‘Back to work’: Psychologist reopens Carroll practice

April 3, 2015

When Dr. Rick Joneson resumed practicing psychology in Carroll this week, he returned with a World Series ring.

The psychologist, who is board-certified in biofeedback and neurofeedback, practiced in Carroll from 1987 to 2005 before spending several years as a psychological consultant for the Philadelphia Phillies Major League Baseball team. He reopened his practice Wednesday; his office is located in The Healing Arts Center at 715 N. Clark St.

Joneson has also worked with the Carroll Medical Center and St. Anthony Regional Hospital in the past. From 2007–2011, he worked with the Phillies, traveling with them during spring training and watching them beat the Tampa Bay Rays and win the World Series in 2008.

Joneson said working with the team provided many stories and put him in contact with fascinating people.

But the best part?

“I’d have to say it was going to the 2008 World Series — that was a big deal.

“And” — he laughed — “we won.”

Joneson grew up a baseball fan, having played the sport in high school and college. He connected with the Phillies through an old high school coach whose son worked with the team.

It’s not uncommon for professional sports teams to work with a psychologist.

“Baseball players are like anybody else,” he said. “They have problems; you help them work through those things so they don’t affect them in their life or on the field.”

Joneson uses biofeedback and neurofeedback to treat people with post-traumatic stress order, obsessive-compulsive disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, depression, anxiety and cognitive or emotional problems related to head injuries. In many cases, people undergoing the treatment can eventually reduce or eliminate the use of anti-depressants and other medications, he said.

Neurofeedback and biofeedback involve teaching people to self-regulate their brain function. With neurofeedback, after completing a brain map, Joneson uses censors to monitor patients’ brain-wave activity and rewards positive brain activity — for instance, with a movie the patient enjoys or a Pac-Man game. Once the brain waves begin to act irregularly, the movie or game stop. The repeated rewards and training strengthen connections in the brain, Joneson said.

Biofeedback involves training patients to cause physical reactions in their bodies — for instance, changing the intervals between their heartbeats or the temperatures in their fingers or earlobes. These physical changes can have effects on anxiety, headaches and other conditions.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently named neurofeedback as a Level 1, “best support” treatment for ADHD. Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense are increasingly interested in using the treatment for veterans with PTSD, said Joneson, a Vietnam-era veteran who was first exposed to treating PTSD at Fort Riley. At that time, he said, this type of treatment wasn’t available.

Even since Joneson last practiced in Carroll, the technology used for biofeedback and neurofeedback has improved, he said.

“People are like life — it’s a mystery,” Joneson said. “It needs solved and unraveled. People experience a lot of pain and discomfort, and it’s rewarding to help them reach a better place in life.”

Joneson grew up in Council Bluffs and moved to Carroll in 1987. He joked that he can’t quite remember why he chose to study psychology.

“It was so long ago,” he said. “I’m just glad I did.”

Joneson and his wife, Diane (VonBon), who graduated from Kuemper Catholic High School in 1970, enjoy camping and have taken their camper to Colorado, Minnesota and elsewhere.

“Every place is interesting when you go camping,” he said.

They have four children — Erin Carman in Auburn, Alyssa Kenville in Webster City, Amy Putney in Readlyn and Eric Joneson, who works at Farner-Bocken in Carroll — and 10 grandchildren, with another on the way.

Joneson works with people of all ages, including children older than 4.

“Kids are really good at this,” he said with a laugh. “They get it down quick.”

Those interested in an appointment with Joneson should check with their insurance companies to see if the services are covered.

They can call 712-790-2040 to set up an appointment.

Joneson said he loved practicing in Carroll.

“That’s one of the reasons I’m going to reopen my practice,” he said. “I missed it. I’ve been able to do everything that I wanted to do in the past 10 years — now it’s time to go back to work.”

Leave a Reply