energy-psychology

Why Getting Sober Feels Like a War Inside You—How Energy Psychology Can Help

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 21:19:26 GMT

When Sobriety Feels Like an Internal Battle

You’re trying to get sober. But something inside keeps pulling you back toward using—and something else makes sobriety itself feel threatening. This isn’t weakness or lack of motivation. These are learned patterns. And they can be changed.

In my clinical experience, it helps to think of three forces running simultaneously when someone is trying to recover from addiction.

The Force Moving You Toward Sobriety

First, there’s a force toward sobriety. This may be your own desire to stop, or pressure from family, health, work, or the legal system. Either way, something is pushing in the direction of freedom from substance use.

The Pull of Learned Relief: Attractor Forces

At the same time, there are attractor forces pulling you toward using. These are built from your history with the substance. Over time, your mind learned that using it brought relief, calm, confidence, connection, or escape. Those experiences were recorded as emotional memories.

When stress hits, that learning activates automatically. Images, sensations, cravings, or a sense of anticipation arise. Your system remembers what worked before and offers it again. Sometimes thoughts like “just this time” or “this will help” appear. Often it isn’t verbal at all—just a felt pull, a sense that using would make things easier, at least for now. In the moment, this doesn’t feel irrational. It feels practical. Your nervous system is doing exactly what it was trained to do.

The Hidden Resistance: Repellant Forces

And third, running alongside both of those, are repellant forces pushing you away from sobriety—triggered by the very idea of stopping.

When you imagine sobriety, your system may register loss—not as a concept, but as a feeling. Not just the substance itself, but what it represented: relief, protection, belonging, or a way to cope with stress, pain, or loneliness. The fear is often not “I’ll miss using.” It’s “I won’t be able to handle life without it.” “I’ll be overwhelmed.” “I’ll fall apart.” These reactions sometimes rise as thoughts. Other times they’re just felt—as anxiety, heaviness, dread, or a subtle but powerful pushback that makes staying sober feel unsafe or unsustainable.

Why Insight Alone Isn't Enough

Insight into these forces can reduce shame and help you understand why you’re struggling. But it doesn’t turn them off. Knowing what’s happening is not the same as changing it. That’s why people can deeply want sobriety and still feel pulled off course.

None of this means you’re broken or weak. It means your mind is running learned programming—conditioned responses, emotional loops, and trauma-based adaptations that were installed because they helped you cope at some point. They’re just no longer serving you.

And they can be changed.

When Change Requires More Than Willpower

If the attractor and repellant forces remain intact, getting and staying sober requires constant effort. You’re managing urges, fighting internal resistance, and bracing for relapse. Even when you’re doing well, it can feel fragile.

How Energy Psychology Works With These Patterns

Energy Psychology works differently. It doesn’t rely on insight or willpower. It works directly with the patterns themselves.

In my work with people navigating addiction, we get in touch with whatever is drawing them toward use—the urge, the habit, the desire to escape, the fantasy that it will make things better—and use EP techniques to dissolve the emotional charge behind it. When someone focuses on a craving or fear while tapping, the intensity reliably drops, and that drop tends to hold.

EP can also strengthen the forces supporting sobriety. Using approaches like Ask and Receive, for example, it’s possible to remove internal resistance and support identity shifts—so that a person begins to relate to themselves as someone who can naturally live this way, rather than someone who is constantly fighting not to use.

When Sobriety Begins to Feel Natural

When those internal drivers change, sobriety stops feeling like something you have to force and starts feeling like something that fits. A former client reached out recently to say the work had eased his path to recovery at a moment when the stakes couldn’t have been higher. That kind of outcome is what this work is for.

About the Author

Mark Bottinick, LCSW-C , is a licensed psychotherapist in Silver Spring, Maryland, USA. He incorporates many Energy Psychology modalities into his work, including Logosynthesis, Emotional Freedom Techniques, Tapas Acupressure Technique, Blue Diamond Healing, and Ask and Receive. Mark is on the Board of Directors of the Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology and serves as its Secretary. Learn more about Mark at GetBeyondTalk.com.

✨ Explore more integrative healing approaches and continuing education in Energy Psychology at the
�� Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology (ACEP) .

Image by Larisa-K from Pixabay

The Myth of the Average: Why Personalized Design Unlocks Human Potential

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 18:41:33 GMT

Effective psychotherapy must be as adjustable as a pilot’s seat. The most successful clinicians develop a wide toolkit and learn how to tailor interventions based on what the client’s system is signaling.

When “Average” Becomes Dangerous

In the early 1940s, the United States Air Force faced an alarming problem. Despite advanced aircraft and highly trained pilots, planes were crashing at unacceptable rates. At first, the explanation was simple: pilot error.

But a researcher named Gilbert Daniels suspected something deeper. He discovered that cockpit design was based on the “average” physical dimensions of pilots measured in the late 1920s.

Daniels measured more than 4,000 pilots across ten physical dimensions, including sitting height, arm span, and leg length. His findings were startling: not a single pilot matched the average in all ten categories .

By designing for the “average” pilot, the Air Force had designed a cockpit that truly fit no one.

This discovery led to a design revolution—introducing adjustable seats, pedals, and instruments that are now standard not only in aircraft, but also in modern automobiles.

The Real Problem: The Average Doesn’t Exist

This historical lesson offers a powerful framework for understanding many modern challenges. The “average” is a mathematical convenience—a mean that may describe a population, but often fails the individual.

In fields like medicine, education, and psychotherapy, relying too heavily on the bell curve can obscure what matters most: the jagged uniqueness of human beings .

In real life, the “average person” is often a statistical illusion.

Personalized Medicine: The Biological Cockpit

Just as pilots vary in limb length, patients vary dramatically in genetics, metabolism, trauma history, lifestyle, and environmental exposures. A one-size-fits-all approach in medicine can be as dangerous as a fixed cockpit seat.

Pharmacogenomics

Modern medicine is increasingly recognizing that treatment must be tailored to the individual. The emerging field of pharmacogenomics explores how a person’s DNA influences their response to medications. Differences in drug metabolism—often governed by CYP450 enzymes —can mean the difference between a therapeutic dose and a toxic one.

The Limits of Clinical Trials

Many medical “gold standards” are based on large population studies. These provide important baseline guidance, but they often obscure

the very individuals who most need personalized care: those who fall outside the typical response curve.

The Future: Individual Data

Effective healthcare increasingly requires attention to personal data—biomarkers, inflammation markers, gut microbiome patterns, sleep quality, nutrition, and stress physiology. In other words, modern medicine is learning what Daniels proved decades ago:

If you design for the average, you risk failing everyone.

Psychotherapy and the Myth of the “Standard Client”

Psychology has its own version of the cockpit problem. When therapy protocols are designed for the “average” depressed or anxious client, the result can be treatment that misses the nuance of the person sitting in the chair.

Every client brings a unique intersection of temperament, attachment history, nervous system sensitivity, trauma exposure, belief systems, and cultural context.

A standardized intervention may be over-stimulating for one person and insufficiently engaging for another.

Flexible Modalities Support Real Healing

This is one reason Energy Psychology continues to expand: it emphasizes calibration of intervention to the individual’s bio-energetic feedback , often in real time.

Rather than forcing a client to fit a rigid method, the clinician adapts the method to fit the client.

Technology: The New Averaging Machine

Today, AI and digital tools are rapidly transforming healthcare and mental health services. While these technologies offer promising support, they also carry a risk: algorithms are the ultimate “averaging machines.”

AI systems are trained on massive datasets designed to predict what works for the majority. If used carelessly, these tools may unintentionally reinforce standardized, generalized approaches that flatten individuality.

Used wisely, however, technology can enhance personalization—supporting clinicians with data insights while preserving the irreplaceable human elements of empathy, intuition, and relationship.

The goal should not be automated therapy.

The goal should be more informed and individualized therapy .

The Hidden Cost of Designing for the Middle

Designing for the average often means ignoring the edges of the distribution.

In education, this shows up as “teaching to the middle,” which leaves gifted students bored and struggling students behind.

In mental health, it can show up as “treatment resistance”—a label often used when a client doesn’t respond as expected to a standardized protocol or medication.

But perhaps the issue is not resistance.

Perhaps the system simply isn’t adjustable enough.

Instead of forcing individuals to fit the system, we must demand that the system become flexible enough to fit the individual.

Conclusion: From Standardized to Optimized

The lesson from the 1940s is clear: when we ignore individual differences, we invite failure.

Whether we are designing fighter jets, cars, classrooms, or treatment plans for mental and physical health, we must abandon “average” as the benchmark.

Success is found when we design for the individual—ensuring that every person has the tools, support, and “seat” they need to thrive.

We must move from a world of standardized models to a world of optimized, personalized care.

About the Author

Fred P. Gallo, PhD, DCEP, is a licensed psychologist and pioneer in Energy Psychology. He has authored and edited numerous books and articles on integrative psychotherapy and has contributed significantly to the development of Energy Psychology theory and clinical practice.

✨ Explore more integrative healing approaches and continuing education in Energy Psychology at the
�� Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology (ACEP) .

Image by InsightPhotography from Pixabay

The Healing Energetics of Herbs

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 17:45:25 GMT

For centuries, herbs have been revered for their ability to restore balance in the body and mind. Today, a growing body of scientific research supports what ancient cultures have long understood — herbs possess unique energetic properties that influence physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

Bridging Ancient Wisdom and Modern Science

This intersection of science and tradition is particularly relevant for mental health practitioners , who are increasingly seeking holistic and integrative approaches to support their clients. By exploring both the scientific evidence and ancient wisdom surrounding herbal healing, clinicians can expand their toolkit and enhance client care.

This article explores the research-backed benefits of herbs, their traditional spiritual uses, and practical ways they can be incorporated into mental health practice.

Scientific Backing for Herbal Healing

Modern research has unveiled fascinating insights into how herbs support health and healing. Many plants contain bioactive compounds that have demonstrated therapeutic effects in clinical studies.

Ashwagandha , a staple in Ayurvedic medicine, has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety by regulating cortisol and supporting the body’s stress response.
Chamomile is well known for its calming properties, making it a gentle ally for managing symptoms of anxiety and insomnia.
St. John’s Wort has been studied for its ability to alleviate mild to moderate depression by influencing serotonin levels.
Lavender , whether inhaled or used orally, has been found to ease anxiety and promote relaxation.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) also emphasizes how different organs hold emotional energy. For example, the liver holds anger , so practitioners may use herbs like Nettle or Milk Thistle to support liver health. Herbalists often note that healing the digestive system supports the nervous system, emphasizing the body’s interconnection.

Energetic Associations and Herbal Examples

Digestive System (Gut–Brain Axis) – Alfalfa, Marshmallow Root, Moringa
Liver (Anger) – Nettle, Yellow Dock, Milk Thistle Seed, Dandelion Root, Burdock
Respiratory System (Grief & Sadness) – Boneset, Echinacea, Ginger, Licorice Root, Peppermint
Heart & Circulatory System (Joy) – Hawthorn, Dandelion, Ginger, Cayenne, Garlic, Onions
Immune & Lymphatic System (Worry, Overthinking, Grief) – Astragalus Root, Maca Root, Dandelion, Turmeric, Licorice
Nervous System (Stress & Calm) – Oatstraw, Skullcap, Lemon Balm, Motherwort, Valerian, Chamomile

These examples only hint at the vast therapeutic potential of herbs. While more research is needed, the evidence base provides a strong foundation for their use alongside conventional and complementary care.

Spiritual and Ancient Uses of Herbs

Long before laboratory studies, herbs were central to healing rituals and spiritual traditions around the world — bridging the physical and the sacred .

In Traditional Chinese Medicine , herbs like Ginseng were believed to harmonize Qi, or vital energy.
Indigenous cultures across the Americas have long used Sage , Sweetgrass , and Mugwort in purification rituals to clear stagnant or negative energy.
Frankincense and Myrrh , still revered in Middle Eastern traditions, were used both in healing and spiritual offerings for protection and renewal.

In Hindu practice , Tulsi (Holy Basil) is considered a sacred plant that promotes inner peace and spiritual well-being.

“Depending on the mood or intention, I may burn Sage, Palo Santo, Mugwort, Sweetgrass, Frankincense, or Myrrh during meditation.”

—Mary Nathanson

These ancient traditions remind us that herbs have always served as bridges between body, mind, and spirit , offering lessons still deeply relevant for today’s practitioners.

Integrating Herbs into Mental Health Practice

Mental health professionals can thoughtfully incorporate herbal support into clinical work, combining evidence-based strategies with holistic care .

Herbal teas, tinctures, and supplements can support clients experiencing stress, anxiety, or mild depression.
Passionflower has been shown to aid sleep and calm the nervous system.
Lemon Balm supports relaxation and cognitive clarity.
Aromatherapy provides a simple and effective entry point: diffusing Lavender , Peppermint , or Chamomile can foster calm and openness during sessions.
Collaboration with trained herbalists or naturopathic doctors ensures safety, especially for clients taking prescription medications.
Education empowers clients—helping them understand how herbal energetics complement mental health care and encouraging self-agency in their healing journey.

An integrative approach doesn’t replace therapy; it enriches it—helping clients engage the full spectrum of body, mind, and spirit.

Conclusion: A Bridge Between Worlds

The healing energetics of herbs beautifully bridge ancient wisdom and modern science . From bioactive chemistry to symbolic resonance, herbs offer valuable insights for clinicians and seekers alike.

For practitioners, exploring herbal integration represents an opportunity to expand therapeutic tools. For readers, it invites deeper awareness of the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit .

Whether through education, consultation, or personal practice, the world of herbs offers transformative possibilities for healing and wholeness.

Bonus: Anti-Depression Tea Blend

Formula:
2 parts Oatstraw
2 parts Chamomile
2 parts Lemon Balm
1 part St. John’s Wort
1 part Dandelion

Preparation: Combine all herbs and infuse for at least 4 hours. Strain and drink.
Traditional dosage: 3–4 cups per day.

Always check with a qualified healthcare provider for contraindications or medication interactions.

About the Author

Mary Nathanson, LCSW, EFTP , is a psychotherapist and energy healing practitioner with a deep interest in the intersection of mind-body medicine, spirituality, and nature-based healing. She serves on ACEP’s Communications Committee and is passionate about integrating holistic wisdom into modern mental health care.

✨ Explore more integrative healing approaches and continuing education in Energy Psychology at the
�� Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology (ACEP) .

Image by Kerdkanno from Pixabay

When Words Aren't Available, Healing Still Happens

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 19:42:58 GMT

Recently, during a Basic TFT Algorithm Training, I had a profound experience helping someone work through a traumatic event that had happened more than 30 years ago.

This was a standard Thought Field Therapy (TFT) training from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., teaching participants how to use tapping algorithms. There were 24 participants, almost all trained, experienced mental health professionals.

With TFT, we practice what we learn by working with each other on real issues. One of the beautiful things about TFT is that you don’t have to disclose or share details of what you're working on, just a general category is enough. Knowing whether it’s traumatic stress from the past or a phobic response in the present is sufficient to guide us to an effective tappin g pattern.

Another helpful — but not required — elem ent is a Subjective Units of Distress (SUD) rating.

When Feelings are Hard to Access

Sometimes, accessing sensations in the body to identify an emotion can be difficult, especially for those who’ve learned to dissociate or compartmentalize feelings.

One woman in the group was open to feeling her emotions, but rating their intensity w as hard for her even when she knew or suspected that what she was thinking about was deeply affecting her.

She was a survivor of the Rwandan genocide, which occurred when she was ten years old. She suspected that her difficulty with feelings was connected to that experience.

During the morning session, she was able to participate fully, helping others and exploring safe, accessible issues in her own life.

TFT allows us to work even without a SUD score, which made that possible.

A Museum, a Memory, and a Trigger

The training was held at the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum. During the lunch break, participants were invited to tour the museum, which includes a powerful exhibit on the Rwandan genocide. Some of her colleagues later shared that she had been visibly triggered by the exhibit.

After lunch, our training resumed with a discussion of more advanced TFT techniques, including muscle testing to guide the tapping sequence. Normally, this segment lasts about 10–15 minutes, and participants simply observe as I work with a volunteer, without going into full detail on the advanced protocols.

At my invitation, she came to the front of the room. We began muscle testing as she quietly focused on what had happened in Rwanda. We quickly arrived at a tapping pattern that appeared to help.

She visibly relaxed. Her breathing deepened, her facial expression softened, and her body grew less rigid. This took only about three minutes.

A Shift in the Field

She reported that something had shifted and agreed to continue. When I asked her to think again about what had happened, she asked for clarification. I suggested she focus on whatever part felt most difficult.

She immediately nodded — she was there in her thoughts.

We again used advanced TFT techniques, letting her body and inner wisdom guide us to a new tapping sequence that brought immediate relief. She became much more present in the room and then, gently, chose to share what she had been working on.

A Child's Guilt, a Woman's Release

She explained that she had carried deep guilt and responsibility for the murder of her younger brother. She had been the last to see him alive and had always believed his death was her fault because she didn’t protect him.

In her mind, had she dressed him as a girl, he might have lived. They were killing males and letting females live.

That ten-year-old part of her had carried unspeakable shame, so much so that she had never told anyone, not even in therapy. The adult part of her knew it wasn’t her fault, but the younger part still believed she was to blame. She had hidden these feelings not only from others but also from herself.

I asked if she had ever explored these feelings with her family or in therapy. She said she had never shared this before in her life.

She spoke with clarity and ease. She even agreed to begin sharing these thoughts and feelings with her family. We briefly touched on the importance of staying connected to feelings and bodily sensations while doing this work.

Then we transitioned back to the next part of the workshop which was returning to learning and practicing TFT algorithms.

Her willingness to allow me to help her, even in this brief way, was deeply moving.

Honoring Generational Healing

Fifty years ago, when I met my wife, I had never even heard of the Armenian genocide. Over time, I grew close to her grandmother, who had survived that genocide at age fifteen, after witnessing her family’s murder and being forced on a death march across the desert to Syria.

It’s common for families and communities to avoid speaking of such horrors. Generational silence becomes its own trauma. Her grandmother rarely broke that silence. I’ve always regretted not being able to help her more.

So now, when I have the opportunity to assist a genocide survivor, I do it to honor Grandma, and to honor all those who’ve suffered alone or in silence.

Final Reflection

Never let the absence of words — or a missing SUD score — stop you from helping.

Healing can happen in silence, too.

About the Author

Robert L. Bray, PhD, DCEP is a seasoned clinician, trainer, and leader in Thought Field Therapy (TFT) and trauma recovery. He operates the TFT Center in San Diego, California, where he maintains a thriving private practice. Dr. Bray leads TFT trainings and teaches crisis intervention, critical incident management, self-care, and experiential psychotherapy. A longtime collaborator of TFT founder Roger Callahan, he is the author of Heal Traumatic Stress NOW , a practical guide to resolving traumatic stress and restoring well-being.

Image by Bessi from Pixabay

Riding the Waves of Rapid Change Using Energy Practices

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 12:00:04 GMT

“The only constant is change.”

Heraclitus of Ephesus

“People are very open-minded about new things,
as long as they're exactly like the old ones.”

Charles F. Kettering

“Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience,
and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”

Harriet Tubman

Just like the ebb and flow of the tides, change is a natural feature of life. At times it is welcomed as an exciting relief from boredom or hardship. Just like the thrill of riding a wave in the sea. At times it is rejected as a threat to life as we know it. Just like hunkering down during a storm. Reacting with caution is understandable. We often fear what we don’t understand. This is especially true when we don’t want the changes we must face.

Notice how you manage rapid changes. You may react with confidence, intrigue, overwhelm, or frustration. For many, energy practices ease the burden of change that is perceived as too rapid, overly consuming, or vastly destabilizing. You can learn to ride the waves of rapid change for greater balance, presence, and clarity using energy practices.

Are we facing too much change?

It’s been said we are living in times of unprecedented change in every part of our lives, collectively and individually. Predictable patterns of behavior established over decades are rapidly shifting. Migratory patterns of birds and whales are following shifting magnetic planetary routes, abandoning tried and true maps of travel. Seasonal transitions like the timing of emerging buds on plants in the spring or the fullness of fruit and grain for harvest days are both earlier and later than expected. Parts of the Earth that knew drought are flooding, and typically wet areas are scorched.

Dramatic technological changes pop up every few days. Our globe is being changed with scientific discoveries that affect our water, air, and light - for better and for worse. The planet herself is even traveling into new locales of space not witnessed by humanity, with unknown impact on our daily experience. Even the fabric of time seems to be speeding along faster than usual. We may be left with confusion, especially when looking for clues about an uncertain future. How do we proceed with such dizzying change?

Change naturally ebbs and flows

As we face new aspects of reality, sometimes feeling alone in our quest, there may be answers from the past that suggest how to survive and thrive. The Earth has been riding the waves of rapid change as a natural phenomenon for millenia. For instance, our planet was markedly volatile for much of its known history. Cataclysmic earthquakes, enormous volcanoes, epic storms, and devastating drought rendered parts of our planet uninhabitable. Our most recent brief period is miraculously calm in comparison, making our current existence possible. This suggests that even on a large scale, change is not always fast, broad, and ever present. The pace will slow eventually. Meanwhile, what shall we do?

What to do when change is at a peak?

Our ancestors were also faced with rapid change. And they wisely adapted by following paths and patterns which supported life. When an area became too harsh or unforgiving for sustenance, they moved on. Traveling from mountain to sea, desert to meadow, each part of the terrain offered its own gifts and challenges. When famine, climate, conflict, or overcrowding took its toll, people left, or waited for more favorable circumstances as best they could. They hung on to what worked from the past, and innovated. We can do the same, learning from the past, even as we try new things and make mistakes. This is how we grow.

Change fosters learning

It is not easy to live through upheaval and change, as humanity is wired to seek safety, predictability, and repetition. Sameness soothes our nervous system, and allows deeper connections internally and between people and surroundings. Think of resting in a fire-lit space with a full belly, daydreaming under sparkling stars, or joining harmonious voices singing a familiar song. Imagine the comfort of engaging with ritual practices passed down through the ages, or swaying with the peaceful steady rhythm of the waves on the sea. Things you can trust so that peacefulness prevails.

But if things stay the same for too long, nothing new can be born. We need novelty to not be psychologically asleep or to wither under the monotony. We learn by contrast. Creativity arrives with novelty, not with the familiar.

There is a tension between these spaces. We need both stability and change. If you are finding that change is painful, there is hope. You don’t have to curl into a ball, or cringe like the floor dropped out from underneath you. Energy practices can help you find balance and sanity when impending chaos is getting too close for comfort.

Energy practices to calm the chaos of change

There are a multitude of energy practices that can help bring you back to yourself, enhance your wellbeing, and foster a fertile space for new ideas and possibility. Try out one or more of these suggestions, or discover more on your own.

Grounding to the Earth, our collective home. Get to know her with bare feet on the soil, sand, or grass. Place your back against a tree trunk, breathing deeply the oxygen, and exhaling your carbon dioxide, feeding the plants as you do so. This fosters a balanced cycle of collective wellness. Your body will discharge positive electrons and absorb negative electrons with a series of health promoting effects. You can read more here about the benefits of grounding in this blog .

Centering in your body, mind, and spirit. You’ll be more balanced, calmer, and better able to choose to act rather than automatically react. Your boundaries will become stronger and more flexible, enhancing communication with others. Centering puts you in contact with deep aspects of consciousness and truth. You can read more about centering in this blog .

Moving from the head to the heart. Intellect alone won’t solve problems that are beyond your capacity to grasp. Rapid change in society, the environment, and inside of you, calls for deeper knowing than facts and opinions. When you move into your heart, the emotional center for compassion and present focus, perspectives shift. The heart finds its way to a different sort of knowing. Insights may arrive that you can’t reach as quickly or easily by using mental gymnastics. Several energy practices focus on the heart as a means for healing. Heart Assisted Therapy , The Blue Diamond Method , and calm breathing are a few. Try out several methods based in heart-centered attunement, until you find the right fit for you.

Discernment with creativity. It is exciting to entertain fresh ideas and projects, which seem to come out of thin air. It is important to balance the enthusiasm of innovation with logic, self-reflection, and wisdom. Then your plans are more likely to be fruitful and sustainable. Not all new ideas are good ideas, nor are they practical. Maybe some are to be shelved, and worked upon later with fresh eyes. Others need to wait for their time to come forward, with more favorable conditions. Need some assistance with discernment? Consider these resources for resilience exercises which aim to balance your right and left hemispheres for greater cognitive and emotional capacity. Try Brain Balancer , or Breathing into Balance.

Tapping on acupoint meridians can clear areas of congestion, blocks, and fears with change. Ask yourself what does change mean for you, especially when the odds are not in your favor. You may want to put the body at ease, when the mind and emotions churn a bit. There are simple instructions for working with energy psychology tapping points here . You might try these, adding them to your tapping routine, or create ones of your own.

Even if I am afraid of radical change, I can reach out for help as I am not alone. We are going through these changes together.

Even when I feel overwhelmed with life moving too fast, I can balance my own stability with change, with more practice every day.

Even if I am hesitant to allow good things to happen to me, because they can be taken away, I know it is not always true for me. I’ve been happy before and I will be once again.

Even if I feel put upon by the world, I carry my truth with hard earned experience and can find my way through bit by bit.

Riding the waves of rapid change using energy practices

It takes time for the nervous system to settle into new realities that are yet to be born. It is common to become confused about what’s necessary, safe, and wise. Add to that, mourning or celebrating what’s dying, and what’s being born. Many believe humanity is in such a state now. It is like the transition stage prior to physical birth. This is when the mother may become panicked, lashing out from fear, or freezing into shock. No wonder. She’s about to lose the physical home that she’s built for nine months with the life inside her. And a new unknown and mysterious relationship is about to be forged. This endeavor takes supreme dedication, and focus, and effort. There is no getting around that it’s messy.

After you see the state of the world, take time to tend to your needs. Be kind to yourself, the people you love, and offer grace to the people around you, and living beings of all forms and shapes. We’re being stretched, stretched, stretched. Just keep breathing with it. There are blessings in every single moment. Our heartbeat sounds. Our cells grow and die. Let the universal rhythm of life guide you. Step toward what has been with you your whole life. The thing that unifies yourself with others.

We are connected like roots growing underground, stretching out and touching one another. We do it with our breath. We do it with our hearts and thoughts. Try to keep a steady through line as you rise and fall with the huge quick waves of change. Of energy, of light, of emotion, of beliefs. It’s like learning to surf, using the energy of the wave to carry you. It is better than fighting the tide, being tossed around with turbulent waters. Let the energies crash down and reconstitute themselves as they lift you up for the next go around.

Together we ride the waves of rapid change. Use energy practices to stay at the center of it all, for clearer vision, steady aim, and meaningful purpose.

Want to learn more?

Learn energy psychology tapping from ACEP programs. You can practice self-care, add tools to your professional practice, and join a community of providers. Want to meet others who are doing this work? ACEP brings together practitioners, educators, change makers, and leaders. You can find people from around the world with similar interests through various gatherings with communities of practice , regional groups , and ACEP committees . Join ACEP and find out what the buzz is about. We are stronger together, as we weather the changes.

Author

Lori Chortkoff Hops, PhD, DCEP is a licensed psychologist in Westlake Village, California, USA. She is certified in Comprehensive Energy Psychology and Logosynthesis. Lori is a past ACEP president and Reiki master. Learn more about Lori at www.drlorihops.com . Lori teaches online intuition classes and consultation. Check out her podcast Healing Tips from the Heart: Helpers, Healers and Guides.

Image by Jun from Pixabay

Creating Lasting Change: Positive Intentions with Energy Practices

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 14:00:09 GMT

Life is filled with opportunities to make changes, sometimes by design, and more often by circumstances we don’t anticipate. Either way, you are more likely to harness positive lasting change when your mind and actions are in harmony. And you’ll feel less conflict within yourself.

First, set your intention, which is a conscious idea for a desired outcome. Then, with the power of energy practices, you can level up your manifestation skills by being crystal clear on the desired results. Sound good? Let’s dive in.

What are intentions?

Intentions are statements which tell the universe, and importantly yourself, what you desire. Not what is wrong, or what you don’t want, or can’t do. Set aside the complaints. Who needs more of what doesn’t work? What you focus on tends to grow.

Without clear intentions, you may react in the moment to the whim and fancy of others. Or you may act in ways that aren’t consciously chosen and are not as favorable as they could be. You may regret your behaviors. It’s better to think first, and then act.

Focus your energy on what you want. Formulate your intention in the positive, in the here and now, as if it has happened. And be grateful.

For instance:

“I am in the right place and time in my life now. What a relief I am brave enough to follow my dreams. I am embracing my true self. Even if times are tough, I’m moving ahead anyway. People may question my decisions, including me, but I am successful and learning as I go.”

Feel what it is like to already have this in your life. Relieved. Joyous. Curious. Satisfied.

It’s all about YOU!

Your intentions belong to you, not others. When you are living a better life, one that suits you, you have more to share with the world from a place of vitality and abundance. If you tend to take care of others while sacrificing yourself, maybe it’s time to create a new way. They have their codes and ways of being, and you have your own. Respectfully stay out of other people’s business. When you keep a clean boundary between you and other people, everyone benefits. It may feel selfish at first, but new habits can grow on you.

Intention alone isn’t enough

And yet, it’s not so simple. Unfortunately, intention doesn’t always lead to material changes in behavior. Researchers refer to this as an intention-behavior gap. People start out motivated but may not succeed in the end. One study by Mark Faries found that only 30% to 40% of health behaviors were predicted by intentions. There are a variety of reasons for the disconnect, such as competing habits or priorities, inconsistent follow through, or lack of clear strategies. One way to up the odds is to secure a foundation for your goals. Let’s see how this works.

What is your “Why”?

This step takes some practice. However, in most cases, the outcome is worth some extra investment of effort and time. It involves being aware of the reason your intention is important to you.

Are you dreaming a new dream? Intentions can be a powerful force in creating new realities and experiences. You can enhance the dream’s power when combined with conscious effort and a willingness to adapt. You’ll be growing, facing uncharted waters, and taking risks. This can feel exciting, and even overwhelming at times.

Knowing your why may head off the risk of losing direction or motivation when things get tough. And it may reduce confusion about your actions. Are you facing difficulties? Go back to your why. It can reset your path. When plans go awry, you can set a new course based on changing circumstances, while keeping aligned with your stated purpose.

What does that look like? Let’s consider the example above, about being in the right time and place, while taking risks and being brave.

“Why change? It feels good to stay where I am, with the familiar. But I’m no longer satisfied with the status quo. I want to be happier in life and can’t do it when I’m sticking to a plan that doesn’t work for me. It’s scary to make changes, especially with tough times in the world. But I also value long term gains, like integrity and meeting my needs for health and wellbeing. I am now willing to take some risks that may be scary or unfamiliar because I know I’ll be a better me. It’s time for me to live my dreams. Other people may question my decisions, but I know above all I am being honest with myself. My true-blue friends and family will stand by my side. I need to stand up for me now.”

Combining intentions with energy practices

Most people don’t start off with such precisely stated clarity about their intentions, let alone knowing their why. Thankfully, energy practices can assist. When you align the energy systems of the body with the goals of the mind, you lift tension, become more balanced, and think more clearly. Even when things go haywire, you can more easily find your center and refocus. Energy practices also help to remove objections to change, both within the person, and from others.

Practical suggestions for creating intentions

Confused about what you want to accomplish? Try brainstorming ideas for the future, even if you think they are silly or unrealistic. If you have trouble coming up with ideas, and can only think of what is currently wrong, you may have an energetic reversal. It’s like being stuck in a backwards motion, despite your efforts to move ahead. No worries. Energy practices can help flip the switch so you are moving with yourself, not fighting against your wishes. You can read more about energetic reversals here , and how to address them.

You can also try tapping on meridians, using Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) or Thought Field Therapy (TFT), with such statements as, “Even though all I can imagine is what could go wrong, I can start fresh right now.”

You can learn about meridians here . And you can watch a video about how to tap here, from ACEP’s Resources for Resilience.

Once you get a sense of your goals, come up with a clear statement for your intention. The wording should be positive, in the here and now orientation, with gratitude like you have it already. Need help with this step? You can use the Healing Head Hold position on your neurovascular points, to increase blood flow for better mental focus. When you are grounded and centered, you’ll probably think more clearly and the right words can appear with less effort. You can say what you mean.

Even with the best of intentions you may hit a stumbling block. That is the nature of life. Energy practices offer solutions. You may be dealing with energy fields from other people, society, or ancestral influences. There are a host of practices based in understanding and altering consciousness. Give them a try to bring your higher purpose into reality. The spiritual realm, transpersonal communication, and esoteric domains are captured with innovative approaches like the Blue Diamond Method , Logosynthesis , and Be Set Free Fast , among others. They each have components of setting intentions with the power of the mind to create optimal process and outcome. Try one or more to supercharge your intentions.

Monitor your progress and make necessary adjustments to your plan to stay on course. You can rate changes you make with a Subjective Units of Progress scale. It may seem each day that you aren’t making progress, but if you track this over time, you may see trends that are encouraging. Or they may point to patterns that get in your way, like when you’re having a bad day, or you’re especially busy. This data can help you make adjustments to your practices you might not have caught otherwise.

Acknowledge and celebrate your achievements, no matter how small, to reinforce positive change and build confidence. Breathe in good vibes with these videos with Donna Eden, Titanya Dahlin, and Dondi Dahlin (Donna’s daughters), connecting heaven and earth , radiant hearts , and third eye tap , using Eden Method energy practices.

Creating lasting change

Here’s a recap.

1. Start off by taking time for yourself to investigate what you want in life, and why it is meaningful.

2. Next, you can use tools to help you craft the best statement of purpose you can muster.

3. Along the way, use energy practices to lift the fog of mental confusion and align your energies and mind for better momentum.

4. Don’t forget to celebrate the joy of discovery for a new way of being.

You might even find yourself teaching others how to create lasting change, using positive intentions with energy practices.

Want to learn more?

Look up the EFT and TFT training catalogue with ACEP. Boost your practice with energy psychology skills and community.

There is a vast selection of free videos on YouTube for your learning enjoyment.

The Blue Diamond instruction and demonstrations with founder Phil Mollon. He also has meditation music videos with Tamara Friebel using the Blue Diamond Healing .

Podcasts about Logosynthesis , and videos from Logosynthesis Day 2025 , in many languages including English. With founder Willem Lammers and others.

Be Set Free Fast videos from founder Larry Nims, of blessed memory.

We are fortunate to have many of the founders of these and other energy practice approaches offering workshops, classes, and opportunities to meet in person. Reach out or join their social media communities, and organizations. There is a wealth of enthusiasm and expertise just a click away.

Join ACEP and you can be part of the Circles platform, connecting with others in the community for support, education, and connections.

Blogs on related topics:

Turn Dream Resolutions into Reality with Self-Care and Energy Practices

How Energy Healing Works: Moving Between the Subtle and Physical Worlds

Using Energy Practices When Life is Like a Marathon

What to Say When You’re Tapping

Author

Photo by Afif Ramdhasuma from Pixabay

Can Online Thought Field Therapy (TFT) Really Work? A Covid-Era Study in Japan Says Yes.

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 14:00:24 GMT

During the height of the covid-19 pandemic, mental health challenges skyrocketed. Anxiety, depression, and stress increased worldwide. In Japan, researchers studied whether Thought Field Therapy (TFT)—an energy-based tapping method—could offer relief in a world suddenly locked down and emotionally overwhelmed .

Their objective was to evaluate the efficacy of online TFT as a quick intervention for psychological problems. Ayame Morikawa, Masaki Fujumoto, Yuriko Kawagishi, and Tomiyo Fukagawa headed up the study. Their answer was yes—and the results were striking. The research showed that online TFT intervention was able to rapidly reduce psychological stress for a sustained period of time.

What is TFT, and how did it help during covid-19?

Thought Field Therapy (TFT) is a tapping technique. Tapping stimulates energy meridians while focusing attention on distressing emotions or symptoms.

It can be done with a trained practitioner or as a self-care technique. Unlike some other therapies, tapping does not require individuals to recall explicit details of trauma, but focuses on symptoms and feelings. Because TFT is fast, non-invasive, and easy to deliver remotely, the research team saw an opportunity to test it as an intervention during Japan’s strict covid-19 lockdown.

Study design: real people, real problems, real change

In this 2021 study, 99 participants dealing with anxiety, depression, fatigue, and somatic complaints like headaches or sleep issues took part. Nearly half reported high stress levels before treatment—four times higher than Japan’s pre-pandemic average. Of 99 original subjects, 67 fully completed the study.

Each participant completed the Brief Job Stress Questionnaire (BJSQ), which assesses psychological and physical stress, and the Subjective Units of Distress Scale (SUDS). Participants were split into two groups: one received two brief (20-minute) online TFT sessions with a trained practitioner, the other group served as the control, completing the same questionnaires but not receiving TFT. The control group was later given the opportunity to have TFT interventions and showed similar results to the initial TFT group. The sessions were personalized; instead of using a generic tapping sequence, the practitioners adapted TFT for each individual’s specific issue—whether PTSD, panic attacks, eating disorders, or pandemic-related overwhelm.

In addition, participants were offered TFT self-care resources for use between the sessions, which included instructional videos and apps.

The results: fast, measurable relief that lasted

The findings were compelling:

High stress levels dropped from 40% to just 10% after two short TFT sessions—and went even lower (7%) at follow-up.
Self-reported distress scores (SUDS) dropped from 7.0 to 1.5 on average.
Anxiety, fatigue, and irritability improved most dramatically, with gains sustained at 2- and 6-week follow-ups.

Even depression and physical symptoms saw significant reductions—an impressive result for such a short, non-invasive intervention.

In summary, “pre- and post-intervention scores revealed that TFT significantly alleviated negative emotions measured by the BJSQ, including mental and physical stress reactions, irritability, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and somatic complaints.”

