Heart Rate Variability Training – BCIA didactic training course

Introduction

In recent years there has been substantial support for heart rate variability biofeedback (HRVB) as a treatment for a variety of disorders and for performance enhancement (Gevirtz, 2013).

HRVB is efficacious for anxiety (Moss, 2016), depression (Shaffer & Zerr,2016), hypertension (McGrady, 2016), Irritable Bowel Syndrome (Stern et al., 2016), chronic muscle pain and asthma (Lehrer, 2016).

This workshop is designed for therapists interested in utilizing HRVB in their practice. It will cover all 16 hours of the BCIA HRV Biofeedback Certificate of Completion Blueprint: anatomy and physiology of the heart, respiratory system and autonomic nervous system, heart rate variability (HRV), HRV instrumentation, HRV measurements, HRV biofeedback training strategies and HRV biofeedback applications. Theory is combined with practicing using HRV instrumentation.

This program offers the full requirements to apply for the BCIA HRV certificate: 16-hours of didactic training in HRV and an optional online exam.

Literature

Gevirtz,R.(2013).The promise of heartrate variability biofeedback: evidence- based applications. Biofeedback 41, 110–120.doi:10.5298/1081-5937-41. 3.01

Moss, D. (2016). Anxiety and anxiety disorders. In G. Tan, F. Shaffer, R. R. Lyle, & I. Teo (Eds.). Evidence‐based practice in biofeedback and neurofeedback (3rd ed.). Wheat Ridge: AAPB.

Shaffer, F., Zerr, C. L., & Allen, J. (2015). The use of device‐guided breathing in the treatment of hypertension: A meta‐analytic review [Abstract]. Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, 40(2), 131‐132. doi:10.1007/s10484‐015‐9282‐0

McGrady, A. (2016). Hypertension. In G. Tan, F. Shaffer, R. R. Lyle, & I. Teo (Eds.). Evidencebased practice in biofeedback and neurofeedback (3rd ed.). Wheat Ridge: AAPB.

Stern, M. J., Guiles, R. A. F., Huntley, C., & Gevirtz, R. (2016). In G. Tan, F. Shaffer, R. R. Lyle, & I. Teo (Eds.). Evidence‐based practice in biofeedback and neurofeedback (3rd ed.). Wheat Ridge: AAPB.

Class format

 Day 1:

  • Introduction
  • Heart Rate Variability
  • Measuring HRV (instrumentation)
  • Respiration
  • HRV strategies: breathing techniques
  • HRV biofeedback applications, part 1

Day 2

  • Resonance frequency
  • HRV measurements (time domain, frequency domain)
  • HRV biofeedback applications, part 2
  • HRV strategies: emotional regulation techniques
  • HRV biofeedback applications, part 3

Learning objectives
After completing this course the participant will be able to provide HRV biofeedback training as a clinical tool and as an optimal performance tool using the modalities heart rate and respiration.

Who is this course for?
Health care professionals, like psychologists and physical therapists, who want to add HRV biofeedback to their clinical practice and individuals with no specified clinical background who want to apply HRV biofeedback for optimal performance training.

Faculty
Mrs. Drs. D.M. (Daniëlle) Matto, psychologist, biofeedback therapist BCIA-BCB

Number of participants
6-12

Costs
€ 525

BCIA HRV certification program

This 2-day classroom training covers all 16 hours of the BCIA HRV certification program.

  • HRV Anatomy and Physiology (3 hours)
  • Heart Rate Variability (2 hours)
  • HRV Instrumentation (3 hours)
  • HRV Measurements (2 hours)
  • HRV Biofeedback Strategies (4 hours)
  • HRV Applications (2 hours)

We also offer online examination and HRV mentoring.

Date

Check out our calendar for dates