Mindfulness provides a foundation for biofeedback.
Biofeedback training may be more effective when training promotes mindfulness. Mindfulness involves "paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally" (Kabat-Zinn, 1994). A mindfulness approach teaches clients to focus on their immediate feelings, cognitions, and sensations in an accepting and nonjudgmental way, to distinguish between what can and cannot be changed, and to change the things they can (Khazan, 2013).
Mindfulness prepares the brain for biofeedback and guides the trial-and-error process underlying self-regulation by helping clients to draw connections between their actions, internal feedback, and results. Mind-wandering may affect 30-50% of daily thoughts, reducing performance. Mindfulness is a powerful strategy for managing distracting thoughts and restoring focus (Turkelson & Mano, 2021).
Mindfulness allows clients the opportunity to change how they respond to a difficult emotion, thought, or physical sensation. By not trying to control the emotion, thought or physical sensation, the client has the energy to change how they respond. This allows the client to see any event as just that an event that they can respond to in a manner that leads to health and well being.