Master Ethical Principles & Practice Standards in Clinical Biofeedback Aligned with BCIA

Date: Thursday, 13 August 2026

Timings: 

1:00 PM to 4:00 PM Eastern  

12:00 PM to 3:00 PM Central  

11:00 AM to 2:00 PM Mountain  

 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM Pacific

Format: Live Virtual via Zoom

Trainer: Dr. Donald Moss, PhD — BCIA Ethics Chair and AAPB Past President

Co-sponsored by: Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (AAPB)

CE Credits: 3 CE Credits Awarded for Full Attendance.

BCIA Requirement Fulfilled: Satisfies the mandatory BCIA 3-hour ethics and professional standards requirement toward BCIA HRV Certification.

Master the ethical foundations of biofeedback practice in this professional workshop led by Dr. Donald Moss, co-sponsored by AAPB. This course fulfills the BCIA-required 3 hours of ethics and professional standards coursework — a mandatory step toward earning your BCIA HRV Certificate of Completion and maintaining professional integrity in biofeedback practice.

This program bridges the gap between abstract ethical principles and real clinical decision-making. Drawing on Dr. Moss's decades of experience as Ethics Chair of BCIA and as a practicing clinical health psychologist, this workshop integrates ethical theory with the practical realities of biofeedback practice across clinical, coaching, and wellness settings.

You will walk away with 3 CE credits and the ethical frameworks needed to navigate the complex situations that arise in professional biofeedback practice.

This workshop fulfills a mandatory BCIA ethics/professional standards course work requirement. BCIA requires all candidates to document completion of 3 hours of ethics and professional standards coursework, taken within the last 5 years. This training satisfies that requirement in full. If you have already completed your BCIA-aligned didactic training, this is your next step.

Ethical practice is not a checklist — it is an ongoing clinical competency. Every practitioner using biofeedback, whether in a licensed clinical role, a performance coaching context, or a wellness setting, is responsible for practicing within defined ethical and professional standards. The demand for ethically grounded biofeedback practitioners is growing as the field expands across medicine, psychology, coaching, and integrative health.

What prevents most practitioners from engaging seriously with ethics is not indifference — it is the assumption that ethics training is abstract, theoretical, or only relevant when something goes wrong. That assumption is wrong. With the right framework and a skilled educator like Dr. Moss, ethical competency becomes immediately applicable in clinical practice, client communications, scope-of-practice decisions, and professional conduct.

This live, virtual workshop provides you with a structured, evidence-based ethical framework for practicing biofeedback with confidence — built on the BCIA ethics standards and co-sponsored by the Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (AAPB). These organizations represent the industry gold standard, ensuring your training meets the highest international requirements for professional excellence.

Who This Is For:

This training is the right fit if you are:

• A licensed mental health professional — psychologist, therapist, counselor, social worker, or marriage and family therapist — looking to integrate biofeedback ethically and responsibly into your clinical practice and understand where biofeedback intersects with your licensure obligations.

  
  

• A medical or health professional — physician, nurse practitioner, or allied health professional — interested in using biofeedback tools within an ethical framework that protects clients and upholds professional standards.

  
  

• A performance professional — sport psychologist, mental performance consultant, or athletic trainer — wanting to understand scope-of-practice boundaries and ethical guidelines as they apply to biofeedback in non-clinical settings.

  
  

• A health or organizational coach — health coach, corporate wellness consultant, or organizational practitioner — who needs to understand how ethical standards apply when using HRV biofeedback with clients outside a licensed clinical context.

  
  

• Any professional pursuing the BCIA HRV Certificate who needs to fulfill the mandatory 3-hour ethics and professional standards requirement for the BCIA HRV Certificate.

  
  

• BCIA-certified practitioners maintaining their certificate who need current, BCIA-approved ethics continuing education taken within the last 5 years.

