National Association of Social Workers

Biofeedback Moves Into the Mainstream

Social Workers Augmenting Conventional Therapy

Biofeedback brings in information about the impact of forces in a client's life.

By Paul R. Pace, News Staff

Illustration: John Michael Yanson

Migraine headaches, anxiety, depression, attention problems. For many people, access to prescription drugs is the most frequently sought remedy. More and more social workers, however, are discovering a field of treatment that requires no drugs and in many cases brings remarkable results.

Some clinical social workers are singing the praises of biofeedback. Many say they are using the procedure in addition to conventional therapy to improve the lives of their clients.

Biofeedback, according to practitioners, involves having the client read his or her body signals to help remedy a list of ailments.

Most of us already use a form of biofeedback whenever we step on a bathroom scale or take our own body temperature. According to the Mid-Atlantic Regional Society for Biofeedback and Behavioral Medicine, we can get "feedback" from a thermometer or a scale and can take actions to improve the condition.

Biofeedback specialists go a step further.

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From January 2006 NASW News. © 2006 National Association of Social Workers. All Rights Reserved. NASW News articles may be copied for personal use, but proper notice of copyright and credit to the NASW News must appear on all copies made. This permission does not apply to reproduction for advertising, promotion, resale, or other commercial purposes.