JANUARY 2, 2025 — For those suffering from anxiety-related symptoms and post-traumatic stress disorder, solutions that improve wellness and wholeness may seem few and far between. At UTSA, the use of neurofeedback has enabled the next generation of counselors to break through those challenges with innovative approaches.
“There are a number of therapy modalities, but neurofeedback is unique because we’re able to go directly to brain function,” said Neurofeedback Program Director Mark Jones.
Since 2011, Jones has helped grow UTSA’s neurofeedback program into a one-of-a-kind resource for students pursing a degree in Counseling. The neurofeedback program is accredited by the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance, and it is one of five certified neurofeedback training centers in the United States.
“This really added a dimension to counseling,” he said. “We’ve had students do their Ph.D. and dissertation research using neurofeedback. That itself has really set the program forward.”
Neurofeedback is a process that allows researchers to measure small traces of brainwave activity and understand how the brain manages emotions. The practice is particularly useful when identifying trigger points for people with anxiety and PTSD.
“Somebody has a traumatic event and that changes the brain dramatically. The part of the brain that’s responsible for emotional regulation goes into hyper drive.” Jones said. “We can measure that over arousal. There are markers for that which guide us in training the brain.”
In the last decade, the UTSA neurofeedback program has made a significant impact on the greater San Antonio community. Counselors are serving local clients free of charge in twice-a-week clinical sessions throughout the semester and providing unparalleled care during traumatic events, such as the Sutherland Springs shooting in 2017.
Recently, the neurofeedback program was used in two studies in collaboration with the San Antonio Police Department. UTSA doctoral student Whitney Rich says the study gave her an opportunity to examine the brains of an underserved workforce that is likely to be exposed to traumatic experiences.
“The experiences for law enforcement change their brain makeup,” Rich said. “I thought it would take a lot more to bridge that gap into welcoming mental health and that has not been the case at all.”
Her study examined four potential biomarkers that could exist in 19 members of the San Antonio Police Department. Among those markers was an alpha peak frequency.
“An alpha peak frequency tends to be a marker for more creativity, higher intelligence, but it also can be a marker for nervousness, alertness,” she said.
The pilot study, which took place in 2023, and subsequent study, adjusted for new information regarding potential risks for alcohol, uncovered data that has proven useful for the San Antonio Police Department to reassess protocols and be mindful of the mental health of their officers.
“They definitely have practiced really good stewardship over their team,” Rich said. “They were really gracious with access.”
For students like Whitney and alumnus Ross Spears ’23, the invaluable opportunities for research and application have made the neurofeedback program distinctive.
“The program provides the education necessary to sit for certification following graduation,” Spears said. “Having the ability to offer neurofeedback services to the community bolsters student’s hire desirability post-graduation.”
Spears is now an Assistant Professor of Counseling at the University of Texas at Tyler. Just as UTSA integrates with University of Texas Health San Antonio, UT Tyler recently merged with UT Health Tyler. This integration has opened opportunities for Spears to bring what he learned from UTSA and apply it in East Texas.
“Neurofeedback continues to be a discussed topic as the therapeutic modality is applicable to a variety of health and helping professions,” Spears said. “My hope is that the learning competencies constructed while a student at UTSA might later be used to create curriculum and assessment tools needed for a robust neurofeedback training experience here.”
After more than a decade of service to the community and building the next generation of counselors, UTSA’s commitment to neurofeedback is being felt near and far — and making an impact one student at a time.
“I had no way of imagining the growth of it at other universities from our students, but it's very gratifying,” Jones said.
UTSA Today is produced by University Communications and Marketing, the official news source of The University of Texas at San Antonio. Send your feedback to news@utsa.edu. Keep up-to-date on UTSA news by visiting UTSA Today. Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.
Enjoy snacks while connecting with Adobe reps and student ambassadors. Download or log into the Adobe Express app to snag swag and unlock exclusive back-to-school templates. It’s a fun, fast way to get creative and start the school year with bold moves.
Central Plaza, Main CampusCelebrate the merger of UTSA and UT Health San Antonio with a pop-up featuring free t-shirts, exclusive swag, and interactive photo opportunities. Open to all students, faculty and staff. Supplies are limited!
Sombrilla Plaza, Main CampusHuddle Against Hunger is a fundraising competition with Texas State that benefits our Roadrunner Pantry. Donations this week will help UTSA earn additional prize monies provided by RBFCU.
In-Person and VirtualJoin UTSA Libraries for an update on federal public access policies and how the library can assist with compliance.
Virtual EventWe invite you to join us for Birds Up! Downtown, an exciting welcome back event designed to connect students with the different departments at the Downtown Campus. Students will have the opportunity to learn about some of the departments on campus, gain access to different resources, and collect some giveaways!
Bill Miller PlazaThere are many citation managers. Which one is right for you? This workshop will explain what a citation manager is and how it can help you organize your citations, insert citations as you write your paper, and generate your bibliography.
Virtual EventPubMed is an essential database for anyone conducting biomedical or health-related research. This workshop will teach attendees how to effectively navigate this free resource and locate peer-reviewed articles using advanced search features, MeSH subject headings, and Boolean operators.
Virtual EventThe University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.