It’s important to note that the short sessions and variations in follow-up times limits the ability to make generalizations about the use of TFT. However, the research presented indicates that TFT tapping techniques can be effective when delivered remotely, and it shows promise as both a therapeutic intervention and a skill which can be learned for self-care to manage stress levels and boost resilience.

Why this study matters: accessibility and scalability

Many regions in the world experience shortages of skilled therapists. TFT is a rapid, effective and scalable intervention that can be delivered flexibly in traditional one-to-one therapy, group therapy, in classrooms, online via Zoom and other platforms, and for individual self-care. Because it works so rapidly and effectively, it is much less expensive than traditional psychotherapies.

This study is a powerful reminder that simple energy-based techniques can offer fast, effective support—even during global crises. It also confirms what many practitioners already know. Tapping works, and it doesn’t always require long-term therapy or in-person sessions to be effective.

For practitioners working with clients experiencing stress, anxiety, or trauma, this research, combined with many other studies, backs up the use of TFT as a legitimate, science-supported method. It’s affordable, scalable, and highly adaptable. Whether you work one-on-one, run groups, teach classes, or work online, TFT can fit into your practice with ease.

Next steps

Want to get trained in TFT? Go here.

Want to get trained in another tapping method - EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques)? Go here.

Morikawa, A., Fujimoto, M., Kawagishi, Y. & Fukugawa, T. (2025). Thought Field Therapy intervention to improve mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: A randomized controlled trial. Explore, 21(2), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2025.103117

Author

Ramona K. Clifton, LCSW is a licensed clinical social worker and coach with a private practice in Brooklyn, NY. She incorporates EFT, mindfulness, and a deep appreciation for individual experience and creative drive. She is a member of ACEP and the ACEP Communications Committee.

Photo by Christopher Lee on Unsplash

Feeling Stuck? Try this.

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 13:00:01 GMT

If you’re feeling stuck and want to learn a safe mind-body technique to help, you’re in the right place. This blog teaches you an easy tool you can use right now to get un-stuck.

When your energy feels scrambled, leaving you confused or stuck, you can bring yourself back to balance by practicing the Collarbone Breathing Technique. This simple body-based technique helps restore left-right balance and allows you to feel more clear and connected. The technique was adapted by Phil Mollon from Roger Callahan's Thought Field Therapy. Practice the technique right now by watching the video below and following along. You can also download written instructions in English , Spanish , and Portuguese .

How it Works

Cross your hands over your chest with your fingers under your collarbones. Breathe halfway in and hold, then breathe all the way in and hold; breathe halfway out and hold, then breathe all the way out and hold. Repeat the breathing sequence, this time with your knuckles under your collarbones.

Why it works

By using energy techniques like Collarbone Breathing , you help your energy system to rebalance. This allows you to get un-stuck quickly and easily. There are a few things happening in this deceptively simple technique.

By crossing our arms, we are crossing the corpus callosum, which helps us feel grounded. By placing our hands across our chest with hands under collarbones, we are activating our meridian system ― particularly the K-27 point, which helps reduce anxiety. By breathing slowly, we are slowing our brainwaves, which helps us relax.

If you haven’t given the Collarbone Breathing technique a try yet, do it now. Take notice of how your body feels both before and after you use the technique. This technique is just one of many you can use to get un-stuck.

More techniques to improve focus

If you found Collarbone Breathing helpful, here are a few more tools you can use to clear confusion and clumsiness: the Brain Balancer , also called the "9-gamut"; and the Cross Crawl . All videos and techniques in our "Try This" series were created by ACEP's Humanitarian Committee in order to help people heal by spreading the word about the powerful effects of energy psychology techniques. We invite you to help by sharing this information!

Need help from a professional?

Many people are seeking non-pharmacological interventions to help improve overall wellbeing. ACEP is a nonprofit, 501c3 dedicated to the research, education, and sharing of energy psychology. Check out the ACEP practitioner directory to find a certified ACEP practitioner in your area or online.

Author: Sarah Murphy, LPC

Sarah Murphy, LPC, ACP-EFT, is a counselor in private practice and specializes in working with people who have serious illnesses.

Video Resources Provided by the ACEP Humanitarian Committee

The mission of the ACEP Humanitarian Committee is to develop and implement humanitarian projects that alleviate emotional distress caused by catastrophic natural and man-made events around the globe. We do this by encouraging and assisting ACEP members in developing humanitarian projects that utilize recognized energy psychology and other modalities that meet ACEP’s standards and guidelines. Learn more here .

Photo by cottonbro studio on pexels.

A Historic Milestone: Clinical EFT Officially Enters Medical Education in Africa

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 14:30:09 GMT

In May 2025, a remarkable and unprecedented event occurred: for the very first time, Clinical EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) was officially integrated into a Master’s program in psychotherapy within a faculty of medicine in Africa — at Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, Senegal.

This milestone marks a turning point in the global history of tapping-based therapies. It ushers in a new era where energy psychology methods such as EFT are now institutionally recognized not only as complementary approaches, but also as potentially foundational tools for mental health care in low-resource contexts.

Contributors: Prof. Papa Lamine Faye, Prof. Jean Augustin Diégane Tine, Agnès Bévierre

From left to right : Pr Papa Lamine Faye, Jean-Michel Gurret, Agnès Bévierre, Madeleine Thiaw, Jean-Augustin Giégane Thine

Why is this so important?

1. A breakthrough in academic recognition

Until now, EFT has been primarily disseminated through private training organizations and practitioner networks. Its formal inclusion in a university medical curriculum grants EFT unprecedented academic legitimacy in Africa. This is particularly important at a time when trauma-related disorders are on the rise and traditional psychiatric care remains centralized and difficult to access.

According to Prof. Papa Lamine Faye, psychiatrist and director of the Institute for Research and Teaching in Psychopathology at the University of Dakar: “Most of our psychiatric training is focused on diagnosis and prescription. Psychotherapy has often been overlooked, except for training in family and systemic therapy. Introducing a tool like EFT — simple, effective, and culturally adaptable — fills a gap that medical training alone cannot address.”

2. A context where EFT truly makes sense

Senegal, like many sub-Saharan African countries, is facing a mental health crisis, exacerbated by migration-related trauma, economic stress, domestic violence, and lack of access to care. Compounding this, the stigma around psychiatry remains strong.

What makes EFT particularly suitable in this context?

�� It requires no equipment — just one’s hands.
⏱️ It provides rapid symptom relief, often in a single session.
�� It aligns with African somatic expressions of distress, where emotional suffering is frequently experienced and expressed through the body.
�� It promotes autonomy by allowing individuals to use the technique on their own after training.

“EFT resonates with our culture,” says Prof. Faye. “In Senegal, people live and feel through the body. Tapping allows them to reconnect with their sensations and naturally regulate their distress.”

The first cohort: feedback from psychiatrists and trainees

This first training, co-facilitated by Jean-Michel Gurret and Agnès Bévierre, brought together 18 professionals enrolled in the new university Master’s in Psychotherapy program. Most were psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, and advanced trainees.

The feedback was overwhelmingly positive.

“Many participants experienced personal relief during the first sessions,” reports Agnès Bévierre. “They quickly understood the power of the method — not only intellectually, but also emotionally and somatically.”

These early adopters are now positioned to become the first local trainers and ambassadors of EFT in Senegal and West Africa.

The role of visionary leaders

This advancement would not have been possible without the vision and commitment of several key figures:

Prof. Jean Augustin Diégane Tine , Head of the Mental Health Division at the Senegalese Ministry of Health. He advocates for the integration of mental health into primary care and has publicly supported EFT as a low-cost, scalable, and community-accessible method.
Prof. Papa Lamine Faye , Full Professor of Psychiatry and leading figure in neurotherapy-based trauma care in Senegal, promotes body-inclusive psychotherapies.
Jean-Michel Gurret , founder of IFPEC (France), has long supported the integration of Clinical EFT into healthcare systems and is now helping to build training capacity across Francophone Africa.

Agnès Bévierre , EFT expert, plays a key role in training and mentoring the next generation of practitioners.

What’s next? The future of EFT in Africa

This pilot project in Dakar is only the beginning.

Next steps include:

Expanding EFT training to nurses, social workers, and community health agents, particularly in underserved rural areas.

Establishing a national mentorship system to support trained practitioners in clinical implementation.
Developing a national research program on EFT, adapted to African contexts, to produce scientific data and encourage integration into public health policies.
Creating partnerships with ministries, universities, and NGOs to fund, disseminate, and sustain the model.

“The goal,” says Prof. Tine, “is to make EFT a recognized tool within national health strategies — not as a luxury, but as a necessity.”

Conclusion: A New Chapter for the Global Tapping/EFT Movement

The integration of Clinical EFT into the academic and clinical infrastructure of a major African university is not only historic — it is filled with hope.

It represents a model for how energy psychology can meet public health challenges in a way that is innovative, culturally relevant, and economically sustainable.

As this Senegalese initiative gains momentum, it may very well inspire similar integrations across Africa and the Global South, where the need for scalable mental health solutions is most urgent.

If you are an EFT or TFT researcher, practitioner, or trainer, now is the time to connect, support, and learn from what is unfolding in Dakar.

Africa is not catching up — it is leading.

Editor’s Note: In some other African countries, energy psychology approaches based on tapping have been instrumental in facilitating trauma healing. For example, Thought Field Therapy (TFT), has been widely used in Rwanda: in schools, in communities where community leaders have been trained in the method, and in jails. Since 2006, hundreds of thousands of genocide survivors have been treated using this method. EFT has also been widely used in Rwanda. The Trauma Tapping Technique (TTT) has helped child soldiers in the Congo heal and has also been used in Rwanda and Uganda.

Authors

Professor Papa Lamine Faye is a leading figure in contemporary African psychiatry. A Distinguished Full Professor at Cheikh Anta Diop University (UCAD) in Dakar, he currently heads the Institute for Research and Teaching in Psychopathology, a flagship institution in the training of mental health and psychotrauma professionals. A seasoned clinician, he practices at Fann University Hospital Center, with recognized expertise in transcultural psychiatry, trauma-related disorders, migration, occupational mental health, and geriatric psychiatry. Author of over 45 scientific publications, his research bridges Western psychiatric models with African sociocultural realities.

Jean-Michel Gurret is a licensed psychotherapist, and the leading French-speaking expert in Clinical EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques). Based in private practice in Saint-Quentin, France, he has over 20 years of experience working with individuals suffering from simple and complex trauma, PTSD, anxiety disorders, and chronic pain. He teaches Clinical EFT and energy psychology in several prominent French universities, including the University of Lorraine (Metz), the Faculty of Medicine of Lyon-Est, and the University of Lille. He is author of over fifteen books, and has contributed to several peer-reviewed scientific studies on EFT, including research conducted in humanitarian settings such as Haiti.

Professor Jean Augustin Diégane Tine is a leading figure in mental health in Senegal. A psychiatrist and epidemiologist, he holds several key positions in the public health sector. He is an Associate Professor of Public Health at the Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy, and Dentistry of Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, where he teaches and conducts research, He heads the Mental Health Division within the Ministry of Health and Social Action of Senegal, playing a central role in the development and implementation of national mental health policies. He is also Director of Research at the Institute for Research in Epidemiology and Public Health.

How Energy Psychology Promotes Psychological Flexibility

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 14:00:11 GMT

Improving psychological flexibility is not a destination, but an ongoing process. By practicing integrative energy psychology skills, you can learn to navigate life's challenges more effectively, suffer less from difficult internal experiences, and live a richer, more meaningful life aligned with your values, what truly matters to you. And you can help your clients do the same.

Psychological flexibility and energy psychology defined

Psychological flexibility entails the ability to stay present, open to difficult thoughts and feelings, and act effectively in line with your values. Core components include:

Acceptance/willingness
De-fusion (distancing and disengaging from distressing and limiting thoughts and emotions)
Present moment awareness (mindfulness)
Self-as-context (rather than self-as-content or limiting conceptual-self beliefs)
Values (how you want to go through life)
Committed action in line with your values

Energy psychology is family of mind-body approaches that often combine focusing on a specific psychological issue (thought, belief, feeling, memory) with stimulating points on the body (e.g., acupoints, chakras, biofields). Examples include EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques), TFT (Thought Field Therapy), TAT (Tapas Acupressure Technique), AIT (Advanced Integrative Therapies) and MLT (Midline Technique).

Proponents suggest that these concepts and techniques work by interacting with the body's bio-energy system (meridians, biofields, etc.). More conventional explanations often involve neurological mechanisms like calming the amygdala, improving lateral granular pre-frontal cortex functioning, exposure effects, somatic relaxation, and cognitive shifts.

How energy psychology methods can enhance psychological flexibility

1. Rapid reduction of emotional intensity (promoting acceptance/willingness)

Energy psychology techniques are often reported to quickly decrease the intensity of distressing emotions (fear, anxiety, anger, sadness) tied to specific thoughts or memories.

When an emotion feels less overwhelming and threatening, an individual may find it easier to allow it to be present without resorting to avoidance tactics. This aligns directly with the acceptance/willingness component of psychological flexibility – making room for discomfort rather than struggling against it. If the "volume" of the distress is turned down, willingness becomes less daunting.

2. Decoupling stimulus and response (promoting de-fusion)

Energy psychology often involves bringing a distressing thought or memory to mind while simultaneously performing the somatic intervention (e.g., tapping, heart-breathing). This pairing disrupts the conditioned emotional response linked to the thought/memory by promoting the unimpeded flow of bioenergy.

The result can be that the thought no longer automatically triggers the same high level of distress. This creates space between the thought and the emotional reaction, fostering cognitive de-fusion. The person can observe the thought ("I notice that I'm having the thought that...") without being completely fused with its emotional impact or perceived truth.

3. Anchoring in the present moment

The physical act of tapping or holding specific points requires attention and brings awareness to bodily sensations. This can serve as an anchor to the present moment.

By focusing on the physical process, individuals may interrupt cycles of rumination about the past or anxious projection into the future, enhancing their ability to connect with the here and now.

4. Altering somatic markers of distress (promoting acceptance and de-fusion)

Psychological distress often has strong physical correlates (e.g., tightness in the chest, knots in the stomach, uncomfortable stirring sensations). Energy psychology directly engages with these bodily sensations.

If the energy psychology technique leads to a noticeable reduction in these physical markers while the person is focused on the associated psychological issue, it can increase willingness (the physical experience is less aversive) and contribute to de-fusion (the body is no longer providing such strong "evidence" for the overwhelming truth or danger signaled by the thought).

5. Clearing obstacles to valued action

Often, what prevents people from taking committed action towards their values is the presence of overwhelming fear, anxiety, self-doubt, or limiting beliefs.

By reducing the emotional charge and believability of these internal barriers, energy psychology methods can potentially free up the capacity to engage in behaviors that matter. Most energy psychology methods don’t directly teach values clarification; they can remove the emotional roadblocks that make value-driven living feel impossible. The Outcome Projection Procedure of Energy Diagnostic and Treatment Methods (EDxTM) also supports taking actions in line with personal values. Energy psychology methods can apply this and related strategies to clarify values and promote action consistent with your values.

6. Shifting Limiting Beliefs (Promoting De-fusion & Enabling Action)

Energy psychology is frequently used to target specific limiting beliefs (e.g., "I'm not worthy," "I can't succeed").

By reducing the emotional conviction attached to these beliefs, energy psychology functions similarly to de-fusion, making the beliefs less solid and powerful. This, again, can open the door to considering alternative perspectives and taking actions that were previously blocked by the belief.

Important Considerations

Mechanisms
While effective for many, the precise mechanisms of energy psychology are still debated. Whether it's "energy balancing" or neurological/psychophysiological effects (like amygdala downregulation via acupoint stimulation, enhanced lateral granular pre-frontal cortex and associated circuitry functioning, exposure elements, placebo, relaxation response), the outcome for the individual can be a state more conducive to psychological flexibility.

Focus
Energy psychology primarily targets the reduction of specific distress and maladaptive patterns. It doesn't necessarily involve explicit training in all psychological flexibility components like values clarification or self-as-context in the way some cognitive behavioral approaches do, although some energy psychology approaches focus on instilling values, positive beliefs, and a trajectory toward positive actions. In general, energy psychology’s contribution is often seen as clearing the emotional/somatic "underbrush" that hinders flexibility.

Integration
Some therapists integrate energy psychology techniques within a broader framework (which might include other models) to help clients overcome specific sticking points, thereby facilitating the overall process of building psychological flexibility.

The bottom line

In essence, energy psychology methods enhance psychological flexibility primarily by rapidly reducing the emotional and somatic distress that fuels psychological inflexibility (like experiential avoidance and cognitive fusion). By creating more internal space and calm, these therapies can potentially make it easier for individuals to be present, open, and move towards what they value.

What you can do

Want to learn more, deepen your skills, and build your community while earning continuing education credits? Get trained in Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) or Thought Field Therapy (TFT).
Are you looking for a learning community of holistic practitioners who are dedicated to expanding the use of these methods? Become an ACEP member!
Like this article? Share it on your social media and follow ACEP on Facebook , Instagram , and LinkedIn .

Author

Fred Gallo, PhD, DCEP, has been a practicing clinical psychologist since 1974. He is a member of the American Psychological Association and Pennsylvania Psychological Association and served as ACEP president. A major focus of his work has been energy psychology approaches, about which he has been writing and lecturing since 1993. His 1998 book Energy Psychology was groundbreaking and coined the field. He has published numerous articles, manuals, and 9 books, the latest being The Tapping Toolbox . energypsych.com

Open-Up and Say…Awe!

Thu, 22 May 2025 15:45:01 GMT

“Give yourself a gift of five minutes of contemplation in awe of everything you see around you. Go outside and turn your attention to the many miracles... This…regimen of appreciation and gratitude will help you to focus your life in awe.” Wayne Dyer.

Awe arrives when facing vast mysteries we do not understand. It is an emotion filled with wonder, curiosity, and desire for positive change. UC Berkely psychology professor Dacher Keltner, PhD, founder of the Greater Good Science Center devotes himself to the study of awe. After tragically losing his beloved younger brother who was like a soul mate to him, Dr. Keltner created daily “awe breaks” to soothe his devastating grief. He found what many have known throughout the ages. Hidden in plain sight, the secrets of the world are wrapped in awe. They inspire beauty, and connect us to the everchanging pulse of life. With awe, we become more creative, and open to possibility. Spirit is renewed, and we rejoice. Scientific studies show that being in awe supports the functioning of our bodies. Awe is freely available, right now. If you want to enjoy the gifts of awe, simply open-up, notice the goodness around you, and say, “Awe!”.

In his book Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How it Can Transform Your Life , Dr. Keltner shows how to break free from loneliness, self-absorption, and fear. He reminds us we are part of something grander than ourselves. The unitive field contains everything. There is no separation. According to Dr. Keltner, gateways to awe reside in physical reality, mental and spiritual states, and through community. Read on to chart your path with awe, while discovering what science has to say about the benefits that awe fosters.

Physical reality and awe

The natural world is the most readily available path toward awe-filled moments: captivating multi-hued sunsets, fragrant blossoming flowers, the rise and fall of lyrical birdsong, sharp scents perfuming the air from falling rain. Each day offers new chances to fall in love with the world, if you pay attention. The stunning, elegant, and dramatic power of the natural world invites you to an ever-changing display of options. It may be as simple as noticing the way light reflects on your drinking glass, or the feeling of aliveness when you take a breath of fresh air. Let the natural world lead you into awe.

According to Keltner, two other gateways to awe in the physical realm are the beauty of visual arts and design, and the magic of music. People have always found ways to mimic nature’s expressions, by producing works of visual art. From intricate sand paintings, special arrangement of natural fibers, rocks, and plants, to highly detailed ceremonial displays of food, or hand dyed colorful patterns in clothing. Artists shape the natural world to inspire. Larger scale creations like those of the ancient and modern world of architecture evoke the heights of mountains through soil or concrete. Awe is formed from a blinding sheen of glass on a building, resembling a frozen lake, or in the complex geometries of fractals in nature, also etched into carved statues and ceilings. We marvel at sturdy bridges linking lands once separated, spanning over water or canyons, allowing us now to travel seamlessly, amidst the clouds, where only divine creatures of lore previously tread.

Another medium of awe is music that stirs the soul. Playful, profound, or poignant, music with or without words beckon us to react with abandon, shed tears from a broken heart, or delightfully hum our favorite tune. We may dance, wiggle, or clap with synchronous compatibility to vibrations reaching our ears. Music is birthed from wood, stone, metal, shell, gourd, or other natural substances. It also issues from the human voice. Music allows our ears to resonate with a match to our imaginations. Whether you are writing music, listening to it, or simply calling it to mind from a special moment, music and awe organically enhance each other.

Mental and spiritual states of awe

Kindness, courage, and self-sacrifice are held as high standards for awe-inspiring moral action. This “moral beauty” as Keltner names it, may be easy to recognize in others but harder to attain for ourselves. In our busy world, too often filled with competition and selfish pursuits, some may dismiss moral beauty as quaint or naïve. But we often remember with tender appreciation when others have shown us such grace. Sometimes we muster the strength to face fear, bestow benevolence, or give without personal gain. In doing so, we spread the light of awe.

Awe also presents itself with personal epiphanies, and developing personal spirituality. Fresh and startling realizations about life come in many forms. You may have received profound discoveries, uncovered hidden insights, and encountered new frameworks of consciousness. Whether dramatic, or subtle, such internal shifts may lead to bigger changes, risks, and unexpected outcomes. The same is true for spiritual development. Whether you are new to spiritual expression or a seasoned spiritual traveler, awesome wonderment is often woven with spiritual experiences. Transcendence, sacredness, divinity, are words which cannot accurately nor comprehensively capture features of subtle, non-physical life. Yet they point to moments of awe, that often cause our hearts and minds to open, distilling the magic of life. Reverence rebirths itself. And we benefit, bestowed by and bestowing both lessons and blessings.

Awe-inspired community

There are no equals in our personal histories to the awesome cycle of life events. Neverending markers of birth, coming-of-age, sacred union, loss, and death deliver imprints upon every person here, yet to be, and all who have been. Our collective cheers and tears scaffold these threshold moments. Community rituals and traditions help us move through sometimes overwhelming reactions to these transitions. Mixed in between the passages of time are personal and shared awe. It hits us each in our own rhythm and style, but as a group, we rely on others who we know are going through the same human experiences as each of us. We walk one another home.

A grander gateway lies beyond all the others. Collective effervescence is a term used by Keltner, first credited to French sociologist Émile Durkheim . We sense a fizzing, bubbling, gathering electrification of energies when people gather with a common pursuit. From games of sport, to political events, or historic turning points, the group accentuates and shapes the individual’s responses. A feeling of oneness may emerge, dissolving barriers and the illusion of separation. It is as if we breathe one breath, instead of many, dissolving into the harmonizing “ah” of awe.

The science of awe

Awe impacts a felt sense of wonder and has a documented helpful effect on the body. Wonder and awe are associated with an expanded sense of time. It is as if time stands still, or maybe speeds up, depending on the circumstances. The default mode network in the brain may be responsible for these shifts in perception. This network, which is distributed across various brain regions, houses our sense of self, awareness, and personal history. It helps us remember the past, and imagine plans about the future. When it is dampened, we are open to knowledge outside the firm boundaries of personal identity. We are in the here and now, and more relaxed. There is a glimpse outside ordinary time and space. And we may find truths shared with others. Awe opens this door.

When experiencing awe, we relax our typical threat response, feeling safer and more at ease. The amygdala takes a break from constant vigilance for risks to health and wellbeing, or the need for protection. With a more trusting orientation, new information can come in, old patterns can break apart, and a beginner’s mind takes over. Awe allows the brain to shift its point of view, seeing the world with fresh eyes.

Another system that naturally soothes and harmonizes us kicks into high gear. Parasympathetic arousal makes us sigh, slow down, sending moisture to the eyes, and opens a tender heart. Meanwhile, awe improves our immune system functioning. Cytokines release proteins that attack pathogens. This leads to reduced inflammation, which is at the center of many disease states. More efficient immune responses lead to better overall heath.

Taken together, states of awe reduce stress reactions, decrease tension, open the way for expansive thought and creative outcomes, and broaden our worldview. We are more likely to meet others as a friend, rather than a foe. Connection with others and the world erases a sense of isolation and doom.

How to open to awe

Need a few ideas to add awe to your world? You can take awe-walks. Look for the wonder of the natural world. Find local color, scent, pattern, light, sound, messages, and synchronicities. The world is always speaking. With awe by your side, you can more clearly hear and participate in the conversation.

Think about inspirational people in your life, historic, or even fictional. Notice the traits and choices they made, and why you admire them. Ask what it is in yourself you want to grow or develop to be more like them.

Listen to music you love, or look at scenery, art, or images that make you feel fresh and alive. Find out what you are drawn to, and the meaning they convey. Participate with your whole self. Move your body in ways that feel good, release tension, and express emotion. If you feel shy, you can shake it up all alone, with or without inspiring music. Or find others who like to dance, sing, or create art along with you, in person or over the internet.

If you’re short on time, you can breathe and think about or feel and recall a mysterious moment that touched you with wonder. Take a one-minute pause, even in a busy day, to relish the connection to all that is. When you have more time, make a list of awesome moments you’ve had in the past. Then you can look at them and remember your awe, when you need a boost or a break. Change up your list every so often so it doesn’t become stale. As you connect more often to awe, awe will show up to play with you.

Want to learn more?

Want to put your awe inspired consciousness into practice? If you are feeling grateful for being alive, but not sure how to bring it down to earth, reading these blogs may offer some ideas.

Want to pass along the love of awe? Start by boosting your kindness quotient . Handy tips help you promote good will in your daily relationships. Move past common stumbling blocks like not having enough time, or facing conflicting needs. Simple kindness can soften a blow, and mend a bridge with someone you care about.

Has that awe filled glow started to fade? Research says the practice of gratitude helps you and others stay in an open-hearted space. You are more likely to slow down, notice what is working well, and be more generous toward yourself and others. Read this blog on clearing the shadow of gratitude to keep those good feels going strong.

After having the natural high of a state of awe, you may be left feeling a bit triggered about what is still missing in your life. Consider using a tapping script along with your favorite energy psychology practices to address your concerns. This blog may help you create the right words when you are tapping t o remove blockages and obstacles.

Ready to reach out to others? There are several ACEP communities waiting to meet you. You can join a local or regional group of like-minded community members. Consider joining one of ACEP’s engaging committees in an area that looks inviting. You can join ACEP . Members enjoy many benefits. Members can also meet others through communities of practice . Find what brings you awe, and spread the joy.

Author

Lori Chortkoff Hops, PhD, DCEP, is a licensed psychologist in Westlake Village, California, USA. She is certified in Comprehensive Energy Psychology and Logosynthesis. Lori is a past ACEP president and Reiki master. Learn more about Lori at www.drlorihops.com . Lori teaches online intuition classes and consultation. Check out her podcast Healing Tips from the Heart: Helpers, Healers and Guides.

Image by Jo Zef Mrkwa from Pixabay

Feeling anxious? Try this...

Wed, 14 May 2025 14:00:18 GMT

One of the fastest and most effective ways to calm an anxious mind is the Healing Head Hold . This simple body-based technique can help you defuse negative emotions and balance your brain hemispheres. You can do this technique alone or with a partner, and in less than five minutes you'll feel much calmer. Practice the technique right now by watching the video below and following along. You can also download written instructions in English , Spanish , and Portuguese . This technique was adapted from Terrence Bennett’s Touch for Health Neuro/Vascular Points.

How it works.

Simply place one hand on your forehead, and the other on the back of your head at the occiput. You can do this alone or with a partner. Hold for a few minutes until you feel calm. You might feel your pulse in your fingers. You may find yourself shifting as you start to settle down.

If you haven’t given the Healing Head Hold technique a try yet, do it now. Take notice of how your body feels both before and after you use the technique.

Why it works.

Energy-based techniques like the Healing Head Hold help your body relax and your brain rebalance. This technique can bring blood flow back to your forebrain while balancing your brain and body. This allows you to calm your thoughts quickly and easily.

The Healing Head Hold is also helpful when you are upset or unsettled and can calm you down when you are distressed.

More techniques to try when you are feeling anxious.

If you found the Healing Head Hold technique helpful, here are a couple more techniques you can use to calm racing thoughts: the Balance Hookup and the Stress Blowout .

All the videos and techniques in our " Try This " series were created by ACEP's Humanitarian Committee to help people heal by spreading the word about the powerful effects of energy psychology techniques. We invite you to help by sharing this information!

Need help from a professional?

Many people are looking for holistic ways to let go of anger and other upsetting emotions. ACEP is a nonprofit, 501c3 dedicated to the research, education, and sharing of energy psychology. Check out the ACEP practitioner directory to find a certified ACEP therapist in your area or online.

Author: Sarah Murphy, LPC

Video Resources Provided by the ACEP Humanitarian Committee

Photo by Joice Kelly on Unsplash

Foundations: Use Ancient Healing Ways to Supercharge Your Energy Practices

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 16:00:02 GMT

How did your ancestors heal themselves, no matter what they were going through, when, or where they lived? They may have used practices in remarkably similar ways to other people around the planet. And many of those practices are still widely used today.

Even with the vast variety of global cultures, languages, and customs, people are not so different from one another. When we are hurting or celebrating, we express sacred words, sounds, movements, and breath. Sometimes alone, sometimes with small groups, and sometimes as a larger collective.

These practices stand the test of time around the world for a simple reason. They work! They bring comfort, joy, meaning, and connection in good times and in tough times. You too can benefit from universal healing practices that work. Try one for the first time, or switch up what you are already doing. And combine energy practices with other ancient healing ways to supercharge your life.

Sound is a supreme healer.

Whether made by the human body, instruments, wind, animals, or water, rhythmic vibrations striking our ears can soothe and uplift our spirits. Ancestors created sound with bone, drum, rock. They also chanted and sang. You can start with your own voice, and hum while you work with an energy practice. Follow along with the 9-gamut procedure , which has humming or singing as one of the steps. Use the 9 gamut in between two rounds of tapping with energy psychology practices. You can also use sound as you work on chakras . Some traditions designate precise sounds for each chakra. You can also see what sounds the body creates naturally as the chakras spin in alignment.

Movement connects to embodiment.

Movement is life. Whether subtle or expansive, when you move your body, you communicate present moment experience. Ancient people moved as a group in circles, spirals, and swayed to a common beat. Healing spirits were called forth through trance dance. Many energy medicine techniques feature movement. Here’s a video of Donna Eden explaining the exercise, Connecting Heaven and Earth for balance between upper and lower body. And a video from Prune Harris showing the exercise Bringing Down the Flames , to reduce anger and stress, while promoting relaxation. The Cross Crawl is another simple exercise which creates communication between both sides of the body. It helps with confusion and clumsiness. These movements stretch and activate your meridians , biofield , muscles, and promote healthy circulation of vital fluids. You can also tap using energy psychology, while swaying or walking, sending a rhythm of vitality throughout your body. Dancing freestyle or with a well-known pattern, can open your heart and activate your “joy circuits”, energy flows that jump around, brightening your being.

Breath is both physical and spiritual, bringing essence into form.

People use breath for healing at all stages of life. Breathing is measured, counted, synchronized, or held for different purposes. The exercise of Breathing into Balance helps with grounding and brain/body integration. It uses specific breath and tapping combinations to unlock patterns of misalignment. You can use deliberate breathing patterns for all your energy practices. For instance, a longer exhale than inhale creates greater relaxation and focus. Expand and contract your belly with each breath for a deeper experience no matter which energy practice you are using.

Words have power.

They can create, destroy, reveal, and conceal. Our ancestors used words to bless and to curse. Be careful how you use your words, aloud and in your own mind. Be choosy and specific when you write a tapping script. You are rewriting personal history, and establishing new patterns. Your mind and body are listening. You can get some ideas about how to choose your words for tapping in this blog . Many energy practice systems use words as change agents, as with Logosynthesis , Ask and Receive , Healing from the Body Level Up , and Be Set Free Fast . Words matter. Create what you want in the here and now, as if it is yours. Plain and simple. You can include common prayers, or write your own with your energy practices. Design healing words when working with the chakras and when clearing or setting an intention in your auric field.

Community practices around the world...

...may appear unique and exotic. Different groups of people bring their own culture, flair, flavor, history, and traditions for healing. They may wear special clothes, in sacred locations, at appointed times of day, or with the changing seasons. The continuous thread running throughout humanity’s ability to heal is people joining together. Community can create dynamic harmony, shared purpose, and common vision. Learn lessons by following practices handed down from the ancients, and from your ancestors. Notice who you are around, by happenstance, or on purpose. In person or remote. Find your people. And follow your heart. You may be surprised by what comes along as you heal yourself. Combine energy practices with ancient healing ways to better your life. Supercharge your days ahead using energy practices along with sound, movement, breath, words, and blessed others.

Want to learn more?

Are you new to energy psychology and want to learn more? Consider meeting others in the field by joining ACEP . Members can meet up through local and regional group meetings . You can also collaborate on meaningful projects through ACEP’s committees .

Get trained in energy practices like EFT or TFT. Check out ACEP's training catalogue .

Learn simple, self-help methods using three types energy psychology techniques in the Resources for Resilience webpage. Learn calm breathing with these instructions and video .

If you or someone you know needs extra support, you can find an energy psychology practitioner in ACEP’s directory.

Author

Photo by Caleb Toranzo on Unsplash

Energy Psychology Helps Heal Veteran’s Combat Trauma

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 18:08:14 GMT

After retiring from the military, I conducted individual and group therapy with combat veterans as a clinical social worker for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) at the VET Center in Warwick, RI. In my work, I've had many experiences showing the power of energy psychology to help heal trauma . One of these amazing stories occurred during my tenure at the VA.

Veteran suffers from PTSD

A 70-year old Vietnam Veteran suffered for 45 years from chronic PTSD as a result of life-threatening events he endured and injuries he sustained during combat. Let's call him Joe (not his real name). His symptoms included nightmares and waking up profusely sweating every night since he returned from the war 45 years ago. Joe also had insomnia and anger issues.

Conventional therapies and medication were not able to alleviate the adverse impact of his trauma. Unfortunately, Joe's experience is common among a vast number of Veterans receiving treatment for PTSD at the VA.

Energy psychology resolves trauma-related symptoms

In the first energy psychology session, I introduced Joe to Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) and explained the process and its efficacy.

During the next 6 sessions, he tapped on the EFT meridian points for 2-3 rounds on each combat trauma we addressed. While he tapped, I guided him to verbally release related negative emotions. We did this until he no longer experienced any disturbance associated with these challenging events, as determined by muscle testing.

The results were inspiring. At the end of six 50-minute sessions, Joe reported that his nightmares and night sweats completely stopped, and he felt more rested, peaceful, and significantly less anxious.

Joe was even able to stop taking most of his anxiety and depression medication.

His wife said she noticed a huge positive shift in his demeanor.

Lasting results

Over the next 3 years, Joe used EFT on his own to clear other developmental traumas and negative core beliefs. During this time, he only had four nightmares during one two-week period, which were triggered by watching a war movie. Afterwards, he did not have any recurrence of PTSD symptoms.

Joe felt joy that he did not experience previously, and he was more emotionally open and affectionate with his wife.

This heart-warming story shows the power of EFT to heal rapidly and effectively, with results that last. It's why I love using it.

Going forward

What a difference could be made with Veterans and their families if the VA and Department of Defense (DOD) used energy psychology techniques like these! They would be free of the devastating impact of PTSD, have better relationships and an improved quality of life.

Many ACEP members have stories of hope and healing. Let’s share them! When we tell our stories, we can help inspire practitioners to adopt energy psychology methods that are powerfully grounded in effective healingwith long-lasting outcomes.

Get trained and make a difference

Are you a teacher or school employee? If so, get trained to bring powerful energy psychology techniques to your school by enrolling in ACEP’s free Mind Body Tools for Children training. If you are a clinician or stakeholder wanting to offer energy psychology to your community, enroll in ACEP’s free Emotional First Aid training . If you would like to get trained in using Emotional Freedom Techniques with clients, sign up for ACEP’s online training that begins with EFT Professional Skills 1 .

Author

Ted Blickwedel, LICSW, MSW, MEd, is an ACEP member and recipient of ACEP's 2021 Special Recognition Award. He is a retired Marine, combat veteran, former VA VET Center counselor, VA whistleblower, and author of Broken Promises: Marine Combat Veteran Turns Whistleblower Exposing Compromised Mental Health Care at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Photo by RDNE Stock Project

Mitochondrial Mastery: The Science and Spirit of Cellular Wellness

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 14:00:04 GMT

In our quest for optimal health, longevity, and deeper connection, we often overlook the microscopic powerhouses driving every function within our bodies: the mitochondria. These remarkable cellular structures don't just produce energy—they may hold the key to extended lifespan, enhanced consciousness, and perhaps even our spiritual experiences.

Understanding Your Cellular Power Plants

Mitochondria are more than just a distant memory from high school biology. These sophisticated organelles convert the food we eat and the air we breathe into ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the universal energy currency that powers every cellular function. What makes mitochondria particularly fascinating is their unique position in our cellular architecture:

They possess their own DNA, separate from our nuclear DNA
They generate not just energy but actual measurable light in the form of biophotons
Their health directly correlates with aging, cognitive function, and physical vitality
They respond remarkably well to specific lifestyle interventions

The average human cell contains hundreds to thousands of mitochondria, with heart and brain cells having the highest concentration—up to 10,000 per cell. This isn't coincidental; our most energy-demanding organs require the most robust energy production systems.

The Mitochondrial Triad: Longevity, Light, and Consciousness

Longevity Connection

Research consistently shows that mitochondrial function declines with age, and this decline accelerates aging itself—a vicious cycle. The good news? This decline isn't inevitable. Studies on centenarians reveal remarkably preserved mitochondrial function compared to their younger counterparts with poorer health habits.

