Biofeedback Therapists and Centers/Clinics

The practice of biofeedback is not a profession unto itself; rather, it is a modality of treatment for a variety of medical conditions.  Biofeedback is a treatment technique in which people are trained to improve their health by using signals from their own bodies.  Physical therapists use biofeedback to help stroke victims regain movement in paralyzed muscles.  Psychologists use it to help tense and anxious clients learn to relax.  Specialists in many different fields use biofeedback to help their patients cope with pain.

Certification in biofeedback is available via the Biofeedback Certification Institute of America.  About 1,600 professionals hold the certification today. The BCIA reported to Marketdata that about 70% of practitioners are licensed psychologists, whereas the other 30% include MDs, dentists, nurses, and researchers.  Association personnel estimate that there are three to five times as many nonmembers practicing biofeedback in the field.  Consequently, Marketdata estimates that there are in total about 8,000 practitioners in the United States.

Biofeedback training in educational and business settings is, according to the Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (AAPB), a tool for developing deep relaxation and stress management skills that are important in the prevention of stress-related disorders.  In clinical settings these and other self-regulation skills gained through biofeedback training may be used for reducing or eliminating symptoms of stress-related and organic disorders, and for regaining muscle function and reducing pain following injury or illness. In the clinic, biofeedback training may be the primary therapeutic modality, or it may be used with other therapeutic interventions such as lifestyle counseling, desensitization training, cognitive restructuring or psychotherapy.

The AAPB informed Marketdata that the practice of biofeedback is indeed growing.  The association reports receiving an increasing number of calls from the public requesting information on biofeedback. and the names of practitioners.  Membership in the AAPB stands at over 1,800 currently.

Our research found that most HMOs will NOT pay for biofeedback services. 

More Information

Biofeedback Certification Institute of America

10200  W. 44^th Ave., Suite 310

Wheat Ridge, CO  80033   (303-420-2902)