A client is going to receive instruction in biofeedback to lower his stress level. Which description describes this technique?

• A. It uses medication to manage stress.
• B. It emphasizes talk therapy as the main modality.
• C. It monitors brain waves and electrical activity.
• D. It enables an individual to monitor skin temperature, muscle activity, heart rate, blood pressure, and other bodily functions, then learn to control these physiological responses.

Answer: (D)

Biofeedback uses real-time information about bodily functions to help you gain voluntary control over automatic stress responses. By monitoring signals such as skin temperature, muscle activity, heart rate, and blood pressure, you can learn relaxation and self-regulation techniques to influence these signals and, in turn, reduce stress.

This description fits because it emphasizes measuring multiple physiological processes and then teaching the person to influence them through practice. It isn’t about taking medication or engaging in talk therapy, and while monitoring brain activity can be part of related approaches, the broad, practical process of watching various bodily signals and learning to control them best captures biofeedback.