Thanks to everyone who joined us at BFE 2017!

Presenters Include:
Jon Bale, BSc, BCN-T (biofeedback peripherals), Dr. Richard Harvey (psychoneuroimmunology, stress and courage),  Dr. Leah Lagos (concussion), Dr. Donald Moss (biofeedback and HRV), Dr. Erik Peper (posture and breathing), Dr. Fred Shaffer (biofeedback and HRV),  Dr. Paul G. Swingle (basic neurotherapy), Dr. Mari Swingle (internet addiction),Drs. Lynda and Michael Thompson (neurofeedback), Dr. Vietta Sue Wilson (peak performance), Pedro Teixeira, PT (SEMG in Rehab).


We are happy to offer three BCIA programs this year:
Neurofeedback (5-day)
Biofeedback (5-day)
HRV (2-day)


Additional workshops will be announced soon.

We invite you to take advantage of early registration rates for BFE 2017.

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Dear Colleagues:

We are pleased to announce that the 19th BFE Meeting will take place April 24-29, 2017 in beautiful Aveiro, Portugal and will be hosted by the University of Aveiro.

The BFE Annual Meeting is an interdisciplinary biofeedback conference to nurture communication and education between specialists from different disciplines. Experts from neurofeedback, biofeedback, psychology, medicine, physical therapy, education and other disciplines come together to share and learn.

We cordially invite you to attend or to play a more active role by submitting your research and taking part in a workshop, symposium, oral presentation or poster session.
Click here to download a submission form.

We hope you'll join us in Aveiro!

Sincerely,

Erik Peper
BFE Advisory Board President

Workshop - Dr. Mari Swingle

Internet Addiction: The effects of constant connectivity on the brain and behaviour.
Dr. Mari Swingle
1-day Workshop
28 April


Effects of technologies on the brain, behavior, and generalized sense of well-being, were first observed in clinical populations in the early 2000’s. Early studies were rather united finding excessive applications in adults to have a direct association with the development and/or maintenance of specific ailments for which people were seeking psychological services; namely Anxiety, Depression, and the Obsessive-Compulsive spectrum.
 
Today, constant connectivity appears to be directly associated with generalized hyperarousal within wider portions of the population; including perseveration, generalized fretting, emotional deregulation, insomnia, sexual dysfunction, and forms of chronic fatigue also referred to as adrenal fatigue.

Constant stimulation, hyperarousal, or otherwise lack of brain quiet, further appears to be associated with increased difficulties with focus on non-screen based learning (& play), observation, the assimilation of information, and certain forms of creative and numerical processing (pattern recognition and integration) which may have gross implications in the development or maintenance of behavioural disorders and learning disabilities in children. Emergent research is further starting to imply functional and structural alterations observed within the brain itself which may imply permanent change in function if not development.

This workshop will explore the first discoveries of what was initially termed Internet Addiction, through to present day more globalized effects. It will explore positive integrated usage (or otherwise healthy normative usage) versus usage which is increasingly proving to affect development, mental and physical health, and arguably has pathological components. We will also explore my emergent research on what excessive and/or interfering patterns look like on the EEG.

Effects vary immensely by culture (environment), chronological age, and age of introduction/assimilation. As such, research and data will be presented within in environmental and cultural contexts.

Learning Objectives

• To identify when excessive screen usage may be affecting the mental and physical health of a client.
• To identify when excessive or inappropriate usage may be interfering with the success of treatment.
• To recognize EEG patterns that may be associated with excessive applications.
• To identify symptom patterns.
• To identify individual cultural, environmental, and (epi)genetic protective factors versus liabilities which can turn normative healthy usage to excessive usage and the potential for the development of pathology (including addiction).
• To learn the potential adverse effects on socio-emotional and cognitive development in the young and alterations of states and traits in the elder.
• To identify when usage is normative, healthy or otherwise positive integration in modern life.

