The Southeast Biofeedback and Clinical Neuroscience Association began in the 1970's as a group of biofeedback professionals in North Carolina. In the 1980's the group was renamed the North Carolina Biofeedback Society (NCBS). The NCBS served for over 20 years as a non-profit, networking and educational agency for health care professionals who utilize biofeedback in their practice or are interested in the development of biofeedback research and treatment protocols. Early on, mental health practitioners, psychologists and psychiatrists constituted most of the membership. Between 1982-1991, NCBS was an active participant in BRASS, the Biofeedback Regional Association of Southeastern States. That organization has been dormant for the past decade.
Our membership roll has maintained at relatively small levels, 20-40 paid members. Although we desire to expand our membership base, this size encourages a relaxed and open collegiality among members and at our annual conference and Board meetings. In recent years, on behalf of both health services consumers and practitioners, NCBS devoted significant time and energy in advocacy with our state's major insurance companies for improved coverage and reimbursement of biofeedback services.
In January 2013, the NCBS was re-organized and incorporated as the Southeast Biofeedback and Clinical Neuroscience Association, as a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational and scientific organization.
Currently, we endeavor to promote improved public education about the nature and efficacy of biofeedback treatment and to expand our network of colleagues for support and education. There is renewed interest in developing more frequent and active regional ties at this time. Through our Board, we maintain strong ties with The Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (AAPB), the leading national professional organization for biofeedback practitioners.
As the technology of biofeedback instrumentation and the variety of biofeedback treatment protocols expanded over the years, our membership became more varied as well. Currently several fields are represented by our members: recreation therapy, occupational therapy, mental health practitioners (psychologists, psychiatrist and licensed psychological counselors), chiropractors, nursing, pediatrics, neurology, dentistry/orofacial pain specialty, and physical therapy. Other members hold certification in biofeedback, guided imagery, the Feldenkrais Method®, Reike, neurolinguistic reprogramming, healing touch, tai chi, therapeutic massage, and holographic re-patterning.
Most of our members hold biofeedback certification through national professional organizations: from The Biofeedback Certification Institute of America, which developed from professional oversight by the first national organization, The Biofeedback Society of America, now known as The Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (AAPB) and from the American Board of Medical Psychotherapists and Psychodiagnosticians (ABMPP). Some of our members work at large teaching hospitals and universities; some maintain a private practice, independently as licensed professionals or in association with licensed professionals.
The SBCNA annual conference strives to offer engaging and knowledgeable speakers and usefully supportive workshops. We provide Continuing Education Units to assist members in meeting recertification requirements from various professional organizations. At the same time, the NCBS Board respects the financial constraints of its Treasury and of our members. We adhere to reasonable annual membership fees and conference registration fees. SBCNA upholds the Ethical Practice Principles developed by AAPB and requires its members to do so as well.
The SBCNA Board consists of three officers, President, Vice-President/Treasurer and Secretary/Membership, and 3-4 at large members. Board meetings are open to any SBCNA member. The Board's strong commitment to shared responsibility and genuine collegiality makes our annual tasks of membership renewal and planning and producing a conference an exemplary display of the adage "Many hands make light work". We invite and encourage new and ongoing members to volunteer for Board positions. Upholding our traditions for collegiality, professional support and public education requires renewal of ideas and energy from our membership. Board members are eligible for a monetary stipend that supports attendance to the annual AAPB conference.
The Southeast Biofeedback and Clinical Neuroscience Association welcomes your questions and comments; thank you for your interest and your visit!
