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From WebMD to the San Francisco Chronicle, the good news is in. Biofeedback is back! After its introduction in the late 60’s, biofeedback, also known as neurofeedback enjoyed a brief honeymoon with the medical community as an alternative therapy, but it quickly fell out of vogue. Coming on the tails of the hippie era and the Vietnam War, mainstream physicians dismissed it for being unsubstantiated by research and too far outside the box. During the 70’s and 80’s, research by a small but dedicated community of scientists continued to develop the discipline, but it wasn’t until the 90’s when the hard evidence started to come in. Whether images of some Frankenstein like apparatus or a lack of foresight were to blame, no one knows. The important thing is that attitudes have softened, and today, over 1,500 biofeedback professionals are practicing across America. They can be found in clinics, hospitals, rehab centers, and a variety of other therapeutic settings. There are even international biofeedback societies from as far away as the Czech Republic and Australia. Schools and training are becoming more widely available, and the opportunities for those wishing to enter the field are increasing every day. Most practitioners don’t use biofeedback solely, but as part of a multi-modal treatment program to help patients achieve their goals. Often, they are psychologists, therapists, or counselors with extensive backgrounds in mental health. While gaining legitimacy and acceptance as an effective treatment for everything from panic attacks to migraines, the biofeedback community still faces an uphill battle when pitted against the powerful interests and resources of the pharmaceutical industry. Currently, efforts are underway to educate both the public and wellness professionals about the benefits of biofeedback and the AAPB, (Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback) continues to lobby Congress for funding and research support.
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