Meet Your Instructors:

Dr.Donald Moss, PhD, is Dean Emeritus, College of Integrative Medicine and Health Sciences, Saybrook University, Pasadena, CA

Dr. Donald Moss is a clinical health psychologist and one of the foremost authorities in applied psychophysiology, biofeedback, and clinical hypnosis. He currently serves as Ethics Chair and board member of the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance (BCIA) — the credentialing body that sets professional standards for biofeedback practitioners worldwide.

A past president of the Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (AAPB), Division 30 (Hypnosis) of the American Psychological Association, and the Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis (SCEH), Dr. Moss brings unmatched leadership across the field's most respected professional bodies.

His scholarship includes co-authorship of A Primer of Biofeedback (AAPB, 2022), co-editorship of Evidence-Based Practice in Biofeedback and Neurofeedback (AAPB, 2023), Foundations of Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback (AAPB, 2016), and Integrating Psychotherapy and Psychophysiology (Oxford University Press, 2024). His most recent journal article, published in March 2026 in Brain Sciences, examines the relevance of heart rate variability for hypnotherapy and psychotherapy.

As Ethics Chair of BCIA, Dr. Moss is directly responsible for the ethical standards that govern biofeedback certification worldwide. His teaching is known for making demanding ethical and clinical material immediately practical — participants leave not just with knowledge, but with frameworks they can apply in their practice the same day.

What You Will Get :

This workshop is structured around the BCIA ethics and professional standards — the authoritative ethical framework established by the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance for biofeedback practice. It is co-sponsored by AAPB, the leading professional organization in the field.

Upon completing this workshop with full attendance, you receive:

• Certificate of Completion bearing the official BCIA/AAPB stamp

• 3 continuing education credits (live/full attendance required)

• Fulfillment of the BCIA 3-hour ethics and professional standards requirement, valid for 5 years

• Practical ethical frameworks you can apply immediately — structured decision-making models, scope-of-practice clarity, and real-world case application

  
  

Where does this fit in your BCIA certificate journey?

All BCIA HRV Certificate candidates must:

• Agree to abide by BCIA’s Professional Standards and Ethical Principles (PSEP)

• Complete a BCIA-approved HRV biofeedback didactic program (16 hours)

• Document completion of 3 hours of ethics/professional standards coursework, taken within the last 5 years — THIS TRAINING

• Pass the nationally standardized, proctored BCIA online exam based on the 16-hour Blueprint of Knowledge.

This training fully satisfies the BCIA ethics requirement. It is best taken after completing the BCIA HRV didactic training.

Curriculum — All Sessions Mapped to BCIA Ethics Standards

Every session is structured around the official BCIA Professional Standards and Ethical Principles framework.

1. Foundational Ethical Principles

The core principles of biomedical and professional ethics — beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy, justice, and fidelity — and how each applies directly to biofeedback clinical practice. The distinction between ethical obligations under professional licensure and those specific to biofeedback certification. How ethical principles translate into concrete clinical decisions — from intake through discharge.

2. Scope of Practice

The definition and boundaries of the scope of practice for licensed clinicians using biofeedback. Scope-of-practice considerations for non-licensed practitioners — coaches, wellness providers, and performance professionals — using HRV and biofeedback tools. How to communicate your scope clearly to clients, referral sources, and employers. Common scope-of-practice violations in biofeedback practice and how to avoid them.

3. Informed Consent and Confidentiality

Elements of valid informed consent in biofeedback practice. Special considerations for biofeedback assessment, physiological data collection, and HRV data use. Confidentiality obligations, limits of confidentiality, and documentation standards. Record-keeping practices that protect clients and practitioners.

4. Dual Relationships and Boundary Issues

Defining and identifying dual relationships in biofeedback and integrated health practice. When dual relationships are unavoidable, how to manage them ethically. Boundary challenges unique to mind-body and integrative health settings. Power dynamics, dependency, and the ethics of the therapeutic relationship in biofeedback.

