yair Lurie

Biofeedback Society of California Invites You to Join!!

New to the area of biofeedback or been away for a while? Consider joining the Biofeedback Society of California. At $85 per year for full membership, how can you miss? Outstanding conferences, continuing education credits, informative newsletters, referral directory, and networking with others are just part of what you will receive.

MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS INCLUDE: n BSC’s outstanding tri-annual publication California Biofeedback, n Discounts at the Annual Convention and regional meetings/seminars, n Eligibility to apply for BSC Biofeedback Certification and Re-certification, n Listing in the BSC membership referral directory with areas of specialties,n Networking with others in a multi-professional organization, n Liaison with state and national associations, n Continuing education credit for biofeedback practitioners and other professions, n Monitoring of state legislation related to biofeedback, n Providing policy recommendations, n Professional support with insurance and managed care, n Eligibility to join a regional referral service connected to the BSC 800 telephone number, n Eligibility to participate on a committee of the Society, and

n An opportunity to promote the field of biofeedback through a combined effort.

For more information about the society, and for a membership application,visit our Web site at www.biofeedbackcalifornia.org.

BSC 30th Annual Conference

Continued from page 5

6 California Biofeedback — Winter 2005

Mark Your Calendars!

Northern California Regional MeetingJune 11th in San Francisco

Southern California Regional MeetingDate and Location TBA

BSC 2005 Annual ConferenceNovember 4, 5 and 6

Irvine, California

Check the web sitewww.biofeedbackcalifornia.org

for up-to-date information

Invite a New Member Only $75.00/yearInvite two and receive free CEU credits at the 2005 conference or regional meetings

Membership forms at biofeedbackcalifornia.org

Members: Link from Our Site to Yours! $100.00/lifetime or $20.00/year

Become involved in your state [email protected]

8 California Biofeedback — Winter 2005 California Biofeedback — Winter 2005 9

family. For the client who presents with a brain trauma, possibly from a fall, car accident, or stroke it is often a challenge for him to come to the office for regular meetings due to physical difficulties resulting from the acci-dent. He or she may be using a cane, or restricted to a wheel chair. Home training alleviates the need to travel to the office, a process that is so time and energy consuming that it often results in discouragement and premature res-olution of the therapeutic process. In many of these cases, there are caregiv-ers who can act as the technician.

The pRoshi Complex NeuroStimu-lation System doesn’t use EEG, but of-fers standardized protocols for the cli-ent who is working toward peak brain performance. The self-contained box and goggles can be carried anywhere and used whenever he client chooses.

Offering the Freeze Framer as an adjunct to weekly or bi-weekly in-of-fice sessions for hypertension, high blood pressure, anxiety, stress or de-pression (among others) improves and speeds up the biotherapeutic pro-cess. It trains heart resonance through breath training. The clinician can teach the breath training in one or two ses-sions. Encouraging the client to train more often between sessions also al-lows him or her an opportunity to take ownership of his process in a way that cannot be obtained in the clinic. Often clients come into the office with the printouts from their sessions, proudly displaying improvements.

RESPeRATE is another device de-signed to train one’s breath patterns. Using a respiration belt, it analyzes your client’s breath rate and pattern

and guides him or her into a pattern more conducive to a relaxed state. This device is recommended by the FDA for hypertension and would be a power-ful adjunct to in-office sessions in heart resonance work.

Clinicians who work with elec-tromyography can send their clients home with the MyoTrac Portable Mus-cle Monitor. Helping the client become aware of his muscle’s state while am-bulatory can be quite beneficial. This is a portable, stand-alone device that reads back the level of contraction in a given muscle. The client could easily be trained to apply the EMG sensors and regulate his muscle activity for rehabilitation, peak performance or relaxation therapy. This coupled with weekly or bi-weekly sessions often re-

sults in positive results. Journey to The Wild Divine, the

new system that trains galvanic skin response and heart resonance, is also a wonderful home adjunct to biofeedback training. Resembling the popular com-puter game Myth it has a feel that may be more interesting to a gamer. This is a good adjunct for a child or teenager, for example who is doing neurofeedback for attentional problems and may also have anxious tendencies.

The AlphaStim is a device that doesn’t need a computer. It can be ap-plied anywhere, is very easy to use and offers an anxious or high-strung client a therapy that can be used on the fly if necessary. This device, using simple ear clips, sends a very small electrical stimulation that encourages an alpha brain wave state. This is the state most equated with a calm, but alert feeling. Having the luxury of using a system like this may provide the client with a sense of security as she can take a few moments after a stressful experience and allow herself time to calm down.

