There are additional benefits to being certified by NTCB:
- May advertise your certified status to the public
- May seek referrals from other professionals based on your
certification
- NTCB provides members with several resources for
soliciting referrals
- Monthly Newsletter to keep you informed about legislation, FDA
changes and other happenings that affect your business
- May purchase malpractice insurance at a much reduced price
The position of the NTCB is that certification, as far as the public is
concerned, is a measure of competency. Certification is seen by the
majority of professionals to be a necessity for receiving referrals. We
base these conclusions on the results of two surveys we conducted.
During 2005, the Natural Therapies Research Board conducted a survey of 352 people chosen at random at health expositions
in Seattle, Denver, New York, Chicago, Atlanta and Boston with the following
results:
a. Seventy two percent (72%) of the public in our survey said they prefer to use the services of a certified biofeedback
specialist over a non-certified one.
b. Sixty-four percent (64%) of the public prefers to take
control of the treatment of their own medical problems.
c. Sixteen percent (16%) of those responding indicated they thought
biofeedback might help them with their physical problems.
d. Seven percent (7%) of those responding were familiar with biofeedback
but only four percent (4%) had experienced it.
During 2004 NTRB contacted 100 licensed practitioners in each of the
medical, chiropractic and psychotherapist professions with the following
results:
a. Of forty-one chiropractors (41%) who responded to our survey, thirty-seven
(37% of the total asked, 90% of those who responded) indicated they prefer to refer to certified biofeedback therapists but not to
non-certified biofeedback therapists. Four (4% total, 10% respondents) were certified as biofeedback
therapists.
b. Of thirty-seven licensed psychologists (37%) who responded to our survey, six
(6% total, 16% respondents) indicated they are biofeedback therapists and nineteen
(19% total, 51% respondents) indicated they prefer
to refer to certified biofeedback therapists. Nine (9% total, 24%
respondents) don't care if the
biofeedback therapist is certified or not, and three (3% total, 8%
respondents) do not refer clients to
biofeedback therapists.
c. Of sixteen medical doctors (16%) who responded to our survey, fifteen
(15% total, 94% respondents) indicated they refer to certified biofeedback therapists but not to
non-certified ones. One physician (1% total, 6% respondents) refers to a non-certified biofeedback
therapist.
d. Seventy-six percent (76%) of those professionals who responded prefer
to refer their patients to certified biofeedback professionals.
Considering the non-respondents as negative responders, it could be said
that twenty-four percent (24%) of medical, psychotherapy and chiropractic
professionals prefer to refer to certified biofeedback professionals.
Admittedly these surveys were skewed and not completely random.
They were also conducted at conventions and expositions where people are
more prone to be interested in alternative health-care. But they can
be taken as an indication that both professionals and the public appear to
prefer to use the services of a certified biofeedback therapist over those
offered by a non-certified therapist.