5. Ethical Decision-Making Models

Step-by-step ethical decision-making frameworks applicable to biofeedback practice. How to identify ethical dilemmas versus legal questions. Consulting, documenting, and self-monitoring as ethical practice tools. Applied case discussion: working through real-world ethical scenarios in biofeedback.

6. Professional Standards and BCIA Certification Ethics

BCIA’s Professional Standards and Ethical Principles (PSEP) and the obligations they carry for certified practitioners. How BCIA ethics standards intersect with state licensure laws. Reporting obligations, professional misconduct, and the ethics of supervision and mentorship. Maintaining ethical competency is a career-long professional commitment.

What You Will Walk Away With

Beyond knowledge, this workshop is designed and evaluated with application in mind. By the end of the session, you will be able to:

• Explain the core ethical principles governing biofeedback practice clearly and confidently to clients, colleagues, and supervisors

• Identify the boundaries of your scope of practice and communicate them accurately in any professional context

• Obtain valid informed consent and maintain confidentiality standards in biofeedback assessment and treatment

• Recognize dual-relationship issues and boundary challenges before they become ethical violations

• Apply a structured ethical decision-making model when facing ambiguous or high-stakes clinical situations

• Articulate how BCIA’s Professional Standards and Ethical Principles apply to your specific practice context

• Design forms, policies, and clinical procedures that reflect ethical best practice in biofeedback

  
  

Learning Objectives:

• Attendees will become familiar with the Professional Standards and Ethical Principles documents published by BCIA, and their interpretation for decisions in biofeedback and neurofeedback practice.

  
  

• Attendees will understand how to navigate the complex jurisdictional landscape of state laws and regulations, professional codes of conduct, BCIA guidelines, and federal regulations. 

  
  

• Attendees will review and discuss practice standards governing entry-level competence, continuing education requirements, and the scope of practice.

  
  

• Attendees will be informed about guidelines for multicultural awareness and diversity. 

  
  

• Attendees will be informed about guidelines for practice marketing, credential display, the use of testimonials, and claims about treatment efficacy.

  
  

• Attendees will recognize the principles and guidelines governing patient contact and electrode attachment while maintaining an empathetic, respectful, and professional relationship.

FAQ :

Q: Do I need a background in biofeedback to attend?

Some familiarity with biofeedback concepts is helpful but not required. This ethics training is designed for professionals across experience levels. If you are working toward a BCIA certificate, we recommend completing the BCIA-aligned HRV didactic training before or alongside this ethics training, so the ethical principles are grounded in practical clinical knowledge.

Q: Is Dr. Moss authorized by BCIA to provide this ethics training??

Yes. Dr. Moss serves as Ethics Chair of the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance (BCIA) and is an authorized HRV didactic trainer listed by BCIA. He is directly responsible for the professional standards and ethical principles that govern biofeedback certification. This training satisfies the BCIA 3-hour ethics and professional standards requirement.

Q: Does this training fulfill a BCIA certification requirement?

Yes. BCIA requires all HRV Certificate candidates to document completion of 3 hours of ethics and professional standards coursework, taken within the last 5 years. This training satisfies that requirement in full. The complete list of BCIA HRV Certificate requirements is:

1. Agree to abide by BCIA’s Professional Standards and Ethical Principles (PSEP)

2. Complete a BCIA-approved HRV biofeedback didactic program (16 hours)

3. Document completion of 3 hours of ethics/professional standards coursework, taken within the last 5 years — fulfilled by this training

4. Pass the nationally standardized, proctored online exam based on the 16-hour Blueprint of Knowledge

   
   

Note: A full BCIA HRV Certificate also requires an appropriate degree in a health care field. Those without a qualifying clinical degree receive the HRV Certificate of Completion rather than the Board Certified designation. Learn more at bcia.org/hrv-certificate.

Q: Can I take this ethics training before completing the didactic training?

