What is Heartmath Biofeedback Training at Aspire Psychotherapy

Biofeedback is a training that involves using technology to measure physiological responses in the body like heart rate, breathing, and stress. By providing individuals with real-time feedback about these responses, biofeedback training can help people learn to control their body’s response to stress and improve their physical and mental health.

At Aspire Psychotherapy, our clinicians are certified in biofeedback as a standalone treatment or an add-on to therapy or coaching.

Who do we typically work with?

• Anyone who feels they are living in a chronic state of fear, anxiety or stress

• Folks that work in high stress, high performance jobs

• People who feel intense emotions and want a better way to cope

• Parents who feel overwhelmed with the pressures of life

• Athletes of all ages that want to improve their performance and their confidence

• Students who get nervous during tests or struggle with anxiety

• Creative professionals of all sorts, from actors and directors to architects and designers

• Anyone who wants to improve their physical and mental health without medication

What can biofeedback help with?

Biofeedback training is non-invasive and painless and it has been shown to be effective in reducing stress, anxiety, depression, trauma responses, chronic pain, maximizing mental and physical performance, and other conditions. Anyone looking to feel better, improve health, increase performance, and regulate emotions can benefit from biofeedback.

Learn how to use your breath and body to turn off fight or flight mode and enter a state of coherence. Coherence activates the parasympathetic nervous system, allowing your body to experience relaxation, calmness, digestion, and other restorative process. The photo below illustrates what coherence breathing looks like versus frustration.

About the Biofeedback Program

Biofeedback is offered as a short-term training ranging from 4-8 sessions in length. Training focuses on teaching you the science and the technology, identifying areas of your life that are depleting, and learning concrete skills to stop stress and respond to difficult emotions.

During a biofeedback training session, your clinician will attach heart rate sensors to your body (finger or ear sensor easily clips on) to measure your physiological responses. These sensors send information to a computer or device, which then provides feedback in the form of sounds, images, or other sensory cues. You will learn how to use this feedback to control your body's stress response and improve your physical and mental health.

The training program begins with a Baseline Psychophysiological Assessment, where we will get an understanding of where you are starting and informs where we will go. Home equipment can be incorporated into the treatment plan to support at-home practice, virtual sessions, or for those who want to work remotely. Virtual appointments focus on practicing techniques in real time, discussing successes/challenges in real life and following up on our practice plan and goals.

Biofeedback can be a stand alone treatment, strengthened with Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction techniques, or used alongside talk therapy and coaching.