Many of the more traditional mod-

els of home training, including the GSR and GSR2, galvanic skin response and galvanic skin response with hand tem-perature, respectively, offer very simple home training with compact stand-alone units. The training experience is less interesting than, say the Freeze Framer or Wild Divine, but much less expensive and certainly does the job.

Another option that has recently been experimented with is using software such as Go To My PC or PC Anywhere, where the clinician can “be there” looking in on the client’s com-puter while he is actually having his session. This can be very helpful when the client needs help in perfecting his breath pattern or in determining com-plicated brain wave patterns in neuro-feedback entrainment.

The home or remote training style of biotherapy is becoming very popu-lar for many reasons. The client can do his sessions at home, in the office, on an airplane or in the hospital. This is not only convenient, but in nonambu-latory cases, necessary. It saves the cli-ent travel time, money and offers him or her more time in biofeedback prac-tice. It also offers the client an opportu-nity to work through his process in his own pace, while being able to check in with his clinician on a regular basis.

There are great benefits to the clinician as well. Clients can be as far away as across the ocean. They can do their training anytime they choose, while you’re asleep, playing tennis or working with others in your clinic; there would be no constraints of your availability – this includes time, loca-tion and involvement. However, with all of the benefits of home training, it is important to realize that the one-on-one client-therapist experience is vital. Some clinicians require their clients to travel to the clinic on a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly basis. They also require frequent email and/or phone communication. But, even with these requirements, it seems the home train-ing modality is of great value to the cli-ent, clinician and to the field of applied psychophysiology as a whole. The bet-ter able we are in helping others cul-tivate well-being efficiently and with great results, the more able our field can use this valuable and positive data to promote it.

In the Comfort of Their Own Home


Encouraging the client to train more often between sessions also allows him or her an opportunity to take ownership of his process in a way that cannot be obtained in the clinic.


held that position for quite some time. Recently, Dr. Browne resigned from the post. This left the board with an-other problematic transition. As with every board, the committee members come and go and the wheel is rein-vented with each new board. The con-tinuity is broken and things become scattered. With Thomas’ resignation, we continue to struggle.

Not withstanding the internal troubles, these times are very impor-tant for biofeedback. The insurance and Worker’s Compensation issues loom large for all of our practices and the future of the field. As an associa-tion that is committed to the advance-ment of its members, this has become a very important issue. Thankfully, we have a strong subcommittee who is staying informed of deadlines and sub-mitting the most useful information as requested by the powers that be.

With the verification of our work in neurofeedback through current fMRI (functional MRI) studies and the notion of neural plasticity, plus the availability of home systems and remote training, biofeedback is slowly becoming a recognized and viable (almost western) option for many ail-ments. It’s not just for stress any more. This is another reason these times are very important for our field. It’s im-portant that we represent ourselves in a professional and united way.

The board continues to strive for a cohesive association that will provide bio- and neuro-therapists in California a place where they can look for help in professional, clinical and educational matters. And of course, we need more members to facilitate this. In his letter from the president, Dr. DeJarnette ad-dresses this very important issue beau-tifully, so I won’t repeat it. The society in California can be powerful and im-portant if in fact we all make the effort. This is the time. We hope 2005 brings you health, prosperity and the oppor-tunity to help as many people as you can through the very powerful tools of psychophysiology.

Cynthia Kerson, MA

From the Editor


In MemoriamMarjorie K. Toomim

I came to BILA in 1992, when stressed by life events I learned that I could correct my

symptoms better, with breathing exercises, or by watching my physiological responses to stress on a computer screen, rather than taking meds. My traditional classical medicine education helped me understand how that could be possible. The incredible teachers I found at BILA, Hershel and Marjorie Toomim, helped me the most and convinced me that I had to restructure not only my physiology but my entire life and profession. As I started my comprehensive course, I felt compelled to record on tapes all the courses I took from both of them, having a slight fear in the back of my mind that I may lose them sometime soon, and I had to immortalize their voices, their knowledge, & their wisdom…

After finishing the course, and because of my neuroscience background, Marj asked me to get more involved in EEG Biofeedback and to work at the Institute. As co-director in the Neurofeedback department, I had the chance to learn more about Marj, not only as a teacher and counselor, but as a busi-ness organizer and partner.

I have so many things to say about Marj, but I will summarize them in one sentence.

For me, Marj has been an adoptive mom, a wonderful and gentle coun-selor, a remarkable compassionate care-giver, a knowledgeable and pre-cise mentor, a leader and a marvelous business partner, and most of all, a FRIEND!