Biophotonic Light Production

Perhaps most intriguing is the emerging research on mitochondrial biophoton production. These light emissions aren't just metaphorical—they're measurable using sophisticated equipment. Scientists like Dr. Fritz-Albert Popp have documented that all living cells emit light, with healthy cells emitting coherent light patterns while diseased cells show chaotic emissions.

The Consciousness Link

The brain, our most energy-hungry organ, relies heavily on mitochondrial function. Researchers in fields ranging from neuroscience to quantum biology are exploring how mitochondrial energy production may influence consciousness itself. The brain contains approximately 86 billion neurons, each potentially housing thousands of mitochondria—creating a vast energy network that powers our thoughts, perceptions, and perhaps our deeper spiritual experiences.

Practical Mitochondrial Optimization Strategies

The remarkable aspect of mitochondrial health is how responsive these organelles are to lifestyle interventions. Here's how to enhance your cellular power plants through practical, evidence-based approaches.

1. Movement Practices

Why it works: Exercise triggers mitochondrial biogenesis—the creation of new mitochondria—while improving efficiency in existing ones.

Practical application:

High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT): Just 4-7 minutes of intense effort can significantly boost mitochondrial function
Zone 2 cardio: 30-45 minutes of moderate activity where you can still maintain a conversation
Resistance training: 2-3 sessions weekly to maintain muscle mass, a key site of mitochondrial activity

2. Breathing Optimization

Why it works: Mitochondria require oxygen as the final electron acceptor in the ATP production process.

Practical application:

Box breathing: Inhale for 4 counts, hold for 4, exhale for 4, hold for 4—repeat for 5 minutes daily
Wim Hof method: Controlled hyperventilation followed by breath retention activates stress adaptation pathways
Nasal breathing during exercise: Enhances nitric oxide production, improving oxygen delivery to mitochondria

3. Nutritional Support

Why it works: Mitochondria need specific nutrients to function optimally and protect against oxidative damage.

Practical application:

Metabolic flexibility: Alternate between carbohydrate and fat metabolism through intermittent fasting
Mitochondria-supporting nutrients: CoQ10, PQQ, L-carnitine, B vitamins, magnesium, methylene blue.
Polyphenol-rich foods: Blueberries, dark chocolate, green tea, and colorful vegetables protect mitochondrial membranes

4. Nature Connection

Why it works: Natural light exposure, grounding, and phytoncides (compounds released by trees) all support mitochondrial function.

Practical application:

Morning sunlight exposure: 10-30 minutes without glasses helps regulate circadian rhythms
Forest bathing: Walking among trees has been shown to reduce stress hormones that damage mitochondria
Cold exposure: Brief cold immersion activates brown adipose tissue, rich in mitochondria

5. Heart Coherence Practices

Why it works: The heart generates the body's strongest electromagnetic field, which can influence cellular function throughout the body.

Practical application:

Heart-focused breathing: Focus attention on the heart area while breathing slowly and deeply
Gratitude practice: Just 2 minutes of genuine gratitude can shift heart rhythm patterns
HeartMath techniques: Specific protocols designed to create coherent heart rhythms

6. Spiritual Practices

Why it works: Meditation, prayer, and contemplative practices reduce stress and inflammation, creating an optimal environment for mitochondrial function.

Practical application:

Meditation: Even 10 minutes daily can reduce oxidative stress
Mindful movement: Practices like qigong, tai chi, and yoga combine physical and spiritual benefits
Community connection: Strong social bonds reduce stress hormones that damage mitochondria

Energy Psychology Practices to Enhance Your Mitochondria

Why it works: Energy psychology techniques help release stress patterns stored in the body's energy system, reducing oxidative stress and inflammatory responses that can damage mitochondria. These methods appear to address the energetic disruptions that impair cellular function.

Practical application:

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT): This meridian-tapping approach combines gentle tapping on acupressure points with focused attention on specific emotions or physical sensations. Research shows EFT can significantly reduce cortisol levels—a key stress hormone that can impair mitochondrial function when chronically elevated.

Trauma Tapping Technique (TTT): This gentle approach helps discharge stored tension patterns in the fascia and nervous system using a specific pattern of tapping points, where no language is needed only to be present in the feeling. Since mitochondria are highly responsive to the body's stress state, releasing physical tension patterns can create an optimal environment for cellular energy production.

Heart Assisted Therapy (HAT): This heart-centered approach combines bilateral stimulation with focused attention on emotional states. The resulting heart-brain coherence creates electromagnetic patterns that appear to support intercellular communication and energy efficiency.

TAT (Tapas Acupressure Technique): By gently touching specific acupressure points around the eyes and at the back of the head while focusing attention on a particular issue, TAT helps release blocked energy patterns. This practice has been shown to reduce stress markers associated with mitochondrial dysfunction.

Ask and Receive: This consciousness-based technique uses focused intention and subtle energy awareness to release limiting patterns. Its emphasis on accessing higher cognitive states may help optimize the neurological environments where dense mitochondrial populations exist.

The Integrated Approach

What makes mitochondrial health so fascinating is the intersection of measurable physiological markers with subjective experiences of vitality, clarity, and connection. When we optimize our mitochondria, we're not just improving cellular biochemistry—we're enhancing the fundamental energy that powers our existence.

The most effective approach combines multiple interventions tailored to your unique needs. Consider pairing a physical practice (like HIIT training) with an energy psychology technique (such as EFT) for synergistic effects. The combination of addressing both physical and energetic dimensions creates a powerful protocol for mitochondrial enhancement.

Start with one practice from each category and observe how your energy, mental clarity, and overall vitality respond. The mitochondria's remarkable adaptability means improvements can begin within days. For particularly powerful results, consider alternating between energy psychology practices and physiological interventions throughout your day—for example, a morning cold exposure followed by an afternoon EFT session.

Beyond the Physical

While the physiological benefits of mitochondrial optimization are well-documented, many practitioners report something more profound—a heightened sense of awareness, improved intuition, and deeper connection to themselves and others. Perhaps this shouldn't surprise us; when the very powerhouses of our cells function optimally, our entire being operates at a higher level.

As we continue to bridge the gap between cutting-edge science and ancient wisdom, the humble mitochondria may prove to be the biological basis for experiences that transcend pure physicality.

Author

Maria Limardo, PhD, CEPH , is a medical intuitive, with a PhD in human genetics. An Intuitive since birth, she is certified in multiple energy healing and energy psychology modalities. Maria helps professionals optimize their cellular energy systems for peak performance, longevity, and deeper connection with medical intuitive and energy psychology practices. She received ACEP's 2021 Spreading the Word Award.

Can Energy Healing Be Stored in Physical Materials? And Does it Work?

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 21:16:23 GMT

Energy healing method is linked to recoveries from cancer in mice.

Visualization directed at water or cotton is retrieved later for healing.

Silent recordings of energy healing sessions are linked to genetic changes.

Do these claims sound like fairy tales? In fact, they are real findings based on solid research of the Bengston Energy Healing Method. Research studies in multiple labs around the world, using gold-standard designs, have supported these findings. The findings stretch the limits of three-dimensional models of reality.

Using The Bengston Energy Healing Method: Visual Image Cycling

What is this mysterious energy healing method all about? Full disclosure. I was trained in the Bengston Energy Healing Method by its founder in 2018 and have been part of regularly scheduled in-person and online practice groups since then. And I have personally ingested Bengston treated water, charged cotton and worn it, and given and received group healing sessions from others in the community. But don't just rely on my ardent support. Review what the research has to say. Decide for yourself what the buzz is all about.

When a person works with the Bengston Method in a session, it looks like nothing special is happening on the outside. But on the inside, the healer’s mind is quite active. Picture this. A person sits silently while practicing a mental protocol. They rapidly visualize a series of images of personally desired items or circumstances. Meanwhile, they feel their reactions as if currently receiving the items or circumstances. The more real their internal experience and the faster they perceive it, the better. For instance, feeling themselves currently speeding along the highway in a newly purchased car. Seeing themselves in the present time joyously laughing with a treasured partner they have yet to meet. Imagining proudly sporting a yet to be purchased new pair of yellow socks.

This rapid visual image cycling is credited to sociology professor William “Bill” Bengston, PhD. Decades ago, Bill learned to use a healing technique from a healer. He then developed rapid visual cycling to teach it to others. When relaxing while cycling, healing happens.

How does it work? No one knows for sure. Bill thinks it may not be the cycling that is doing the job. But when the mind is busily distracted by cycling, focused on things the person wants to achieve or receive, somehow healing energy emerges or is released. The healing energy finds its way to those in need. Cycling is relatively easy to learn, and people’s outcomes improve with practice.

In several research settings, cycling is added to other activities. People cycle and hold a piece of cotton or a container of water in their hands. Or they hold the outside of a cage with a cancer-infected mouse. In lab settings, an electromagnetic recording device captures the silence during their personal visual cycling routine. Physiological changes occur - with exposure to the recording, with previously treated water, and cotton. Cancerous tumors disappear from mice's bodies. The mice return to full health. Welcome to the wacky and wonderful world of the Bengston Energy Healing Method .

Where it Began

In the 1960’s, biologist Bernard Grad published studies showing that healers’ focus can affect plant growth. Additionally, plants shocked with saline solution recovered when treated by the healers. Healers also affect the health of previously wounded or sick mice (Grad, Cadoret, and Paul, 1961; Grad, 1964; Grad, 1963. See Beseme, S., et al . for full citations.). These studies marked the start of scientific research on healing energy, both hands-on and at a distance.

Inspired by these reports, Bill Bengston created studies using hands-near healing that was directed at mice with malignant tumors. It worked, saving the mice’s lives. In contrast, healing work on benign growths did not respond to the healing. It seemed the healing responded specifically and exclusively to the need for health. If there was no disease, then healing sessions resulted in no physiological changes. Astounding results. But is energy producing these results, or is it something else?

Despite the name Energy Method, and the title of Bengston’s book, The Energy Cure , Bill suggests that the term information may be more accurate than energy to explain what is happening.

There are significant cellular and electrophysiological reactions to the Bengston healing technique. For example, in a double blind, placebo-controlled study, an expert healer using his method showed physiological and cellular effects on cell samples with pancreatic cancer ( Cohen, Delorme, Cusimano et al., 2024).

Healing Information Stored in Physical Materials?

Can healing information be placed in objects? Biologist Grad and his healers could do just that. They stored healing intention in water, crystals, and cotton. Bengston used both water and cotton, and asked healers to “charge” the materials with Bengston Method information. When the materials were held while cycling, they were altered. People attuned to subtle energies, or “sensitives” claimed to register a difference in the materials after a charging session. But could the charged materials affect change in the real world?

In fact, once an item is charged with Bengston Method information, it holds that charge. The information for healing is released from the object when it is in the presence of something that needs healing. This happens even when the healer is not present. The charged object transfers information to the one in need, and a healing occurs. The implications from these findings are three-fold. First, items can be charged with information and stored. Second, the charged item can be used for healing later. Third, the healer who charged the object does not need to be present for the transfer to happen. Healing, therefore, can happen at a distance. Perplexing, yet true. Questions remain. Is this the placebo effect at work and can non-healers charge materials?

Healing Beyond Belief

Apparently, belief in the Bengston Energy Healing Method is not necessary for noticeable change to happen. And skepticism does not disrupt healing effects. Both skeptical and inexperienced subjects were trained in the Bengston Energy Healing Method. Mice with mammary carcinoma were placed in cages. Bengston practitioners placed their hands around mice cages for an hour a day while performing the cycling procedures. This type of cancer was recognized as lethal in many prior research studies, and the mice were expected to live no more than 27 days. Remarkably, the mice in the Bengston study broke this trend, living a complete lifespan in full remission. No cancer was detected. Even when reinjected with cancer, the mice remained healthy. Does this suggest a possible immunity for cancer? Too few studies exist to say this for certain. However, similar findings were replicated in six independent labs. See Bengston et al 2023 for a summary of the research.

Healing Recording Reduces Cancer in Mice

It turns out that recorded “magnetic” signals appear when people use Bengston's rapid visual image cycling technique. Would the recording by itself have a healing impact?

In a series of lab studies, the healing recording played for four hours a day, over the course of a month. Who was listening? Mice in the treatment group, who were infected with three types of cancer: bladder cancer, breast cancer, and melanoma. By comparison, control group mice were exposed to the same three cancers, but they did not hear the recording. The mice given bladder cancer in the treatment group never developed tumors. The mice exposed to breast cancer and melanoma showed physiological changes when exposed to the silent recording, compared to control groups. Mice in the treatment group with melanoma had a reduction in platelet count. Mice with breast cancer showed significant tumor suppression, and a reduction in an anemia marker for treated mice. You can read the study here Bengston, Cizdziel, et al (2023) .

Prior studies showed that the recording influenced cancer cell genes. Recorded frequencies of cycling registered greater than a 1.5-fold change in 37 out of 167 genes, compared to controls. Furthermore, 68 genes showed statistically significant changes. In three independent experiments, the genes ATP citrate lyase and interleukin IB were consistently downregulated. Marked changes took place at four and 24 hours of exposure to the recording. However, hands-on healing results outperformed the recording’s results. ( Beseme et al., 2018 ). Another study showed limited biological changes in mice with cancer, when exposed to the recording. Beseme, Fast et al (2020).

Covid-19 Improved Recovery with Informed Water

But what about human subjects? One study shows promising results. West African patients hospitalized with Covid-19 (n = 160) in September of 2022, drank either plain water, or Bengston charged water. They did not know which type of water they were given. They placed the water under the tongue several times a day during their hospital stay. Water was either untreated, or had been “informed” with the Bengston Method.

People who measured the patients’ symptoms were unaware of which type of water they had. Those with informed water had significant improvements in symptoms, with fewer positive PCR results, and better overall health, compared to controls. Those with informed water got better more quickly than the group with untreated water. You can read the full study here Bengston and Nies (2023).

Looking Ahead

It’s hard to know what the future brings for the Bengston Method, but innovation is likely to continue. Research studies continue to be designed and published. Bengston Method trainers across the USA offer workshops for those wanting to learn the method. Case studies and case reports are commonly shared in various Bengston “cycling” groups of those trained in the method. Various types of informed water can be purchased for personal use at Bengs Products website . The products claim to aid in recovery from flu, anti-aging, energy and balance, and better endurance. Research studies have not fully captured these claims but keep tracking the field to see these and other developments over time.

Learn More About Energy Healing Methods

Want to learn more? You can read Bill Bengston’s book, The Energy Cure . Or listen to his training program on CD’s for The Bengston Energy Healing Method. Go to his website for the latest research findings. Bengston and team also offer live, in-person and online training. You can read a blog by IONS about a healer’s effect on pancreatic cancer cells in the Cohen et al 2024 study . ACEP’s Science of Energy Healing Deluxe online program features interviews with Bill Bengston and other energy practice leaders in the field.

Want to learn more about biofield science and energy healing?

Check out ACEP’s research page on the website .

You can boost the field with a donation to ACEP for research, or a general donation to support ACEP’s work in the field.

Author

4 Simple Tools to Boost Your Therapy Results

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 14:00:01 GMT

Are you a therapist who is always looking for tools that get great results? If you are already using energy psychology tools like EFT, TFT, AIT, or CEP, you know how powerful these approaches can be. And as great as they are, sometimes a little tweak can lead to big improvements, even in an already-fabulous therapeutic toolkit! Here are four often overlooked yet simple tools to boost your therapy results.

Tapping the finger points

The most popular form of energy psychology is EFT tapping. EFT stands for the Emotional Freedom Techniques. Plural. Yet we often think of it only as tapping the side of hand with the setup statement, then tapping the head and torso points while stating the problem. That is certainly the basic recipe for EFT. But there’s more!

Tapping the points at the base of the fingernail on the thumb, index finger, middle finger, and pinky finger allows us to access important meridians where energy can also be stuck. Try adding these points in your next EFT practice and see how it feels. You may be surprised at how powerful it is!

The 9-gamut

Another underutilized technique in EFT is what’s called the 9-Gamut. This term was coined by Roger Callahan, father of energy psychology tapping techniques and creator of Thought Field Therapy (TFT).

To do this, tap the back of your hand, between the bones leading up to the pinky and ring fingers. This is a treatment point for the very important Triple Warmer or thyroid meridian. This meridian is associated with a host of emotions. While steadily tapping this point, do the following nine things:

Close your eyes
Open your eyes
Look sharply down to the left
Look sharply down to the right
Roll your eyes slowly in a big clockwise circle
Roll your eyes slowly in a big counterclockwise circle
Hum a little tune
Count to five
Hum a little tune

You will be amazed at how the distress level drops after doing this simple exercise. In fact, in online tapping groups, my group-members found that adding the finger points and 9-gamut reduced their SUDs (units of distress, on a 0-10 scale) by at least a point or two, and often more. Adding these techniques to a round of tapping, at least with these groups, seems more efficient than adding a new round of tapping.

The Brief Energy Correction

This is a simple tool that is taught in ACEP's comprehensive energy psychology training . It was designed to rebalance an energy field that had become scrambled, where the nerves are not sending the correct signals. A "tell" of this scrambling is homolateral walking (same arm and leg move forward together, rather than the opposite arm as normal). Confusion and clumsiness are also "tells".

Interestingly, Robin Bilazarian found that this simple exercise reduced workshop participants SUDs dramatically in just 90 seconds of practice. You can read more about Robin’s study here , and also view a video of the technique. Her article even has an image showing the hand placement!

To do this simple exercise, place one hand below your naval. Then place your other hand on the following areas, holding each for just one breath:

Both sides of the collar bone, using thumb and index finger on either side
Under the nose, using index and middle finger
Under the mouth, using index and middle finger
At the tailbone, with the back of the hand on your body and thumb facing upwards

The next time you need a quick fix for your energy or mood, give the brief energy correction a try. I recently guided a stressed-out client who was having therapy from his car in this subtle exercise. He dropped from a ten to a four after three rounds, and to a two after an additional three rounds. It was easier for him to do than a full tapping protocol because of logistics, and got him a dramatic reduction in just a couple of minutes.

Collar bone breathing

This is another simple tool that is part of the comprehensive energy psychology training but can be a fantastic standalone technique. It also was meant to help restore balance in a scrambled energy system and offered help for clumsiness and confusion.

To do this technique, cross your hands over your chest with your fingers resting just below your collar bones. You’ll do two sets: for the first, put your fingertips under your collar bones. For the second set, place your middle knuckle just under your collar bones. For each set, breathe as follows:

Inhale and exhale completely
Inhale halfway and hold
Inhale the rest of the way and hold
Breathe halfway out and hold
Breathe the rest of the way out and hold
Inhale and exhale completely

Give this simple technique a try and see how easy it is to come back into balance!

Simple tools to boost your therapy results.

These four simple tools will help you get great results, quickly and easily. Even better, they are free and have no side effects! Give them a try and see how you and your clients feel even better, even faster!

What are your favorite tools to use energy psychology in your teletherapy practice? We would love to hear from you, so leave a comment below. If you would like to learn more about these exciting techniques, check out our training calendar .

Author

Sarah Murphy, LPC, ACP-EFT, is a counselor in private practice and specializes in working with people who have serious illnesses. A student of the Ageless Wisdom, she is dedicated to sharing the Great Invocation. She specializes in energy psychology, including EFT, as well as mindfulness and meditation.

Photo by Jonathan Sebastiao on unsplash

Dealing with a shock? Try this.

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 15:00:01 GMT

One of the fastest and most effective ways to reset after a shock is to use the Thymus Thump . This is a simple body-based technique that helps you settle your body and increase your life-force energy. The technique was developed by Energy Psychology pioneer John Diamond. Practice the technique right now by watching the video below and following along. You can also download written instructions in English , Spanish , and Portuguese . The next time you are dealing with a shock, give it a try.

How it Works

To do the Thymus Thump , simply tap on the middle of your chest, using a closed fist. It's even better when you plaster a smile on your face while doing it. Give it a try!

Notice how your body feels both before and after you use the technique. This technique is just one of many you can use when you’ve been in shock and need to settle your body.

Why It Works

By using energy psychology techniques like the Thymus Thump , you are interacting with your body's energy system. The technique is also helpful if you feel anxious or panicky and will help you after a shock or trauma.

More Techniques to try when you are dealing with a shock.

If you found the Thymus Thump helpful, here are a couple more tools you can use to increase your energy: Four Thumps and Heel Shock Release .

Need Help from a Professional?

Author: Sarah Murphy, LPC, ACP-EFT

Video Resources Provided by the ACEP Humanitarian Committee

5 Must-Know Tips for First-Time ACEP Conference Attendees

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 13:00:06 GMT

1. Don’t Skip the Research Symposium!

One of the best ways to ease into the conference experience is by attending the Research Symposium the day before the official conference. This session showcases cutting-edge research in energy psychology, giving you a front-row seat to emerging insights in the field. And it's free with conference registration.

But beyond the knowledge, the symposium offers a built-in community right from the start. When I attended my first conference, I found that engaging with researchers and presenters in this setting made me feel more at home. Instead of feeling like an outsider, I walked into the rest of the conference recognizing familiar faces and feeling immediately connected to the energy psychology community.

2. Embrace Movement Breaks—They’re More Than Just a Stretch!

After hours of sitting in deep, thought-provoking sessions, the Qigong, Tai Chi, or other movement activities offered during breaks can be a lifesaver for your body and mind.

But here’s something you might not expect—these movement breaks are one of the best ways to meet people. Unlike networking in hallways or between sessions (where everyone is rushing to the next talk), movement activities create a natural space for organic connection.

At my first ACEP conference, I met a now-dear friend after a movement break when we struck up a conversation and discovered our shared love for the Sedona, AZ area. That kind of connection is priceless, and it wouldn’t have happened if I had just gone straight for coffee between sessions!

3. Attend the Regional Breakfasts—A Hidden Gem for Networking

If you want to connect with like-minded professionals in your area, make time for the regional breakfasts. These gatherings are casual, welcoming, and fun, and they’re usually led by someone well-connected in the field who can introduce you to others in your region.

For first-time attendees, this is one of the easiest ways to build relationships that last beyond the conference. It’s one thing to meet people at a national event, but it’s even more exciting to walk away with connections that could lead to collaborations, referrals, masterminds, or even friendships back home.

4. There’s Zero Need to Feel Intimidated

Walking into a professional conference for the first time can feel intimidating—especially when you see a room full of PhDs, MDs, LPCs, LCSWs, and every other credential in the book.

I get it. When I attended my first ACEP conference, I was just starting my graduate studies and didn’t know a single person. I took a leap of faith and sat at a lunch table, unknowingly joining a group of major figures in the field—Dawson Church, David Feinstein, and multiple ACEP board members. I had no idea who they were at the time, but what struck me was how warm, welcoming, and excited they were to engage with my “newbie” questions.

It wasn’t until months later that I realized exactly who I had been sitting with—but that experience shaped my perspective on ACEP as an open, inclusive, and encouraging community. Everyone is there because they love energy psychology and want to see it grow—so if you have questions, ask away!

5. Get Involved—Your Ideas Are Welcome!

One of the most unique aspects of ACEP is how easy it is to contribute. Unlike some organizations where it takes years to get involved, ACEP offers low-barrier opportunities to bring your ideas to the table—literally.

Want to see energy psychology expand? Have an idea for an initiative? Attend a committee lunch. I did this on a whim during my first conference. I had an idea for improving blog visibility and mentioned it to someone at a happy hour event—who turned out to be an ACEP board member. They encouraged me to attend a Communications Committee lunch, and by simply showing up with my lunch, I was able to share my thoughts, contribute, and get involved. Want to plan ahead for which committee you might like to join? See the committee list here .

These committee meetings are not only a great way to contribute but also a fantastic CV builder if you're looking to deepen your professional experience in the field.

Final Thoughts: Make the Most of It!

Your first ACEP conference will be what you make of it. Whether you’re there to learn, network, or explore how energy psychology fits into your professional journey, one thing is for sure—you’re in for an inspiring and transformative experience.

So take a deep breath, embrace the connections, and enjoy every moment of this incredible gathering. You belong here.

Learn more about the conference and register.

Author

Katherine Romero is a doctoral student in clinical psychology, life coach, Reiki practitioner, and somatic breathwork practitioner . Passionate about the intersection of mind, body, spirit, and energy in healing, Katherine explores the role of intergenerational trauma, consciousness, ancestral healing and holistic approaches in mental health. A long-time advocate for integrative practices, she is excited about expanding the reach of energy psychology and supporting her clients as a therapist-in-training .

The Amygdala, Fear and Energy Psychology – Contemplations on a Neuroscientist’s Blog

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 15:00:00 GMT

In a 2015 blog titled “The Amygdala Is NOT the Brain's Fear Center”, neuroscientist Joseph Ledoux laments that the amygdala has “gone from an obscure area of the brain to practically a household word, one that has come to be synonymous with ‘fear’.” He goes on to say, “It is not a scientific finding but instead a conclusion based on an interpretation of a finding. “

In my opinion, what Ledoux goes on to describe fits very well with the experience of treating people with energy psychology. More on this in a moment.

Ledoux says that the conscious feeling of fear is not the same thing as the non-conscious detection of threats and control of the body’s reactions to that threat. The amygdala is responsible for the latter, but it does not by itself produce the emotion of fear. Ledoux describes a much more complex process that underlies the construction of the feeling of fear. It includes attention, perception, memory, arousal, appraisal and so on.

What does this have to do with energy psychology? Whether TFT, TAT or EFT are employed, the usual experience for someone being treated for trauma is that, after a few rounds of treatment, the client who had a fear level of “9” thinks of the event and for "some strange reason" no longer feels in danger. The fear is gone. This has nothing to do with changing the client’s logic or cognitive appraisal. The detection of threat is removed and mobilization of the body to deal with the threat ceases.

Think about someone who is freaked out by a flashback or traumatic memory. They consciously know it is in the past. You can tell them there is no danger. Does this help? Not really. The sense of danger wells up from the body/unconscious. Ledoux is absolutely correct; the emotion of fear is a constructed event that includes components from the amygdala, namely the detection of threat and the body’s mobilization response to that threat. But from where does the threat come?

In PTSD the threat comes from an internal memory! The person keeps reacting to the memories (conscious or unconscious) as if they are current, as if the threat is current. None of this is conscious. The person has negative reactions without really understanding why. The memories themselves (both conscious and unconscious) become conditioned as dangerous. It is as if the amygdala fails to know the difference between a real outside danger and the internal memory of past outside danger.

When we use energy psychology, one thing that appears to occur is that the amygdala is no longer detecting threat from the memory. No threat, no response, no fear. This also makes sense with what I have been saying about polyvagal theory. And it fits in with memory reconsolidation theory and energy psychology.

The clarification that Ledoux makes strengthens the argument that energy psychology shuts down limbic responses at a sub-cortical level. Energy psychology works to shut down the non-conscious perception of threat and the subsequent body reactions, eliminating the precursors to fear.

Learn more

Want to learn more about how energy psychology can help heal trauma and optimize success? Check out the ACEP training catalogue

Author

Robert Schwarz, PsyD, DCEP, has been a licensed psychologist for over 33 years. He served as ACEP's executive director for over 17 years. Bob has trained therapists internationally on trauma treatment, panic and anxiety, energy psychology. He has organized over 25 conferences on energy psychology trauma treatment, Ericksonian hypnosis, brief therapy, that trained over 18,000 therapists. He has authored 3 books, including: Tools for Transforming Trauma, PTSD: A Clinician’s Guide and We’re No Fun Anymore: Guiding Couples to a Joy Filled Marriage Through the Power of Play, as well as numerous articles and papers including "Energy psychology as a polyvagal intervention for trauma."

Unveiling the Science Behind Energy Psychology: How Tapping Works

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 15:00:04 GMT

David Feinstein, not to anyone’s surprise, has contributed yet another groundbreaking paper to the field of energy psychology. This one focuses on the physiological mechanisms that appear to explain how tapping actually works. While empirical verification of effectiveness is vital—and we’ve come a very long way toward establishing that—it’s a bit more complicated to credibly pinpoint the physiology behind those results.

Dr. Feinstein’s latest article, "Physiological Mechanisms of Energy Psychology Treatments: An Updated Synthesis," was just published in the journal Energy Psychology. It presents seven empirically supported premises that elucidate the biological basis for the clinical improvements we consistently see when using energy psychology techniques.

The Journey from Skepticism to Scientific Validation

The energy psychology field, including its most well-known method, Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), has come a long way since its inception in the 1980s. Met with strong skepticism for a long time, and often wrongly dismissed as pseudoscience, this approach has gained significant traction in clinical practice and academic research. This credibility has been fortified by over 200 peer-reviewed clinical trials supporting its efficacy, on top of millions of downloads of the EFT mobile app worldwide.

The challenge for energy psychology, however, has always been explaining its mechanisms in ways that align with modern scientific understanding. Early explanations often relied on concepts from traditional Eastern medicine, such as "meridians" and "subtle energies," but these concepts have been difficult to verify using conventional scientific methods.

Feinstein's paper marks a significant shift in this narrative. It provides a comprehensive synthesis of current research that explains energy psychology's effectiveness through the lens of Western science.

The Backbone of Energy Psychology's Efficacy: Seven Key Premises

Feinstein's paper outlines seven empirically supported premises that unveil the physiological mechanisms underlying energy psychology treatments. His focus is on methods that use acupoint tapping, like Emotional Freedom Techniques and Thought Field Therapy.

Biological Markers of Improvement: Clinical improvements following acupoint tapping sessions are consistently reflected in measurable, clinically desirable biological shifts. These include reduced cortisol levels, lowered blood pressure, favorable changes in gene expression, and improved heart rate variability.
Generation of Electromagnetic Signals: The act of tapping on acupoints generates electromagnetic signals through a process known as "mechanosensory transduction," in which mechanical pressure is converted into electrical signals.
Signal Transmission to the Brain: These electromagnetic signals are transmitted to the brain via two primary pathways: the nervous system and the body's connective tissue network.
Targeted Brain Activation: The signals reach the brain regions that are aroused by the thoughts, memories, and images the client focuses on during the tapping process.
Neurological Regulation: Once reaching the brain, these signals help regulate brain activity, either increasing or decreasing activation in ways that promote healing and adaptive behavior.
Alignment with Memory Reconsolidation: The process aligns perfectly with scientific understanding of memory reconsolidation, which is the way the brain updates old learnings with new experiences.
Increasing the Effectiveness of Exposure Techniques: Psychological exposure is one of the most potent treatments for trauma-based disorders, and combining this with tapping sends signals directly to the limbic system that down-regulate arousal, making exposure treatments even more rapid and effective.

The Neurobiological Dance of Tapping

Feinstein's synthesis draws from multiple scientific disciplines beyond psychology to paint a comprehensive picture of how tapping works at the neurobiological level. Imaging studies cited in his paper reveal fascinating insights into the brain's response to tapping:

An fMRI study showed decreased arousal in brain regions associated with pain perception after tapping sessions.
Another study, which also used fMRI pre/post treatment measures, found reduced activation in neural areas linked to food cravings after tapping treatments for obesity.
Other imaging studies suggest that the technique appears to facilitate the integration of negative emotional experiences at a neural level

These findings not only substantiate the subjective experiences reported by clients but also provide a scientific foundation for the observed clinical improvements.

Implications for Psychotherapy

Understanding these mechanisms has profound implications for psychotherapy. For instance, the knowledge that tapping generates electromagnetic signals that travel to aroused brain regions underscores the importance of having clients focus on specific aspects of their problems while tapping. This clarity can enable practitioners to fine-tune their techniques for maximum efficacy.

Moreover, understanding how tapping facilitates memory reconsolidation can help clinicians recognize and capitalize on moments when old beliefs become more flexible and receptive so change can occur. This, in turn, can lead to more targeted and effective interventions.

Future Research Directions

While Feinstein's paper provides strong scientific support for energy psychology's mechanisms, it also highlights areas where further research is needed. He suggests some directions for future studies, including:

Direct measurement of the electromagnetic signals generated by tapping.
Real-time tracking of signal propagation through the body during tapping sessions.
More detailed mapping of the neural pathways involved in the tapping response.

Such studies should be able to further refine our understanding of energy psychology's mechanisms and potentially lead to even more effective treatment protocols.

Conclusion: A New Era for Energy Psychology

We stand on the brink of a new era in mental health treatment—one that more fully demonstrates in accepted scientific ways, that energy psychology methods do indeed harness the body's own electromagnetic and more subtle energy systems to promote healing and well-being. Feinstein’s latest paper marks a next big milestone in advancing this emerging trend. By providing a scientifically grounded explanation for the efficacy of energy psychology techniques, it opens the door for broader acceptance and integration of these remarkable methods into mainstream psychotherapeutic practice.

For practitioners, this “how it works” research offers an even more solid foundation for explaining their work to scientifically-minded colleagues and clients alike. For researchers, it provides a roadmap for future investigations that can further refine and expand our understanding of these powerful techniques.

Feinstein’s full paper delves into the dynamics that are beyond the scope of this summary. You can access it and other resources from http://3resources.energytapping.com

Want to Add Emotional Freedom Techniques to Your Toolkit?

Check out ACEP's online training with live, virtual practice in small groups. eftonline.org
Sign up for our free master class on Emotional Freedom Techniques to get a taste of the training.

Author

David Gruder, PhD, DCEP, is a distinguished psychologist and Wall Street Journal bestselling author who has garnered 12 awards for his professional contributions. As the founding president of ACEP, he played a pivotal role in establishing the organization. David is a highly respected authority on integrating energy psychology into psychotherapy and business development practices. For more information, visit DrGruder.com .

Is the Brain the Origin of the Mind, or its Instrument?

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 20:18:53 GMT

In his recent blog , my colleague Bob Schwarz discusses mind and its relation to energy psychology. His piece is a synthetic review of the modern paradigm and its application to the field of energy psychology. I highly recommend giving it a thorough read. Bob quotes Dan Siegel, who posits that the mind is “created by the body interacting with the environment.” This sentence struck me, as it ties into a question that I have been pondering for decades, and that humans have for millennia. Is the brain the origin of the mind, or its instrument?

The intersection of brain and mind is a profound question that bears considering. My own musings, reading, and experience have led me to conclude that the brain is not the origin of the mind, but rather, the organ of the mind. Greater minds than mine have weighed in on this quandary, and I’ll synthesize some of their points here. I’ll also share some of my experiences to illustrate those points.

The mechanistic view: is the brain the origin of the mind?

The mechanistic paradigm is very popular today, and indeed, has held sway throughout much of Western history. In this view, the mind arises from the material brain and its processes. Memories are stored in “file drawers” in the brain, and dreams are the random firing of neurons.

An alternate view

A different, more traditional, yet also more modern, conceptualization of mind is that the mind exists on subtle, nonphysical planes. It might be understood as energy rather than matter. In this paradigm, the brain is the organ of the mind, just as the eye is the organ of sight. This hinges on the idea that we are much more than the physical, having our existence in subtle, energy realms as well as the material.

Carl Jung posited the collective unconscious. This was a sort of 20 ^th century, Western reprise of Patanjali’s “raincloud of knowable things.” If we begin to think again about consciousness and mind as existing on subtle planes, which are as individual as they are universal, we can understand the interconnectedness of Being. The profundity of this understanding can open new worlds of compassion, understanding, and healing. I'll talk more about the definition of mind and consciousness in a bit.

Evidence for subtle mind

The question naturally arises: is there any evidence to back this up? Swami Sarvapriyananda, of the Vedanta Society of New York, speaks of the evidence supporting the subtle view. He ties his position to the hard problem of consciousness, posed by David Chalmers , co-director of the Center for Mind, Brain, and Consciousness at New York University. A good (video) summary of Chalmers’s view is here .

The hard problem of consciousness deals with subjective experience. Our subjective experiences include information from our five senses, as well as emotion and thought, sleeping and waking, dreaming and daydreaming, awareness and lack of awareness, and more. How can physical processes create such subjective experience? How can a physiology give rise to the experience of self? If the mind arises from brain processes, how do these physical processes create a subtle subjective experience? Why are we not robots? How do we come to have the sense of “I”?

An answer to the hard problem – and there are other, mechanistic attempts at solving it – is that the mind exists outside the brain, and the brain is its instrument. Chalmers claims a preference to a panpsychic viewpoint, which states that everything in the natural world has consciousness or a mind. The Vedantists say it differently: consciousness is the ground of being. In either case, this view is closer to what we find in quantum physics than in Newtonian physics: phenomena are better understood as energy and relationship rather than as material.

Mind, consciousness, and brain

Definition of terms is essential to understanding and conversation. In this article, consciousness is more than mind. It includes mind, but also includes emotion, physical sensation, awareness, and even the absence of awareness. Mind is a subset of consciousness, and it deals with thought. Thoughts, emotions, and physical feelings are three different experiences that we have in our waking consciousness. In deep sleep, mind, emotions, bodily feelings are quiet but consciousness persists; our brains, however, do not register it. Some thoughts are quite concrete and mundane; others are more subtle, ephemeral, at times inchoate. Some thoughts are local; others are most definitely nonlocal.

Experience underscores the point

Here is an example. Years ago, I was sitting in meditation in the early morning, trying not to fall asleep. I had almost given up and decided to have one more go at attention. A subway car window appeared in my mind. “Interesting, what’s that about?,” I thought. Next, a man with curly dark hair, wearing a white tee-shirt, dark pants and a black jacket came into view. Finally, and quit surprisingly, he spoke in French. “Merd. A’vous de la torche?” he asked.

At this point I gave up on my concentration efforts and went to take a shower. Why was there a man speaking French in my meditation? What was he saying? I racked my brain. Having studied French for years, but many years ago, I had the gist of things. Merd is pretty well known. He was speaking quickly and using the formal “vous” but not enunciating the formal “avez”, but rather slurred an “a’ vous.” It wasn’t till later that I remembered “torche” is a flashlight. And slightly later, I heard on the radio that the Chunnel train had gotten stuck on its way from Belgium. Do you have a flashlight? This could be coincidence. But it could also be an instance of minds relating because they not material, but are energy, and therefore connected.

