(by Alfred Heath, MA, LPC)  As a Be Set Free Fast™ (BSFF) representative in the energy psychology world, I’m often asked to compare BSFF with acupoint tapping and other more explicitly energy-focused modalities. Rather than taking that bait and encouraging misguided competition between energy psychology methods, I’d like to take the opportunity to share with you a perspective that can serve to enhance any energy psychology method.

This post is not about professing or even measuring which method is “better” or “best”; it is instead about applying a conceptual framework to shed a more objective light in hopes of gaining insights into what makes energy psychology – indeed, ANY modality—effective, and how to deepen your facility with whichever one you prefer.

ACEP defines energy psychology as “a collection of mind-body approaches for understanding and improving human functioning” and that, among other things, it focuses on “the relationship between thoughts, emotions, sensations, and behaviors, and known bioenergy systems (such as meridians and the biofield). These systems and processes exist, and interact, within individuals and between people…”

ACEP doesn’t stipulate how much of which ingredients are required for a method to qualify as an energy psychology modality. Therefore, we can look upon each energy psychology method as a unique blending of these factors. This conceptual “breathing room” also allows for continuing innovation to advance the field.

However, this viewpoint doesn’t just allow ACEP to be an umbrella for an expanding family of approaches. We can also apply its implications to deepen our understanding of current modalities.

Consciousness, Energy, and Polarities

If we perceive “life energy” (chi, ki, manna, ka, etc) as a manifestation of consciousness, then the frequency spectrum could be considered the range of qualities of consciousness, with the highest frequencies perhaps understood to be “spiritual” and the lowest to be “material.” Energy psychology has its roots in the section of this frequency spectrum that cannot be directly measured with instrumentation; that which is referred to in Traditional Chinese Medicine as “chi” and in Indian Ayurveda as “prana.” While this “life force” apparently has unique properties compared with electromagnetism, many cultures with a subtle-energy tradition also view the energy as having polarities. This means that energy psychology modalities can also be considered from a perspective of polarities. 

Turning our attention to these basic ideas offers a way to look at not just the basics of energy psychology, but of all human activity since, as quantum theory suggests, consciousness is the foundation of all reality. 

What I view to be fundamentals of consciousness also are reflected in this idea of fundamentals of energy in its frequencies from lowest (material) to highest (spiritual) and its polarities positive, negative and neutral. These are represented in the Taoist concept of yin and yang; the Ayurvedic qualities of sattva, rajas, and tamas; and even the Christian concepts of the holy trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three qualities of polarity also manifest in our understanding of animal sex and gender, and are often reflected in languages: masculine, feminine, and neuter. While the term polarities usually refers to two forces or qualities, I find the addition of a third element very useful. More about that in another post.

For our purposes, I suggest matching these fundamental polarities to fundamental functions of consciousness: awareness = neutral, intention = positive pole, and expectancy or receptiveness = negative pole. From this most basic viewpoint, we can further look at polarity within dimensions of human experience: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual.

A Conceptual Framework for Energy Psychology

Viewing consciousness through the lenses of frequency and polarity can broaden one’s intuitive understanding of consciousness and suggest ways of operating from an “energy perspective” before even getting to the techniques of tapping, touching, muscle testing, or mentally directing our focus. For example, we can:

• Optimize awareness ― increase our ability to deepen, broaden, or focus it
• Enhance intention – comprehend, exercise, and master its power
• Cultivate expectancy – learn to foster the mental and emotional anticipatory openness and receptivity that attract intended outcomes.

Improving and refining these skills can improve your skill in using energy psychology yourself and guiding the process for others. It can also ―potentially, at least—serve to enhance your quality of life in many other areas. 

In my next post, I’m going to share a way to optimize the exchange of energy between people that supports the helping relationship. This approach is applicable to all helping relationships; not just those involving an energy healer or energy psychology practitioner we working with a client. Stay tuned! 

You can learn more about energy psychology and get trained in many methods through ACEP.
Visit energy psych.org

Author

Alfred Heath, MA, LPC, fosters mind-body-spirit-energy wellbeing. He is a coach/facilitator/healer, professional counselor, certified hypnotherapist, NLP practitioner, Quantum Entrainment® Facilitator, Reiki master, and developer of ZeroPoint Intentional. Alfred was designated by Be Set Free Fast™ developer Dr. Larry Nims to be its principal educator and trainer. Alfred is a long-time ACEP member and conference presenter. He is a member of ACEP’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. www.besetfreefast.com

Photo by Jay Castor on Unsplash