About Dr. Mari Swingle

Dr. Mari Swingle brings to the clinic extensive experience from both the world of Education and Clinical Psychology. Prior to the founding of Swingle Clinic, in 1997, Dr. Mari Swingle worked extensively in curriculum development, language learning, and the exploration of learning modalities to assist with accelerated as well as remedial learning. Currently she works with a wide range of neurophysiological ailments; her specialty lying with children and families experiencing behavioral and learning difficulties including but not limited to, dyslexia, processing, written output, speech and auditory disorders. Dr. Mari Swingle also frequently works with the dynamics that arise in families with a child experiencing learning and or behavioral challenges including parental fatigue, depression, anxiety, addictions, and couple/parental dynamics.

Workshop - Jon Bale

General Introduction to Biofeedback Peripherals Workshop
Jon Bale, BSc, BCN-T
1-day Workshop
24 April

This 1-day workshop is for researchers and health professionals who want to learn how to use the latest "cutting edge" biofeedback technology. The morning session provides an overview of the key features of the BioGraph Infiniti 6.0 software and hardware. Software suites that can be showcased include Neurofeedback, Physiology, Rehab-Muscle, Z-Score, HRV and Reaction Time.

During the afternoon session, participants will have a "hands-on" experience using Surface Electromyography (SEMG), Respiration, Temperature, Skin Conductance, Electroencephalography (EEG), Heart Rate and Electrocardiology (EKG) with audio and visual multimedia biofeedback screens.

(This workshop is NOT limited to current BioGraph Infiniti users only. Clinicians who have an interest in Biofeedback and in BioGraph Infiniti but do not currently possess our equipment are welcome to register.)

This course has been approved by BCIA to provide 7 hours of category A accredited continuing education for BCIA re-certification.


About Jon Bale, BSc, BCN-T

Jon Bale, BSc., BCN-T is a McGill University Graduate in Biology and is BCIA certified for Neurofeedback as a technician. For nearly nine years he was the Research Manager for the Biofeedback Federation of Europe (BFE) before joining the Thought Technology family as an Applications Specialist. His experiences include instructing and working with various clinical leaders in the field of biofeedback and neurofeedback such as Dr. Paul G. Swingle, Dr. Inna Khazan, Dr. Vietta Sue Wilson, and Dr. Barry Sterman. Jon's extensive knowledge of applications in biofeedback and neurofeedback, along with his work adapting clinical methods into easy-to-use techniques makes him an ideal individual to demonstrate and effectively use Thought Technology's software and hardware.

Workshop - Dr. Erik Peper

DON'T SLOUCH! BREATHE!
How Posture and Breathing Improves Health and Test Performance
Erik Peper, PhD
1-day Workshop
29 April


Inspired or full of hot air? Feeling overwhelmed and collapsed or feeling tall?  We are usually totally unaware how our posture and breathing patterns affect others and ourselves. The workshop overviews how breathing and posture communicates to others and affects ourselves. The workshop includes somatic practices by which participants experience the effect of posture changes on physical strength and emotional memory recall as well as breathing changes to affect math performance. Using respiration and posture feedback from a wearable biofeedback device with a cell phone app, UpRight, participants experience immediate feedback each time they slouch at work and at home and learns to identify situations which cause slouching (e.g., fatigue, negative/hopeless thinking or stress.  The posture feedback is combined with breathing, SEMG and HRV training with cognitive restructuring to enhance health and performance. Discussed are detailed protocols how to use breathing and posture and pattern to reduce depression, anxiety, test performance, headaches, back and shoulder discomfort.

About Dr. Erik Peper

Erik Peper is an internationally known expert on holistic health, stress management, and biofeedback. He is a professor at San Francisco State University, where he was instrumental in establishing the Institute for Holistic Health Studies, the first holistic health program at a public university in the U.S. He is president of the Biofeedback Federation of Europe (BFE) and former president of the Association for Applied Psychophysiology.

