May 19, 2018 | Leslie Sherlin, PhD, MSc, CMPC, QEEGD, BCN, BCB, ECP
Thank you for being a valuable member of the ISNR. Your support and contribution is noted and appreciated. As you know, the ISNR has, for decades, been the flagship organization supporting the research and application of neurofeedback in the professional community. As our culture and the implementation of neurofeedback has vastly changed over the years the ISNR has made organization strategies to remain relevant and valuable to its members and the public. The coming years are no exception and we have some very specific strategies that are being created aiming directly at the public and those clients who seek our services as well as early professionals so that we can create a vibrant and active community. You will begin to see increased outreach through the traditional advertising channels such as direct email and web presence as well as increased and focused efforts toward new membership services and networking through a variety of social media outlets and outreach campaigns into the various specific professions that have the scope to implement neurofeedback.
A second specific activity continues to be around insurance billing and implementation. This has been a topic across the past two years with specific organization representation at very important levels. It is a complicated issue and as a result, it is easy to become complacent and assume others will take care of it. You don’t have to lead the effort, but all of us have a vested interest in the outcome, even if we don’t currently accept or bill insurance for payment. So I encourage you to stay tuned for calls to action and updates on this important matter. At the ISNR conference in Phoenix this fall, Mark Trullinger will be an invited speaker to provide succinct clarity on the topic and I know you’ll find it valuable.
This is a segue into my genuine excitement for this year’s conference. There are always updates and changes each year that facilitate learning and networking. This year will be no different and I’m really excited to see how some major changes will take hold. Keynote and invited speakers are confirmed so be sure to read Noel Ford’s conference committee chair update in this newsletter. There will be some very engaging opportunities that are not the traditional format, to keep expert provider insight and the opportunity for audience interaction by tailoring the content of the presentation in real time. More to come on this from the committee updates.
Finally, I’d like to leave you a final thought and desire of this board on the topic of inclusion. As previously mentioned our field, the modality and use of neurofeedback and EEG applications has evolved immensely over the past decade. Technological advances, increased understanding in application, a broader utilization with symptomatology and other factors is happening at a faster and faster pace each year. Having been a participant lots of academic meetings on the topic of inclusion, it becomes very clear that inclusion is not the core issue, but instead fear. It is my belief that for our community to continue to grow and reach the influence that we all intend we must explore and manage our fear of change, our fear of the competition, and the fear of relevance. This does not mean that we do not set standards for scientific rigor or ethical and professional behavior. It does mean that as new technologies and methods are introduced we approach them with an openness for scientific inquiry and not a defensive posture. It means that as new practitioners of the varying professions enter our organization we encourage their education and proper implementation of techniques rather than a fear of competition and acts of self-preservation. Let us grow through inclusion and diversity ideology and not through conquer and convert mentalities. The benefit to one will be to the benefit to all.
I greatly look forward to seeing you in October.
Leslie Sherlin, PhD, MSc, CMPC, QEEGD, BCN, BCB, ECP