CREATING THE FUTURE OF APPLIED PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY AND BIOFEEDBACK - FROM FANTASY TO REALITY

AAPB and its membership al-e faced with a number of giant challenges, including but not limited to: (1) the cost savings efforts of third-pa rty payors and managed care organizations; (2) the lack of public awar eness of biofeedback and its usefulness; and (3) the lack of sufficien t reseal ch data on both the effectiveness and efficacy of biofeedback , In spite of these challenges, there are windows of opportunity that have been or which could be created to move biofeedback further into t he realm of conventional treatment. We must focus our efforts on worki ng together to: (1) create strategic plans for creating the future of applied psychophysiology and biofeedback; (2) educate all decision mak ers, including the general public; (3) establish better relationships with other professionals with common interests; (4) conduct more effic acy and effectiveness research; and (5) create a demand for our servic es so that the public will be more willing to pay for our services ''o ut of their own pocket.'' In order for this to happen, we must stop fi ghting with each other and direct our energies to productive activitie s that can change fantasies into realities.