Workshop - Pedro Teixeira, PT

Biofeedback in Rehab - Critical Thinking Toolbox
Pedro Teixeira, PT
2-day Workshop
25 April | 26 April

“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”
This 2-day workshop aims to introduce a reasoning methodology that will enable participants to apply SEMG biofeedback to a broad range of rehab conditions. During this workshop participants will learn the fundamentals of SEMG. A clinical case study hands-on approach will be used to build up the reasoning skills. At the end of this workshop participants should be able to delineate a biofeedback rehab protocol specific to their client needs.

Day one

• SEMG Fundamentals - From signal acquisition to biofeedback practice
• Building up reasoning skills - Shoulder complex clinical case study

Day two

• Building up reasoning skills - Lower back clinical case study
• Building up reasoning skills - Knee joint clinical case study
• Putting it all together - Reasoning methodology Workflow

About Pedro Teixeira, PT
Pedro Teixeira is the President of BioSigns, Invited Researcher at the Oporto Medical School and lecturer at several different postgrad courses and seminars around the world. For almost 10 years he occupied the Project Manager position for the Rehabilitation Projects at the Biofeedback Federation of Europe (BFE).

Workshop - Dr. Paul G. Swingle

Adding Neurotherapy to Your Practice
BASIC NEUROTHERAPY, CLINICALQ and BRAINDRIVING
Paul G. Swingle, Ph.D., F.C.P.A, R. Psych.
1-day Workshop
24 April


Neurotherapy is rapidly evolving into a primary care option for many disorders.  Problems with mood, anxiety, sleep quality, learning, cognitive processing, pain, addictions, anger management, and age related memory are all amenable to rapid assessment and treatment.  The assessment procedures are simple and straight forward involving assessment of a limited number of brain sites.  Treatment options other than neurofeedback have been developed to markedly accelerate neurotherapy.  These complementary techniques markedly facilitate neurotherapy as a viable primary care alternative to dangerous and often ineffective pharmaceuticals.

The workshop starts with the precise ClinicalQ assessment procedure that determines treatment strategies.  The ClinicalQ data base contains over 1500 clinical patients and has proven to be far more accurate as compared with data bases based on presumptively “normal” subjects. Emphasis is on Braindriving treatment procedures including review of major unconditioned stimuli required for treatment. Other treatment options including neurofeedback, AVS, CES, energy psychology methods, craniosacral manipulations, harmonic sounds, electrostimulation, and behavior therapies appropriate for a wide range of disorders are presented. Practitioners will be able to immediately apply these efficient techniques.  Conditions that require full QEEG and normative data base procedures will be identified as will conditions in which the more aggressive treatments are contraindicated.

Materials provided will include detailed procedures for the rapid assessment protocol, site location forms for acupuncture meridians, and procedure sheets for energy routines.  Hands-on training for some craniosacral manipulations, acustimulation and energy routines is provided.  This workshop is presented in response to many requests from previous participants in shorter workshops for one full day of training in these effective neurotherapeutic techniques.

Course Objectives
1. Learn rapid diagnostic procedures
2. Interpret QEEG data
3. Identify common QEEG signatures for simple disorders
4. Recognize EEG patterns for trauma
5. Determine when to prescribe CES
6. Practice methods for stimulating acupuncture meridia
7. List simple disorders for rapid treatment
8. Determine conditions requiring full QEEG
9. Practice simple craniosacral techniques
10. Determine when to prescribe harmonics
11. List contra indicators for aggressive treatment
12. Locate areas for specific treatments
13. Determine conditions suitable for potentiating treatment options
14. Learn braindriving techniques
15. Practice energy treatment techniques.