Yes, you can take them in either order. However, the ethics content is most meaningful — and most immediately applicable — when you already have a working understanding of HRV biofeedback practice. We recommend completing the BCIA HRV didactic training first, then using this workshop to fulfill the ethics requirement before sitting the BCIA exam.

Q: How long is this ethics requirement valid for BCIA certification?

BCIA requires that the 3-hour ethics and professional standards coursework be completed within the last 5 years of your certification application or renewal. Attending this training on 13 August 2026 means your ethics requirement is valid through 13 August 2031.

Q: Can I use these CE credits toward my license renewal?

The 3 credits are provided by AAPB, which is approved by APA to sponsor CE for psychologists. Acceptance of APA-approved CE for other license types (e.g., LCSW, MFT, LPC) varies by state licensing board. Please see the full CE statement below, which lists currently accepted state boards, and confirm with your own board before enrolling.

Q: Will these credits count toward my NBCC requirements?

AAPB is not an NBCC-approved provider. Participants seeking NBCC credit must apply independently. Approval is not guaranteed. See the CE statement for full details.

Q: What platform does the training use?

The training is delivered virtually via Zoom. A link will be provided upon registration.

Q: What equipment do I need?

No specialized sensors or hardware are required to participate in this training. You do not need a biofeedback device to attend.

Location: Live virtual session on Zoom

Risks/Utility: This seminar covers the basic ethical principles, professional standards, and best practices needed for practicing with integrity in the biofeedback and neurofeedback fields. This seminar also prepares attendees for BCIA certification and recertification in general biofeedback and neurofeedback. Acquiring knowledge of professional standards and ethical behavior does not guarantee ethical practice by the attendee.

Target Audience Description:  Health professionals and behavioral health professionals engaged in the practice of biofeedback, HRV biofeedback, and self-regulation-oriented therapies.  

Continuing Education Statement

Psychologists: The Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback maintains responsibility for the program and its content.

The following state boards accept courses from APA providers for Counselors: AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, ME, MO, NC, ND, NH, NE, NJ, NM, NV, OK*, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI, WY 

MI: No CE requirements

The following state boards accept courses from APA providers for MFTs: AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IN, KS, MD, ME, MO, NE, NC, NH, NJ, NM, NV, OK*, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WY

The following state boards accept courses from APA providers for Addictions Professionals: AK, AR, CO, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, IN, KS, LA, MD, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NY (outstate held), OK*, OR, SC, UT, WA, WI, WY 

* OK accepts APA credit for live, in-person activities. For all ethics and/or online courses, an application is required.

MA / MFTs: Participants can self-submit courses not approved by the MAMFT board for review.

The following state boards accept courses from APA providers for Social Workers: AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, ID, IN, KY, ME, MN, MO, NE, NH, NM, OR, PA, VT, WI, WY

Financial Disclosures:

There is known commercial support for this program.

Our presenters have financial interests to disclose. Dr. Donald Moss is affiliated with Optimal HRV. Optimal HRV produces in-app biofeedback training modules. The presenters may benefit financially from the research findings on in-app biofeedback training modules presented herein. This training will be presented free of commercial bias.

Other Information

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) STATEMENT: ADA accommodations will be made in accordance with the law. If you require ADA accommodations, please indicate your needs at the time of registration. We cannot ensure the availability of appropriate accommodations without prior notification.

