MSBMB 2019 Annual Conference

New Frontiers: Biofeedback and Neurofeedback in the 21st Century

October 19 – 20, 2019 – 12 APA CEs Available

Ann Arbor, MI
Holiday Inn & Suites Ann Arbor

Sham Neurofeedback: Is It Possible?

Time: 2 Hours
Presented by: Cynthia Kerson, PhD, QEEGD, BCN, BCB, BCB-HRV
Instructional level: Introductory

Target audience: Clinicians, undergrads, psychologists, MFT, Social Workers and other mental health professionals, interested in the topic and mental health professionals interested in adding this or similar techniques to their practice.

Objectives: 1) The speaker will discuss the history and theoretical concepts of sham/control groups in medical research. 2) The attendee will ascertain the understanding of placebo effects, both individual and group. 3) The experience of the ICAN study will be discussed when interpreting findings between the experimental and control groups.

In the recent ICAN study, where we provided either theta beta ratio or sham neurofeedback to 142 children, we found there to be some inactive or non-specific effect from the sham group. The neurofeedback group improved with statistical significance on the Connors teacher and parent ratings of inattention. And so did the sham group (albeit not as high), which we prefer to call the control group now that we are finding improvement with this intervention. As we complete 6-, 13-, and 25-month follow-ups, we are finding robust enduring effect on the neurofeedback group, but less so with the control group. Why is this? Is there a mechanism with the control feedback that would make neurofeedback even more effective than it already is?

Utilizing a sham group is considered essential in clinical trials, the gold standard of medical observation. However, neurofeedback and biofeedback are behavioral modalities and more aptly categorized as psychological interventions. So, why have these groups become mandatory when investigating biofeedback and neurofeedback? This talk will explore this question and further discuss the issues that the ICAN study (a NIMH-funded study looking at neurofeedback for ADHD) faced during its 5 years of investigation.

Presenter Bio: Cynthia Kerson, PhD, QEEGD, BCN, BCB, BCB-HRV is currently the founder and director of education for APEd (Applied Psychophysiology Education) and professor at Saybrook University, Dept. of Psychophysiology. She is BCIA certified in biofeedback, neurofeedback, and Heart Rate Variability and holds certification as a diplomate in QEEG and mentors applicants for all certifications.

Her role with APEd is to develop and teach introductory, intermediate, and advanced courses in the specialized areas of brain training and EEG analysis. She teaches the EEG Biofeedback, QEEG, Advanced Neurofeedback, and Neuropsychophysiology courses in Saybrook University’s Doctoral Program of Psychophysiology as well as chairs dissertations in applied neuromodulation and assessment. Her research interests are in neuromodulation and uses of applied psychophysiology for ADHD, anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Dr. Kerson is an awardee and co-investigator of the NIMH grant for the 5-year ICAN study, which is looking at neurofeedback for ADHD and is in its final year of collecting data.

Cynthia has published many articles and chapters on biofeedback and neurofeedback and is the co-editor of Alpha-Theta Neurofeedback in the 21^st Century.

Cynthia is the vice president of the Board of Directors for the Behavioral Medicine Research and Teaching Foundation (BMRTF) and has served on the Board of AAPB, as vice president of FNNR (Foundation for Neurofeedback and Neuromodulation Research), twice as president of the AAPB Neurofeedback Section and is two times past president of the Biofeedback Society of California.

Disclosure: This speaker is the founder and director of APEd (Applied Psychophysiology Education).

Neurofeedback for Beginners

Time: 4 Hours
Presented by: Cynthia Kerson, PhD, QEEGD, BCN, BCB, BCB-HRV
Instructional level: Introductory

Target audience: Clinicians, undergrads, psychologists, MFT, Social Workers and other mental health professionals, interested in the topic and mental health professionals interested in adding this or similar techniques to their practice. The attendee will learn about the history of neurofeedback.

Objectives: 1) The attendee will learn about the history of neurofeedback 2) The attendee will discover the functional underpinnings of neurofeedback based upon operant conditioning and functionality of the brain. 3) The attendee will learn about the brain wave frequencies and the behaviors most associated with them. 4) The attendee will ascertain the historical, theoretical, and practical perspectives of specific neurofeedback modalities. 5) The attendee will learn about functional aspects of specific cortical brain areas.