Everyday examples

We have all had those “coincidental” experiences of nonlocal conscious connection with people we are close to: we call each other at the same time, say the same words almost in unison, know the person was going to stop by or call before they do, or think of someone and then have them get in touch, as if they “heard” us thinking. These can all be examples of nonlocal consciousness.

There are more unusual cases, too. A friend of mine “heard” in meditation that she had the BRCA genetic mutation. She insisted on getting tested, though there was no family history of breast or gynecologic cancer. Her doctors were quite skeptical when they asked why she wanted to get tested, and she gave her honest answer! She did indeed have the gene and underwent surgeries to eliminate the potential sources of cancer.

And there are other stories like my friend’s. For example, ACEP member Larry Burke published a book, Dreams that Can Save Your Life , which documents many cases of people who learned they had cancer through dreams. These dreams led them to early detection and a higher cure rate.

In a similar vein, other researchers are investigating synchronous dreams. These happen when two people have the same dream, and the experience is not as uncommon as you might think. One of my sons and I had a synchronous dream when he was a child.

All of these examples – dreams, meditations, “coincidences” – seem to support the idea that we are indeed more than meets the eye, and that our minds exist outside of material brain processes.

Energy psychology examples

The first form of energy psychology is called Thought Field Therapy. The name itself seems to indicate that there is a thought field which is probably not physical or local, arising from the brain. Rather, it is a field of thought energy with which we are interacting, giving and taking. Research into this new paradigm is already underway. Our friends at HeartMath and IONS are spearheading some of these inquiries, and their findings are compelling.

Additionally, an interesting phenomenon that is known in EFT circles is the phenomenon of what we term “borrowing benefits.” In group sessions, one subject will be working on their issue at the front of the room. The rest of the audience is tapping along with the subject. The subject gets better, and moreover, the fellow tappers experience a reduction in distress related to their own related experiences – even though they were focused on someone else. Other interesting cases have people tap on behalf of others, nonlocally and asynchronously, and the recipients experience reduction in distress.

One of my favorite tales of nonlocal healing comes from a paper I read when I was studying for my master’s degree. Adina Golman Shore did her doctoral dissertation on Reiki and published her results in Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine. I still remember reading her clever study, probably because I’ve been talking about it for the past eighteen years!

Three groups of people with depression and anxiety were given hands-on Reiki, distant Reiki, or a wait-list control. The people in both hands-on and distant Reiki groups received a significant reduction in symptoms. Moreover, the people receiving distant healing and those on the wait list did not know which group they were in. This is for me the most shining example of the power of nonlocal thought and energy. I hope that others will replicate Goldman Shore’s study and add to the body of research on this interesting topic.

Final thoughts

Much research is needed – and it is happening! – as the paradigm shifts from a mechanistic to an energetic concept of mind. Already, there is much evidence to support the idea that mind is energy working through the brain. The interesting cases that energy psychology often presents may be better understood or explained from an energy perspective rather than a material, mechanistic one.

What are your thoughts? Is this too woo-woo to be believed? Or do you subscribe to the nonlocal consciousness point of view? Is the brain the origin of the mind, or its instrument? I’d love to hear from you!

Scroll down - below the social media icons - to add your comment.

Author

Sarah Murphy, LPC, NCC, is a licensed and nationally certified professional counselor. She specializes in energy psychology, including EFT, as well as mindfulness and meditation. Sarah works with individuals seeking to find peace within themselves, people who have serious medical diagnoses, and couples who want to resolve conflict and live in harmony. Sarah is an ACEP Board member and chair of the Communications Committee; she serves as staff therapist with Unite for HER .

Feeling Traumatized? Try This.

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 13:00:09 GMT

When you have been through a trauma and are feeling shocked, try bouncing up and down on the balls of your feet. You can also sit in a chair and massage your heel and ankle areas. The Heel Shock Release is a simple body-based technique that will help you reawaken your energy system. The technique comes to us from Donna Eden . Practice the technique right now by watching the video below and following along. Remember to try it next time you are feeling exhausted but can’t take a nap! You can also download written instructions in English , Spanish , and Portuguese .

How it Works

You can do this by bouncing on the balls of your feet and allowing your heels to strike the ground. You can also rub or massage your heels: on the sides, where the heel meets the arch, and behind the ankle bones.

If you haven’t given the Heel Shock Release a try yet, do it now. Take notice of how your body feels both before and after you use the technique.

Why It Works

When you use techniques like the Heel Shock Release , you are interacting with your body's energy system and increasing the flow of energy through your system. This allows you to come back into your body and out of your overwhelm.

Stimulating shock points in our heels is said to help balance the yin and yang meridians and to balance the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. This technique is also helpful immediately after you experience a trauma, if you feel dissociated, or when you are shocked or numb.

More techniques to try when you are feeling traumatized.

If you found the Heel Shock Release helpful, here are a few more tools you can use to increase your energy and discharge feelings of overwhelm: Four Thumps and Thymus Thump .

Need Help from a Professional?

Author

Sarah Murphy, LPC, ACP-EFT , is a licensed counselor and coach in private practice and specializes in working with people who have serious illnesses. A student of the Ageless Wisdom, she is dedicated to sharing the Great Invocation.

Video Resources Provided by the ACEP Humanitarian Committee

Photo by Colin Watts on Unsplash

Emotional Freedom Techniques Reduces Symptoms of Chronic Pain

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 15:00:02 GMT

The evidence for Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) tapping as an effective treatment for trauma and chronic pain continues to accumulate. An exciting study was released in September 2024 by Peta Stapleton et al in The European Journal of Pain. It shows a significant and sustained decrease in levels of chronic pain when a course of EFT was used.

Chronic pain probably affects someone you know

Stapleton and her colleagues recognized that chronic pain is an experience that impacts people’s quality of life, and “affects one in five adults during their lifetime”. The authors note that a strong link is seen between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and adult pain, with psychological health being particularly vulnerable to ACEs.

Study design

147 chronic pain sufferers were randomized into two groups: one with an active EFT intervention, and a waitlist control group. Before and after the study, they completed a series of assessments: Brief Pain Inventory, Quality of Life Scale, Satisfaction with Life Scale, Self Rating of Happiness, Patient Health Questionnaire and the ACE Questionnaire. The intervention group was then subdivided into a live (via ZOOM) subgroup (78) and a self-paced subgroup (83); and the waitlist group also subdivided into a live subgroup (46) and a self-paced subgroup (118).

The intervention group received EFT for 2 hours per week for 6 weeks, either “in-person” via live zoom sessions, or “self-paced” by tapping along with videos recorded by the researchers. The waitlist control group “waited” without any treatment for 6 weeks, then received the same protocol as the intervention group. (The study was done during the covid pandemic, so no physical in-person sessions were held.)

Outcome: significant and sustained improvements

Results showed that pain severity was significantly lower in the group using EFT at post-test compared with pretest and was maintained through a 6-month follow-up. Quality of life also showed improved scores after using EFT. These outcomes were also sustained at 6-month follow-up. Notably, both in-person (online) and self-paced groups showed significant results, indicating that online or self-paced interventions would not compromise treatment outcomes.

Why does this matter?

Chronic pain is known to affect roughly 20% of the population and is a major disrupter of the quality of people’s lives. It can be linked to depression, isolation, and other physical and mental health issues. People invest serious time and money in an effort to cope, including medication and expensive treatments. EFT can be accessible, inexpensive, and easy to use even in a virtual setting. This study offers hope for people who have been living with chronic pain.

Spreading the word about the research

This newly released study adds to the library of research which shows how using EFT can improve overall quality of life, including as a skill for pain management and reduction. Recently, ACEP shared the Science of Energy Healing Masterclass, full of examples of relevant research and tips on how to communicate scientific findings in ways that connect with your clients (and anyone else who shows interest!)

Want to learn more?

ACEP offers gold-standard training in EFT, designed especially for licensed clinicians. CE/CNE is available.
Want to learn more about the science while earning CE’s? Take our Science of Energy Healing Deluxe course.
Stay up to date with the research on energy psychology. Check out the research section on our web site , which includes a brief Quick Facts and downloadable bibliographies. You can also contact John Freedom and ask him to add you to the research mailing list. research_committee@energypsych.org

Read the full study

Stapleton, P. et al. (2024). A randomized clinical trial of emotional freedom techniques for chronic pain: Live versus self-paced delivery with 6-month follow-up. Eur J Pain. 2024;00:1–14.

doi: 10.1002/ejp.4740

Authors

Ramona K. Clifton, LCSW is a licensed clinical social worker and coach with a private practice in Brooklyn, NY. She incorporates EFT, mindfulness, and a deep appreciation for individual experience and creative drive. She is a member of ACEP and the ACEP Communications Committee.

John Freedom, CEHP , serves as chairman of ACEP’s research committee. The author of Heal Yourself with Emotional Freedom Technique, he presents seminars and events throughout the US and in Europe.

Recipe for a Stress-Free Holiday Season

Mon, 09 Dec 2024 15:00:04 GMT

This recipe is an old favorite. We’ve refined it over the past few decades, adjusting as the seasons went by. We hope you will enjoy it too!

Ingredients:

Just enough time with friends and family
Plenty of rest
Downsized shopping list
Reasonable holiday menu
Daily routine to stay grounded
No expectations

Directions:

Start with the finest ingredients: the people you love!
Make sure to spend time with them. Now, to keep the intergenerational family gatherings from driving you crazy, remember this: ‘Tis the season to reflect on how the things that unite us are much greater than those that seem to divide. But if you need to regroup after interacting with your infamous uncle, try calm breathing .

Mix in regular intervals of rest.

In spite of the busy-ness of the season, rest and relaxation are as important as ever. Here are some tricks to keep things in balance: If your shopping list is wearing you out, pare it down. Do the same with your décor and invitations. Because you can’t give from an empty cup! If you need help unwinding at the end of a long day, give the Cook’s Hookup a try.

Adjust your expectations.

Back in the ‘90’s a spoof magazine, the Onion or Spy, published an issue that read: “Is Martha Stewart Living?” Great question. Yes, she is, and with a huge staff of helpers! Have you tried making whipped cream with a whisk as she did on TV? One of us did, and her arm got tired, so she switched to the hand mixer. Now she uses the can. Life is short, and we should spend it doing what we want to do. If that’s living up to an image of perfection, we probably need to adjust our expectations. If you need help letting those old expectations go, try reconnecting with the Four Thumps .

After you’ve adjusted some of your expectations, release rest of them.
They will only lead to disappointment and frustration. But if you are already frustrated or disappointed, try the healing head hold to release those feelings and get calm and peaceful. In fact, all the exercises on ACEP’s Resources for Resilience site can help you through stressful, busy times.

This recipe does not require baking, just time.

In about 40 days, it will be behind you, leaving you with a warm feeling inside and a smile on your face.

Recipe for a stress-free holiday

How do you keep your holidays stress-free? Which of these ideas resonate with you? we’d love to hear from you!

Wishing you a warm, joyful, and stress-free holiday,

The ACEP communications team

Cynthia, Lori, Ramona and Rebecca

Lori Hops, Past President

Cynthia Joba, Director, Outreach & Communication

Ramona Clifton, Communications Committee Member

Rebecca Rogers, Social Media

Photo by freestocks on Unsplash

Fred Gallo: Pioneer of Energy Psychology

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 13:00:06 GMT

I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Fred Gallo, a true energy psychology pioneer, shortly after his presentation “Embrace the Present: Unveiling the Identity Method” at the 2024 ACEP energy psychology conference in Arizona. Fred coined the term with the publication of his seminal book Energy Psychology . Among many honors in the field, Fred has received two ACEP awards: Outstanding Contribution to the Field of Energy Psychology in 2008, and Outstanding Service in 2019. Fred Gallo’s contributions to EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), Thought Field Therapy (TFT), and other energy psychology techniques have shaped the field for decades. Read on for a few highlights of his career and some personal milestones that he shared.

Asking why

As a family member observed, “Freddie was always asking why”. Fred’s journey toward developing energy psychology began at age 15, when he read a book about hypnosis and began applying methods on his younger brothers and friends. He marveled at the impact of

trance states and the effectiveness of post-hypnotic suggestions. In another synchronistic find, at the age of 16, while cleaning out a garage with friends, he picked up a book about psychoanalysis and there discovered the worlds of Mesmer, Freud, Adler, and Jung. The

personal stories connected with him, and led Fred to study philosophy and psychology, ultimately driving his innovative work in EFT and TFT.

Overcoming personal challenges

Fred and his family faced significant early losses. His mother died of cancer when he was 12 years old, leaving his father with 5 children to raise. Fred was determined to contribute to the family, and planned to enter graduate school, paying his own way with the goal of making

money with his doctorate. Right before grad school began, he was hit by a car, which derailed his plans. He almost died. Fred had a profound near-death experience, in which he clarified his awareness and connection with a creator/God.

Developing energy psychology

What came next? After recovering, Fred began teaching 8th grade at a Pittsburgh school and continued his study of philosophy. He was also drawn back to psychology, and was particularly inspired by the question, “What really works for people and what is most effective and helpful?”

He recognized that it’s crucial to have a range of skills, and to work with a client using different concepts and techniques. Fred emphasizes that the relationship is always key, stating “connection is a fundamental element”. Fred was drawn to study early energy psychology

methods, and trained with Dr. Roger J. Callahan, founder of Thought Field Therapy (TFT), and Dr. John Diamond, founder of behavioral kinesiology. He began to synthesize his training in cognitive behavioral therapy, Gestalt Therapy, neuro-linguistic programming, and Ericksonian hypnotherapy, resulting in unique and powerful methods that he termed advanced energy psychology.

Addressing the skeptics

How did Fred address early skepticism? He shares an amusing anecdote about presenting at a 1995 Psychological Association conference in Pennsylvania, where a “young and somewhat pushy” therapist, Dr. Bob Schwarz, questioned the effectiveness of tapping for trauma treatment. Fred appreciated the questions, and as many readers will know, Bob came around, eventually serving as ACEP’s executive director for 17 years and training scores of EFT cohorts .

Another powerful early moment in energy psychology occurred at a psychological workshop, when Fred asked for a volunteer to demonstrate Thought Field Therapy. The volunteer discussed a traumatic loss, they tapped together, and he reported “Wow, I can see what happened, but I’m not getting distressed”. Then with some incredulity, he commented to the crowd “I really don’t feel the same way!” That volunteer was Dr. Greg Nicosia, who now holds a title of past ACEP president and was instrumental in the development of ACEP.

Helping to grow the field

After the publication of his first book, Energy Psychology, Fred joined with Kate Sorensen, Tapas Fleming, and other early practitioners to establish the first International Energy Psychology Conference , which took place in Las Vegas in 1999. Fred’s collaboration with

people like Dr. Sandy Radomski and Dr. David Gruder cemented the field of energy psychology and helped to grow ACEP’s influence in the world. For many years, Fred also developed and provided training in Thought Field Therapy (TFT), and continues to offer training in multiple approaches that he has developed, including Energy Diagnostic and Treatment Methods (EDxTM), Energy Consciousness Therapy (ECT), and The Identity Method (IM).

Tapping on a plane

Fred shared several compelling stories of using energy psychology methods with clients, and even in real world experiences. Once, on a winter flight to Pittsburgh, his plane encountered significant turbulence. Noticing that the young woman seated next to him was wide eyed and tense, gripping the arm rests, he offered to share some ways to help feel calmer. He guided her in several skills, including reframing their situation, tapping on the stomach meridian point under the eyes (which can help reduce anxiety) and using visualization (picturing their safe arrival), he was able to help her shift from distress to tolerance in a matter of minutes.

Current and future directions

Fred has published nine books, most recently The Tapping Toolbox, an informative and accessible guide. It’s clear that Fred’s deep dedication has been to connect with people and develop rapid and effective treatments that help them recover from trauma, chronic pain and other issues that impact their lives. His ongoing focus is to integrate energy psychology with related principles and approaches, including mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and polyvagal therapy (PVT). This also means discerning the techniques and methods that work best with each individual and looking at the methods that people respond best to, like a tactile approach such as tapping or using visual, auditory, or composite methods. We can look forward to future publications on this fascinating subject!

You can find much more information about Dr. Fred Gallo’s group practice, books, seminars and trainings at his ebsite energypsych.com

Training you can use

Looking to deepen your expertise in energy psychology? Sign up for ACEP’s EFT certification program to learn advanced techniques in trauma healing and earn continuing education credits. Start today at eftonline.org.

Author

Ramona K. Clifton, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker and coach with a private practice in Brooklyn, NY. She works with artists and creative people to help them heal the pain in their life and live to their full potential. Ramona uses EFT, mindfulness, and a deep appreciation for individual experience and creative drive. She is a member of ACEP and the ACEP Communications Committee. Visit ramonaclifton.com

Transforming Lives with Energy Psychology Tapping: The HARP Program in Chesterfield County Jail

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 14:00:04 GMT

Energy psychology has emerged as a transformative approach in the criminal justice system, particularly in response to the ongoing heroin and opioid epidemic that has plagued communities across the USA. As jails became overcrowded with individuals suffering from addiction, traditional mental health and addiction treatment programs often fell short in addressing their needs. This crisis paved the way for innovative solutions like energy psychology play a crucial role in rehabilitation efforts. Tapping is one form of energy psychology.

How the HARP program uses energy psychology tapping in jail

Over ten years ago, an addictive heroine and opioid epidemic led to overcrowded jails around the USA. The same was true in the state of Virginia. Then a local change came along. County Sheriff Karl Leonard started a program in 2016 to help overwhelmed inmates and staff in the Chesterfield County Jail. Energy psychology, or “tapping” made its way into jail. The HARP program , or Helping Addicts Recover Progressively teaches new skills, saves money, and transforms lives. This award winning, nationally renowned program provides mental health care for its inmates. And it is successful. Read here about how the program is decreasing rates of return visits to the jail.

Tapping is helping to reduce jail recidivism

Energy psychology is a mind/body practice, combining cognitive awareness with soothing self-applied light touch, designed to regulate stress and create calm. Tapping is one of many diverse energy psychology methods. Read more about tapping here . The Chesterfield County Jail in Virginia, USA, offers energy practices and other health modalities to its inmates and staff. And the goodwill spreads. Tapping Tuesday videos features inmates using tapping for self-care. These TikTok videos have gone viral, with millions of views worldwide. Funds from the videos help pay for inmates’ recovery after release from jail.

Inmates volunteer to join the HARP program, sticking with stringent mandatory rules they help create. New learning happens every day. Communities form. The program is growing in acclaim, with ongoing media attention. You can read more here about the HARP program’s influence . Support continues after people leave jail through a nonprofit organization aimed at reducing recidivism. HARP RVA offers community-based solutions for healing, safe housing, education, and connection to other support services.

An international team of helpers

Staff member Kerri Rhodes is a licensed therapist for the jail. She understands the costs of addiction first hand. Tragically, Kerri’s son died from drug addiction when he was 20 years old. She turned to tapping to help her during this time of suffering. Now she teaches others to do the same. Watch Kerri and program participants tap for better health in this video .

Kerri also learned a variation of tapping, using an emotional first aid self-help program.

The Trauma Tapping Technique (TTT), developed by Ulf Sandström and Gunilla Hamne of the Peaceful Heart Network , has made a significant impact worldwide. This energy psychology approach is being implemented not only in Chesterfield County Jail but also in some of the most challenging environments globally. TTT has been successfully used in prisons in Rwanda and England, providing trauma relief to individuals affected by conflict, violence, and displacement. The technique’s application extends to helping orphaned children in war-torn regions and supporting communities recovering from natural disasters. The ability of TTT to bring calm and stability to people in extreme circumstances highlights its potential as a universal tool for emotional healing and recovery.

TTT is now part of the HARP curriculum, which is free. In the past three years, over 500 people from the Chesterfield County jail, both inmates and staff, have been trained. In 2024, HARP participants and Ulf met in person, working together each day for a week. Here is an article about the visit, to see first-hand accounts of their time. You can also watch an 11 minute video with Ulf interviewing a participant, newly sober since first using alcohol at age 16.

Energy psychology tapping for you

Energy psychology tapping isn’t limited to the correctional system; it is a versatile tool used worldwide for various mental health and wellness applications. You can try it for yourself.

Start tapping for self-care with these ACEP Resources for Resilience (R4R) videos and instructions . The instructions are translated into many languages .

If you want to learn more about tapping, and energy psychology in general, try ACEP’s Energy Psychology Starter Kit . Or enroll in a training program on energy psychology with Emotional Freedom Technique , or Thought Field Therapy .

You can take tapping and other simple energy-based methods to communities through ACEP’s Emotional First Aid training program . If you work with children , here are some resources . Read these blogs about tapping with veterans , schools , and communities in crisis .

If you or others need professional help, beyond what self-care can offer, you can find therapists through ACEP’s practitioner directory.

Make the healing effects from tapping yours, and pass it along to help others. Support the field by becoming a member of ACEP , or donating funds to build the field . Lasting and positive change happens in community, and through innovation. The HARP program is but one inspiring example.

Author

Photo by Melodie Sandström

Need An Afternoon Pick-Me-Up? If You Can’t Nap, Try This.

Mon, 07 Oct 2024 17:17:48 GMT

If you’re groggy and want to learn how to revive, you’re in the right place. This blog teaches you an easy tool you can use right now to help you wake up.

(by Sarah Murphy, LPC) One of the fastest and most effective ways to become awake and alert is to use the Thymus Thump , a simple body-based technique that helps you increase your life-force energy. Practice the technique right now by watching the video below and following along. You can also download written instructions in English , Spanish , and Portuguese .

How it Works

Simply tap on the middle of your chest, using a closed fist. It’s even better when you plaster a smile on your face while doing it. Give it a try!

Notice how your body feels both before and after you use the technique. This technique is just one of many you can use to increase the flow of energy and feel more awake and alert.

Why It Works

By using energy psychology techniques like the Thymus Thump, you are interacting with your body’s energy system. With the Thymus Thump, you are increasing the flow of energy through your system. This allows you to feel awake and alert, quickly and easily. The technique is also helpful if you feel anxious or panicky, and will help you after a shock or trauma.

More Techniques to Feel Awake and Alert

If you found the Thymus Thump helpful, here are a few more tools you can use to increase your energy: Four Thumps and Heel Shock Release . All of the videos and techniques in our “Try This” series were created by ACEP’s Humanitarian Committee in order to help people heal by spreading the word about the powerful effects of energy psychology techniques. We invite you to help by sharing this information!

Need Help from a Professional?

Many people are seeking non-pharmacological interventions to help improve overall wellbeing. ACEP is a nonprofit, 501c3 association dedicated to the research, education, and sharing of energy psychology. Check out the ACEP practitioner directory to find a certified ACEP therapist in your area or online.

Author: Sarah Murphy, LPC

Sarah Murphy is a licensed professional counselor and coach with more than 12 years of clinical experience. She is Communications Committee Chair for ACEP and staff therapist for Unite for HER . She specializes in energy psychology, including EFT, as well as mindfulness and hypnotherapy. Learn more at www.transformative-therapy.com .

Photo by Adrian Swancar on Unsplash

The Four Agreements and Energy Practices

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 12:00:06 GMT

The Four Agreements, popularized by best-selling author don Miguel Ruiz aim to

Promote living a balanced and healthy life.
Offer clarity during times of conflict, struggle, and confusion.
Be easily understood, while needing consistent practice for success.

The Four Agreements lead to personal freedom by replacing habits and thoughts that are not helpful with ones that are. Our natural default is to do what we were taught, or what is familiar. But this may not be the smartest, most efficient, or best strategy. We all carry blocks, challenges and impulses that guide our choices. Sometimes chaos and misery follow. We suffer, often needlessly. Ideally, the Four Agreements can assist you with positive changes.

The Four Agreements require a conscious way of speaking, reacting, thinking, and behaving. And energy practices can be combined with the Four Agreements. If your energy and mind and body are calm, focused and in the present, you are more open to change. Let’s see how to combine The Four Agreements with energy practices. You can try this for self-reflection and personal growth. Or share these techniques with others for their self-awareness and improvement.

Introducing The Four Agreements

Don Miguel Ruiz studied his family’s lineage of Toltec (Nahuatl language for artist/artisan) philosophy and practices, from ancient peoples based in Central Mexico. This civilization flourished between the 10 ^th and 12 ^th centuries, influencing the Aztec peoples. Toltec society was vast and complex. Ruiz distilled and popularized four truths he shared in his book The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book). This work fosters emotional well-being, self-transformation, self-enlightenment, and improved relationships. What are the Four Agreements?

1. Be Impeccable with Your Word

The first agreement is about what you say, silently and aloud. To be impeccable means to be without sin. Being impeccable means to not speak against yourself or others. Words create power. Words can bless, and words can curse. We can harness words for good by being intentional, truthful, and positive. Practice this by having your language be in harmony with all. Choose words that say what you mean, with precision. Aim to speak with purity of mind. This is often easier said than done. Words harm or heal. If you gossip or criticize, you divide yourself and others. Instead, seek to unify through integrity or wholeness. You can greatly reduce suffering by following this one agreement.

2. Don’t Take Anything Personally

This agreement is tricky. We live with the illusion that we are at the center of life. It makes sense. We are living from within our experience. When things happen to us, we may take offense. We might think the world is against us. They did it on purpose. They tried to hurt me. They shouldn’t act this way. Then we defend ourselves. Conflict is likely. Suffering intensifies. Or we are flattered by a compliment. Is the comment about us, or the observer? Ask yourself to perceive the truth.

The Toltec perspective is that in “reality” we are living in a dream, filtered by our own experiences and biases. It is the same for all of us. We see life, good and bad, through a clouded lens. Remembering this illusion reduces the identification of other’s perceptions and actions. Their actions are their story. Yes, the world impacts us, including our own internal judgments. However, our power lies in taking ultimate responsibility for our own beliefs and actions. Don’t take anything personally. Instead, learn from life as an opportunity to work on yourself. Don’t add to the suffering of the world. Burst through the illusion of life by examining your part in the story.

3. Don’t Make Assumptions

Making assumptions means jumping to conclusions without adequate data. This leads us astray from the truth. Instead, ask questions, be clear with your thoughts. Improve your communication to avoid misunderstandings. Examine your unspoken expectations. Unseat your delusions. Open to being wrong. Seek out the truth, even if it is painful or difficult. Watch, listen, and be ready to change what you think is happening, even within yourself.

4. Always Do Your Best

Invite the best of yourself in each moment. Flow with circumstances, without judgment. For your best yesterday may not be the same as your best today. Let go of expectations that lead to regrets and punishment. Do your best, then move on. When you practice the first three agreements, you speak from truth, you take responsibility for your perceptions, you question your assumptions. Then you can practice it all by doing your best. Prepare to live a different sort of life. Taking direct action means being fully alive in the present. You learn as you go.

Energy Practices and The Four Agreements

To choose impeccable words, you need to be deliberate in thought. Slow down by taking deep breaths, and reflect before speaking. You can use these videos from ACEP’s Resources for Resilience to practice calm breathing, and breathing into balance. With more oxygen to the brain, and time to think, the right words can come to you.

Before you can take personal responsibility for life, without personalizing actions of others and outside events, you need to calm your nervous system. We all get rattled, defensive, tense. Try balance hook up , developed by Wayne Cook, as taught by Donna Eden. You regain an internal signal, let go of static and interference. Then you can try again. See what is your story and what is someone else’s. Act wisely, rather than react out of habit or harm.

Let go of assumptions. Instead, speak clearly and ask questions. But what if your beliefs get in the way? You can use energy psychology, activating meridians while thinking of limiting beliefs. Tap on your beliefs, such as, “people hurt my feelings”, or “I am always left behind”. Or install a new belief such as, “I can find out more before jumping to conclusions”. Try these energy psychology practices , summaries of Emotional Freedom Technique, Thought Field Therapy, and Trauma Tapping Technique.

Always do your best, might be too hard to fathom. Set an intention to flow with what is. Start off with “my best is good enough”. Be your best self now, even if it is not what you want, and then let it go. Stay centered in the present moment with focused intention. You can read these blogs for more ideas using energy practices to be grounded and centered.

Cautions and Discernment

The Four Agreements are, by design, oversimplifications of the complexity of life. They do not apply to all situations. Nor are they always appropriate or necessary. For instance, there are times to be silent, not using your words at all. You can’t always let go of all assumptions. Perhaps the Four Agreements offer clarity, a new perspective, or may be useful. Combine them with other approaches when it is right for you. Try them a bit at a time and see what you learn. Life provides a constant supply of opportunity for growth when you pay attention.

Next Steps for Success

You can learn more about energy practices to boost the Four Agreements. Try an introduction with energy psychology through a starter kit. Take your practice in a new direction by enrolling in training courses, such as EFT or TFT . Brush up on the science of energy healing and ethical practices from experts in the field. If you need assistance in your personal life, find an energy practitioner in your area at the ACEP practitioner directory.

Read these blogs to learn more about meridians and acupoints , the basis of energy psychology. Create your impeccable words with energy psychology in this blog about what to say when “tapping ”. If you are caught in conflict, use the Four Agreements and energy practices with healthy tips to disarm difficult situations . Keep going by making a better life for yourself and others. When there is time, will, and focus, there is opportunity for positive change.

Many thanks to Dawn Eidelman, PhD, ACEP’s Executive Director, for the inspiration for this blog.

Author

Image by Alexa from Pixabay

Help for families of people with autism: The people of energy psychology

Thu, 12 Sep 2024 02:56:49 GMT

Help for family members of people with autism

Mandi found her niche and her passion working with people with ASD. She worked in hospital and outpatient settings and became director of autism services in a hospital system affiliated with Cleveland Clinic Autism Development Solutions. Eventually she transitioned to private practice, specializing in ASD.

Early in her career, she joined ACEP-founding-member Greg Nicosia’s practice right out of graduate school. She became an ACEP member in 1999 and went on to chair the education committee and serve on the board of directors. During her years of working and serving with Greg and ACEP, she travelled the country, assisting in energy psychology trainings.

The ASD service cliff + Mandi Freger = solutions, service, and opportunity

People on the autism spectrum age out of services at 21, and then few resources or services are available.

“When I originally went into private practice 8 years ago, the ASD population was very underserved in outpatient settings. Aging out of most services at 21, few services were available,” she says.

“I thought I could condense family behavioral training with individual treatment through outpatient services and that is what I set out to do.”

Finding a need and filling it

Mandi says she had not planned on being a therapist, having grown up in an entrepreneurial family, and she studied business in college. However, the Universe had other plans, and “dropped” her into her job with Greg and her career. Today, service is simply a way of life.

In creating a successful private therapy practice, Mandi combined her clinical skills with business savvy.

“It still blows my mind that one can make a good living from something that seems so easy – counseling and consulting,” she says.

She remains service driven and says she is fortunate to have the tools that match clients’ needs.

Help for families of people with autism

For Mandi, the most consistent gratitude seems to come from families of kids diagnosed with ASD.

“I think they are most appreciative about how I can streamline training and practice for them on the layered complexity of the disorder,” she says.

“Helping, however, is an ongoing conversation. So all of my clients have successes, if goals are appropriate and effective from the start of treatment.”

Mandi is proactive in helping people define goals and measure progress. In her sessions, she focuses on processing the emotions, then moving forward with action. A change in some troublesome action, in turn, contributes to more positive emotions.

Looking forward

Looking to the future of energy psychology and mental health therapy in general, Mandi says we need strong energy psychology mental health practitioners to provide support and coaching to people around the world.

Energy psychology is becoming mainstream, but not necessarily in the hands of people with strong clinical skills and training. We risk diluting the field with pop-culture influence and misinformation.

“The difficult thing is that most are not clinical mental health providers and that can significantly change the lens through which one sees the issues of importance. However, relatively few have mastered the art of using these tools, including practicing good clinical and energetic boundaries and hygiene, and I think that is where the need will remain,” she says.

Feeling inspired?

Want to learn more about the tools and theoretical framework of Emotional Freedom Techniques? Check out ACEP's free master class here . Be sure to check out Mandi’s book here .

Author

Photo by Nathan Anderson on Unsplash

Feeling upset by memories? Try this.

Mon, 26 Aug 2024 17:58:44 GMT

Learn an easy tool you can use to help leave the past in the past.

One of the fastest and most effective ways to heal old memories is to tap lightly on a series of points on your body. One technique that can really help is Simple EFT (emotional freedom techniques)*. This simple body-based technique helps your body to relax and allows you to feel calm and balanced. It also is great for reducing stress quickly. You can also download written instructions in English , Spanish , and Portuguese .

How it Works

You can follow along with the video and do the EFT basic recipe, tapping on the side of your hand, then the top of your head, inside eyebrows, corner of the eyes, under the eyes, under the nose, under the mouth, under the collarbones, and under the arms.

Why It Works

Being upset causes a disruption in the flow of energy through your meridians. Easy TFT helps your energy flow again by clearing blocks along your meridians. This allows you to reduce stress quickly and easily. This allows you to reduce or even eliminate the troubling feelings that often accompany old memories.

If you haven’t given Simple EFT a try yet, do it now. Take notice of how your body feels both before and after you use the technique. This technique is just one of many you can use to resolve the feelings from memories and leave the past in the past.

More Techniques to Help Heal Old Memories

If you found Simple EFT helpful, here are a few more tools that you can use to calm anxious feelings: Easy Thought Field Therapy and the Trauma Tapping Technique . All of the videos and techniques in our "Try This" series were created by ACEP's Humanitarian Committee in order to help people heal by spreading the word about the powerful effects of energy psychology techniques. We invite you to help by sharing this information!

Need Help from a Professional?

Many people are searching for non-pharmaceutical approaches to mental and emotional wellbeing. ACEP is a nonprofit, 501c3 dedicated to the research, education, and sharing of energy psychology. Check out the ACEP practitioner directory to find a certified ACEP therapist in your area or online.

Author: Sarah Murphy, LPC, ACP-EFT

Video Resources Provided by the ACEP Humanitarian Committee

Healthy Tips for Disarming Difficult Situations

Wed, 14 Aug 2024 18:31:24 GMT

We all face difficulties in life, as this is part of the human condition. Whether it’s engaging in the same old argument you’ve had before, being inundated by an onslaught of negativity and doomsday predictions or feeling like a dark cloud follows you everywhere you turn, sometimes life can seem heavy and burdensome. When we feel stuck or hopeless, the lessons become buried under confusion and obscurity. However, life presents opportunities for us to learn from such problems. Keep reading for tips that can help you disarm difficult situations.

Adopt neutrality

This first tip may be the hardest of all, yet one of the most important to access. If you are experiencing problems and challenges, extreme frustration, overwhelm, fear, numbness or racing thoughts, it may seem this is all life has to offer.

However, beyond or beneath these immediate reactions there lies a place of neutrality. To move from chaos to evenhandedness, neither being swayed one way or another, you may first remind yourself the immediate situation is temporary and specific, even though it may not seem that way.

Take a time out and switch the narrative by changing your physical and/or mental state.

A walk outdoors, being in water, or time spent in deep breathing may work wonders.

Grounding into the earth may help balance your energies. Learn more in this ACEP blog .

Music and movement may help invite a balanced view.

Recalling a gentler time, even using olfactory cues, like smelling your favorite fragrance, may kickstart your brain to more balanced states.

If you can’t feel neutral, just knowing that neutrality exists may open the door to a change in perspective. You’ve been neutral before, and you will be once again.

Disengage from drama

High intensity drama seems to be everywhere: on social media, in politics, the press, and personal relationships. Though conflict and division are compelling ways to draw in attention, extended drama does not lead to stability, collaboration, or nuanced communication, which is often necessary to build long term viable solutions.

It takes concerted effort to disengage from the fight, flight, freeze reaction of being around high jinks and hysteria. Try these strategies to disengage from drama:

Remember the strongest energy commands the space, be it a brawl, inflammatory words, or even positive things like an orchestra performance or a delightful sunset.

Try to match the prevailing drama with a stronger healthier energy, or if that is not possible, disengage as much as possible from the drama. You can still take in the message but not necessarily the method or the messenger.

Change the way you communicate: Read material instead of watching and listening to control the pace of information. Move away from those who are currently agitated so you can find peace. Engage in discernment and logical analysis to find your truth. Listen with your heart for direction, examine your values to see what is a match and what is not.

Be still in your awareness

It takes concerted effort to still the mind, finding quiet amidst the noise. The more you carve out time to practice detached awareness, the easier it will be to reign in the mind when things around you are in motion. Consciousness is grander than you may realize.

If you can find a way to expand your view, being simultaneously engaged in the immediate experience and at a distance from it, you may gain perspective, find your center, tap into wisdom, and have clarity of thought. Three suggestions may help you achieve balanced awareness.

Engage with energy psychology practices

There are various energy psychology and energy healing practices to help you gain stability, balance, and equanimity with mind, body and spirit. If you already know some energy practices, take time for yourself and simply do it. Often it only takes a few minutes to experience a shift in your current state.

If you’re new to energy practices, or want to expand your options for assistance, check out methods which can enhance your wellbeing:

Emotional Freedom Technique

Thought Field Therapy

Havening

Learn and follow along with a variety of stand-alone techniques on video, with downloadable instructions, all found on one website, like the soothing butterfly hug , found on the ACEP website under Resources for Resilience . You can also read this ACEP blog for more ideas about self-care and energy practices.

See solutions manifesting gently and effortlessly

No matter which approaches you adopt, start off with a positive outlook, intention, or affirmation to set the stage for what you want. Otherwise, you risk creating more of the same or worsening effects. Try these techniques to see your solutions manifesting:

Visualize, speak aloud or silently in your mind, feel in your body, or use other approaches to bring alive optimal solutions.

See, feel or hear the desired outcome rushing to joyously greet you, manifesting peacefulness, neutrality or other goals both gently and effortlessly.

Make up your own script, image or affirmation for each situation you encounter.
If there is time, speak your intention into a recording device, and play it back when you are relaxed, so it sinks into your receptive mind and body.

