Dr. McFarland received his B.S. from Yale College and his M.D. from the Yale School of Medicine.  He was in private practice in New Haven, CT for many years, where he focused primarily on the management of chronic pain, anxiety, and stress-related disorders using a combination of cognitive and behavior therapies with medication.

Dr. McFarland founded the Biofeedback Center of New Haven and pioneered the practical application of biofeedback and relaxation training for the management of chronic headaches and stress reduction.

He remains very interested in the interaction of pain, anxiety, and depression, favoring methods that involve retraining the body's responses to pain and stress using neuromuscular re-education and behavioral techniques. While he will incorporate medication when necessary, he avoids use of opiates and most tranquilizers, preferring to use medications that modulate neurotransmitters and enhance the body's ability to handle stress and pain.