Clinicians from many fields find neurofeedback to be excellent adjunct procedures to their existing practices, whether they are psychologists, pediatricians, nurses, physical or occupational therapists. But everyone has to start somewhere. This lecture will provide basic understanding of the mechanisms employed when one is taught to self-regulate by you, the clinician. The instructor will provide a brief history, a study of operant conditioning and will demonstrate simple hook-ups to get the clinician started. Steps to becoming certified and confident to start including these modalities will also be discussed.

Neurofeedback has become a staple modality when working with people with brain-based disorders. This is because the brain is adaptable when operantly-conditioned as observed by behavioral and brain function changes. These measurable subjective and objective changes validate its use. This workshop is an essential primer for those who are interested in understanding the history, methodology, theory, and practicality of neurofeedback.

Hour 1: Introduction to neurofeedback – it’s history and operant conditioning theory. From Berger and Jasper to Sterman and Kamiya to the present day – an overview of how we got to where we are now. As well, a discussion about the underlying mechanisms of operant learning will occur.
Hour 2: What is the EEG? A discussion of the brain wave frequencies, including delta through gamma and their indications will be intertwined with the functions of cortical areas of the brain.
Hours 3: & 4 Neurofeedback modalities

SMR, theta/beta ratio (TBR), coherence, alpha theta training, and many other modalities will be discussed from the historical, theoretical, and practical perspectives.

Interpersonal Biofeedback – A Hybrid of Two Evidence Based Therapies

Time: 3 Hours
Presented by: Steve Kassel, MFT
Instructional level: Intermediate

Target audience: Clinicians, undergrads, psychologists, MFT, Social Workers and other mental health professionals, interested in the topic and mental health professionals interested in adding this or similar techniques to their practice.

Objectives: 1) Participants will demonstrate understanding in how to integrate biofeedback into interpersonal counseling settings including marriage counseling and family counseling with children and adolescents. 2) Participants will be able to create treatment plans to integrate biofeedback into relationship focused therapy. 3) Participants will demonstrate understanding of the role of psychophysiological assessment in light of interpersonal dynamics. 4) Participants will be able to demonstrate understanding of Psychophysiological Profiling of Couples for research and clinical purposes.

Marriage and family therapy has had well over 70 years of research and clinical practice. The roots of biofeedback therapy go back to the 1960s for both research and clinical practice.

Biofeedback has almost 50 years of research and clinical application while Marital Counseling has many more years and a higher usage rate. Research on both fields as a hybrid is minimal and recent advances have made the study of Interpersonal Biofeedback more accessible. Clinical usage of Interpersonal Biofeedback has been reported to have success by this author and others.

The goal of this presentation is to educate participants in this unique and promising new form of t treatment. They will be shown a research session which will display audio and video of husband and wife along with 5 channels of physiology (hand temperature, sweat gland activity, respiration rate, heart rate and heart rate variability) and how couples are learning to self-regulate physiology to enhance marital satisfaction. Psychophysiological Profiling of couples and treatment approach and strategies will be discussed as well as outcome from a small study. The workshop will also discuss ways in which participants will be able to incorporate Interpersonal Biofeedback into their professional practices.

Speaker Bio: Steven C. Kassel, MFT, is Board Certified in Biofeedback and Board Certified in Neurofeedback. He has practiced biofeedback since 1985 and licensed as an MFT since 1991. He is past President of the Biofeedback Society of California (now known as The Western Association of Biofeedback and Neuroscience). He is a pioneer of Interpersonal Biofeedback, has brought biofeedback programs to several schools and is a healthcare reform activist.

Biofeedback Goes to School; K-12

Time: 2 Hours
Presented by: Steve Kassel, MFT
Instructional level: Introductory

Target audience: Clinicians, undergrads, psychologists, MFT, Social Workers and other mental health professionals, interested in the topic and mental health professionals interested in adding this or similar techniques to their practice. The attendee will learn about the history of neurofeedback.

Although biofeedback training for stress management in school settings has been underutilized, successful outcomes have been shown in work with elementary and high school students. Successful outcomes have also been shown in the use of Neurofeedback (EEG biofeedback) in the counseling office for students with attentional problems. This workshop will look at research and school trials and give you a “nuts and bolts” strategy for starting programs in schools. The presenter will share what he has learned about successful ways to introduce biofeedback techniques in K-12 school settings for students with learning problems and behavioral problems, as well as motivated and college bound students with test anxiety.