If you have trouble reaching goals, consider reading this blog on clearing blocks using energy practices, for helpful tips and ideas.

Collaborate with unexpected places, people, sources

Once you commit to a path of possibility, unexpected people, places, situations, and sources may appear with suggestions or support of your goals. Maybe they were there all along, but now the timing is ripe for you to notice and access them.

It is said that every problem is created with the solution already inside. Let others and the outer world take care of you in your desire to find what you seek. Read more about boosting your kindness quotient in this ACEP blog . If it is difficult to muster positive thoughts, this ACEP blog about clearing the shadow of gratitude may be helpful.

Disarming difficult situations by being natural, easy, and fluid

It may not be easy to establish a vibration of heart-centered alignment even in the best of times. Upheaval and consternation are compelling forces, but you can try each time anew to establish a stance which is natural, easy, and fluid. Even when times are challenging, disarming difficult situations can be harnessed with your mind, body and spirit, which are built to reside in homeostasis. Give yourself the home team advantage by returning to your essence, the inner spark of uniqueness that is wholly your own. Find the sometimes elusive yet foundational quality of innate wellbeing.

Want to learn more? Build your skills, find community, or read more.

ACEP’s EFT online training course can give you tools for self-care and professional development with Emotional Freedom Techniques.

Communities of practice are online gatherings with ACEP members and others who have similar interests with energy psychology, skill development, and support. Find your people to achieve your goals. These communities are only open to ACEP members.

Resources for Resilience offers free online self-help videos and documents with easy-to-follow energy practices for wellbeing. Brochures are translated in many languages.

Many thanks to Dorothea Hover-Kramer, Ed D, RN, of blessed memory and ACEP cofounder, who supplied the inspiration for this blog.

Author

Lori Chortkoff Hops, PhD, DCEP is a licensed psychologist in Westlake Village, California, USA. She is certified in Comprehensive Energy Psychology and Logosynthesis and is a Reiki master. Lori is president of ACEP. Learn more about Lori at www.drlorihops.com . Lori teaches online developing intuition classes and offers personal intuition consultation.

Photo by Sunguk Kim on Unsplash

Foundations: Introduction to the Biofield

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 17:43:37 GMT

Most people identify with their own physical body, thoughts, and feelings. They know the “I” that is “me.” But what about their energy field? The biofield, a scientific name for the aura, is a multilayered feature of each person, existing throughout their life. The biofield is physically invisible, and not part of conventional scientific scholarship. Consequently, it is often overlooked. But the biofield has vital properties, health benefits, and ways of revealing your health status. The biofield contains and interacts with other energy systems like the meridians and chakras. Here’s a blog on chakras , and one on meridians to learn more . This blog is a foundational introduction to the biofield. Read on so you can work with the biofield’s gifts for better living.

What is a biofield?

The biofield is a living system of subtle energy that enhances wellness. It is not primarily “electromagnetic” according to the National Institutes of Health who defined it in 1992. The biofield influences human, animal, plant, and even planetary life. It interacts with its surroundings, bringing information into and out from living systems. An electrocardiogram is one measure of the heart’s biofield. Kirlian photography captures light displays from the biofield. But it is more than just a capture on film. The biofield moves nearly immediately through organs, energy centers, and combines with consciousness. It is dynamic. The biofield changes, grows, shrinks and morphs depending on shifting physical, mental, and emotional states. It communicates with the chakras, or energy centers of the body. The biofield reflects overall state of health over time. It is your personal living library.

How does the biofield appear?

Many cultures around the world know about the biofield. Some say ancient artists painted it as shining golden halos around the heads of holy beings. Or it appears in layers of colors and shapes around people, like images of Our Lady of Guadalupe. And the biofield is part of energy work throughout time. Seers track swirling waves of energy, reading the body’s past, current, and future state. Healers trace the map of biofield information with their hands, noticing congestion, flow, and scarcity of energy. The biofield appears like a map of being to the inner sight, predicting changes before they are registered physically. But only recently has science looked at the biofield with research, measurement tools, and theory.

Is there biofield healing?

The biofield’s existence is comprehensively covered in a 2020 review by the Consciousness and Healing Initiative. You can read about the biofield’s history, impact on healing, limitations, educational goals, policy impacts and future directions. There are interviews with 65 world leaders in the field, a catalog of 225 research organizations, and 125 healing centers in the US. Despite this growth, there is a lack of systematic reviews in mainstream journals. There are poorly understood mechanisms for change. The bottom line is the biofield is real. The biofield can be measured. It affects overall health, such as reducing pain in subjects. Biofield modifications led to changes in behavioral symptoms in dementia. Biofield treatments lower depression and fatigue in cancer patients. There is some evidence for changes in inflammatory markers in animals and cells. And it is more than only a placebo. Shift the biofield and you change living systems, for the better. You too can learn how to strengthen and enhance the biofield for your improved health.

Boosting the biofield

Any health promoting practices will enhance your biofield, by default. You are all one energy system, and whatever you do to help yourself aids the entire field. Many energy practices work directly with the biofield. Popular ones are Healing Touch, Reiki, Therapeutic Touch and External Qigong/Qi-therapy. Click on these links to see how energy psychology practices impact the biofield including Emotional Freedom Technique , Thought Field Therapy , Comprehensive Energy Psychology, and Tapas Acupressure Technique. You can try it. Intersperse the biofield with your personal energy practices. For when you move chakras, meridians, and consciousness, you are deliberately impacting the biofield.

Learn more about the biofield in these articles and blogs

Clinical Studies of Biofield Therapies: Summary, Methodological Challenges and Recommendations.

The biofield and fatigue in cancer.

The biofield and artificial intelligence .

Author

Can ten minutes of tapping make a difference? Recent research suggests that it does!

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 17:26:40 GMT

Susanne Bifano and colleagues investigated the use of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) to treat stress experienced by pediatric emergency staff during the covid-19 pandemic. The staff were invited to ten-minute EFT tapping group sessions targeting psychological stress and negative responses to trauma exposure. The results were significant, showing that just ten minutes of tapping can make a difference. The study was published in Medical Acupuncture in April 2024.

The theory

This study tested the short-term effect of a very brief – just ten minutes!! – EFT group tapping for psychological distress. The participants were healthcare workers in the pediatric emergency wing of the Columbia University Irving Medical Center.

As New York City was a global epicenter for covid-19, hospitals had to quickly reorganize staff and reconfigure departmental spaces to manage the flow of patients. Emergency department staff often had to work longer hours or extra shifts to meet increased patient care demands. With EFT’s ability to downregulate stress, researchers thought this might be a valuable tool to help overwhelmed hospital staff deal with the intensity of the covid-19 pandemic.

The study setup

Data were collected with a self-report paper survey completed just before and right after the intervention. The research team developed this questionnaire to measure levels of short-term psychological distress.

The questionnaire included seven items of psychologic distress, including:

1. Current level of stress

2. Professional satisfaction

3. Obsessive and/or intrusive thoughts

4. Feelings of pressure (professional, societal, family)

5. Physical pain

6. Emotional pain

7. Feelings of loneliness and isolation

The questionnaire used a five-point Likert scale. A score of one showed that a participant felt “none” of the item, and a score of five indicated an “extreme” level.

Study results: ten minutes of tapping made a difference!

The only item that did not change was professional satisfaction. In all other areas – stress, obsessive and intrusive thoughts, feelings of pressure, loneliness, and emotional and physical pain – the impact of EFT was significant. In all cases, p < 0.001 (i.e., the probability that tapping did not cause the improvement is less than one in one thousand).

Why this study matters

Psychological wellbeing is important for all of us. Hospital staff were at increased risk for burnout during the pandemic. Moreover, patient care, or at the very least, patient satisfaction, could be negatively affected by staff burnout.

The researchers concluded that “despite the limitations of a single-arm study design, a 10-minute brief EFT tapping session was a promising way to reduce short-term psychologic distress in pediatric health care workers….”

One of the most outstanding findings of the study is the rapidity of the EFT intervention. In just ten-minute increments, staff experienced improvements in a wide range of symptoms.

Are you a clinician or stakeholder wanting to bring energy psychology to your community? Enroll in ACEP’s free R4R training . And stay up to date with the research on energy psychology here , or ask to be added to the research mailing list .

Bifano, S., Szeglin, C., Garbers, S. & Gold, M. (2024). Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) tapping for pediatric emergency department staff during the COVID-19 pandemic: Pandemic evaluation of a pilot intervention. Medical Acupuncture, 36(2), 70-78.

https://www.liebertpub.com/action/showCitFormats?doi=10.1089%2Facu.2023.0099

Authors

Sarah Murphy, LPC, ACP-EFT , is a counselor in private practice and specializes in working with people who have serious illnesses. A student of the Ageless Wisdom, she is dedicated to sharing the Great Invocation .

John Freedom, CEHP, is in private practice in Santa Rosa, California. He serves as chair of ACEP’s research committee and as executive director of FREA. He is the author of Heal Yourself with Emotional Freedom Technique .

Feeling Numb? Try this.

Wed, 10 Jul 2024 12:00:10 GMT

If you are feeling numb and need some help feeling like yourself again, try the Four Thumps . This is a simple body-based technique that will help you re-awaken your system and get your energy flowing. The technique comes to us from Donna Eden . Practice the technique right now by watching the video below and following along. You can also download written instructions in English , Spanish , and Portuguese .

How it Works

To do the Four Thumps , tap lightly under your eyes. Then tap or rub under your collarbones, on the middle of your chest, and on your bottom rib.

Follow along with the video above and give the Four Thumps a try! Take notice of how your body feels both before and after you use the technique. The next time you are feeling numb, remember to give it a try. This technique is just one of many you can use to get your energy flowing again.

Why It Works

When you use techniques like the Four Thumps , you are interacting with your body's energy system and increasing the flow of energy through your system. This technique turns your circuits back on and gets your energy flowing again.

This technique is also helpful if you feel discouraged, groggy, shocked, or paralyzed.

More techniques to try when you are feeling numb.

If you found the Four Thumps helpful, here are a couple more tools you can use to reboot your system: the Heel Shock Release and Thymus Thump .

Need Help from a Professional?

Author: Sarah Murphy, LPC, ACP-EFT

Sarah Murphy is a counselor in private practice and specializes in working with people who have serious illnesses.

Video Resources Provided by the ACEP Humanitarian Committee

Photo by Yuan Rong Gong on Unsplash

Understanding Acute, Chronic, and Complex Trauma: Insights and Healing with Energy Psychology.

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 15:18:09 GMT

Trauma impacts millions of lives, manifesting as acute, chronic, or complex experiences. This article explores these types of trauma and highlights how energy psychology offers effective healing techniques.

Types of trauma

Acute, chronic, or complex. Not all trauma is the same, but the impacts of trauma are widespread and well documented. There are different types of trauma, but they all can leave us scarred, with lasting effects on our physical, emotional, mental, social, or spiritual functioning. Some traumas, like war, car crashes, and assaults, are called acute or “Big-T” traumas. Others, like being belittled or embarrassed, are called chronic, or “little-t” traumata. Complex traumas refer to children’s exposure to multiple, ongoing traumatic events which have long-term, wide-ranging effects on their development and well-being. The differences in these types of trauma are clear but the results of each type can be devastating. Our work as clinicians is to help our clients overcome the effects of their traumatic experiences. Energy Psychology is particularly helpful in addressing trauma.

Acute trauma

The most well-known and well-documented aftermath of severe traumatic experiences is post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. Soldiers returning from the first world war were “shell shocked”. Its history is much longer, with references in literature as far back as 2,000 years ago. You can read a fascinating summary of it here .

It was in the 1980s that the American Psychological Association included PTSD in their glossary of mental disorders, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM). Even then, the mental health establishment considered it incurable. Advances in treatment approaches, including body- and energy-based practices like EMDR and EFT, have shown that PTSD is something that people can indeed heal from.

We often associate PTSD with war trauma, and rightly so. Today, we know that other traumatic experiences can also lead to PTSD. Things like vehicle accidents, assault, and rape leave their mark, and the mark is often PTSD. We call this set of traumatic experiences acute or “big T” traumas.

Effects of acute trauma

The classic symptoms of PTSD include intrusive thoughts, nightmares, hypervigilance, and strong emotional or physical reactions to trauma reminders. These problems lead to behavioral changes as the sufferer tries to avoid the trauma. They either avoid places and things that remind them of the trauma or try to avoid their own thoughts and feelings. They also cause changes in mood and reactivity as the trauma sufferer grapples with their unresolved trauma.

Until now, people with PTSD suffered, and dealt with it as best they could. They often used drugs, prescribed or not, to try to mask or manage their symptoms. They sweated their way through talk therapy sessions until they stopped going. Sometimes they got a bit of relief for their efforts.

The prognosis changed with the advent of somatic and energy-based techniques like EMDR and Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT). EFT, along with Thought Field Therapy (TFT) and the Trauma Tapping Technique (TTT), are acupressure-assisted exposure therapy and they help people heal trauma. Now, PTSD sufferers can find quality help to overcome their trauma symptoms as they remove the emotional valence from their trauma memories. You can read about the research on EFT for PTSD here .

Chronic trauma (or little-t trauma)

Chronic, or little-t trauma is more personal and much more common, affecting individuals through various everyday stressors. Anyone can experience these. Examples of chronic trauma include job loss, financial stress, relationship breakups, and even problems with family, friends, and friend groups. These are traumatic, but not in the same ways as big T trauma can be. However, they leave us less resilient, and we need to heal them.

Often, people who experience little-t trauma think they “shouldn’t” feel as upset as they do. However, every traumatic experience leaves us with less resilience to deal with the next one. The effects of trauma are cumulative and get more difficult as each succeeding trauma is left unhealed.

Complex trauma

The ACEs or adverse childhood experiences study found that people who experienced adversity during childhood were more likely to develop problems in adulthood. These problems include obesity, depression, heart disease, COPD, and early death. The triggering childhood adversity includes abuse, neglect, and household challenges. The more ACES, the worse the problems.

People who are members of the LGBTQIA+ community and people who identify as BIPOC are at an increased risk of complex trauma. This is because they experience many microaggressions which cause trauma responses. Persistent trauma takes its toll on health and wellbeing. Two examples are the increased rate of Black women dying in childbirth and the increased risk of suicide among LGBTQ teens.

The problem, however, does not exist only among members of diverse communities. Any child can endure traumas that leave their marks. Having parents who are poorly emotionally regulated; being bullied in school; experiencing academic problems; cyberbullying; and even social media-induced social comparisons can leave a scar no matter the cultural background of the family or status of the individual.

The effects of trauma

No matter the type of trauma, trauma symptoms are often similar, including flashbacks, nightmares, problems sleeping, hypervigilance, irritability, physical symptoms, intrusive thoughts, and overall distress. For adults who experienced complex trauma, the fallout can include relationship problems, insecurity, attachment fears, and emotional labiality. Clinicians see the fallout of both types of trauma in our practices every day.

Helping with all types of trauma

When our clients come to us with the aftermath of trauma, energy psychology methods such as EFT and Thought Field Therapy are particularly effective. Traditional trauma treatment approaches have been lackluster in their results. EFT, on the other hand, is very effective at treating trauma. Thought Field Therapy or TFT helped many people overcome the aftermath of trauma, such as after the genocide in Rwanda. Other energy psychology approaches such as Advanced Integrative Therapy or AIT , and Holographic Memory Resolution or HMR , also show promise. In every case, clinicians have pushed the envelope, looking for more effective treatments to help our clients overcome their traumatic experiences. That is how we make progress, and this is where energy psychology shines!

Want to deepen your understanding of trauma healing with energy psychology? Sign up for ACEP's trauma-informed EFT training designed especially for licensed mental health providers.

Author

Sarah Murphy, LPC, NCC, is a licensed and nationally certified professional counselor. She specializes in energy psychology, including EFT, as well as mindfulness and meditation. Sarah works with people who have cancer or other serious medical diagnoses, individuals seeking to find peace within themselves, and couples who want to resolve conflict and live in harmony. Sarah has a private practice and serves as a counseling provider for Unite for HER .

Artificial Intelligence Reads the Biofield? How Ancient Practices Meet Modern Science

Wed, 12 Jun 2024 12:00:03 GMT

Can the latest technology in modern science, like artificial intelligence (or AI), reveal clues to ancient healing practices? One engineering research group ( Joy A, et al, 2022 ) proposes just that. The biofield, or aura, is a living system of subtle energy that enhances wellness. It is a smart container, working within and outside of a living being. The biofield is a super data processor, much like modern computer systems. Both the aura and computers work with codes, interactions, and libraries of data. They make the invisible become visible to the observer, who interprets the data. Artificial intelligence and the biofield can be trained to speak a common language. Meanwhile, we listen and learn. Welcome to the era when ancient practices meet modern science.

The players: the aura meets AI

The aura, or its scientific name, the biofield, interacts with its surroundings. It brings information into and out from the body. It moves invisibly and nearly immediately through organs, energy centers, and combines with consciousness. It is dynamic. The biofield changes, grows, shrinks and morphs depending on shifting physical and emotional states. It communicates with the chakras, or energy centers of the body. Here’s a blog on chakras to learn more.

Many cultures around the world know about the biofield. Some say ancient artists painted the aura. It shines in paintings of golden halos around the heads of holy beings. Or it appears in layers of colors and shapes around people, like images of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Artificial Intelligence is a programmable system of managing knowledge. AI compiles data quickly to make decisions, solve problems or complete tasks. AI is used in many industries, from self-driving cars to crafting personalized learning systems for students.

Humans excel at reasoning by adapting to change. Human thought is both broad and deep. It is inherently creative. But human thought is limited in capacity and speed. Especially with complex data sets. Enter AI. AI, if programmed accurately, outperforms human capacity quickly and efficiently. AI turns chaos into order. But AI fails when facing new learning environments. It does not know how to adapt. As AI advances, machine learning will improvise with new circumstances. Fortunately, AI sees patterns which people often miss. New patterns create new thoughts. And former mistakes create unexpected breakthroughs, for people and machines.

What can be learned and why

AI is ideal for sorting through massive data sets, revealing hidden connections. The biofield is filled with clues about health and wellbeing. Combine them, and vistas open. Machine learning algorithms, a subset of AI, currently help pathologists analyze and classify tissue samples. It also helps interpret images of Gas Discharge Visualization (GDV), a digital form of Kirlian photography. A GDV camera sends high frequency and high voltage signals to a person’s finger placed on the camera’s electrified glass lens. The resulting images record current electrical activity from the finger. AI steps in to map the unique detailed signature of an individual. Add one map from a single person to many thousands of records, and a vast catalog appears. AI can sort the data, and with guidance, create keys to understand profiles of biofields’ illness and wellness. In a snap. And well before humans, or our current diagnostic tools can.

AI measures the biofield

AI recognizes faces and basic human emotional expressions. But how about recognizing complex and nuanced data? AI is at its best when fed a complete and detailed library of facts. It processes large data sets and categories. It processes probabilities at lightning speed. The biofield is a rich tapestry of clues about current and future health and illness. Once AI is programmed to read the biofield, its calculations and conclusions can reveal much about a person. Enter a dream team for understanding the underlying rules and patterns governing life. Once you know how to read the clues, you will find the treasures.

Future glimpses

Breakthrough news of the future may be closer than you think. Imagine these ads for wellness and health of the future.

Feeling down, tired, or off your game? Biofield in a slump?

Freshen up with AI! AI is here to bring you from a losing streak straight to the winner’s circle.

Are you stuck with heavy trauma, painful illness, and funky DNA?

AI help is on the way! Rewrite your past and sail into a future filled with freedom.

Let AI draw your personal map for your best biofield.

AI spruces up your energy field in a jiffy, with handy tips for better health.

We are living in fast-paced times that boggle the imagination. Down the line, AI may combine with other ancient systems like meridians, chakras and even consciousness. The wave of the future partners the modern science of AI with our ancient practices for enhanced lifeforce energy.

Global Impact with AI

As a powerful technology, AI is a tool that can be used for good or not, depending upon human decisions. It has the potential to alter our interface with one another and the planet in ways which are difficult to imagine. It is important that we as a public remain alert to how AI is programmed and applied, for what purposes, and by whom. Many are calling for the regulation of AI, which would be a wise move.

This article is but one example of AI’s potential applications. Thanks to those who remind us of our responsibility to be informed, cautious, and reflective in the face of these developments.

Want to read more?

Research blog on the biofield and cancer https://www.energypsych.org/blog/the-research-on-biofield-therapy-for-fatigue-in-cancer-patients

Author

Energy Psychology Helps Veterans with PTSD

Mon, 27 May 2024 12:00:00 GMT

Veterans in Crisis

Some veterans face daunting emotional health problems after serving in the armed forces. Not all recover right away. Data from the USA estimate between 20% to 30% of veterans are diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Symptoms wreak havoc on daily life, with riveting flashbacks, frequent insomnia, and chronic depression. Worse, these individuals are at high risk for suicide. The impact of untreated PTSD takes a heavy toll personally and collectively.

Veteran suicides account for 20% of all identified suicides in the US. This leaves undeniable losses, for family, friends, and communities. Despite their plight, most veterans do not reach out for help. Instead, they avoid feared stigma or perceived harm to their careers from being labeled with emotional troubles. Unfortunately, there is little relief, even after seeking care. Veterans diagnosed with PTSD face long wait times for treatment. One study found 80% of veterans faced barriers to receiving care . That is the bad news. The good news? Help is on the way. One answer is treating veterans with PTSD using energy psychology.

Energy Psychology Helps Veterans with PTSD

Thankfully, energy psychology has a strong track record for treating PTSD. It combines self-tapping on acupressure points with trauma informed psychotherapy. Most research on energy psychology rests on two popular approaches, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) and Thought Field Therapy (TFT). Research shows that symptoms of PTSD, depression and anxiety are significantly reduced when using these techniques. More than 175 peer-reviewed studies using energy psychology back these findings. This includes six meta-analyses and over 88 random controlled trails, the gold standard for research designs. One study found 86% of veterans were no longer rated with PTSD after receiving only six sessions of energy psychology treatment. A replication study reported equivalent results.

In the US, the Veteran’s Administration has listed EFT as “generally safe.” Thanks to certification training programs like ACEP’s for EFT, therapists treat veterans’ and families around the world. Lives are being saved. You can find out how EFT saved a life, retold in one interview with a veteran with PTSD. He describes suffering “moral injury” from unspeakable acts during his service. He shares his powerful story of renewal with Robert Schwarz, PhD, ACEP's executive director.

Turning the Tide

ACEP leads the charge to treat symptoms of PTSD for veterans. ACEP partners with Lobby It, a US legislative lobbying firm, working to bring energy psychology to the nation. This team advocates for energy psychology practices treating veterans and others. Plans include adding information about energy psychology to the US Department of Veteran Affairs Circle of Health educational listings for Whole Health . Imagine the possibilities when energy psychology information appears alongside current topics like breathing for health, meditation practices, and progressive muscle relaxation.

We can each do our part to care for veterans or civilians with PTSD.

Start the journey by getting trained in energy psychology.
Donate to ACEP's Highest Need fund to help support ACEP's educational and advocacy efforts.
Let others know through conversation or social media that energy psychology works.

We can help turn the tide for veterans with PTSD by using energy psychology.

Learn More

Curious about energy psychology research? Visit the ACEP research page. Or download over 176 energy psychology studies with abstracts by condition. Here is a link to a meta-analysis on PTSD research .

For an overview, visit https://veterans.energypsych.org/

Author

Is There Any Research on Distant Healing?

Wed, 22 May 2024 12:00:04 GMT

Professor Chris Roe, Dr. Elizabeth Roxburgh and Ms. Charmaine Sonnex at the University of Northampton conducted two meta-analyses of research studies on non-contact healing published in the journal Explore . This study is not new but is worth a new look. It recently came to our attention through the Confederation of Healing Organizations .

The theory

Distant or “noncontact” healing is an ancient form of healing that is garnering new attention in nontraditional circles. Noncontact healing includes approaches like intercessory prayer and Reiki. Researchers wondered if non-contact healing can have a positive effect on the recipient’s wellbeing. They also wanted to account for possible placebo or expectancy effects.

The study setup

Researchers performed two meta-analyses of published studies on distant healing. The first group of healing subjects were human, while the second consisted of non-human organisms like plants and cell cultures. Including non-human subjects is useful as they are not subject to placebo or expectancy effects. Researchers included 57 human and 49 non-human target studies in the analyses. They conducted Pearson r correlation analysis to study the effects of these interventions.

Study results

Subjects that received healing experienced significant improvement in wellbeing relative to control subjects. The combined effect size was a small but highly significant r=.193.

The 57 human studies yielded a small but significant effect size (r=.203). Of these, the 27 studies that met higher quality thresholds had slightly stronger effects (r=.224). The 49 non-human studies (cell clusters, plants, etc.) achieved slightly higher effects (r=.258). Of these, the 22 studies that had higher quality standards had a lower but still significant effect size (r=.115).

Conclusion

Results suggest that subjects in the active treatment condition exhibit a significant improvement in wellbeing relative to control subjects under circumstances that do not seem to be susceptible to placebo and expectancy effects.

Why these meta-analyses matter

Many people believe in the power of intercessory prayer, Reiki, and other forms of distant healing. Some do not believe it possible to study subtle phenomena such as healing with scientific methods. Simultaneously many professionals and researchers remain skeptical about distant healing. These meta-analyses add scientific credibility to the efficacy of these increasingly popular techniques.

Roe, C.A., Sonnex, C. and Roxburgh, E. C. (2015). Two meta-analyses of noncontact healing studies. Explore, 11(1), 11-23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2014.10.001 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550830714002043

You can stay up to date with the research on energy psychology here or ask to be added to the research mailing list .

Authors

John Freedom, CEHP, serves as chairman of ACEP’s research committee. He is the author of Heal Yourself with Emotional Freedom Technique.

Photo by Marivi Pazos on Unsplash

The Paradigm Shift Match of the Century!

Wed, 15 May 2024 18:44:00 GMT

“It's not the facts that matter.

It’s the story about the facts that matters.”

Rarely has there been such a clear conflict that proves the point, “It's not the facts that matter – It’s the story about the facts that matters.” The latest development taking place in the Journal of Psychotherapy Integration is a classic case of the resistance of the old school to a paradigm shift (Kuhn,1962/1970).

If you will pardon the boxing metaphor (even though it is very apt), in one corner is Dr. David Feinstein, the reigning scribe and champion of energy psychology scientific reviews. In the other corner, are academicians/professors Carolyn Boness, Rory Pfund and David Tolin.

Feinstein's review article

In 2023, Feinstein published a review article in the Journal of Psychotherapy Integration entitled “Integrating the manual stimulation of acupuncture points into psychotherapy: A systematic review with clinical recommendations.” The article summarizes the research on acupoint tapping, discusses possible mechanisms of action, and concludes, “the growing evidence base documenting the effectiveness, speed, and durability of the approach appears promising.” Download a preprint version

Energy psychology is an unsinkable rubber duck

Following the publication of this article, professors Carolyn Boness, Rory Pfund and David Tolin published a “blistering critique” of Feinstein’s article, in which they labeled energy psychology an “unsinkable rubber duck,” and took this position:

The rationale for energy psychology is based on premises that are pseudoscientific.
The claim that tapping on acupuncture points is an active ingredient in energy psychology is based on insufficient evidence.
The quality of efficacy evidence is low.
Energy psychology is not compatible with ethical practice.

https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/jbrgu

Feinstein's response

David Feinstein recently published a detailed rejoinder to the Boness et al's critique that you can find here.

https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/ysg6u

It is worth reading both. Feinstein does a great job of tearing Boness et al’s comments to pieces. I am not going to comment on everything. I suggest you read both and decide for yourself.

Boness et al engage in the same problems they critique Feinstein and energy psychology for

What I find so disturbing about Boness et al is they project onto Feinstein and energy psychology ethical and methodological problems that they themselves engage in. For instance:

They cherry pick the data. They accuse Feinstein of essentially cherry picking the data, when in fact they cherry pick the data by simply ignoring the latest data from the last 15 years and cite a handful of lone commentaries from 20 years ago. Boness et al also focus on theories of why tapping works from 20 years ago and completely ignore more recent formulations and discussions.

They are ignorant of the facts. Their description of the history of EFT and TFT points to a total ignorance of the facts. They state that EFT is trademarked so there must be economic motivations. However, the fact is that EFT is no longer trademarked.

Violating the APA's ethical standards

In a move of incredible chutzpa, Boness et al. completely ignore the fact that over 98% of the 175 published studies support the efficacy of meridian tapping approaches and suggest that it is unethical to foist these so-called fake therapies upon the public.

Feinstein counters by rightly stating that, according to the APA’s ethical standards, “Where evidence is showing that a therapeutic modality is outperforming standard treatments for a range of psychological conditions, reducing cortisol levels, catalyzing the expression of beneficial genes, lowering blood pressure, reducing pain, and producing durable outcomes, it is not compatible with ethical practice to claim in a public statement that those benefits do not exist.”

In conclusion

For the last 10-15 years, the energy psychology community has accepted the challenge that we need to have scientific evidence to demonstrate the validity of what we see clinically every day. The assumption has been that by doing the research, “playing by the rules” energy psychology, especially acupoint tapping approaches, would eventually become accepted. To some extent this has happened. As Boness et al. show we still have a way to go. This particular battle of titans should remind us to remember. “It is not the facts that matter – It’s the story about the facts that matters.”

Author

Robert Schwarz, PsyD, DCEP serves as ACEP's executive director. A licensed psychologist for over 35 years, he has authored 3 books: Tools for Transforming Trauma; PTSD: A Clinician’s Guide and We’re No Fun Anymore: Guiding Couples to a Joy Filled Marriage Through the Power of Play, as well as numerous articles and papers including "Energy Psychology as a Polyvagal Intervention for Trauma."

References

· Boness, C. L., Pfund, R. A., & Tolin, D. (2023, August 1). Acupressure in Psychotherapy as an Unsinkable Rubber Duck: A reply to Feinstein (2023). https://doi.org/10.1037/int0000315

· Feinstein, D. (2023). Integrating the manual stimulation of acupuncture points into psychotherapy: A systematic review with clinical recommendations. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 33(1), 47–67. https://doi.org/10.1037/int0000283

· Feinstein, D. (2024, April 25). The Real Reasons Energy Psychology Is Proving to Be Durable: Rejoinder to “Acupressure in Psychotherapy as an Unsinkable Rubber Duck, Reply to Feinstein (2023)”. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/ysg6u

· Kuhn, Thomas (1962/1970). The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, Chicago: University of Chicago Press (1970, 2nd edition, with postscript).

Photo by kylie De Guia on Unsplash

Using energy psychology to treat phantom pain: a case report

Fri, 10 May 2024 12:00:00 GMT

Energy psychology (EP) has been shown to be useful for a wide range of disorders, from depression and PTSD to chronic pain syndromes like fibromyalgia. Phantom limb pain, which is pain that can develop after amputation, is notoriously difficult to treat. Conventional thinking attributes this kind of pain to cortical mis-wiring. However, there may be another explanation. As this case report will illustrate, energy psychology can treat phantom pain. This suggests that phantom pain may in fact originate as a disruption of the biofield.

Case description

Jane, a 60-year-old woman, came to our interdisciplinary pain clinic because of disabling phantom pain following surgical amputation of a finger a year earlier. She had cut her finger at work with an X-Acto knife, but it became infected, spreading to the bone. This osteomyelitis did not respond to antibiotic treatment and ultimately required surgical amputation of the finger. She had not been making functional gains with occupational therapy, physical therapy, and relaxation training in our program. Moreover, the pain prevented her from working with her newly fitted prosthetic finger. Therefore, we offered her a course of energy psychology.

Using energy psychology to treat phantom pain

In our first session, Jane said that the most stressful aspect of her condition was not the pain itself (whose intensity she rated at 8/10). Instead, she said the ongoing frustration she experienced in dealing with her Workers Compensation insurance carrier was the most upsetting. Trying to get coverage for her outpatient treatments led to intense emotions of anger, betrayal, and helplessness. This only added to the shame she felt about her missing finger. These emotions became the focus for our work with energy psychology.

I used the simplified technique called WHEE with Jane. WHEE is a Wholistic Hybrid of EMDR and EFT that involves a self-hug and alternating rhythmic tapping of the upper arms while repeating standard energy psychology affirmations of self-acceptance. It was developed by Dan Benor. At the end of the first session, Jane felt significantly calmer emotionally, although the pain was still a problem.

Progress

Jane practiced the technique at home, and when she returned the following week, she was sporting a mischievous grin. Jane proceeded to “give me the finger” (Figure 1). She did this only as a way of demonstrating that her phantom pain had dissipated, and she was now able to wear her prosthetic middle finger. She made rapid progress in the remainder of her pain rehab program and was soon able to return to work.

Figure 1 – Why is this woman giving me the finger?

Discussion

Jane’s dramatic response to energy psychology is not uncommon in the world of pain management, and points to the value of addressing the emotional roots of pain. Surgeons do not typically help their patients deal with their emotional reactions to amputation. Indeed, many of these patients experience a sense of loss (of a part of themselves, and of their former sense of self), shame at their altered appearance, anger at their new situation, and the like. Therefore, psychotherapists have come to play a key role in comprehensive approaches to pain management. Typically, they use approaches ranging from supportive counseling and cognitive behavioral therapy to energy psychology.

The use of energy psychology for chronic pain is growing, thanks to increased awareness of the stress/pain link, and, more importantly, the energy/pain link. That is, the emotional traumas that often lie at the base of many chronic pain conditions may actually be encoded first as an energy block. The neurologic and physiologic changes come second. Energy is how the body keeps score, to use van der Kolk’s powerful phrase. Thus, energy is the mediator between mind and body. Any pain-oriented therapy should consider energy as the key element.

Why was energy psychology successful in treating phantom pain?

In cases of phantom limb pain when entire limbs are missing, some practitioners directly sense and manually palpate the phantom limb. We can think of these phantoms as the outer boundary of the biofield that is still present where the phantom limb used to be ( Eden 1998 ; Leskowitz 2014 ).

This is a human analog of the phantom leaf effect. A Kirlian photographic image of a leaf showed an intact corona around its border even after the leaf’s tip has been cut away ( Hubacher 2015 ). This finding suggests that the biofield is not generated by the physical properties of the leaf itself, but the reverse. The physical structure of the leaf may develop in alignment with the invisible biofield.

We have not yet developed a reliable method for imaging human phantom limbs despite ongoing efforts. Clearly, such an image would be crucial evidence that the biofield is the energetic template upon which biologic growth is patterned ( Leskowitz 2024 ).

In summary, an energy-based therapy was able to rapidly discharge this patient’s blocked emotions, leading to an increase in psychological comfort and relief of her phantom pain. This type of response to energy psychology often occurs more rapidly than we would predict based on mechanisms such as cortical reorganization and neural plasticity. Accordingly, it gives further credence to an energy-based model of chronic pain.

Why this story matters

This case report of using energy psychology to treat phantom pain highlights yet another clinical application for energy psychology and gives further support to the biofield nature of phantom pain in particular, and chronic pain in general.

Author

Eric Leskowitz, MD, recently retired after working for over 25 years with the pain management program at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston. A long-time member of ACEP, he has recently completed a book called The Many Faces of Life Energy: From Biofield Healing to Global Consciousness (Inner Traditions Press, 2024).

Photo by Ari Spada on Unsplash

References

Benor, Daniel. Seven Minutes to Natural Pain Release. Wholistic Healing Publications, Bellmawr NJ, 2008.

Eden, Donna and Feinstein, David. Energy Medicine: Balancing Your Body’s Energies for Optimal Health, Joy and Vitality, p.36-40, Penguin Books, NY NY, 1998.

Hubacher, John. The phantom leaf effect: A replication (Part 1), Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 21(2): 83-90, 2015.

Leskowitz, Eric. Phantom limb pain: An energy/trauma model, Explore: Journal of Science and Healing, 10(6):389-97, 2014.

Leskowitz, Eric. Chapter 6, The strange case of phantom limb pain, in The Mystery of Life Energy: Biofield Healing, Phantom Limbs, Group Energetics and Gaia Consciousness, Bear & Company, Rochester VT, 2024. More info is at www.TheMysteryOfLifeEnergy.com

Feeling Exhausted? Try This.

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 14:00:00 GMT

When you are feeling exhausted and need a pick-me-up, try bouncing up and down on the balls of your feet. You can also sit in a chair and massage your heel and ankle areas. The Heel Shock Release is a simple body-based technique that will help you reawaken your energy system. The technique comes to us from Donna Eden . Practice the technique right now by watching the video below and following along. Remember to try it next time you are feeling exhausted but can’t take a nap! You can also download written instructions in English , Spanish , and Portuguese .

How it Works

If you haven’t given the Heel Shock Release a try yet, do it now. Take notice of how your body feels both before and after you use the technique.

Why It Works

More Techniques to try when you are feeling exhausted.

If you found the Heel Shock Release helpful, here are a few more tools you can use to increase your energy: Four Thumps and Thymus Thump .

Need Help from a Professional?

Author: Sarah Murphy, LPC, ACP-EFT

Sarah Murphy is is a counselor in private practice and specializes in working with people who have serious illnesses.

Video Resources Provided by the ACEP Humanitarian Committee

Photo by Cris Saur on Unsplash

Centering with Energy Practices

Mon, 15 Apr 2024 16:59:07 GMT

“Stay in the center, and you will be ready to move in any direction.”
― Alan W. Watts

What is centering?

Centering means to reside in the middle of the self. It is a physical location in the middle of the body in relation to gravity and movement. Centering is also a mental state of aligning and connecting to an essential internal and authentic self in the present space and time. The center also refers to a spiritual center of awareness. Centering can help us find peace in the chaos, by quieting the mind. Common centering practices use mindful breathing and visualizations.