GRIEVANCE POLICY: The Association of Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (AAPB) is fully committed to conducting all activities in strict conformance with the American Psychological Association's Ethical Principles of Psychologists. AAPB will comply with all legal and ethical responsibilities to ensure non-discrimination in promotional activities, program content, and the treatment of program participants. The monitoring and assessment of compliance with these standards will be the responsibility of the Education Chair, in consultation with the members of the continuing education committee, the AAPB Ethics Chairperson, the Continuing Education (CE) Committee Chairperson, the Program Planning Committee Chairperson, and/or the Conference Chairperson. While AAPB goes to great lengths to ensure fair treatment for all participants and to anticipate problems, there will be occasional issues that come to the attention of the convention staff and require intervention and/or action by the convention staff or an AAPB officer. This procedural description serves as a guideline for handling such grievances. 1. When a participant, either orally or in written format, files a grievance and expects action on the complaint, the following actions will be taken. If the person toward whom the grievance is directed is also the instructor or chair of any of the above-mentioned committees, the AAPB Board of Directors will appoint a Board representative to oversee the resolution of any participant complaints, in an effort to avoid any and all conflicts of interest. If the grievance concerns a speaker, the content presented by the speaker, or the style of presentation, the individual filing the grievance will be asked to submit his/her comments in writing. The CE Chair will then pass on the comments to the speaker, assuring the confidentiality of the grieved individual. 2. If the grievance concerns a workshop offering, its content, level of presentation, or the facilities in which the workshop was offered, the convention chair will mediate and will be the final arbitrator. If the participant requests action, the convention chair will: a) attempt to move the participant to another workshop, b) provide a credit for a subsequent year's workshop, or c) provide a partial or full refund of the workshop fee. Actions 2b and 2c will require a written note documenting the grievance for record-keeping purposes. The note need not be signed by the grieved individual.  3. If the grievance concerns an AAPB CE program, in a specific regard, the CE Chair will attempt to arbitrate.

Contact name(s)*: Leslie Shivers, AAPB Executive Director

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 800-477-8892 or +1 303-422-8436

Address: PO Box 461797, Aurora, CO 80046-1797 

Participants are asked to be aware of the need for privacy and confidentiality throughout the program. If program content becomes stressful, participants are encouraged to process these feelings during discussion periods. If participants have special needs, we will make every attempt to accommodate them in compliance with the ADA.

Refund/Cancellation Policy: Please contact OptimalHRV at [email protected] to request a refund or cancellation. Cancellations received at least 2 weeks prior to the training will be refunded minus a $10 processing fee. Cancellations within 2 weeks of the event will not be refunded, but may be credited toward future events. We cannot refund fees for registrations canceled after the presentation begins.

Flexible Pricing Options:

• Standard enrollment: $125.00

• Student enrollment (40% discount applied): $75.00

REFERENCES:

Biofeedback Certification International Alliance (2016). Professional Standards and Ethical Principles of Biofeedback (9th edition). http://bcia.org/files/public/ProfessionalStandardsAndEthicalPrinciplesofBiofeedback.pdf

Beauchamp, T. L., & Childress, J. F. (2019). Principles of biomedical ethics (8^th ed.). Oxford University Press.

The Medoc Portal. (2023). Medical ethics. Website: The Royal Society of Medicine and Dukes Education. https://www.themedicportal.com/application-guide/medical-school-interview/medical-ethics/ 

APA (2017). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct.  https://www.apa.org/ethics/code/ethics-code-2017.pdf   

Moss, D., Hagedorn, D., Combatalade, D., & Neblett, R. (2019). Care for biofeedback and neurofeedback instrumentation. Biofeedback, 47(1), 12-21. doi.10.5298/1081-5937-47.1.04 

Moss, D. (2022). Ethical principles, professional conduct, and practice standards. In D. Moss & F. Shaffer, A primer of biofeedback (pp. 98-109). AAPB.

Hagedorn, D. (2014). Infection risk mitigation for biofeedback providers. Biofeedback, 42(3), 93-95. doi.10.5298/1081-5937-42.3.06 https://www.aapb.org/files/public/Hagedoorn_Fall2014.pdf

Morrison, E., & Furlong, B.  (2013). Health care ethics: Critical issues for the 21st century. Burlington, MA:  Jones & Bartlett.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: 

We will communicate full participation requirements, attendance expectations, and any CE or certificate-related requirements during registration and course onboarding. Register today to build competency in ethical biofeedback practice and take a concrete step toward the BCIA HRV Certificate.