Course Itinerary
AM
Therapeutic rationale for rapid intake
Rapid Assessment Procedure (Quick Q)
     Diagnostic indicators
     Hands on assessment training
     Interpreting the Quick Q
     Developing the treatment plan
     The psychotherapy dimension
Treating simple problems such as:
     Common ADD
     Depression
     Sleep disorders
     Burn out

PM
Case presentations
     Treatment strategies
     Braindriving techniques
     End of the road clients
Complementary treatment techniques such as:
     Harmonics
     Craniosacral therapy
     Acupuncture meridian stimulation
     Bilateral stimulation techniques
     Cranial electrical stimulation (CES)
     Diagnosis and treatment of more severe conditions
When you need a Full Q
Contraindications for adjunctive/aggressive protocols

About Dr. Paul G. Swingle

Paul G. Swingle, Ph.D. R.Psych. was Professor of Psychology at the University of Ottawa prior to moving to Vancouver where he is now Director of the Swingle Clinic. A Fellow of the Canadian Psychological Association, Dr. Swingle was Lecturer in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and during the same time period was Associate Attending Psychologist at McLean Hospital (Boston) where he also was Coordinator of the Clinical Psychophysiology Service. He is a Registered Psychologist in British Columbia, certified in Biofeedback and Neurotherapy. His recent books include: Biofeedback for the Brain (Rutgers University Press); Adding Neurotherapy to Your Practice (Springer); When the ADHD Diagnosis is Wrong (Praeger).

Workshop - Dr. Richard Harvey

Psychoneuroimmunology Concepts Complement Biofeedback Basics
Richard Harvey, Ph.D.
1-day Workshop
28 April

Psychoneuroimmology is a term that implies the relationship between thoughts (the mind) and the immune system (the body).  This psychoneuroimmunology program presents plausible mechanisms explaining how psychological processes (attitudes, beliefs, cognitions and emotions) influence neuroendocrine and neuroimmune outcomes.  Advances in molecular biology and immunocytochemistry will be summarized to aid understanding the interconnections between psychological thought processes and physiological endocrine and immune processes.  Also covered are models describing how processes related to expectancy and conditioning may manifest in placebo (or nocebo) effects that strengthen or weaken neuroimmune responses, focusing on expectancy and conditioning strategies employed during a biofeedback training session.

Learning Objectives

• Participants will describe the research data in basic psychoneuroimmunology.
• Participants will identify the major components of the immune response to fight illness.
• Participants will list beneficial biofeedback techniques or other supportive interventions that have been linked with improvements in immune function.

  
Profiling Stress and Courage
Richard Harvey, Ph.D
1-day Workshop
29 April

Profiling stress or, courage responses may be possible by distinguishing cardiovascular or other measurements (e.g. heart rate,  vasoconstriction or vasodilation, breathing) in reaction to tasks presented during a biofeedback protocol.  For example, visibly displaying a response to a profiling task not only brings insight for developing psychological attitudes of courage and resiliency, but also awareness of HOW MUCH physical overexertion of the cardiovascular system (or other systems) is occurring. This workshop explores step-by-step methods for distinguishing between various distressing (distress) and growth promoting (eustress) reactions.  Covered are theories related to the sequence of tasks used when profiling psychophysiological interactions, as well as practices ranging from sensor placement and rapport building to feedback techniques and interpretation of measurements.  All skill levels are welcome.

Learning Objectives

• Participants will learn theory supporting the choice and sequence of tasks for running a stress profile protocol.
• Participants will describe useful sensor placements for running a stress profile. 
• Participants will identify skills for building rapport during a stress profile protocol.

About Dr. Richard Harvey

Richard Harvey, PhD is a faculty member of the Department of Health Education and Holistic Health at San Francisco State University.  Before joining the faculty at San Francisco State University, prior experience included working as an Epidemiologist in Orange County, California; as a University of California, Irvine Tobacco-Use Research Center Fellow; and, as a University of California, Irvine Counseling Center Biofeedback and Stress Management Program Director.  Research interests currently include developing holistic stress-reduction interventions that promote personal courage using biofeedback, and have included federally funded research related to tobacco use and cessation.  Professional association experience includes serving on the Board of the Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (AAPB) as the Treasurer and as President as well as on the Board of the Western Association of Biofeedback and Neuroscience -- formerly the Biofeedback Society of California-- in many roles including President.  Professional association presentations, workshops and invited keynote addresses have covered themes linking biofeedback  with other areas such as psychoneuroimmunology, ergonomics, resiliency and, stress profiling.