People sometimes combine or confuse the principles and activities of centering with grounding. When you are grounded in mind, body and spirit you can feel more stable and secure. When you are centered in mind, body and spirit you can experience a cohesive reference point for awareness, action, and reflection. It is possible to be fully or partially grounded and centered. There also may be times when you aren't grounded or centered at all. Read on for some tips for getting centered. Discover more about grounding in this blog written by the author.

Theories about centering

In Chinese Medicine, the body has pools of energy that ideally flow unobstructed through internal channels, or meridians. This energy can foster balance, wellness, and vitality in the physical, emotional, and spiritual body. This energy is called Xi (pronounced “chee”) in Chinese, or Ki in Japanese. The most important and vital area in the body for the Xi is in the lower Dan Tian. This area is the center of gravity in the body. It is known as the Elixir of Life. Located approximately two inches below the navel, it resides deep inside the body in the center of the guts. In Japanese the space is called Hara. The Xi in the lower Dan Tian can be enhanced, increased, refined, and developed. It can send and receive neural impulses, directing and harmonizing energy throughout the body and mind. To center your body, mind, and spirit, it is important to develop an intimate relationship with the Dan Tian. If you know how it functions, you may be able to access its considerable power and improve your movement, awareness, and emotional intelligence. Learn more about meridians in this blog .

In the East Indian system of Ayurveda, the heart area is recognized as the center. Through the heart chakra (Sanskrit for wheel), the center connects to the thymus gland, physical heart, and lungs. The heart chakra, in the center of the chest, transmits energy from the rest of the chakras. The heart chakra is perched between three main chakras above and three main chakras below it. The heart chakra processes information and communicates outside the body. A heart chakra that is healthy and open allows for universal consciousness, love, and the higher self to be expressed. A heart chakra that is closed can express grief, disappointment and anger at self and others. Some esoteric schools propose that humanity is progressing as a species. Currently, we are mostly relating to the energy of the solar plexus chakra (thought, identity, will power). We are evolving slowly to the energy of the heart chakra (connection, love, universal consciousness). Others say the “high heart chakra” under the collarbones, just below the dip of the throat, is opening as a “new” chakra in humanity. Learn more about the chakras in this blog.

The center is not only a location, but a state of mind and awareness. For instance, the Christian practice of centering prayer is a meditative approach based in connecting with divinity. Centering prayer can help you find quiet, equanimity, and deeper meaning in spiritual practice. It is a modern interpretation of ancient practices described in holy texts. Other faith traditions have practices which may not be called centering per se, but have similar goals and outcomes that centering practices offer.

Types of centering

Physical: Can be in one place or can move from the heart, gut, below the navel, and head. The center of gravity resides in the body. Some people have the same center even as they age or have changes in weight or alterations in their physical form. Other people find their center changes as they grow, such as during pregnancy, or following injury or surgery.

Psychological: A state of being calm, neutral, steady, alert, active and present. Connection to true self, feelings, and awareness. Alignment with authenticity.

Energetic: In Chinese Medicine, the center is below the navel in the lower Dan Tian. In Japanese traditions, the center is called the Hara, and is an energetic channel residing in the center of the body. Christian centering prayer is focused on the spiritual center of being and involves quiet contemplation. In this type of centering, it is not a physical location, but the body can connect with the consciousness of centering in the energetic field.

How to center with energy practices

Check in with your own body, mind, and spirit to find your center. It can change with emotions, seasons, and time.
Notice what centering is like for you by using a body scan. Focus on different parts of your body as you are still or in movement.
Locate the center of your physical self.
Focus your mind on the present moment. Discover if your thoughts go to the past or the future.
Locate your spiritual center.This could be in nature, an esoteric dimension, or through reading holy texts. You might contemplate sacred images, sounds, mantras, or prayers.
First find your center, be it in the physical, mental or spiritual realms. From there, you can begin your typical energy practices.
You can also set an intention or create a tapping script to find, maintain, and enhance your practice with centering. You can find instructions on various tapping techniques here.

These are a few ideas for tapping sentences to get you started. Be creative and make up your own. The more real, relevant, and believable, the better.

“Even though I can’t find my center now, I can imagine finding it.”

“Even if I am not always optimally centered, I can become more centered by practicing.”

“Even though I’m new at centering, it is getting easier and more effective over time.”

You can combine tapping with a heart chakra exercise. Place the palm of your hand on the center of your chest. Tap on the space between the fifth and fourth fingers, on the back of the hand. Recite your tapping intention, with a slow and even breathing pattern. You can switch hands after three breaths, three times.

You may have objections to change or challenges that stop you from centering. If so, try this.

Pay attention to your thoughts, images, and imaginings.
Identify if they are about the present, past, or future.
Bring your awareness to the present as much as possible.
Release the tendency to solve problems yet to be.
Let go of a review of what was.
Create a still point of focus in the here and now.
Take a few breaths staying with the present moment.
Pay attention to what you might have overlooked before.
To help you with your present moment focus, here is a video for calm breathing

Beyond centering ideas with energy practices

Be gentle with yourself as you learn about centering with energy practices. It is a lifelong pursuit. Add centering to other activities such as a mindfulness practice like sitting meditation, or mindful eating. You can play with centering while being in nature. Include your centering practices while going about your daily activities. Many experience the value of centering as a practical and even a holy pursuit. Find out what works for you and track the benefits. You will be motivated to continue when the payoffs become real.

Want to learn more? Join an online class designed to deepen your centering and grounding skills, led by Lori Hops, Ph.D. DCEP, called Being Here Now: In Depth. Drlorihops.com

Author

Lori Hops has written articles in past issues of Energy Magazine , including Intuition: Your Still Small Voice . You can read more of Lori’s blogs here . Tune into Lori’s podcast to explore all things related to intuition (also on Spotify and YouTube ). Join an online class to grow your skills to embody intuition for greater clarity, creativity, and personal discernment at drlorihops.com.

New Review Casts Doubt on Serotonin Theory of Depression

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 15:07:46 GMT

For decades, many people in the public, clinicians, and the scientific community have accepted the "chemical imbalance" explanation of depression. However, a new review by Moncreiff et al (2022) challenges this long-held belief. Their comprehensive review found scant evidence linking low serotonin levels to depression. This finding has significant implications for understanding and treating this complex mental health condition and casts doubt on the serotonin theory of depression.

The theory

The serotonin theory of depression proposes that low levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin cause depression symptoms. This theory has influenced public perception and treatment approaches for many years. However, the lack of robust scientific evidence supporting this theory has raised concerns among researchers.

The study setup

Moncreiff and colleagues conducted a meticulous review of existing research on serotonin and depression. They analyzed data from 17 diverse studies, including systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and genetic studies.

Study results cast doubt on serotonin theory of depression

The review found no consistent evidence to support the link between low serotonin and depression.
Studies examining serotonin metabolites, plasma serotonin levels, and receptor activity did not show a clear connection to depression.
Interestingly, some evidence suggests that long-term antidepressant use might actually decrease serotonin levels.
Genetic studies also failed to find a significant association between the serotonin transporter gene and depression.

Beyond the headlines

These findings challenge the oversimplification of depression as a solely "chemical imbalance". While further research is needed, this study highlights the importance of considering broader factors that contribute to depression, such as psychological, social, and environmental influences.

Moving forward

Understanding the limitations of the serotonin theory can pave the way for more holistic and individualized approaches to treating depression. This includes exploring a wider range of therapeutic options, including therapy, lifestyle modifications, and alternative treatment modalities. Indeed, numerous studies and one meta-analysis suggest that Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) can treat depression effectively.

If you or someone you know is struggling with depression, it's crucial to seek professional help. A mental health professional can provide personalized guidance and support to develop an effective treatment plan. You can find an ACEP-aligned professional here .

If you are a mental health professional, and would like to get trained in Emotional Freedom Techniques, check out ACEP's training here .

Do you love research? Stay up to date with the research on energy psychology here or ask to be added to the research mailing list .

Author bio:

Photo by K. Mitch Hodge on Unsplash

It’s all in the flow: musings on trance and energy psychology

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 22:51:47 GMT

What is the role of hypnosis and trance in energy psychology? As someone who has spent over 20 years working with Ericksonian hypnosis I thought I would explore these questions. Let's begin with a definition of the mind.

What is the mind?

I lean heavily on interpersonal neurobiologist Dan Siegel’s definition of the mind: that part of us that controls the flow of information and energy over time. Psychotherapy of any sort, including energy psychology-based approaches, seeks to shift that flow of energy and information toward more functional and integrated flows. Milton Erickson recognized this when he defined define psychotherapy as a re-association of “inner learnings”; in other words, a change of the flow of information and energy over time.

The emphasis on flow also fits very well with concepts of health and illness in Chinese Traditional Medicine and Qigong. In these traditions, illnesses are seen as a block in the flow of energy and health is related to a balanced flow of energy.

What is trance? Does trance play a role in energy psychology approaches?

My preferred definition of trance comes from Ronald Shor. Trance, or an altered state of consciousness, occurs when a person’s usual generalized reality orientation or GRO is weakened or diminished and a special reality orientation (SRO) is built up. What is the usual GRO? It is the mind’s habitual pattern flow of information and energy. An SRO is a special or unusual pattern of information and energy flow. The greater the disruption of GRO the more “altered” one feels. A chemical version of this is getting high on a drug. Architecture can also create an SRO. Think about the great cathedrals that are designed to create an altered state of consciousness so that a person feels more connected to Spirit. In this formulation, trance rarely looks like the Svengali-like deep stupor often depicted in movies.

From an Ericksonian perspective, we go in and out of multiple, different coherent and repeatable trance states throughout the day. Hopefully, the flow of information and energy of each state is well suited to the tasks we have to perform at each point.

Furthermore, each of our minds has ruts or limitations in the flow so that we never go to certain places or end up in the kind of flow that does not work (or at least, not too often). Gary Craig called this the writings on our walls. The bottom line is that it appears that energy psychology, Chinese medicine, Ericksonian hypnosis and interpersonal neurobiology are all taking about the same thing.

How is trance helpful?

Trance is an altered state; a special or unusual pattern of information and energy flow. It creates a softening or lessening of stuck patterns that hopefully brings opportunities for new and healthier patterns of information and energy flow.

Does the ritual of using an energy psychology technique like tapping or TAT create trance?

If we accept the more subtle and fluid definition of trance outlined above, then my answer is yes – at least to some extent. Asking somewhat unusual questions or guiding attention in unusual ways can also create an altered state. If we are talking about a therapeutic relationship, there are subtle and not so subtle suggestions communicated by the confidence of the therapist; and there are subtle and not subtle influences that flow from the authenticity and presence of the therapist. Martin Orne called these “demand characteristics”.

I would even say that when we do Tapas Acupressure Technique, Thought Field Therapy, Emotional Freedom Techniques, Advanced Integrative Therapy or other energy psychology approaches on ourselves from a position of gentle non-judgment we are changing the relationship we have with ourselves. That, by definition, is a change of the flow of information and energy (aka trance).

The bottom line: there are multiple variables moving in us all the time, and many different variables can change our flow of information and energy, including our relationship with others, with ourselves and the stimulation of our energy systems

Is activation of the energy system a major active ingredient in energy psychology?

This is an important question. The short answer is that from a scientific perspective, there is some data suggesting that adding meridian stimulation creates more change than cognitive interventions alone. There have been several studies and even a meta-analysis that supports the idea that the use of acupoints in tapping is an active ingredient. A lot more research needs to be done.

Clinically, I would say yes, something more is going on. If nothing else, the jiggling of the energy system appears to loosen the blocks and allows for natural healing in the bodymind. If you have ever watched the way Ernest Rossi does trance work, it is more like gently jiggling the system and allowing natural healing to occur. To me, “pure energy psychology work” has a different feel than “pure hypnotic work”. But even that is a strange, if not false, distinction. How the practitioner focuses awareness by asking certain questions or making certain reframes is all part of good clinical work that transcends both models. The entire concept of presence and the response to presence quickly merges into the concept of interpersonal trance. And we have not even discussed the ideas of interaction between the energy fields of each person. In addition, I have only slightly touched on the tension between offering suggestions or reframes to clients (yang) versus just gently nudging the system so the blocks release and the natural healing flow is restored (yin).

Perhaps I have answered something for you. Or perhaps I have raised more questions than you had when you began. Or, maybe some different ideas are floating into your mind at this point. Why not take a moment and just enjoy going deeper into the experience?

Author

Robert Schwarz, PsyD, DCEP, has been a licensed psychologist for over 33 years. He serves as ACEP's executive director. Bob has trained therapists internationally on trauma treatment, panic and anxiety, energy psychology. He has authored 3 books, including: Tools for Transforming Trauma , PTSD: A Clinician’s Guide and We’re No Fun Anymore: Guiding Couples to a Joy Filled Marriage Through the Power of Play , as well as numerous articles and papers including "Energy psychology as a polyvagal intervention for trauma."

Photo by Ezra Jeffrey-Comeau on Unsplash

Feeling lonely? Try this.

Mon, 18 Mar 2024 12:00:01 GMT

If you are lonely and need a little self-soothing, try Simplified Self-Havening. This simple body-based technique helps your body become calm and centered. Practice the technique right now by watching the video below and following along. Feel how much better you feel and remember to use it next time you need a hug. You can also download written instructions in English , Spanish , and Portuguese .

How it works.

Simplified Self-Havening is exceptionally simple to do! Cross your arms over your chest with your hands on your shoulders. Using firm but gentle pressure, draw your hands down your arms to your elbows. While you do this, hum a little tune.

If you haven’t given Simplified Self-Havening a try yet, do it now. Take notice of how your body feels both before and after you use the technique.

Why it works.

Simple self-havening helps bring us back into the body and into the moment. The gentle pressure on the chest area activates the parasympathetic, relaxing part of our nervous system. By crossing our arms, we are causing brain activity across both hemispheres, which helps us feel more grounded.

This technique is also helpful if you feel numb or disconnected, or just need some self-soothing. Havening was developed as a trauma technique by neuroscientist Ronald Ruden. You can read more about it at Havening.org .

More techniques to try when you are feeling lonely.

If you found Simplified Self-Havening helpful, here are a few more tools you can use next time you feel scared or anxious: Calming Hug , the Soothing Butterfly Hug , and Calm Breathing .

Need help from a professional?

Author: Sarah Murphy, LPC, ACP-EFT

Sarah Murphy is ACEP board secretary and communications committee chair. She is a counselor in private practice and specializes in working with people who have serious illnesses.

Video Resources Provided by the ACEP Humanitarian Committee

Photo by Anthony Tran on Unsplash

Foundations: Introduction to the meridians and acupoints

Tue, 05 Mar 2024 13:00:01 GMT

A meridian researcher claimed that “if we do not understand the meridians, it is hard to understand TCM (traditional Chinese medicine).” In the world of energy psychology, we can add that we cannot really understand energy psychology tapping unless we understand the concept of the meridians. Interestingly, the meridians are very closely related to the nadis of Ayurveda, the traditional medicine of India. The ancients seem to have understood something about how energy flows through our bodies and affects our health and wellbeing. Here is an introduction to the meridians.

Introduction to the meridians.

Energy flows through our system along a pair of major vessels and a set of lesser meridians. The energy, or chi, moves throughout the body along these lines. Each line relates to a bodily organ and an emotion or set of emotions. We begin our coverage with the two major vessels, and then proceed to the twelve meridians following the order of tapping points from EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques), TFT (Thought Field Therapy), and TTT (Trauma Tapping Technique) from top to bottom!

The governing vessel.

The tapping point for the governing vessel is the point on the upper lip under the nose. The vessel itself runs from there to the bottom of the coccyx. The governing vessel, along with the central vessel, store chi and “blood” for the twelve meridians.

We can trace lack of movement and pain to problems with the governing vessel. Additionally, there are several emotional issues related to the governing vessel. These include embarrassment and self-esteem issues. What’s more, they are related to the future and how we envision our future and our future self.

The central vessel.

The central vessel is sometimes called the conception vessel. Its tapping point is the spot under the bottom lip at the chin crease. The central vessel runs from the perineum to the bottom lip. Along with its partner the governing vessel, it stores chi and “blood” for the meridians.

If you experience issues related to sexuality and the organs of reproduction, you may be experiencing issues with your central vessel. Imbalances in the central vessel also leave us feeling weak or depleted. On the emotional side, problems like shame and inability to launch future projects may come down to a problem with the central vessel.

The bladder meridian.

The treatment point for the bladder meridian is located at the inside eyebrow corner by the bridge of the nose. Predictably, the bladder meridian relates to bladder functions. This is not only elimination, but possibly lower back pain and even problems sleeping.

The emotions associated with the bladder meridian include irritability. Additionally, the bladder meridian is an important point for trauma. Some schools of thought hold that the bladder meridian also relates to jealousy and suspicion.

The gall bladder meridian.

The gall bladder meridian’s treatment point is at the outside of the eye. Just as the gall bladder creates bile which we use to digest food, its meridian relates to digestion. Other issues related to the gall bladder meridian are headaches and jaw tension as well as pain in certain joints.

The emotions we associate with the gall bladder are visceral anger: rage, fury, and wrath. On the other hand, some schools of thought hold that the gall bladder relates to decision making and the ability to make sound judgments.

The stomach meridian.

The tapping point for the stomach meridian is under the eye. This meridian is related to digestion and imbalances lead to indigestion, reflux, belching, and nausea.

Fear and anxiety are the emotions we most commonly associate with the stomach meridian. Imbalances of the stomach meridian can also lead to greed or disgust.

The kidney meridian.

The kidney meridian tapping point is located just below the notches of the collar bones. This is the K27 point, which is renowned for alleviating anxiety! Kidney meridian issues include issues with urination, as well as night sweats, dry mouth, and memory problems.

Fear and anxiety are the main emotions we associate with the kidney meridian. To illustrate the point, people who are insecure or aloof may be experiencing problems with the kidney meridian.

The spleen meridian.

We use the point under the arms at the bra strap area to access the spleen meridian. As the spleen relates to our immune system and production of red and white blood cells, issues related to spleen meridian imbalances include tiredness, bleeding and bruising, a heavy menstrual flow, as well as poor digestion and a distended abdomen.

Worry much? If so, you may have an imbalance in your spleen meridian. Other issues related to the spleen meridian include overthinking and being obsessed with things.

The liver meridian.

The liver meridian tapping point used in TFT and TTT is on the bottom rib under the nipple, the LR 14 point. Surprisingly, this liver meridian point is not activated in EFT. Apparently, many larger-breasted women felt uncomfortable accessing the point! However, some classically trained, long-term EFT’ers out there still use it. Interestingly, there is another liver meridian point, the LR 13, just below the spleen point we use in tapping. We are probably getting a two-fer when we tap under our arms!

Headaches, dizziness, and eye issues may signify issues with the liver meridian. The main emotion we associate with the liver meridian is anger. Irritability, resentment, bitterness, and flying off the handle can also relate to liver meridian imbalances.

The lung meridian.

The lung meridian tapping point we use is at the thumb nail bed on the side away from the index finger. Issues related to the lung meridian, not surprisingly, include all the respiratory issues like coughing, congestion, breathing issues, sore throat, and loss of voice.

Sadness and grief are the emotions associated with the lung meridian. Interestingly, EFT does not activate the lung meridian directly. Neither does it directly use the large intestine, pericardium, or heart meridian. However, we may activate these points when we tap on the top of the head and also if we use the fingers of one hand to stimulate the side of the hand during the setup phase.

The large intestine meridian.

The large intestine treatment point used in energy psychology tapping protocols is on the index fingernail bed on the thumb side of the hand. Not surprisingly, problems with the large intestine meridian include predictable culprits like constipation, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Like the other finger points, these are activated in EFT during the setup phase and tapping the top of the head.

The emotions we associate with the large intestine include guilt. Other schools of thought, however, hold that the large intestine meridian relates to sadness and grief, and that it works in tandem with the lung meridian.

The pericardium meridian.

The tapping point for the pericardium is on the fingernail bed of the middle finger on the side close to the index finger. Symptoms of an imbalance here can range from restlessness to fluttery chest to chest pain.

The emotions we associate with the pericardium include life flow and issues related to sexuality. Additionally, others hold that the pericardium meridian is responsible for extreme emotions, including bipolar kinds of mood swings.

The heart meridian.

The heart meridian tapping point is on the fingernail bed of the little or pinky finger on the side closest to the ring finger. Again, as with the other finger points, these are activated in EFT during the setup phase and tapping the top of the head. Issues related to an imbalance in the heart meridian include high blood pressure and heart palpitations. Heart meridian emotions include hatred and specific anger as well as anxiety and insomnia.

The small intestine meridian.

The small intestine tapping point is familiar to everyone who does tapping: It is the side of the hand, where we do our setup statements and begin our tapping series. Issues related to the small intestine include pain in the cervical spine, shoulders, and shoulder blades as well as tongue sores.

Emotions that we associate with an imbalance in the small intestine include vulnerability and sadness. More importantly, the small intestine meridian helps us sort out our emotions. Just as the small intestines themselves separate the pure and useful from the impure that we eliminate, the small intestine meridian separates the pure emotions from the impure ones that we want to eliminate.

The thyroid or triple warmer meridian.

The tapping point for the triple warmer meridian is located on the back of the hand between the bones leading to the pinky and ring fingers. Indeed, this spot will be familiar to anyone who does the 9-gamut. Issues chiefly related to the triple warmer meridian include pain, swelling, problems with urination, problems with hearing and tinnitus (ringing in the ears). Emotions that we associate with a blocked triple warmer include depression, overwhelm, stress, and sadness.

Now, what will you do with your introduction to the meridians?

Now that you have this basic understanding of the meridians, what will you do with your knowledge? All things considered, if you are a licensed clinician and would like to put this energy to use in your practice, consider ACEP’s EFT training , specifically designed for licensed mental health professionals. You can also get trained in TFT by Suzanne Connolly, a past ACEP Board member.

And be sure to check out our Energy Psychology Starter Kit ! It contains 2 hour presentations on energy psychology, Emotional Freedom Techniques, the chakras and more.

Author

Sarah Murphy, LPC, ACP-EFT, is an ACEP Board member and chair of its communications committee. She has a private practice where she specializes in helping people with serious or chronic illness.

How to reduce pre-surgical fear? A study says, try EFT!

Mon, 26 Feb 2024 13:00:02 GMT

Many people who face surgery are looking for ways to reduce pre-surgical fear. Hearing about possible complications and “what might go wrong” can increase these fears. Those of us who work with energy psychology understand how tools like EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) can help. For instance, I (Sarah) have often used EFT with my clients who are fearful of an upcoming operation, and I know – and my clients have learned! – how effective it is.

Moreover, reducing pre-surgical fear is important. A 2021 study found that while pre-surgical fear does not seem to affect survival rates, it does impact quality of life, cognitive performance, memory and attention, and depression. It also is associated with longer hospital stays and increased physical disability.

A study on EFT for presurgical fear, by Manevse and Yavla , appears in the October 2023 edition of the Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing. This adds to the body of research supporting EFT for pre-surgical fear. In the study, EFT significantly reduced fear by 54.4%.

The study setup

The research used a pretest, post-test, and randomized controlled experimental research design. A total of 112 patients participated and were randomly divided into EFT experimental and control groups. In order to have data to compare, the control group received standard treatment practices. Meanwhile, the experimental group received EFT.

Measures

Researchers used a patient information form, an Anxiety Specific to Surgery Questionnaire, a Surgical Fear Questionnaire, and Subjective Units of Disturbance (SUD) to collect the research data. There were no significant pretest differences between the groups in terms of descriptive and clinical features (P > .05).

The surgery

All participants were facing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This is a surgical procedure where the surgeon removes the gall bladder through small punctures in the abdomen to permit the insertion of a laparoscope and surgical instruments.

Results

The post-test score averages of EFT group in the Surgical Fear Questionnaire, Anxiety Specific to Surgery Questionnaire, and SUD were significantly lower than in the control group (P < .001). Significantly, the EFT reduced the SUD scores of the patients by 54.4% (P < .001).

The authors concluded: "EFT was found to be useful in clinical practice in the preoperative period, reducing surgery-specific anxiety and surgical fear. EFT can be recommended for application during the preoperative period in clinics."

Why this study matters.

Pre-surgical fears and anxieties are risk factors for post-surgical complications. Reducing or eliminating pre-surgical fears reduces complications and may shorten post-operative recovery time. Clinicians and healthcare workers can help their patients by sharing EFT. Most people would love a tool that gives them a 50+% reduction in their fear. That tool exists, and we should be using it.

Want to learn more?

ACEP offers gold-standard training, designed especially for licensed clinicians, in EFT . Want to learn more about the science behind energy psychology while earning CE’s? Take our science of energy healing course. You can stay up to date with the research on energy psychology here , or ask research committee chair John Freedom to add you to the research (research_committee@energypsych.org). Want to be involved in energy psychology research? You can participate in ACEP’s research collaboration with Peta Stapleton.

Authors

John Freedom, CEHP, serves as chairman of ACEP’s research committee. The author of Heal Yourself with Emotional Freedom Technique, he presents seminars and events throughout the US and in Europe.

Sarah Murphy, LPC, ACP-EFT, is an ACEP board member and communications committee chair. She is a counselor in private practice and specializes in working with people who have serious illnesses.

Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash

Crisis as a path to growth

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 13:00:00 GMT

Humans grow through crises. I am one of those who definitely and intensely resisted the crises I had to face and the sacrifices I was forced to make as I struggled along my path of personal growth. I recall having a joking-but-serious conversation with what I imagined was my Higher Self: She had the crook of a cane in the corner of my mouth, pulling at my cheek, saying in a Groucho Marx sort of tone: “We can do this the easy way, or the hard way.” So far, it seems to be a mix of both. It seems that crisis is a path to growth, and recognizing that may help us maintain some poise as we navigate the crises that punctuate our lives.

The burning ground

The burning ground burns, indeed. Human growth happens under the great law of sacrifice, and that law is associated with pain. Interestingly, it is said that in other places in the universe, sacrifice means bliss; but for us here on earth, it surely, unmistakably, and quite unavoidably, means pain. The best lessons in life are usually the least comfortable. Keeping this perspective keeps me grounded when I sit with clients who are truly suffering. It also helps when I’m in the midst of personal struggle.

Yet as much as crisis is awful and unavoidable, there can be moments of utter bliss – even during times of deepest despair. I can’t speak for everyone, but this certainly has been the case for me. I wonder whether we may all have experienced a strange mixture of bliss and pain that exemplifies the point – and points, perhaps, to a blissful future.

Transcending emotions through sacrifice

One of the greatest struggles that we humans face is loosening the grip of our emotional bodies and becoming more poised, more mindful, more grounded. This is not to say we should try to kill our feelings. It means that we feel deeply, compassion and pain, joy and heartache, bliss and boredom. But we don’t let those feelings drive our decisions and run our lives. Because when we do, we will find the ugly and unmanaged ones can destroy our relationships, our inner peace, and our reputations.

The law of sacrifice always means the death of the lower forms, whether they are the subtle bodies, like our emotional or astral body, or the physical body. These little forms are sacrificed to the evolving Self which we really are. There are human examples of this law of sacrifice playing out in triumph, of form being sacrificed to Life, and we can turn to some of the more famous of these examples when we need a little fortification. These exemplars include the Christ and the Buddha. The Christ demonstrated sacrifice and physical death, and the Buddha demonstrated sacrifice and death of desire.

Another example comes from the life of Vivekananda, who founded the Vedanta Society of New York in 1894. Some of his letters survive today. In April 1900, he wrote to one of his friends and supporters, saying that “I am very well indeed” yet “the glamour is off life. …Things are losing all their relative proportions to me, my body among the first…” About a year later, Vivekananda deliberately and consciously left the body, attaining the mahasamadhi (15:13) .

Treading the path

So, as we are called to make our sacrifices, let’s remember the example of those who have trod the path before us, and take heart, keep the faith, and keep thinking things through. Once we have endured the ordeal and the burning ground has done its work, the light, love, and will of the soul, with its group focus, will shine forth, the lower giving way to the higher. In the meantime, we face the fact, again and again, that crisis as a path to growth.

These are important points for us to remember as we tread our path, and it is also helpful always to remember that we are parts forming a whole. Indeed, humanity as a whole seems to be teetering on the brink of an expansion of consciousness. Clearly, just as it is difficult for the individual, so it is difficult for the collective, made up of these individuals.

There are examples of this everywhere. The news brings us stories of upheaval and tragedy around the world. It is probably not by accident that in parallel with our increased intercommunication, the impulse to help and to alleviate suffering is strong and growing. The whole idea of human suffering becomes less theoretical and more real when we see the faces of those who suffer.

Crisis as a path to growth

While crisis leads to growth, unresolved trauma can also temporarily trap people in a cycle of pain and despair. Fortunately, energy psychology tools are helping to resolve these traumas and free people to once again journey along their path of growth. This is particularly important because in the case of PTSD, simply shining the light of the mind on the problem is not effective; in fact, it is often retraumatizing. On the other hand, involving the body and energy systems is helpful indeed, and energy psychology tools do just that. Energy follows thought, and in this case, it seems that emotions and thought also follow energy in a virtuous upward healing cycle.

Trauma can be acute, like the kinds of events that we typically associate with PTSD – war, car crashes, rape, assault. However, the effects of adverse childhood experiences, or childhood trauma, tend to be more long-lasting, and they can be as devastating as they are insidious. They play a role in a lot of the problems and dysfunction that drive our fellow humans to do the dysfunctional, counterproductive, and pain-inducing things they do. People with a high rate of childhood traumas (such as poverty, violence, abuse, neglect) end up more likely to have relationship problems, health problems, obesity, addiction, poverty, depression, anxiety, and even have a higher chance of developing cancer.

Crisis in the collective

Although these problems are personal, in another sense their cause is collective, and I suspect the best solutions will happen at the collective level as well. As we look for solutions, we come back to the group: humanity continues to evolve, we will eradicate the problems of poverty, as well as the problems of neglect and abuse. In the meantime, as more people heal from their traumatic experiences, they will be free to progress again upon the Path of growth, and the collective will move ahead.

On this hopeful note, let’s wend our way back from the mundane to the sublime. Under the Law of Sacrifice, the lower always gives way to the higher, and we experience it often as crisis, suffering, and pain. This is the hallmark of life on Earth. Crisis is a path to growth. For us, it will be soul love, which is group love and which is what we really are, that allows the light of progress to stream in. As we tread our paths, passing through the harrowing experiences that spur us to grow, let’s rely on the love, strength, and clear thoughts of our higher Self and our fellow travelers to sustain us. We struggle up toward the mountaintop, sometimes lending a hand, sometimes needing a hand, but we never travel alone.

Author: Sarah Murphy, LPC, ACP-EFT

Sarah Murphy is ACEP board secretary and communications committee chair. She is a counselor in private practice and specializes in working with people who have serious illnesses.

Photo by Håkon Grimstad on Unsplash

Feeling stressed? Try this.

Thu, 08 Feb 2024 02:28:35 GMT

One of the fastest and most effective ways to calm down when you are feeling stressed is to tap lightly on a series of meridian points on your body. One technique that can really help is Simple EFT . Simple EFT is adapted from Emotional Freedom Techniques, developed by Gary Craig.

This easy, body-based technique is great for reducing stress quickly. Go ahead and give it a try by following along with the video below. You can also download written instructions in English , Spanish , and Portuguese .

How it Works

You can follow along with the video and do Simple EFT; tapping on the side of your hand, then the top of your head, inside eyebrows, corner of the eyes, under the eyes, under the nose, under the mouth, under the collarbones, and under the arms.

If you haven’t given Simple EFT a try yet, do it now. Take notice of how your body feels both before and after you use the technique.

Why it Works

Being stressed causes a disruption in the flow of energy through your meridians. Simple EFT helps your energy flow again by clearing blocks along your meridians. This allows you to reduce stress quickly and easily.

This technique can also help you to reduce or even eliminate the troubling feelings that often accompany old memories.

More techniques to try when you are feeling stressed

If you found Simple EFT helpful, here are a few more tools that you can use to calm anxious feelings: Easy Thought Field Therapy and the Trauma Tapping Technique .

Need Help from a Professional?

Author: Sarah Murphy, LPC

Sarah Murphy, LPC, ACP-EFT, is ACEP board secretary and communications committee chair. She is a counselor in private practice and specializes in working with people who have serious illnesses.

Video Resources Provided by the ACEP Humanitarian Committee

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on pexels

New Research Advanced Integrated Therapy

Wed, 31 Jan 2024 19:45:57 GMT

The journal Psychology recently published a randomized control study comparing Advanced Integrative Therapy (AIT) and Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT). This is the first documented randomized controlled trial to compare Quick-AIT and the basic recipe EFT. The research team, which I led, demonstrated an equivalence of AIT and EFT in reducing negative emotions associated with a single traumatic memory, identified by the subject.

The theory

Energy psychology uses the concept of energy that relates to biofield elements connected to meridians and chakras among other things.

EFT, developed by Gary Craig, involves tapping on acupoints, representing the meridians, while recalling a disturbing memory. Hundreds of studies have found that EFT has significant clinical effectiveness in treating a wide variety of psychological and physical symptoms.
AIT, developed by Asha Clinton, focuses rather on the central energy centers, referred to as the chakra system. AIT involves holding one’s hands in particular locations while stating a treatment phrase. While the literature includes multiple case studies related to AIT in the past few years, this is the first randomized control trial (RCT).

Hand location, tapping versus holding, and the verbal cue are different between the two treatment modalities.

The study setup

The study used a randomized controlled, parallel design with university students at all levels at the University of Nevada Las Vegas.

Seven research facilitators of the study were trained in both Quick-AIT and basic recipe EFT.
Participants were randomized to either Advanced Integrative Therapy (AIT) or Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT).
Data was collected through a Qualtrics survey completed in real time by the subjects. It included demographic information.
The primary outcome measure was Subjective Unites of Distress (SUD) scores and Heart Rate Variability (HRV) scores.

Although subjects could complete as many as three rounds of either intervention, if the SUD score reached a zero or one, the subject did not continue with additional rounds. We measured both SUD and HRV in all subjects at baseline, after identifying the activating memory, and after the intervention at each round.

Study results

Study findings show that Quick-AIT and Basic Recipe EFT have comparable therapeutic effects, in the context of a single emotionally activating memory, in this subject group. Both interventions resulted in a significant reduction in SUD scores post-intervention.

The AIT and EFT groups both had a pre-intervention score that averaged above 4 on a standard SUD Scale from zero to 10. Both groups’ scores dropped to an average of 1 post intervention.

Interestingly, a significantly higher portion of participants experiencing the AIT intervention reduced their SUD score to 0 or 1during the first round compared with those who received EFT.

The HRV measure in each showed an increase in sympathetic activity with the memory activated, and a return to baseline post intervention. However, the study sample size was not adequate to show statistical significance of this pattern.

The value of energy psychology

Since AIT and EFT both share energetic, somatic and verbal elements, the study may contribute some insight into the potential of energy psychology interventions for addressing persistent negative emotions linked to troubling memories.

Why this study matters

Although this study requires replication from other researchers, the addition of another energy psychology model for the treatment of trauma opens the door to more options for clients.

EFT tends to use a treatment model which focuses on the specific instance in a bottom-up treatment approach [to collapse “tabletops”]. AIT, on the other hand, has the ability to focus on the general symptom which then reduces emotional tone in the specifics, working in a top-down pattern.

AIT uses phrases such as “All the times and all the ways, I felt emotion X in situation Y.” This study did not address the ability to reduce emotional tone using this pattern-based language. However, the ability to approach traumatic patterns in this top-down manner may make treatment considerably more efficient.

Moving forward with Advanced Integrative Therapy

Clinicians and researchers in mental health are called to explore and consider AIT as an intervention for addressing emotional distress associated with past traumas. This study highlights the potential of AIT, within the constraints of the study design. This study encourages further research avenues that can investigate the comparative effect of AIT against other established treatments such as trauma-focused CBT or EMDR.

We also encourage researchers to replicate and expand upon the study. For example, researchers may explore different physiological measures, including brain-based studies. Studying the broader language-based patterns for AIT should also be a primary area of focus. Clinicians and researchers who respond to this call to action can contribute to the advancement and understanding of energy psychology.

Are you hungry for more?

· Learn more about AIT here .

· Stay updated about the research on energy psychology

· Join ACEP's research mailing list .

· Check out ACEP's online, on demand training The Science of Energy Healing 1

Author

Author: Gregory Brown, MD, is a professor of psychiatry at the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health. He also serves as the residency training director there. Greg has developed a keen interest in energy psychology, hypnosis, and transpersonal psychiatry over the course of his career.

Photo by Gowtham AGM on Unsplash

Foundations: Introduction to the chakras, or energy centers

Wed, 24 Jan 2024 13:00:02 GMT

You know you are more than your body, that you are an energy being, timeless and expansive. How does that energy become the "we" that we see? Part of the explanation comes from an understanding of the energy body. Basically, our physical bodies are the reservoir of energy pouring into us from the biofield, the energy body that surrounds and interpenetrates us. Within that biofield are seven major (and many minor) energy centers, or chakras. This blog is an overview of the seven major chakras or energy centers within a human body. There are other centers as well, but this is a great place to start.

Chakra is the Sanskrit word for "wheel" and the name is apt, because each of these centers spins, allowing energy to flow in and out of our bodies. Each energy center also corresponds to a layer of our biofield. And inside our bodies, they correspond to a gland. Moreover, each chakra relates to some basic physical and emotional issues, both positive and negative. In this introduction to the chakras, we will use the terms "energy centers" and "chakras" interchangeably.

Introduction to the chakras

Energy flows into our system from the crown chakra and circulates through all the other chakras, into the back and out the front. Energy steps down, layer by layer, as it circulates through the biofield or aura. It eventually makes its way into the etheric sheath, the layer of energy that envelops the physical body. From there, it enters the physical body itself.