What Is ChemoBrain and What Can Be Done About It?

Time: 1 Hour
Presented by: Morry Edwards, PhD
Instructional level: Introductory

Target audience: Clinicians, undergrads, psychologists, MFT, Social Workers and other mental health professionals, interested in the topic and mental health professionals interested in adding this or similar techniques to their practice. The attendee will learn about the history of neurofeedback.

Objectives: Participants will learn 1) Some basic information about cancer, its different types, and its treatment. 2) What ChemoBrain is and the type of cognitive effects may result. 3) Major research studies that have attempted to study Chemobrain. 4) Multiple other factors that may be involved in producing cognitive deficits. 5) Treatment suggestions that may lessen or eliminate these deficits.

This workshop will provide a basic understanding of cancer and its treatment with particular attention to a problem experienced by a significant number of cancer patients during and sometimes after their treatment. Participants will learn about all factors involved that may account for why some patients experience transitory or semi-permanent cognitive difficulties directly from their treatment as well as other possible factors that may be involved. Some non-pharmacological treatment suggestions will be discussed.

Presenter Bio: Dr. Morry Edwards, is a licensed psychologist and Senior Fellow of the Biofeedback Certification Institute of America, who has specialized in treating people with cancer, head injuries, and other chronic illnesses for 40 years. He is an advocate of the holistic approach to health and wellness and encourages patients to take an active role in their treatment. He is currently located at Neuropsychology Associates, Former Director of Psychological Services at the West Michigan Cancer Center and consults in several clinical settings. He is also a part-time instructor at Kalamazoo Valley Community College and was an Adjunct Professor at Saybrook University.

His contact information is and Neuropsychology Associates, 4328 West Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49006 (Ph. 269-375-2222, fax: 269-375-8292) and Plainwell Counseling Center 319 Park Street, Plainwell, MI 49080 (ph. 269-685-9401 ext. 30, ).

He has made numerous national presentations and published many articles. He has also produced a number of self-help manuals including Hope for Headache Relief, Some of the Best and Worst Things to Say or Do for Anyone with Cancer, Hope for Pain Relief, Almost Instant Holistic Stress Management for Almost Anyone, Almost Instant Holistic Stress Management for Almost Anyone with Cancer, 10 Key Principles to Maintain Motivation and Brain Boosters. He is the author of MindBody Cancer Wellness: A Self-Help Stress Management Manual. He has a book of poetry entitled Remembering Those Who Sleep Beyond the Dust – The Yarzheit Poems through Finishing Line Press. He is in the process of producing Cancer Wellness A Toolbox for Finding Your Healing Path.

Schedule: Saturday, October 19, 2019

8:30 AM Registration
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM Kerson – Neurofeedback for Beginners
10:30 AM – 10:45 AM Break
10:45 AM – 12:15 PM Kerson – Neurofeedback for Beginners (Continued)
12:15 PM – 1:15 PM Lunch
1:15 PM – 2:15 PM Kerson – Neurofeedback for Beginners (Continued)
2:15 PM – 2:30 PM Break
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM Kassel – Stress Management and Peak Performance Crash Course for K-12
3:30 PM – 3:45 PM Break
3:45 PM – 4:45 PM Kassel – Stress Management and Peak Performance Crash Course for K-12 (Continued)

Schedule: Sunday, October 20, 2019

9:00 AM – 10:30 AM Kassel – Interpersonal Biofeedback
10:30 AM – 10:45 AM Break
10:45 AM – 12:15 PM Kassel – Interpersonal Biofeedback
12:15 PM – 1:15 PM Lunch
1:15 PM – 2:15 PM Kerson – Sham Neurofeedback: Is It Possible?
2:15 PM – 2:30 PM Break
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM Kerson – Sham Neurofeedback: Is It Possible? (Continued)
3:45 PM – 4:45 PM Edwards – What Is ChemoBrain and What Can Be Done About It?
4:45 PM – 4:50 PM Break
4:50 PM – 05:00 PM Elections & Wrap-up

Sadar Psychological is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Sadar Psychological maintains responsibility for this program and its content. This program is approved for 12 CEs.