HeartMath Clinical Applications for Stress, Anxiety and Emotional Regulation

Learning Objectives

1. Scientific Foundation of Self-Care Interventions

   At the end of this activity, participants will be able to:

   • Discuss domains of resilience and the importance of intelligent energy management for self-regulation of stress, emotions and creating resilience.
   • Use the self-regulation techniques personally and with patients to improve health and well-being.
2. Coherence Model and Heart-Brain Communication

   At the end of this activity, participants will be able to:

   • Demonstrate the impact of increased coherence on heart rate variability, brain function and emotional well-being.
   • Analyze the functions of the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the autonomic nervous system and its relationship to coherence.
   • Apply emotional refocusing techniques to support a coherent state in moments where stress management and emotional regulation skills are needed.
3. Relational Energetics, Communication and Self-Care

   At the end of this activity, participants will be able to:

   • Identify and interpret the concepts of relational and emotional energetics and its impact on patient care.
   • Summarize the importance of effective communication in healthcare interactions.
   • Apply an active practice of self-care and communication techniques to improve health outcomes.
4. Heart Rate Variability

   At the end of this activity, participants will be able to:

   • Review and discuss the importance of HRV analysis as related to clinical outcomes.
   • Learn and practice emotional restructuring techniques to replace incoherent HRV states with states that support healthy change.
5. Brief Intervention Protocol

   At the end of this activity, participants will be able to:

   • Understand and discuss the defining factors which determine a client’s appropriateness for a Brief Intervention protocol.
   • Practice identifying specific treatment goals and objectives for a given patient profile.
6. Multi-Session Protocols and Special Populations

   At the end of this activity, participants will be able to:

   • Compare and contrast the key differences between multi-session, brief intervention, group and crisis/acute care approaches using heart-rate variability tools and techniques.
   • Summarize clinical symptoms/disorders related to "under-arousal" and "over-arousal" and the connection between the two conditions.

Course References:

• Culbert, Timothy. Perspectives on Technology-Assisted Relaxation Approaches to Support Mind-Body Skills Practice in Children and Teens: Clinical Experience and Commentary. Children: 2017. Vol 4(20).
• Dijkstra, M; Soer, R; Bieleman, A; McCraty, R; Oosterveld, F; Gross, D; Reneman, M. Exploring a 1-Minute Paced Deep Breathing Measurement of Heart Rate Variability as Part of a Workers’ Health Assessment. Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (2019) 44:83-96.
• Elbers, Jorina M.D. et al. Clinical Profile Associated with Adverse Childhood Experiences: The Advent of Nervous System Dysregulation. Children 2017, 4, 98; doi:10.3390/children4110098.
• Lucy H. Field, L., Stephen D. Edwards, David J. Edwards, and Sarah E. Dean. Influence of HeartMath Training Programme on Physiological and Psychological Variables. Global Journal of Health Science; Vol. 10, No. 2; 2018. ISSN 1916-9736 E-ISSN 1916-9744.
• Mather and Thayer. How Heart Rate Variability Affects Emotional Regulation Networks. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences. 2018. Volume 19. pp 98-104.
• McCraty, R. Heart-Brain Neurodynamics: The Making of Emotions. In Issues of the Heart: The Neuropsychotherapist special issue, M. Dahlitz, & Hall, G., Editor 2015, Dahlitz Media: Brisbane. p. 76-110.
• Williams, et al. Difficulties in Emotion Regulation. Front Psychol, 2015. 6: p. 261.

In order to obtain CE credits for this course, students must fully review each module and complete the activity. Students must also complete the CE post-test after finishing the course. A score of 75% or higher on the post-test is necessary to receive CE credits. Students will be given multiple attempts to answer each question on the test.

Certificate will be generated and distributed through the learning management system and e-mailed to the learners upon completion of the test with a 75% or higher grade.

CE Credit Information

This non-live distance learning course is approved for 20 CE hours.

This course is jointly sponsored by The Institute for Better Health (IBH) and HeartMath. IBH has been approved to offer continuing education by the following:

• Counselors & MFTs: IBH has been approved by the Texas Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists to provide CE offerings for MFTs. Provider Number 154. Institute for Better Health (IBH) recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0063. Counselors may earn 20 CE hours. Many states have reciprocity with other national organizations listed here. Please contact your state board for further information.
• Educators: The Institute for Better Health has been approved by the Washington State Professional Educator Standards Board (WESPSB), a member of NASDTEC, as a Clock Hour Provider for Educators. Learners may claim one Clock Hour for each activity hour attended. Please contact your individual state boards for information regarding reciprocity and any additional requirements.
• Psychologist: Institute for Better Health is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Institute for Better Health maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
• Social Workers: Institute for Better Health, Inc. SW CPE is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #0091. Social workers may earn 20 contact hours. As an approved continuing education provider for the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners, IBH offers continuing education for Texas licensed social workers in compliance with the rules of the board. License No. 3876; MC 1982, PO Box 149347, Austin, TX 78714, (512) 719-3521.

PLEASE NOTE: Many state boards accept offerings accredited by national or other state organizations. If your state is not listed, please check with your professional licensing board to determine whether the accreditations listed are accepted.

Please be aware that these advanced workshops include descriptions, videotapes, audiotapes, and/or reenactments of actual therapy sessions. Some of the case material may contain graphic descriptions of violence, sexual activity or other content which could be disturbing, especially for participants with similar experiences. The courses are intended for health professionals and advanced students, who participate at their own risk. If you find portions of the program upsetting, or if you need assistance for any other reason, please notify one of the trainers.

Course release date: 1/2020
Last review date: 1/2020
Course expiration date: 1/2023

Technical Requirements

Browser Support

The course is compatible with any standards compliant web browser and is regularly tested with the following:

• Desktop
  • Chrome
  • Firefox
  • Safari 8+
  • Edge
  • Internet Explorer 11+
• Mobile
  • Safari
  • Chrome

Notes

For the best experience and optimum security, we recommend that you keep your browser up to date.