Energy is everything, and therefore nothing exists in the physical that doesn’t first exist in the etheric or energy body. The health of our body is directly related to the flow of energy through our etheric body, and the health of the etheric body is directly related to the flow of energy through the six other main chakras and their respective layers of the aura. Here's a framework to understand how it all works.

The root center

The first or root chakra corresponds to the etheric sheath. The root chakra is located just below the perineum. It is associated with the adrenal glands, which are the masters of the “fight or flight” response. Root chakra imbalances, then, often involve either chronic stress or "flightiness.” This shows up as a lack of grounding—aka, a poor functioning of the root center.

Issues typically associated with the root chakra include survival issues and the will to live, inherited beliefs, some sleep problems, and being grounded. Physical issues can include autoimmune disorders, kidney problems, and challenges like chronic fatigue. When the root chakra is fully functioning, we are grounded. We feel fully alive and present in our physical and have a sense of belonging here on Earth.

The sacral center

The second or sacral chakra is located at the top of the sacrum, about two inches below the navel. This energy center is related to the astral or emotional body, what we often think of as the inner child. The astral body forms the second layer of the aura. The glands associated with the sacral center are the reproductive glands.

Not surprisingly, then, issues associated with the sacral center include sexual issues, emotionalism, relationships, and even money issues. It also concerns creativity and passion. Physical issues related to the sacral center may include certain digestive complaints and issues related to the reproductive system. This center has a lot to do with relationships, as well as harmony or disharmony. When the sacral center is clear and fully functioning, we experience emotional equilibrium, peaceful relationships, creativity, healthy passion and an end to victim consciousness.

The solar plexus

The third chakra is the solar plexus center. It is located in the area of the diaphragm. This center is related to the ego or lower mental body which forms the third layer of the aura. In terms of the glands, the solar plexus corresponds to the pancreas.

Issues associated with the solar plexus center include judgment and criticism, separateness, and an “us vs. them” mentality. Health issues related to solar plexus dysfunction include diabetes and many digestive complaints. The solar plexus is also the seat of stress, and an overactive solar plexus can drain the heart center. Thus, heart issues often involve the solar plexus. When the solar plexus is fully functioning and clear, our little egos are under control and we are aligned with the Higher Self.

The heart center

The fourth chakra is the heart center and is located right at the middle of the chest. This energy center connects the energy of the fourth layer of the aura. It corresponds to the thymus gland, which is important in regulating immune function. When the heart chakra is open and fully functioning, we are connected to our Higher Self and are open to love and group consciousness. We embrace and live the understanding that what is good for one is good for all.

Low energy in the heart chakra is analogous to an overactive solar plexus: anger, criticism, and separateness. Physical heart chakra issues can include immune deficiencies as well as heart and lung issues. Opening the heart chakra includes self-forgiveness and self-love, forgiving and loving others, and releasing past hurts. Again, the third and fourth chakras are directly related to one another. An overactive third drains the fourth, and vice versa. Interestingly, some experts say that the next step forward for humanity is in opening the collective heart center. It is interesting to consider what that will mean for us, isn't it?

The throat center

The fifth chakra or throat center is located at the base of the throat. It is associated with the thyroid gland which runs our metabolism. This chakra is all about communication: speaking our truth, connecting to our Higher Self, and manifesting. It is the center of higher creativity. The fifth and second chakras are directly related. This seems reasonable when we consider how emotions affect communication! An overactive sacral center (emotional body) drains the throat center (unable to communicate or connect to the Higher Self).

Unsurprisingly, throat center problems arise when it is over-active (angry outbursts, for example) or under-active (unable to speak up for ourselves). Moreover, when we are not clear about what to do or how to move forward, we can guess there is an imbalance in the throat center. Illnesses associated with the throat center include many thyroid issues and some voice problems. When the throat is fully functioning and open, we can effectively and harmlessly express the truth. Moreover, we connect to our Higher Self and we can create or manifest.

The ajna center, soon to be your third eye

The sixth chakra is called the ajna center. It is located at the middle of the forehead. It corresponds to the pituitary body, which runs the endocrine system. When this center is fully open, it functions as the Third Eye, opening our awareness to the center of intuition and the sixth layer of the aura.

For now, the ajna center contains all the energy from the lower centers. In fact, problems with the entire glandular system may stem from problems with the ajna center. Imbalances in the sixth chakra typically happen when we are too much “in our heads”.

The crown center

Finally, the seventh or crown chakra is located above the top of the head. Energy pours into our system via the crown chakra and circulates through the other chakras. This chakra is associated with the pineal gland and the seventh layer of the aura.

Problems in the crown center may lead to migraines. It connects us with the Monad or Spirit and opens us to what is sometimes called "Christ" or "Krishna" consciousness. Sometimes people refer to this as universal consciousness. For most of us, we can only hope to connect to such high vibrations of love and wisdom! In the meantime, the crown center sows energy into our entire system.

Now, what will you do with your introduction to the chakras?

Now that you have this basic understanding of the chakras, what will you do with your knowledge? If you are intrigued, it may be worth studying a little more! To understand how to use the chakras for developing your intuition, read Lori Hops’s blog here . If you are still a little skeptical (or know someone who is), read this report on a study focusing on the evidence for the chakras .

If you want to dive deeper into the chakras and other knowledge that is foundational to energy psychology, come to the International Energy Psychology Conference ! Every year, there's a special track of learning labs created with you in mind. You'll learn about the chakras, meridians and more.

Author

Sarah Murphy, LPC, ACP-EFT, is an ACEP Board member and chair of its communications committee. She has a private practice where she specializes in helping people with serious or chronic illness.

Treating Adverse Childhood Experiences with Tapping

Mon, 15 Jan 2024 13:00:01 GMT

David Feinstein has contributed an article to Frontiers in Psychology which focused on “Changing the Score the Body Keeps: Somatic Therapies for Adverse Childhood Experiences.” David’s article, Using energy psychology to remediate emotional wounds rooted in childhood trauma: preliminary clinical guidelines appears in the October 18, 2023 edition. The paper provides a rationale and a roadmap for treating adverse childhood experiences with tapping (a form of energy psychology). It reviews energy psychology’s efficacy and possible mechanisms of action, explores how tapping techniques interface with neural networks involved in childhood trauma, and suggests ways to incorporate tapping in therapeutic work with survivors of childhood trauma.

The ACEs

The article begins with the history of the ACEs. In the late 1990’s, researchers Vincent Felitti and Robert Anda of Kaiser Permanente discovered a strong connection between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and medical, psychological, and psychosocial problems throughout the lifespan. ACEs are generally divided into three categories: abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction. Higher numbers of ACEs are related to increased risk in health problems, mental health, and lifestyle difficulties.

As serious as the consequences of ACEs are, the research on psychotherapeutic interventions to treat them is meager. Several approaches seem relatively ineffective. In the body of literature, CBT shows the most promising results. Yet, as Bessel van der Kolk memorably pointed out in his book, The Body Keeps the Score – involving the body in healing seems to lead to better outcomes. Other researchers have pointed to mind-body therapies as effective approaches for people suffering from the aftermath of childhood trauma.

The framework

David proposes energy psychology as a mind-body tool that may be particularly helpful in overcoming ACEs. Energy psychology emerged in the 1990’s, when it was largely ridiculed and dismissed by the mainstream establishment. However, early practitioners found it to be quite effective! Today, more than 2 million downloads of the EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) phone app testify to its popularity. Moreover, a body of research points to its efficacy.

Research

The paper includes an easy-to-digest review of the research on energy psychology. David summarizes many studies and meta-analyses. Additionally, he cites the amazing results that Sakai et al (2010) found after treating children who had survived the genocide in Rwanda. In that study, 47 out of 50 participants no longer met diagnostic criteria for PTSD after a single session. In treating PTSD, according to Stapleton et al (2023), tapping can get results in four to ten sessions. By comparison, it can take eight to 15 sessions of CBT to treat PTSD, according to Watkins et al (2018).

Mechanisms

Is acupoint tapping a worthwhile exercise? Is it a “purple hat” or an essential component of energy psychology? David points to his 2023 review which found that five of six studies showed that acupoint tapping is an active ingredient in the process.

In his 2021 paper, David outlines five empirically-supported premises that support the validity of acupoint stimulation.

These include:

Tapping acupoints generates electrical impulses.
These impulses increase or decrease activation in brain regions involved in treatment.
The words and images used while tapping activate or deactivate specific brain regions, calling the electrical signals to them.
This creates neural changes, which are often durable.
Tapping leads to other physiological shifts: It decreases stress hormones, changes gene expression and brainwave patterns, and improves immune and cardiovascular function.

How tapping is a good neurological fit for ACEs

Three neural networks are relevant to ACEs, as they may have become impaired during childhood brain development.

These are:

The salience network, which distinguishes the important from the unimportant. An impaired salience network can lead to hyperarousal, numbing, or both.
The central executive network, which involves attention, self-regulation, working memory, and decision-making. This is also involved in coding fear. Problems in this region can cause a mismatch between threat or danger and a safe or unsafe response.
The default mode network, which is responsible for our relaxed thoughts, reflections, daydreams, and where we reexperience past trauma. ACES can change the default mode network, causing a distorted memory retrieval, more distress upon these retrievals, and a biased view of interpersonal experiences.

David explains that tapping can help reduce activation of the salience network by pairing exposure therapy, which is highly arousing, with tapping, which is calming. This seems to depotentiate the neural network involved in the trauma memory. As the salience network calms down, the central executive network may reprocess data unconsciously. Moreover, tapping can repair the incorrect associations of danger with benign stimuli. Finally, as the salience and central executive networks become calmer, the ruminations of the default mode network may shift as well, becoming less distorted.

Treating adverse childhood experiences with energy psychology

While there are few recommendations for treating adverse childhood experiences, the International Society for the Traumatic Stress Studies has investigated approaches to treating complex PTSD (cPTSD), which often involves childhood trauma. Among the cluster of cPTSD symptoms, David reports, the most important to treat seem to be poor self-concept, poor emotion regulation, and relationship problems.

The literature recommends a three-pronged approach to therapy. Focus first on safety, then on trauma memory processing, and finally on generalizing gains. Within this framework, it is important to be somewhat flexible. Other life events will almost certainly arise and need attention. These clients may need continued follow-up care for tune-ups or as new stressors arise.

Guidelines

There are guidelines for using EFT to treat PTSD, and these can inform work with clients who have experiences ACEs. It is important to remember that the symptoms were initially adaptive responses to adversity. It is essential that therapists instill hope. Goals must be collaboratively created with the client. Finally, clinicians must be extra sensitive to their clients’ trauma histories. They may do well to interface with other treatment providers to help improve understanding.

David recommends introducing tapping “as early as prudent” by using it to address a low-level stressor such as an upcoming task. Energy psychology incorporates distress ratings (SUDs) at every round of tapping. This is a great way to keep clients engaged in the treatment and assessment of progress. Perhaps most importantly, energy psychology is a tool that allows clients to downregulate their arousal during treatment. It also acts as a self-help tool that can be used at any time between sessions.

For these reasons, energy psychology may be a great tool to bring to work with clients who have experienced ACEs or who have cPTSD. Kudos to David Feinstein for another well-researched and well-written paper that helps further the field of energy psychology!

Paying it forward

Do you want to bring energy psychology to children? One way to get started is to sign up for ACEP’s free Mind Body Tools for Children training . Are you a clinician or stakeholder wanting to bring energy psychology to your community? Enroll in ACEP’s free Emotional First Aid training. If you would like to build your energy psychology skills, consider getting trained in TFT or EFT . Finally, you can stay up to date with the research on energy psychology here , or ask Research Committee chair John Freedom to be added to his mailing list at research_committee@energypsych.org .

Author

Sarah Murphy, LPC, ACP-EFT, is the ACEP board secretary and communications committee chair. She is a counselor in private practice and specializes in working with people who have serious illnesses.

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

A Theory of Intuition: Here, There and Everywhere

Thu, 04 Jan 2024 15:00:10 GMT

Intuition, or knowing something without conscious reasoning, is a relatively common experience. The physical senses, and awareness of the body and mental states create a grounding for intuition. Despite how widespread it is, intuition has relatively little research. Most theories of intuition focus on the here and now. Recently, however, theorists Shapiro and Marks-Tarlow have developed a model of transpersonal intuition that ventures into past, present, future and outside of time.

Until now, most intuition studies have focused on observable changes and objective measurements. Topics include human to human communication, accuracy of predictions, and sudden knowing of facts. Critics note that findings are relegated to the lab, and do not reflect real world variation and complexity. For instance, being able to accurately guess which card in a deck is likely to appear in a sequence has limited generalizability or interest. Research designs similar to this one lack an accounting of intuition’s influence across domains as broad as global consciousness, or as deep as inner reflection of truth.

A theory of intuition beyond here and now.

Most models of intuition focus on the intersection between the physical world and the internal experience of knowing. For example, gaining immediate access to facts that the conscious mind is unaware of, like knowing who is about to call you, or sudden insight into a vexing problem that was previously unsolved. The transpersonal model invites us to move beyond the here and now ordinary awareness in the sensory world, to include nonlocal awareness which transcends sensory process, beyond personal identity and bends laws of physics with information transfer (Shapiro, 2020; Shapiro and Marks-Tarlow, 2021).

This model proposes three overlapping systems of intuitive consciousness. Each part depends on the others. Though they retain their own unique characteristics, they cannot be separated. These are:

1. The analytic local system or intuitive consciousness identified in the here and now;

2. The experiential local system, which deals with personal experience through perception;

3. Extraordinary nonlocal system, the conscious communication that happens outside of ordinary time and space.

Mystical knowing goes beyond sensory data,

offering personal information without sensory sources.

Analytic local system

We use here and now knowing to explain intuitive experiences in the here and now analytic local system. A previously forgotten piece of information suddenly reveals itself. This “aha” rush of intuition can solve a problem. Consequently, there is no need to look for explanations beyond the functioning of the brain and consciousness in ordinary reality. The three-dimensional world has the answers.

Analytic local intuition is commonly studied by researchers, for it is easy to test aspects of the explicit physical world, especially those that are observable by others. Analytical reasoning skills reveal how intuition works. The system includes symbols to describe abstract ways of knowing. If intuitive knowledge seems to defy natural laws, this system assumes that science and logic will catch up in time, to solve the mystery of the unknown.

Experiential local system

The experiential local system resides in the realm of the internal world. We tend to register self-awareness with moment-to-moment variation in our bodies and minds. This inner world is unique to each person. It is unknowable to others, and can take on a rich and varied landscape of nuanced experience. It is the world of implicit knowing, with intuitive messages delivered as a whole. Two examples are immersion in creative expression, and so called “flow states”. Flow states occur when pleasant tasks are captivating. We tend to lose track of time and self-awareness.

There is no distinction between internal and external awareness, for all aspects blend for the experiencer. Intuition may come in flashes of insight, dream messages, or even downloads of wisdom carried with a unique signature of compelling presence. Unlocking the mysteries of knowing in the experiential world are often unclear and layered, shifting with time and context. One may say the intuitive knowledge is certain, but are unable to identify why this so, or how the process works. Intuition may have an authority of authenticity and truth, without the need for evidence of logic or reason. Sensory awareness in the current time and space are features of both the analytic and experiential systems.

Extraordinary nonlocal system

The system of extraordinary nonlocal consciousness breaks free from here and now boundaries, body, and physical senses. Information travels without regard to concepts of past, future, or present, residing within and/or outside of time and space. Though the physical body can register nonlocally sourced information, it may not. Intuitive consciousness also communicates inter dimensionally. Ideas arrive “before” they are created, thoughts directly affect physical reality at a distance, yet in observable ways. Minds can meld without regard to physical or temporal boundaries.

The laws of ordinary physics are irrelevant here. Intuition is illogical yet real. Mystical, shamanic, and trance communication carries intuitive messaging. The “clairs” sensory systems infused with intuitive knowledge, such as clairvoyance (clear seeing) or clairsentience (clear feeling) infuse layers of reality. Intuition can instantly and at a distance modify and connect brains, bodies, objects, environments, systems, and concepts. This is the realm of distant healing, telepathic communication, and inter dimensional exchanges.

All together now

The three-part theory of intuition, including transpersonal communication invites all layers to be present in their own rhythm. The physical and logical world may be prominent then disappear in favor of the elusive or subtle world. They may coordinate, or work independently. Ideas and awareness may pop in and out of being, like a kaleidoscope of overlapping images, shapes, and colors. And the human’s fanciful awareness springs from knowing, feeling, and working in subtle realms.

Imagine this. In a tangled web, one person can suddenly remember a forgotten passage from a poem, which upon reflection has personal and useful meaning. It answers a nagging question, and offers personal direction, reassurance, and gratitude. Telling their partner about the poem, the listener recounts a “weird dream” they had the night before. People were reciting the words to that same poem. The poem appears twice in a day to two different people. And again, the poem makes a third showing.

Just as the people are sharing their poem stories, they hear a loud bang, as a book suddenly falls from a nearby shelf. The book falls opened to a page containing the poem, much to the amazement of all. Here, there, and everywhere we find threads of intuition, tying together mysterious pieces of experience for us to interpret. Intuition echoes its messages through the world. What are the odds?

Want to learn more?

If you want to see more content like this, support ACEP .

Author

Helping Children with Cancer Using EFT: Deborah Miller, PhD

Tue, 26 Dec 2023 13:00:00 GMT

ACEP is always happy to hear stories of energy psychology in action, and we were delighted to learn about the work of Deborah D. Miller, PhD. She shared an inspiring story of helping children with cancer using EFT in a hospital. She found that she not only provided comfort and relief to children with cancer, but also to their families, medical staff, and even other support workers. You can read more about using energy psychology with cancer following our blog series here .

Deborah has been an Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) tapping expert and trainer since 2003. She is a Reiki Master, an internationally recognized author, and holds a PhD in cell and molecular biology. She has been living and providing care in Oaxaca, Mexico for over 20 years. Her website features resources including “Compassion in Action - Emotional First Aid for Children ” (How to Quickly Help in Times of Trouble). Deborah's brand-new book, EFT For Cancer , is co-authored with Stephanie Marohn.

EFT can go where it’s needed.

In our recent chat, we focused on Deborah’s work with children in a hospital cancer treatment ward. This opportunity developed when she was invited by a friend to help support a child who had cancer. They met with a small group in a park, and Deborah shared EFT exercises. The response was immediate. The kids and their parents felt more relaxed and hopeful. They wanted more, and the idea popped up: “what about the kids in the hospital?”

Helping children with cancer using EFT.

In the hospital setting, Deborah developed EFT techniques specifically for children. She also used tools including the TappyBear (created by Till Schilling), and the work grew from there. Seeing their children smile and play during the tapping exercises, parents also started to relax. Deborah provided tapping groups for families, parents, nurses - and even cleaning staff, as all people who work in a cancer ward feel sadness, worry, and fear. People saw how the use of EFT can lighten the mood, dissolve fears, and even reduce pain.

Stories from the children.

For a child with osteosarcoma in his femur, Deborah’s use of EFT helped reduce his reported pain from a 10 to a 1.5. The child shared a profound realization that deep sensitivity to suffering in his village had contributed to his own pain. As he voiced this insight, while using EFT, he experienced a decrease in the pain of his cancer.

Another child had to undergo difficult spinal taps and hated the process. Using visualization and tapping ahead of the procedure, he imagined the whole event. He pictured coming back to bed, finished and relaxed. The practice helped so much that he began using visualization and tapping ahead of other procedures.

In a different situation, Deborah began tapping with a young girl who had been semi-comatose and mostly unresponsive. The girl started in bed, but over the course of 10 days of tapping, she began to brighten, tap along, and eventually got up and out of bed. The change in her motivation and energy was clear to see. The relief her mother felt was tremendous.

Energy psychology in many spaces.

After working at the hospital for several years, Deborah moved on. Happily, she still corresponds with some of the kids. Many have gone on to earn accomplished degrees and even participate in the Paralympics. She continues to bring energy psychology to various communities. For example, she has published a tapping book for kids, The Dragon with Flames Of Love . She has worked with groups of breast cancer patients and their supporters. Finally, she also provides education about EFT in multiple languages.

Deborah says that “empowering a child to be their own teacher, to have a voice in their own life and be a part in their own healing journey” is one of the incredible ways that EP has impacted her work. That is a message we can all take to heart.

Do you feel inspired? Here are some steps you can take.

Are you a clinician or stakeholder wanting to bring energy psychology to your community? Enroll in ACEP’s free Emotional First Aid training . If you want to learn more, deepen your skills, and build your community while earning continuing education credits, sign up for ACEP certification in EFT .

Author

Ramona K Clifton, LCSW , is a licensed clinical social worker and coach, with a private practice in Brooklyn, NY. She works with artists and creative people to help them heal the pain in their life and live to their full potential. Ramona uses EFT, mindfulness, and a deep appreciation for individual experience and creative drive. She is a member of ACEP and the ACEP Communications Committee. Learn more at ramonaclifton.com .

Photo by Johnathan Borba on unsplash

Stories of transformation: How energy psychology helps heal trauma

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 22:44:34 GMT

Kristin Holthuis is a family doctor in Costa Rica who specializes in energy psychology modalities. She is an EFT mentor for ACEP’s EFT certification program and has been a Comprehensive Energy Psychology trainer and consultant. In her work, Kristin has had many experiences showing the power of energy psychology to help heal trauma.

She has directed several training programs in Costa Rica, the US and for the UN Women in Latin America institutes, NGOs, and hospitals. Programs include selfcare for caregivers and mental health professionals as well as trainings in the basics of energy psychology techniques. She shares a story of one amazing healing that happened during one of these projects.

A child in need

Kristin saw a complex case of a ten-year-old boy. When angry, he threw himself through windows and attacked caregivers with sharp objects. He also showed attacks of rage towards his peers. People feared him. No school would allow him to attend. He definitely was not up for adoption.

When he was not angry, he was a friendly kid. His multiple medications and therapies did not help much to change his violent behavior.

Energy psychology can help heal trauma.

During the first session, Kristin taught his primary caregivers a simple energy psychology technique. They tapped simultaneously on the side of hand and the gamut spot while saying some specific sentences whenever the boy became upset.

Releasing the rage

Kristin saw the boy and his primary caregiver and psychologist six weeks later for a follow up consultation. The boy hadn’t gone to full rage in those six weeks. Still, he would get angry, screaming and slamming doors. Nonetheless, there was improvement – he had not attacked anyone since the first session.

Exploring the anger with the boy, he said he would get angry “every time someone complains about me to Auntie.” (Auntie is the name given to the caregivers.)

Kristin immediately understood. The boy felt enraged anytime someone jeopardized the only family-like relationship this boy had left in the whole wide world.

They did one round of TTT (Trauma Tapping Technique), where Kristin gently tapped on the face, chest, and fingers of the boy, while saying a few words about the issue. After one round of TTT his anger about his peers’ taunts subsided completely.

Uncovering and clearing deep sadness

After the anger cleared, the boy felt a deep sadness. He said, “My mom gave me away like I was a piece of garbage and never came back nor asked for me.”

They did one more round of TTT, focusing on the deep sadness, while Kristin said some gentle words about his sadness about his mom giving him away.

“It is not your fault that your mom couldn’t take care of you, she was too young, you are a good boy, none of this is your fault,” she said to him.

Then the boy looked happy and said, “Well, Auntie Maria loves me very much.”

Even when focusing on the separation with his mom, he could not feel sadness anymore.

Somehow, he re-signified his relationship with his mother to the possibilities offered in the present with caregivers with whom he had a good relationship.

Back to school and a new family

After this second session, he was never triggered in the same way again. He was able to get off all his medication, go back to school, and about a year later he was successfully adopted.

The whole therapy process lasted two sessions of 30 minutes each. Wow.

Looking forward

Can you imagine what a difference we could make if social service agencies and hospitals around the world used energy psychology techniques like these? What a difference for children in hospital settings, so vulnerable and scared, having tools like these to calm down and feel less afraid. And providers like Kristin soothing children who are parentless, recognizing that much of the anger they may display is a scrambled reaction to the thread and need for connection.

Thanks to Kristin Holthuis for sharing her story, and more importantly, for doing her work. Many ACEP members have stories of hope and healing. Let’s share them! When we tell our stories, we can help turn the tide toward away from a “crime and punishment” model toward powerful, healing, loving methods grounded in energy psychology.

One for all for one!

Are you a teacher or school employee? Get trained to bring powerful energy psychology techniques to your school – enroll in ACEP’s free Mind Body Tools for Children training. If you are a clinician or stakeholder wanting to bring energy psychology to your community, enroll in ACEP’s free Emotional First Aid training. If you would like to get trained in using Emotional Freedom Techniques with clients, sign up for ACEP's online training that begins with EFT Professional Skills 1.

If you have a story of how energy psychology can help heal trauma, send it to us!

Author

Sarah Murphy, LPC, ACP-EFT, is an ACEP board member and communications committee chair. She is a counselor in private practice and specializes in working with people who have serious illnesses.

Photo by Chris Benson on Unsplash

Five Ways to Take Care of Yourself During Turbulent Times

Wed, 13 Dec 2023 13:00:01 GMT

It seems like everywhere we look all we see are problems. Given this, it is not surprising that according to the WHO, mental health problems are on the rise all over the world . While it is normal to feel upset when the whole world seems to be falling apart, we can take steps to reduce our feelings of distress. When we do that, we are better able to be a part of the solution – or at least, not create more of our own problems. Here are five of our favorite techniques to take care of ourselves during turbulent times.

Create a ritual of soothing.

The habits we create are the foundation of our experiences. To counteract the constant drumbeat of negativity, we need to set aside time to connect with our inner being, to calm our nervous system, and to relax our emotions and minds. Rituals are a great way to help ourselves feel secure and grounded. They can be small things, like hugging your partner when you come home (or emerge from your home office) or having a cup of chamomile tea before bed. They can be bigger events, too, like taking the family on a yearly trip to the local botanical garden to see the holiday display. Whatever ritual you create, pack it with intention. It is an opportunity to ground your energy, center yourself, and get back to the core of You.

Manage your energy with a little R4R self-soothing.

You may already have a favorite energy psychology exercise or two. It could be your daily meditation, or regular EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) or TFT (Thought Field Therapy) tapping program. Maybe you balance your energy with some yoga or tai chi. If you had a practice but abandoned it, now is a great time to get back to it! If you don’t have a go-to favorite (or want more ideas), check out the simple and effective exercises from our Resources for Resilience site. A dedicated and inspired team of ACEP volunteers put these together in response to the Pulse nightclub shooting. They wanted to get self-soothing tools to people in need. It is a fabulous resource, with nearly two dozen exercises broken down into five categories. All exercises are energy psychology or energy medicine standards, easy to use and super effective.

Go on a news diet.

Our parents used to read the news every morning, and maybe watch the evening news. Today, the constant reminder of the world’s problems can make us feel more distressed and less secure. We know that news outlets use amped-up headlines to get us to click on the stories. Worse, all those reminders do not do a single thing to help solve the problems. Even worse, the news mainly focuses on problems, not the multitude of good things that occur around the world every day. So, go on a news diet. Turn off your New York Times notifications. Set a boundary on the time you spend on Threads. Don’t read the comments below your YouTube news stories. Give yourself some limits so that you can live your life. You’ll still know what is going on, without being bombarded by doom and gloom stories.

Savor the good times.

Rick Hanson tells us that we are hardwired to notice, encode, and rehearse negative experiences much more than positive ones. When our ancestors needed to remember where the saber tooth tiger lived, it was a protective habit. Today, it is more destructive and leads to mental health problems like depression and anxiety. To counteract this negativity bias, Hanson recommends savoring good times. His Taking in the Good explains a 3-4 step process of noticing when something good happens, savoring the feeling for 10-30 seconds, and intending that the experience is becoming a part of you.

Get to work!

We can get overwhelmed by the tremendous world need, and sometimes feel responsible for solving all the world’s problems. Of course, we can’t actually solve all the world problems, and that sad fact can leave us feeling hopeless, helpless, and ineffective. But we are not. As Margaret Mead told us so clearly, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Our task is to find our area of influence and work at it. As each of us is dedicated to doing our small part of the work, thousands and thousands are doing the same. We are working together, even if we don’t know each other at all. We are creating ripple effects that will reverberate all over the world. Look how far we have already come! There is every reason to believe that it will keep going, and that we are doing our small part, together, to change the world for the better.

We need to take care of ourselves during turbulent times.

Everyone needs self-care and healthy boundaries. It is especially important for those who spend their lives and careers taking care of others. Remember, you can’t give from an empty cup. And you matter!

Are you a clinician or stakeholder wanting to bring energy psychology to your community? Enroll in ACEP’s free R4R training .

Want to learn more, deepen your skills, and build your community while earning continuing education credits?

Get trained in TFT or EFT . No matter what, please suppor t ACEP!

Author

Sarah Murphy, LPC, ACP-EFT, is an ACEP board member and communications committee chair. She is a counselor in private practice and specializes in working with people who have serious illnesses. A student of the Ageless Wisdom, she is dedicated to sharing the Great Invocation .

Photo by Jackson David on Unsplash

Logosynthesis: A New Approach to Healing Memories

Wed, 06 Dec 2023 13:00:01 GMT

Logosynthesis® is an integrative energy psychology approach to healing and development that uses the power of words to resolve disturbing memories, fearful fantasies, and limiting beliefs. It is a relatively new form of energy psychology, and there had been no formal research conducted on it until recently. Energy psychology therapist and PhD candidate Natasha Jones recently completed and published her doctoral dissertation, A New Approach to Healing Traumatic Memories: Using Logosynthesis® to Resolve Subjective Units of Distress Associated with Intimate Partner Violence . Her research documented the effectiveness of this technique.

Background

Dutch/Swiss psychologist Dr. Willem Lammers created Logosynthesis®. He discovered that his process of resolving blocks seems to restore the flow of life energy. Individuals reported experiencing an increase in energy after using Logosynthesis. This increase in energy, Lammers says, directly impacts our ability to be present. This allows us to complete tasks and to increase productivity. It seems to reduce reactivity to stressful triggers and emotional memories. Moreover, individuals have reported significant improvement in mood and emotions in as little as one session.

Central to Logosynthesis is the recognition that emotions are energies, and these emotional energies often get “stuck” or “trapped” in painful memories. These “stuck” energies continue to affect us, even when we are unaware of them; and then we have less energy to devote to our careers, families and ourselves. Logosynthesis uses the power of words, guided by intention, to free these trapped energies, return them to their proper origins, and rebalance our internal systems. Benefits reported include reduction in stress and anxiety, overcoming limiting beliefs, greater self-esteem and enhanced spiritual development.

The study setup

Four females, aged 35-41, participated in the study. Two identified as African American, and two identified as mixed-race African American and American Indian/Alaskan Native. They were randomly assigned to treatment and control groups. The study was conducted online during four sessions over seven weeks and included a 30-day follow-up.

Study results

The study documented that two sessions of Logosynthesis® lowered the subjective units of distress (SUDS) as well as frequency of intrusive memories. The mean SUDS rating of the treatment group before the first session was 6; after the second, it was 0; at 30-day follow-up, it remained 0. Meanwhile, SUDS rating in the control group was 5.5 before the first session; 2 after the second session; and 5 at 30-day follow-up. These results demonstrate that Logosynthesis not only reduced SUDS, but that the results lasted. Moreover, participants reported that they no longer had intrusive memories, and even “struggled to recreate the memory.”

Please note that this was a very small, preliminary study. Further research will be necessary to confirm, disconfirm or extend these findings.

A new approach to healing memories

Logosynthesis® is a newer and less-researched method in the family of energy psychology therapies. This research is broadening the breadth of knowledge of the field and helps us shift the paradigm to bring powerful healing techniques to more people.

Are you hungry for more?

Learn more about Logosynthesis here . You can stay up to date with the research on energy psychology and ask to be added to the research mailing list . Want to participate in energy psychology research? Join ACEP’s collaboration with Peta Stapleton. Do you like research? You can earn continuing education credits while learning about the science of energy healing !

Authors

John Freedom, CEHP, serves as chairman of ACEP’s research committee. The author of Heal Yourself with Emotional Freedom Technique, he presents seminars and events throughout the US and in Europe.

Sarah Murphy, LPC, ACP-EFT, is an ACEP board member and communications committee chair. She is a counselor in private practice and specializes in working with people who have serious illnesses.

Photo by Mohamed Nohassi on unsplash .

Feeling anxious? Try this.

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 16:12:39 GMT

How it works.

If you haven’t given the Healing Head Hold technique a try yet, do it now. Take notice of how your body feels both before and after you use the technique.

Why it works.

The Healing Head Hold is also helpful when you are upset or unsettled and can calm you down when you are distressed.

More techniques to try when you are feeling anxious.

If you found the Healing Head Hold technique helpful, here are a couple more techniques you can use to calm racing thoughts: the Balance Hookup and the Stress Blowout .

Need help from a professional?

Author: Sarah Murphy, LPC

Sarah Murphy is a licensed professional counselor and coach in private practice . She is on the ACEP board and serves as communications committee chair for ACEP and staff therapist for Unite for HER . She specializes in energy psychology, including EFT, as well as mindfulness and hypnotherapy.

Video Resources Provided by the ACEP Humanitarian Committee

Photo by Joice Kelly on Unsplash

Giving Tuesday

Wed, 15 Nov 2023 13:13:01 GMT

Giving Tuesday was founded in 2012 by the United Nations as a response to the consumerism of Black Friday. It is always the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving in the US. According to GivingTuesday.org, more than 90 countries participate in what is fast becoming a global event.

Helping to change the world

Giving Tuesday is just one day, but when you make a financial contribution to ACEP, your generosity can last all year. You can help us sustain our education, research, and humanitarian outreach programs.

ACEP is a charitable nonprofit, professional organization dedicated to the research, education and promotion of energy psychology and energy practices among health professionals and the public throughout the world. 

Our goal is to resolve the effects of stress and trauma and optimize well-being by integrating energy psychology and energy practices throughout community and healthcare systems.

Your support helps.

$50 – Can contribute to a scholarship to our conference; last year, people from every continent attended our conference, many on scholarship.
$150 – Can help us provide a week of free training to introduce people to energy psychology through our “Celebrate Energy Psychology Week”, which has had 20,000+ participants.
$300 – Can allow us to translateR4R into another language, expanding our reach.
$500 – Can help us develop new courses like the Science of Energy Healing series, which has taken by 5,200+ practitioners.
$1,000 – Can help us record and edit R4R videos to showcase more youth of color, making these tools more appealing to people who can benefit from them.
$5,000 –Can help us acquire grants, enabling us to offer free energy psychology training to underserved communities who could not normally afford the training.

Setting up monthly contributions can help your budget, and ours. Just think: for the price of a dinner out, you can make a real difference to people who need energy psychology by supporting ACEP, the leading professional organization for energy psychology practitioners. And as with all nonprofits, donations marked “for highest need” help us the most.

How you can participate on Giving Tuesday

There are many ways you can participate in #givingtuesday. Every click helps support our mission. Here’s what you can do:

Share ACEP on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter , using #GivingTuesday, and help us expand our reach.
Email friends, colleagues and family inviting them to join us on Giving Tuesday. Share this blog to introduce your community to ACEP and our mission .
Share your story. Have you used energy psychology personally or professionally? Share your story with others and let them know that they can support our mission and help spread the word about these powerful techniques by donating.
Donate on Giving Tuesday (or any time), on our website.

No matter how you choose to participate, we thank you for your support!

ACEP, 28 Garrett Ave, Bryn Mawr, PA, 19010, USA

ACEP is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit. All donations are tax deductible.

The official registration and financial information of Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll free, within Pennsylvania, 1 (800) 732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.

Relief for Acapulco: How ACEP members got 500 Resources for Resilience brochures to people in need

Wed, 15 Nov 2023 13:00:01 GMT

When hurricane Otis slammed Acapulco as a category 5 storm, everyone united to help the people in need. The storm had caused widespread destruction in the state of Guererro, where half the population lives in poverty. In the aftermath of the storm, both government and private agencies worked to provide relief for Acapulco. Ozono Polaris , a company dedicated to social responsibility, began collecting water, food, 500 Resources for Resilience (R4R) brochures , and devising a plan. The 500 R4R brochures were divided among three friends who were also going to the aid of Acapulco as a way to reach as many communities as possible. This is one of the stories.

Meet our hero

Margaret MacKay Avila is the daughter of David MacKay, a longtime ACEP member and current Board treasurer. They live in Puebla, Mexico. David is the co-founder and owner of Ozono Polaris, where Margaret serves as human resources coordinator. Part of her job is corporate social responsibility.

Change of plans, and a new opportunity

Initially, Margaret thought of sending donations to the Red Cross. Plans changed, however, when she learned that a colleague who had family in the area was making the drive every three days to deliver aid. On Saturday, November 4, just ten days after Otis made landfall, Margaret and her companion, Ramiro, packed the company’s 1.5 ton truck and started off on the six-and-a-half-hour journey to Acapulco. As they neared their destination, she says, the devastation became painfully palpable.

“Trees stood stripped of their leaves, some even uprooted from the earth. The harvest was lost, and the landscape bore the scars of Otis's fury.”

The town of Chilpancingo had become a lifeline for people who had access to cars. There, the team made their first delivery to the alma mater of one of the project’s collaborators. They refueled and continued their journey.

As the team drove along, they met displaced people from Metlapil who had walked to the roadside, searching for aid. Margaret and Ramiro, along with other passersby, offered them water and other provisions. The people shared their stories, telling of roofs blown away, homes submerged in water, belongings ruined.

“We handed them bundles we had prepared, along with bottles of water, cans of tuna, cookies, and the ACEP flyer. The look of gratitude in their eyes fueled our determination,” Margaret says.

Relief for Acapulco: Delivering aid and 500 R4R brochures

As they neared Acapulco, the team faced a heart-wrenching sight of destruction. Margaret says that the smell of decay lingered in the air.