I will miss her tremendously! But I have my tapes with her soft, but cat-egorical voice, which I will cherish forever…

As she taught us how to change our reaction from stress into relaxation, now I am exercising my ability to switch from the sadness of losing her to happiness for her and for me, being so grateful for having known her.

Bon Voyage, Marj!I always loved you, even though I did not express it enough! Thank you for helping me to be who I am today!Yours,

Luminita Victoria Ibric

In the wake of the recent passing of Marjorie Toomim, I am especially glad to have had the opportunity of some one-to-one time with Marjorie

in the Exhibits room. In the wake of a friendly debate over some details of sEMG activity from the upper vs. lower trapezius, we hooked each other up & challenged each other to prove her point! Needless to say, we both learned from each other. Marjorie will be sorely missed by the biofeedback community, and we all extend our heartfelt condolences to Herschel Toomim.

Janette Sperber, MS


Just about every member of a biofeedback society wants to

learn more about biofeedback and applied psychophysiology. That’s a major reason why people join. Unfortunately, meetings and courses are really expensive to go to because of lost work time and travel expenses including transportation, meals, hotel, etc. – not to mention that travel itself can be a real pain. Courses tend not to be given when you want to take them and can’t be individualized to meet your needs.

Home learning courses and semi-nars can be a great way to avoid the pain and costs involved with travel.

Of course, they have their own set of advantages and disadvantages. A crucial advantage is their incredible flexibility. You start the course when you want to, study whenever you have the opportunity/feel like doing so, and can work at your own pace. The downside of this flexibility is that you have to be sufficiently motivated to actually get around to doing the work. You can listen to lectures or any parts of them as often as you want to. But, then again, you can’t ask the lecturer questions during the talk. Along with the loss of the ability is ask questions as the lecture unfolds is the concurrent loss of the excitement engendered by

being with others learning the same material. Of course, in a real class you can’t ask just any question that pops into your head any time and you need to be able to keep up with some of your class mates while waiting for others to try to grasp a point you got immedi-ately. Interactive home learning classes are structured so you work with the instructor via e-mail or phone after “attending” each audiovisual lecture or doing a set of readings. It is during these personal interactions when you can ask questions to your heart’s con-tent and when the instructor can add extra information you want to know.

In-person classes have the advan-

Learning about Biofeedback from HomeRichard A. Sherman

([email protected])


tage of being able to show you the equip-ment you are learning about and give you an opportunity to get experience using it while an expert is right there. Courses such as those given by the Behavioral Medicine Research and Training Foundation (www.behavmedfoundation.org) are often pro-vided on CDs which contain audiovisual lectures so you get to hear the instructor, see slides and watch equipment working. After the lectures and any associated read-ings, you and the instructor work together to clear up grey areas and supply informa-tion you may want which isn’t covered in the standard course. If you have equipment available, the instructor can couch you through its use via web cams, etc.

A wide variety of biofeedback-related courses are now available in home study format. For example, the Behavioral Medi-cine R&T Foundation offers distance cours-es in such topics as general biofeedback, anatomy and physiology, pain assessment and intervention, pelvic floor disorders, neuropsychophysiology, hypnosis and many others. Other groups offer distance based courses in neurofeedback and gen-eral biofeedback. The University of Natural Medicine even offers a doctoral program in clinical psychophysiology in which all the lectures are given via distance education. If you want a more traditional approach to home learning which avoids computer interaction, AAPB (www.AAPB.org) offers a home based course in general biofeedback which simply involves getting and reading a set of books and answering questions.

A great idea which combines in-person classes with home study is the teleseminar. In this format, a seminar on a particular topic such as ethics or headaches is sched-uled for a particular time and date. In the most basic version, attendees receive a handout by snail mail and follow along with a speaker who gives a talk via a tele-phone conference call. AAPB has tried this format with considerable success. More sophisticated formats involve the speaker showing slides on each attendee’s com-puter through the web while speaking to the class via phone.

Your access to home based, continuing education in biofeedback and related areas is growing in both variety and sophistica-tion as interactive techniques become more available. Real time, on line meetings and seminars are beginning to supplement high quality, CD based CE courses so the need for travel is gradually decreasing. Hope-fully, you will join those looking into this avenue for learning.

BSC’S PHONE NUMBER IS (800) BSC-6966 [(800) 272-6966]VISIT OUR WEB SITE AT www.biofeedbackcalifornia.org

PO Box 4384Huntington Beach, CA 92605-4384

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