Clinical

For over 20 years I have been helping people with chronic health conditions using biofeedback and behavioral health counseling. My current practice is located in Auburn CA, and focused on behavioral medicine treatments for anxiety, headache, insomnia, and pain, and on biobehavioral training for peak performance. I also see physician referred patients for a wide range of medical conditions, including depression, asthma, hypertension, and tinnitus.

Certified in biofeedback and applied psychophysiology since 1987, I am a Senior Fellow of the Biofeedback Certification Institute of America. My clinical experience has primarily focused on chronic conditions, such as headache, insomnia, hypertension, anxiety, and depression. I've also worked with peak performance, optimal functioning, and with attention and learning disorders using EEG biofeedback, or what is now called neurotherapy. I find this type of biofeedback a powerful and effective tool for improving focus and functioning.

In addition to my private practice, I am a staff psychologist working with chronic pain patients providing behavioral medicine services for the Functional Restoration Program at Auburn Pain Rehabilitation Medical Clinic (APRMC). APRMC is a physician directed multidisciplinary pain clinic as defined by the International Association for the Study of Pain. M. Rynda Norsell, Ph.D., is the Functional Restoration Program director, and has been with the clinic nearly 20 years. Board certified in Clinical Health Psychology and Psychopharmacology, she has been invaluable as a mentor and supervisor during my post-doctoral training. Dr. Norsell has put together a terrific interdisciplinary team, and I am pleased to be working with them, and with her.

Academic

Since 1985 I have taught at a variety of schools including University of California at San Francisco (UCSF), JFK University, Samuel Merritt College, Laney College, and Saybrook Graduate School. My teaching expertise is research and statistical methods, psychophysiology, philosophy of science, and psychology of research. Currently I teach part-time at Saybrook working with Master's thesis and Ph.D. dissertation students. I have taught a variety of courses at Saybrook, including Introductory Research Methods, Health Psychology, Neuroscience, and Case Study Methods in Psychology.

Research

I have been involved in various research endeavors over the years. Currently, my research interests involve questions around quality of life, personal growth, and character development.

For example, I am interested in how various training programs and/or personal crisis produce a transformation of consciousness; how changes in comportment (a person's way-of-being-in-the-world) can modify personality; how personality can facilitate or inhibit a transformation of consciousness; and the impact of biobehavioral treatments on persons with chronic pain.

Education & Credentials

I am a licensed clinical psychologist in California (PSY22096), hold national certification in Biofeedback and Applied Psychophysiology (BCIA3105), and earned BCIA Senior Fellow status in 2003.

My academic career and training have been described as eclectic, a consequence of my interests in consciousness and psychospiritual development — topics that until recently were outside the academic mainstream. I completed my undergraduate degree at Penn State (with majors in Psychology and Philosophy, minors in Mathematics and Physics) and my first graduate degree at JFK University — at the time the only accredited graduate school in the United States to offer a degree in Consciousness Studies. Several years later, I completed my doctorate studies at Saybrook Graduate School & Research Center. My dissertation, awarded with Distinction, was a longitudinal case-based study assessing physiological, psychological, and psychospiritual effects of transformative practices.

B.Ph. - The Pennsylvania State University
Psychology/Philosophy and Mathematics/Physics

M.A. - John F. Kennedy University
Interdisciplinary Consciousness Studies

Ph.D. - Saybrook Graduate School & Research Center
Psychology, Dissertation with Distinction

BCIAC3105
National Certification in Biofeedback and Applied Psychophysiology

BCIAC Senior Fellow
Conferred in 2003

PSY22096
CA Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Professional Affiliations

American Psychological Association
Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback
Association for Transpersonal Psychology
Biofeedback Society of California
International Society for the Study of Subtle Energy and Energy Medicine

For more information call Dr. Coffman today.
530-632-3997