Their second stop was in a neighborhood on the outskirts of Acapulco, where they met a contact who would deliver provisions to the resort town Pie de la Cuesta.

Next, they headed to the historic El Pozo de la Nación, where Ramiro’s nieces live. They delivered packages with water, food, and the R4R brochures. As the team left, they saw tears welling up in the residents’ eyes. It was clear their visit meant a lot.

Then they visited contacts in Acapulco’s Jardin Palmas neighborhood, where they delivered more groceries and R4R brochures. When they asked about areas that still hadn't received help, the locals joined the team in distributing aid packages at the community of Nueva Era. Margaret says that it was hard to leave. Unfortunately, they couldn’t spend time with each person, hear their stories, and provide emotional support. However, they took heart in the thought that the R4R brochures would aid them in their emotional healing journey.

Their fifth stop involved delivering a tagged donation for a family friend, Hugo Sánchez. Although he failed to be at the meeting point Margaret did not give up. Instead, she entrusted his box at “Los Cocos” with a beautiful family who promised to deliver when he came by.

The next morning, Sanchez sent a thank you note and pictures of his family.

Looking forward

At the end of a long and exhausting day, Margaret reflected on her journey. She has a feeling that the need is enormous, and for now, the team jumps at any opportunity to help.

And they aren’t finished. Margaret and Ramiro plan to travel again on November 11 ^th with a donation of fruits and vegetables, and more R4R brochures, to Bajos del Ejido. They have agreed to stay the weekend and hope to share the Trauma Relief Techniques with the community. The following weekend, Margaret will accompany a friend as she continues the mission and join a caravan to be able to help some more.

The whole experience was incredibly moving and intense, she says. “I urge you to continue sending healing energy, prayers, and donations to Acapulco. They are in dire need of our support and assistance.”

Doing our part

If you want to contribute to efforts like Margaret’s, support ACEP . Are you a clinician or stakeholder wanting to bring energy psychology to your community? Enroll in ACEP’s free R4R training .

Author

Sarah Murphy, LPC, ACP-EFT, is an ACEP board member and communications committee chair. She is a counselor in private practice and specializes in working with people who have serious illnesses.

With gratitude to David MacKay and Margaret MacKay Avila for contributing to this story, and of course, for their humanitarian outreach!

The Amygdala, Fear and Energy Psychology – Contemplations on a Neuroscientist’s Blog

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 15:00:01 GMT

In my opinion, what Ledoux goes on to describe fits very well with the experience of treating people with energy psychology. More on this in a moment.

Learn more

Want to learn more about how energy psychology can help heal trauma and optimize success? Check out the ACEP training catalogue

Author

Robert Schwarz, PsyD, DCEP, has been a licensed psychologist for over 33 years. He serves as ACEP's executive director. Bob has trained therapists internationally on trauma treatment, panic and anxiety, energy psychology. He has organized over 25 conferences on energy psychology trauma treatment, Ericksonian hypnosis, brief therapy, that trained over 18,000 therapists. He has authored 3 books, including: Tools for Transforming Trauma, PTSD: A Clinician’s Guide and We’re No Fun Anymore: Guiding Couples to a Joy Filled Marriage Through the Power of Play, as well as numerous articles and papers including "Energy psychology as a polyvagal intervention for trauma."

Bringing Energy Psychology to Pakistan: Meet Shazia Shahzadi

Thu, 02 Nov 2023 14:18:59 GMT

Dr. Shazia Shahzadi is a psychologist in Pakistan, where she has been working tirelessly to bring the benefits of energy psychology to her community. Since 2005, she has been using energy psychology in Pakistan, gaining a following and helping improve lives! In addition to her work with individual clients, she has led groups and workshops, including the International Committee of the Red Cross.

The gift of energy psychology

Shazia holds three master’s degrees, two post-graduate degrees, and a doctoral degree, all focused on psychology and speech pathology. When she stumbled upon energy psychology (EP), she was intrigued. Her openness led her to experiment and learn more, and she found – as we do – that using EP gets better results, faster.

She first tried energy psychology with her friends and family. Then she decided to take the practice further, using EP with her patients and students. Shazia has used EP successfully with doctors, nurses, businesspeople, and athletes. She found it especially helpful with her clients in the aftermath of disasters, including earthquake, flooding, and the pandemic.

Shazia uses energy psychology to treat typical psychological disorders such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, stress, frustration, grief, and sleep disorders. In addition, she has treated communication difficulties and relationship issues with EP.

Energy Psychology in Pakistan

Initially, people in Pakistan were extremely skeptical of energy psychology, she says. They asked, “what are you doing?” However, Shazia did not stop! She says she motivated herself, intending that one day, people would come to her asking for energy psychology.

Indeed, today people in Pakistan come to see her especially for EP sessions. They report that after the sessions they feel good. They relax instantly and appreciate the practice. In addition to EFT tapping, Shazia uses progressive relaxation, breathing exercises, therapeutic music, and her own soothing and relaxing voice.

A shining star

Shazia is leading the charge, bringing energy psychology to Pakistan. Her tireless work and positive attitude have helped overcome the initial challenges, and today she is a leader in her community. Along with her EP work, she is an assistant professor; director of holistic medicine and positive psychology; and a mind-behavior transformational specialist.

This year, the Islamabad Chamber of the Commerce and Industry Pakistan awarded Shazia the Best Professional award. To top it off, in August she was appointed director of the Lions Club in Islamabad, and an article on which she was the lead researcher appeared in an international medical journal.

Paying it forward

Are you a clinician or stakeholder wanting to bring energy psychology to your community? Enroll in ACEP’s free R4R training . If you’d like to deepen your skills and build your community while earning continuing education credits, enroll in ACEP’s EFT certification . If you would like to help spread the word about energy psychology, please share our social media content on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter , and support our efforts by making a donation .

Author

Sarah Murphy, LPC, ACP-EFT, is an ACEP board member and communications committee chair. She is a counselor in private practice and specializes in working with people who have cancer or other serious illnesses.

Research on Energy Psychology: New study validates the effectiveness of Holographic Memory Resolution

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 14:52:27 GMT

Brent Baum and his colleagues researched the feasibility of Holographic Memory Resolution, or HMR , to alleviate depression, anxiety, pain and PTSD. They found patients’ depression, anxiety, symptom burden, and PTSD all decreased after just four 90-minute HMR sessions. The online journal Psychiatric Research and Clinical Practice published the study, The Use of Holographic Memory Resolution to Improve the physical and biopsychosocial symptoms of chronic pain: A feasibility, mixed methods study.

The theory

HMR is a bodymind therapeutic approach that incorporates verbal and somatic components to access and heal traumatic memories . Brent Baum, a psychotherapist and former Catholic priest, created the method. He and his colleagues decided to investigate HMR as a protocol to address symptoms of depression, anxiety, PTSD, and pain.

The study setup

The mixed-methods study included 60 adults. The study excluded individuals taking mood altering substances. Eighty-five of the subjects were female, and 87% were Caucasian. Fifty-two percent reported high risk for toxic stress. Researchers used the Generalized Anxiety Disorder - 7, the Patient Health Questionnaire, the Somatic Symptom Scale, the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5, and the Subjective Vitality Scale to assess symptoms. Participants received four 90-minute HMR sessions.

Study results

Four symptoms decreased significantly: depression (p = 0.05), anxiety (p = 0.03), symptom burden (p < 0.01) and PTSD symptoms (p = 0.01); vitality improved as well. The authors concluded, “HMR may be a feasible intervention to address chronic pain and accompanying biopsychosocial symptoms; a randomized controlled trial is the next step to measure efficacy. Unlike other mind‐based therapies, HMR® participants use their own internal language for identification and resolution of the pain. The trauma imprinting can then be gently addressed, and the memory‐based components of pain resolved or reduced, which empowers participants to improve their well‐being.”

Why this study matters

This study adds to the growing body of research showing that integrative approaches to mental health can be quite effective. And we are excited to see non-tapping therapies getting some research attention!

Do you love research? You can stay up to date with the research on energy psychology here , and ask research committee chair John Freedom at research_committee@energypsych.org [RV2] to add you to his research mailing list. Learn about the science of energy healing (and earn continuing education credits)! Want to be involved in energy psychology research? You can participate in ACEP’s collaboration with Peta Stapleton. Learn more here .

Authors

John Freedom, CEHP, serves as chairman of ACEP’s research committee. The author of Heal Yourself with Emotional Freedom Technique, he presents seminars and events throughout the US and in Europe.

Sarah Murphy, LPC, ACP-EFT, is an ACEP board member and communications committee chair. She is a counselor in private practice and specializes in working with people who have serious illnesses.

Photo by Martin Adams on unsplash.

Are you dealing with a trauma and need help fast? Try this.

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 13:13:54 GMT

One of the fastest and most effective ways to calm down from our innate fight-flight-freeze trauma response is to use the soothing Butterfly Hug , developed by Lucina Artigas. This simple body-based technique helps your body feel calm, centered, and grounded. Practice the technique right now by watching the video below and following along. You can also download written instructions in many languages. Whenever you are feeling the effects of a traumatic event, give be sure to give it a try.

How it Works

The soothing Butterfly Hug is simple to do. Cross your hands over your chest, with the heel of one hand resting on your sternum, and your fingertips on opposite-side “sore spots” or neurolymphatic points. Gently tap your fingers on the chest, alternating sides. The motion is easy and gentle like the flapping wings of a butterfly.

Why It Works

The butterfly hug is an energy psychology technique that helps your body balance the left and right sides, and stimulates the NLR point. The technique is also helpful if you feel attacked or disconnected.

If you haven’t given the Butterfly Hug a try yet, do it now. Take notice of how your body feels both before and after you use the technique. This technique is just one of many body-based techniques you can use whenever you feel traumatized, scared, or anxious.

More techniques to use when you are dealing with trauma.

If you found the Butterfly Hug helpful, here are a few more tools you can use next time you feel scared or anxious: Simplified Self-Havening , the Calming Hug , and Calm Breathing .

Need Help from a Professional?

Author: Sarah Murphy, LPC

Sarah Murphy is a licensed professional counselor and coach in private practice. She is on the board of and serves as communications committee chair for ACEP and staff therapist for Unite for HER . She specializes in energy psychology, including EFT, as well as mindfulness and hypnotherapy. Send comments to SarahMurphyLPC@gmail.com .

Video Resources Provided by the ACEP Humanitarian Committee

Photo by Andra C Taylor Jr on Unsplash

Forgiveness As An Act of Wellbeing

Fri, 06 Oct 2023 15:20:27 GMT

“Forgiveness is the key to action and freedom.”
Hannah Arendt

“To err is human; to forgive is divine” is an oft repeated phrase (Alexander Pope, 1711). Over the centuries, humans have responded with bitterness when someone or something goes against a justified sense of right and wrong. Hearts can harden under the weight of pain. We can fall prey to holding grudges. We may blame others, or even ourselves when we are hurting physically, emotionally, or spiritually. We may even want to take revenge. In the long run, we harm ourselves. Despite our weaker nature, it is probably wiser to forgive the object of our ire, as an act of personal and collective wellbeing.

What is forgiveness?

Forgiveness is the deliberate, conscious decision to release feelings of resentment or vengeance toward a person or group who has harmed you. It also involves some form of positive thoughts, feelings, and motives toward the offending person(s). You may choose to forgive even if the object of your mercy is not deserving. Forgiveness may result in greater compassion and empathy toward others, and peace of mind. This is different from but can include acts of reconciliation, with continued interaction offered freely between the offender and offended. Embraced through the eons as a virtue by those practicing religion, philosophy and by society at large, forgiveness was not formally studied until recently.

Impact of forgiveness

Since the 1990’s, with rise of the positive psychology movement, mental health and social scientists have been formally examining the topic of forgiveness. The bulk of findings herald the benefits of forgiving, and the detriments of holding on to resentment and blame. Offering forgiveness reduces stress, anger, depression, and situational anxiety in the one harmed. It also leads to improved psychological functioning. Those who forgive experience better overall health, with lowered blood pressure and improved cardiovascular outcomes. They also report greater social support, relationship stability and have improved marital quality.

Alternatively, continued experiences of resentment, grief, guilt, and anger can sap us of our good health. Elevated blood pressure, damaging stress hormones, and negative thinking abound with the effects of lingering anger and pain. This adds layers of misery and suffering to the original offense. While experts recommend forgiveness, it is often hard to let go of the rage against injustice.

Why is forgiveness so hard to achieve?

In theory, it should be simple to search your heart and mind for permission to forgive. In practice, it is not simple, for we must face many objections along the path to eventual forgiveness. Here are some common beliefs that keep people trapped in the resentment game.

Pushing the river. If you forgive too soon you may not allow a natural process of emotional and mental understanding to surface. We can learn from these experiences. It takes time to let the shock of the injustice sink in. Then we express understandable reactions, and accept the full impact of what happened. Don’t engage in a forgiveness bypass by avoiding the necessary but painful weight of the offenses.
Don’t let them win. Some people are afraid that the offender will get away with the offense if forgiveness is offered. It is vital to name and honor the impact of the injuries. Too often, we try to see the offense as justified, ignored, or condoned. The fear is the offender may avoid taking responsibility for harm done.
To forgive is to forget. Some of us falsely equate forgiveness with forgetting. If you forgive, you risk erasing the past. There would be no lasting mark or record to say an offense or harm occurred. We would deny recourse for a just response. It may mean that the injustice could be repeated, spreading more harm in the future.
Self-sabotage. The hardest person to forgive may be yourself. There are many ways we can stay stuck in the shame and blame game. These include holding ourselves to unrealistic standards, guilt, or thinking you can control the past, outside events, other people or outcomes.

Forgive... for you

Experts in the field suggest adopting forgiveness for our own sake, as well as the sake of others. Azim Kahmisa is well versed in finding forgiveness - despite confronting the unimaginable when his son was murdered by a teen in a gang related shooting. He writes on his website, “Forgiveness towards the offending party can be one of the toughest challenges we mortals face.” Not only did Mr. Kahmisa forgive, but he built the Tariq Khamisa Foundation , named in memory for his son, to teach forgiveness to others, especially youth. He and others suggest several steps to forgiveness.

Steps to forgiveness for wellbeing

These suggestions can happen in any order, aside from the act of forgiving, which typically comes last. You may move between steps, with partial success, and can combine steps as it suits you. These suggestions may also inspire you to find your own formula for forgiveness.

Name the offense and express your reactions. It is vital to state, see, know, and feel the reality of the harm and its impact on you. Expressing your reactions deeply, in a safe space, allows you to let the shock wear off. You move the energy in your body and psyche so you are not locked into helplessness.
Reflect on reasons. It may be that there is no reasonable sense as to why events happened as they did. Still, you can learn lessons when finding patterns in the events, and your reactions to them. Perhaps this event is similar to other offenses in the past. It may relate to yourself, familiar others, or possibly to those you never met. You may find hidden gems buried under the pain and trauma of attack if you have enough perspective to be curious and open. Naming your "why" can free you to find solutions.
Rebuild Your Resources. Engage with your former or newly built strength, wisdom, truth, and support system, guiding you to brighter days. It may be fleeting at first to recognize helpful resources. However, keep searching for foundations that lead to increased clarity and peace. You may need to make significant changes in your life to establish safety. Resources will help you build what you need for the difficult next step.
Freely Choose to Forgive. Crossing the threshold into forgiveness can only happen with free will, full consent, and a willingness to let go of getting even. It means making a deliberate choice to feel, know and act in a new way, despite the wrongdoing of the other. It signals an end to dwelling and blaming. The war inside you ceases, in favor of personal peace. Some may benefit from taking counsel with spiritual, religious, or moral guides to move into this deeply challenging place of genuine forgiveness.

More tips on forgiveness as an act of wellbeing

Not all harmful interactions require forgiveness. In some cases, forgiving someone may lead to further harm. This can happen if, for instance, it places a person in a dangerous situation in the future. In that case, other alternatives may be more useful. These may include choosing to walk away from the source of harm, without forgiving them.

Do you have blocks to forgiveness? Read about how to remove them using energy psychology approaches in this blog .
Is it time to reach out for help moving toward forgiveness? You can find a list of energy practitioners on ACEP’s directory to assist you.
Are you ready to enhance forgiveness as an act for wellbeing? Consider growing your kindness quotient, by reading tips in this blog .
You can also check out this blog from the Mayo clinic on forgiveness .

Author

How Energy Psychology Can Help a Community in Crisis

Wed, 20 Sep 2023 17:46:07 GMT

Have you ever wondered if energy psychology (EP) can be helpful in a crisis? Maybe you have seen distressing news reports and wished you could help. As an EP provider, you can! EP is an effective set of tools that you can use to help a community in crisis. A recent ACEP conference presenter explained how.

During his keynote session on the final day ACEP’s 25 ^th International Energy Psychology Conference, Dr. David Feinstein gave a riveting presentation about a range of ways EP can help individuals and even communities in crisis after an event like a natural disaster or a tragic shooting. Indeed, we learned about ways that tapping works beyond treatment in an office, the four main tiers of healing from trauma, and how we can share EP with large groups of people to provide immediate stress reduction and ongoing support.

David Feinstein

David Feinstein is a familiar name in the EP world, having taught thousands of people. He has shared the benefits of tapping, providing training to mental health, medical, teachers and other professionals around the world. Less well known may be his deep connections to organizations that provide trauma interventions in the most critical situations. These include work with Veterans and in places such as Kosovo, Sandy Hook, and recently Ukraine. During his talk, Feinstein emphasized the crucial nature of a quick response and coordinated effort. With these, we can make a lasting impact on the whole community.

Taking EP out of the office and into a community in crisis

Feinstein shared that he had consulted with Carl Johnson, who has used tapping for trauma in South Africa, Rwanda, and Kosovo. Johnson’s message is that connecting with community leaders and organizers, local doctors and direct care workers is essential to build trust. Feinstein observed that when traumatized individuals can release some of the trauma, they are more available, and often spontaneously give help to others.

Sandy Hook + Rwanda

We heard an incredible story about children who survived the shooting at Sandy Hook. These children became fearful and school avoidant. Fortunately, they connected (through people like tapping advocates Nick Ortner and Lori Leyden) with children from Rwanda who had learned tapping after their traumas. The children from Rwanda had developed peer leadership groups. Kids from Sandy Hook learned skills from the Rwandan youth. In time, they were able to return to school and start their own leadership groups, where they shared tapping with their peers.

Four tiers of trauma recovery

Recovery from trauma is a process that evolves over time. Feinstein outlined the four main tiers that most people experience when they have support. EP is effective during each tier:

Immediate relief and stabilization, through reduction of hyperarousal in the limbic system.
Neutralize limbic responses to traumatic cues.
Overcome problems activated by trauma (including work issues, addictions, anxiety responses).
Promote optimal functioning (where individuals regain the ability to cope with uncertainty and change).

Helping communities in crisis

Clinicians are adept at working with clients one-on-one. But what about large groups? How can we help a community in crisis? The challenges of reaching large numbers of people in a community can be daunting. Feinstein suggested that we can address this challenge by teaching EP skills in a group. This idea will be familiar to people familiar with EFT’s group work and borrowing benefits. A facilitator can demonstrate EFT techniques with a volunteer. Meanwhile, the whole group watches and taps along together, and everyone receives the borrowed benefits of the experience.

Feinstein concluded with an inspired message, encouraging us to imagine a world where local communities are already prepared, where therapists and practitioners are immediately available and will help share the skills of tapping when a community is in need.

Are you an educator, first responder or clinician wanting to bring EP to your community? You can learn skills right away through ACEP’s free Resources for Resilience web site and Emotional First Aid training . Thanks to ACEP's Humanitarian Committee for creating these wonderful resources.

Author

Ramona K Clifton, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker and coach, with a private practice in Brooklyn, NY. She works with artists and creative people to help them heal the pain in their life and live at their full potential. Ramona uses EFT, mindfulness and a deep appreciation for individual experience and the creative drive. She is a member of ACEP and the ACEP Communications Committee. Learn more at ramonaclifton.com .

Image: Bouy on Unsplash

Research Update: Meta-Analysis Shows EFT is Effective for PTSD

Mon, 11 Sep 2023 14:19:38 GMT

Frontiers In Psychology recently published a systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrating that EFT is an effective treatment for PTSD. The study, Emotional freedom techniques for treating post-traumatic stress disorder: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis , showed that Clinical EFT produces a greater symptom reduction than no-treatment or “treatment as usual” studies. Furthermore, EFT produces symptom reduction similar to that of other evidence-based approaches. Finally, studies using EFT to treat PTSD have large treatment effects. We tip our hats to Peta Stapleton, Kevin Kip, Dawson Church, and the whole team for their efforts in showing that EFT is effective for PTSD.

The theory

The researchers wanted to update the literature on using EFT to treat PTSD. Scientific methods are continually improving, and studies need to be updated and replicated. The last meta-analysis of EFT treatment of PTSD was conducted in 2017. Stapleton and her team noted that while cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a common and empirically validated approach to treating PTSD, it does not work in as many as 50% of cases. Moreover, a review of 36 studies found two-thirds of military personnel still met diagnostic criteria for PTSD after cognitive reprocessing or prolonged exposure therapy. Meanwhile, although medications such as SSRIs can be temporarily effective at reducing symptoms, relapse is common at cessation of treatment.

Against this backdrop of treatment options, researchers note that as many as 30% of combat veterans will experience PTSD, and nearly 7% of Americans will experience PTSD in their lifetimes. Indeed, PTSD affects an estimated 4% of the global population, with higher rates reported among those who have been exposed to trauma. Importantly, awareness of the problem is growing. Finding effective strategies to treat it is important.

The researchers also dug a little deeper into the research on acupuncture, since acupoint stimulation is a key component in EFT. Their investigation covered an 11-year period and found 13,000 studies and 2,500 reviews. Of 122 medical and mental-health conditions studied, acupuncture was effective in treating 117. And, importantly, the previous meta-analysis on EFT for PTSD found a large treatment effect size.

The study setup

For the current review and meta-analysis, researchers combed through ten databases to find randomized controlled trials and quantitative reviews on EFT for PTSD. Six studies met inclusion criteria.

Study results: EFT is effective for PTSD

Clinical EFT, when compared to no-treatment, waitlist, or treatment-as-usual controls, produced significant and large effect sizes ranging from 1.38 to 2.51. When compared to active controls such as CBT and EMDR, effect sizes ranged from -0.15 to 0.79. These treatment results are similar to other evidence-based therapies.

Notable

Therapies such as EFT and TFT (Thought Field Therapy), that incorporate a somatic component, have not been widely accepted in clinical settings. Talk therapies have been around for much longer and therefore have many more studies to back them up. Nonetheless, EFT and TFT have been supported by more than 100 clinical studies each, and the research base is growing. The studies, reviews, and meta-analyses show that these are effective treatments for PTSD, anxiety and depression, with results maintained at follow-up.

Why this study matters

This study adds to the growing body of evidence supporting EFT for treating PTSD. Meta-analyses are the highest level of evidence on hierarchies of evidence. Importantly, Frontiers is a Q1 journal, the highest rank of professional journals as measured by Journal Impact Factor, which measures how often articles published in a journal are cited by other authors. Publication in a top-notch journal like this is a win for EFT research!

Action plan

Want to learn more about EFT while earning continuing education credits? Sign up for EFT Professional Skills 1 . You'll have the option to deepen your training and get full certification in EFT.

Do you like research? Stay up to date with the research on energy psychology here or contact Research Committee Chair John Freedom at research_committee@energypsych.org . Want to be involved in energy psychology research? You can participate in ACEP’s collaboration with Peta Stapleton. Learn more here .

Author

Sarah Murphy, LPC, is a licensed professional counselor and coach with more than 12 years of clinical experience. She specializes in energy psychology, including EFT, as well as mindfulness and hypnotherapy. In her therapy practice, she works with individuals seeking to find peace within themselves, people who have serious medical diagnoses, and couples who want to resolve conflict and live in harmony. Sarah is an ACEP Board member and chair of the Communications Committee. Learn more at www.transformative-therapy.com .

Reference

Stapleton, P., Kip, K., Church, D., Toussaint, L., Footman, J., Ballantyne, P., and O’Keefe, T. (2023). Emotional freedom techniques for treating post traumatic stress disorder: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 2023.

https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1195286

Can't Sleep? Try This.

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 15:12:43 GMT

Learn a simple energy-based tool that can help with a lot of things – including insomnia.

One of the fastest and most effective ways to overcome insomnia is to tap on a series of acupressure points, practicing a technique called Easy TFT (thought field therapy)*. This simple body-based technique can help you fall asleep. This technique was developed by Roger Callahan and adapted by Suzanne Connolly.

The video below is presented by ACEP's TFT trainer Suzanne Connolly. She is an expert TFT practitioner, teacher, and researcher. You can check out the video and follow along to see how you feel. And the next time you can’t sleep, you can give it a try!

You can also download written instructions in English , Spanish , and Portuguese .

How it Works

Tap the inside corners of your eyebrows, under your eyes, under your arms, and under your collarbones. Follow along with Suzanne Connolly on the video, and she will demonstrate other tapping points as well.

Why It Works

A disruption in the flow of energy through your meridians can lead to problems sleeping. The gentle tapping of Easy TFT helps your energy flow again by clearing blocks along your meridians.

This technique is also helpful if you are bothered by upsetting memories, feel stressed out, or need to leave the past in the past. If you haven’t given easy TFT a try yet, do it now. Note how your body feels both before and after you use the technique.

This is just one of many you can use to reduce stress and reduce feelings of upset. ACEP’s humanitarian committee compiled a series of techniques to address a variety of problems. They are all available at www.r4r.energypsych.org . We owe the team a debt of gratitude!

More Techniques to Overcome Insomnia

If you found easy TFT helpful, here are a few more tools you can use to help with insomnia: Cooks Hookup and simple EFT .

All the videos and techniques in our "Try This" series were created by ACEP's Humanitarian Committee in order to help people heal by spreading the word about the powerful effects of energy psychology techniques. We invite you to help by sharing this information!

Need Help from a Professional?

Many people are experiencing stress and seeking alternatives to pharmaceuticals. ACEP is a nonprofit, 501c3 dedicated to the research, education, and sharing of energy psychology. Check out the ACEP practitioner directory to find a certified ACEP therapist in your area or online.

Want to learn TFT?

Before there was EFT, there was TFT – the founding tapping modality. You can work with Suzanne herself in her online course. If you register through ACEP’s link , a portion of the training will help fund special projects, like researching TFT!

Author: Sarah Murphy, LPC

Sarah Murphy is a licensed professional counselor and coach in private practice . She is on the board of and serves as communications committee chair for ACEP and staff therapist for Unite for HER . She specializes in energy psychology, including EFT, as well as mindfulness and hypnotherapy. Send comments to SarahMurphyLPC@gmail.com .

Video Resources Provided by the ACEP Humanitarian Committee

Photo by Stacey Koenitz on Unsplash

Strategies to manage screen time with kids

Mon, 28 Aug 2023 12:00:00 GMT

As a mental health counselor who works with children, I frequently hear parents asking, “How much screen time should kids have -- especially in the summer?” In my private practice, where I have worked with children and teens for more than a decade, I see first-hand the damage that overuse of screens can create. I also have solutions to help parents and their kids create a healthy relationship with screens. Here is a rundown of the problems of too much screen time with kids, as well as some solutions.

The problem with kids and screen time

While we can all see some benefits in the use of screened devices with children, let's focus more on the concerning behaviors related to screen time overuse. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) recommends serious limits on screen time: total ban for babies under two years old, one hour of high-quality programming for kids age two to five, and setting limits with older children. Here are the key reasons for these limits:

Addictive-quality responses – dopamine spikes and dips – related to withdrawal from screens.
Reduced/negatively impacted social skills among children with average capacity for social engagement.
Decreased capacity to use the creative mind with spontaneity.
A reduction in magical thinking and pretend play in young children.
Less physical activity, which keeps children physically and mentally healthy (this could mean anything from riding bikes to participating in a group sport).
Reduced distress tolerance with change.

Social media challenges

Adding the complication of social media to a child’s device can lead to some of these negative consequences:

A reduced level of patience (i.e., need for instant gratification).
Hampered self-esteem development and negative impacts on self-talk.
An increase in fear of failure or judgment from others, especially in public settings. This can lead to less courage to try new things if they don't believe they can master it on the first attempt.
An increase (especially in girls) in body image concerns, potentially leading to eating disorders and body dysmorphia as well as early sexualization due to images seen on social media.
An increased risk for emotional manipulation and trauma that comes from being bullied, shamed, or negatively compared to others. Unfortunately, kids often perceive that these are happening on a global scale because they are on the internet.

These are the issues I see with child/adolescent clients consistently, all the way up into young adulthood.

Reducing screen time with kids

Because of these issues, it is a good idea for parents to limit screen time. The exact limit is difficult to pinpoint, and there is little research to support exact time limits. That said, I recommend no more than four hours on weekends and summer days. To help achieve this, you can try some of these strategies:

Get tactile.

Intentionally reintroduce your children to the natural world around us. Or pull out the board games and independent play items that you remember using and strongly encourage them to participate. They may fight you on this at first but hold firm on your boundaries. Remember, you own and pay for these devices and services. Eventually your child will come around to doing something because they don't want to be bored.

Seek out simple devices for communication basics.

Investigate “dumb phones” (with only texting, calls, and photos on the device) so you can remove internet access completely. This is especially good practice with small children, whose underdeveloped reasoning and logic capacities leave them extra vulnerable. In fact, this is a new trend. There are many people in their 20's who are ditching their smartphones for dumb phones because they realize they have better mental health and social relationships when they do.

Power to the Parents!

Ultimately, you are the parent, so you are in control. And if your child has an abnormal response (aggressive and/or threatening behavior to oneself or others/property) to the reduction or removal of a screen, then you may need to get support to create better boundaries and see if your child's mental health is already affected by these devices.

Energy practices can help kids reduce screen time.

Nowadays, when we are integrated within the greater culture/society, it is almost impossible to keep our children away from screens. If you choose to allow your kids to use screens, request something in exchange for it. You can have them do energy practices!

For example:

Cross Crawl. Use this to help your child get out of siloed energy and rebalance their brain hemispheres. Visit this link for a video demonstration which you can follow along with your children.
Earthing. Being barefoot on the ground or holding bare hands on a tree will create an exchange of positive and negative ions between their bodies and the Earth to help clear out the electromagnetic overwhelm from screens.
The Trauma Tapping Technique (TTT). If your child has experienced a trauma from screens, this simple technique can help them calm their nervous system. Follow this link for a demonstration. For more energy practices and emotional first aid resources, visit r4r.energypsych.org .

Your kids can learn to live happily and healthfully without using their screens or using them within healthy limits. The suggestions here can help you help them. If you think your child has been harmed by screen time and you would like some professional help, you can find an ACEP-verified practitioner here .

Author

Kerri M. Vercellini, LMHC, is a licensed mental health counselor in Newburyport, MA. In her practice, Awaken Holistic Counseling Services , she integrates mental health supports, holistic healing tools, and intuitive education for both private clients and the community. She is a trained holistic dating & life coach, community educator, certified Reiki practitioner, and EFT practitioner. Kerri is also an ACEP Board member. For more information, please visit her website and her Facebook page .

Photo by Julia Cameron on Unsplash

Helping a patient recover from mental illness without drugs

Mon, 21 Aug 2023 12:00:02 GMT

Alice Lee, MD, is a holistic psychiatrist who uses energy psychology to help patients recover from mental illness without drugs. At the 25 ^th ACEP International Energy Psychology Conference, she shared a detailed case report of a patient who was weaned from six different psychotropic medications as she healed from her bipolar disorder diagnosis. It’s a fascinating story and one we thought you should know!

Background

The patient was 60 years old when she began treatment with Alice. Before her mental health problems arose, she had had a successful, albeit stressful career. In 2009, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, which she successfully treated with conventional and holistic methods. In 2017, her daughter became ill. The combined stress of her job and her daughter’s illness became too much.

She began intensive therapy with a conventional clinician, whom she saw for six months with little relief. Finally, she decided to try an antidepressant. Weeks later, she attempted suicide by overdosing on the new medications.

For almost two years, she cycled in and out of inpatient hospitalizations and residential treatment programs. She ended up taking six medications: two antidepressants, a beta blocker for anxiety, an antipsychotic, an anticonvulsant, and a benzodiazepine.

A holistic approach: recover from mental illness without drugs

After nearly three years of standard psychiatric treatment, the patient sought a holistic approach, and found Alice Lee. Alice uses energy psychology and CBET, criteria-based energy testing, to guide her treatment approach. CBET uses applied kinesiology or muscle testing to gather true-false statements. Alice uses the thumb-and-index finger method of testing. Because muscle testing is sensitive to energy, it was important for Alice to remain neutral during her work.

Diagnosis

The patient had been diagnosed with a number of disorders and had landed with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder with psychotic features. However, she had never experienced a manic episode. Alice switched the diagnosis to panic disorder. This gentler diagnosis itself may have helped initiate the healing.

Prognosis

The patient and Alice worked together for a year. At the end of treatment, the patient was doing well. Two years later, she continues to do well. Her prognosis, Alice reports, is excellent.

Treatment

Alice used the Infinite Intention Technique , a type of energy psychology. CBET guided the work. The patient also used various supplements, psychotherapy, and tapered off her medications.

Recovery pattern

At the outset of the holistic psychiatric treatment, the patient and doctor worked together to support and begin healing without changing medications. In the next phase they began gradually reducing medications, guided by CBET. The patient regularly experienced a slight uptick of medication side effects about two days before a follow-up session. After the medications were decreased, the symptoms would subside.

Outcomes

After a year of collaboration and gradual withdrawal from the medications, along with adherence to the supplement and self-care regimen, the patient had successfully stopped all medication. She reported better energy and maintained her positive energy and wellbeing for more than six months of follow-up.

A new direction?

Patients and clients are increasingly seeking alternatives to standard pharmaceutical interventions for their mental health issues. They want to recover from mental illness without drugs. There are good reasons for this: the cost, side effects, problems with withdrawal, and of course, the inability of pills to resolve the underlying causes of these problems. Energy psychology is a growing field of cutting-edge interventions that help people heal. As more people learn about the problems of standardized care and the potential energy psychology, more people will receive the kind of help that really helps.

Do you want to be a part of this change? Share this article with your friends and colleagues. By joining ACEP , you’ll get stories like this delivered to your inbox every week. And your funds help our organization grow, supporting research, training, and spreading the word about energy psychology.

Author

Sarah Murphy, LPC, NCC, is a licensed and nationally certified professional counselor. She specializes in energy psychology, including EFT, as well as mindfulness and meditation. Sarah works with people who have cancer or other serious medical diagnoses, individuals seeking to find peace within themselves, and couples who want to resolve conflict and live in harmony. Sarah is an ACEP Board member and chair of its communications committee; she has a private practice and serves as a counseling provider for Unite for HER

5 Ways Sound Can Be an Agent for Healing

Mon, 07 Aug 2023 15:33:01 GMT

Sound as an agent for healing was one theme that was woven through the 2023 ACEP conference. From presentations by five different sound and music practitioners to inspiring, humorous songs sprinkled throughout by conference minstrel David Roth , conference attendees were treated to a first-hand experience of the powerful energy of sound. Here are five highlights about the power of sound healing:

Greg Carpenter: Incorporating Sound Therapy to Enhance Your Work

Greg Carpenter is a licensed marriage and family therapist, sound therapist and performance coach. His pre-conference intensive focused on providing practitioners with simple sound therapy tools to incorporate into their existing clinical practices. Greg teaches that sound therapy can be used to address core issues. He says that sound healing works by helping to remove blocks, release attachments, and restore energetic balance. Attendees of his intensive had the opportunity to wrap up their day of learning with a relaxing group sound meditation/bath.

Amikaeyla Gaston: Music as Medicine

Amikaeyla Gaston is a speaker, performer, educator, author and founder of the International Cultural Arts & Healing Sciences Institute. Her dynamic, inspiring presentation about her work using music to bring healing to the hurt and scared left many attendees in tears. Amikaeyla spoke and sang with reverberating power. She shared her own story about her near-death experience that led her to understand how profoundly healing music can be. Amikaeyla described the advocacy work she does worldwide at the request of the US State Department and United Nations. In that work, she uses music to bring healing and enable the creation of solutions in areas torn apart by war and systemic barriers. Amikaeyla closed out the session leading the group in a resounding rendition of her beautiful song, “Lovely Day.”

Jonathan Goldman: The Science & Practice of Sound Healing

Jonathan Goldman is an author, musician, and teacher. In addition, he is the director of the Sound Healers Association, and president of Spirit Music, Inc. Jonathan is an international authority and pioneer in sound healing and harmonics. During his informative presentation, Jonathan explained the science behind his primary assertion that “frequency + intent = healing.” He led attendees through several sound healing exercises, including a basic level practice of conscious humming. You can learn more about the power of humming in The Humming Effect , which he co-authored with his wife, Andi Goldman. In addition, attendees learned about the numerous positive effects of practicing sound healing techniques. These benefits include: decreased stress levels, increased immune function, improved sleep quality, and increased production of “feel good” neurochemicals, and many others.

Charleene Closshey: The Science Behind the Art of Sound

Charleene Closshey is a classically trained musician, award-winning composer, and author. In her Quantum Talk, Charleene discussed the latest research about the positive impacts of sound on the body. In addition, she shared simple tools that even non-musicians can integrate into their clinical work. Attendees experienced the relaxing and uplifting effects of crystal singing bowls and Sanskrit mantra firsthand. Charleene also had a booth in the conference exhibit hall. Here, fortunate participants had the opportunity to listen to excerpts from her most recent recording, “Aligned.” Utilizing her well-developed intuition, Charleene chose the perfect tracks for the listener’s deepest benefit.

Nora Nur Nalcini: Transforming Traumatic Experience With ATFT

Nora Nur Nalinci is a spiritual healer and coach, founder of Novis Imprints and creator of the Acu-vibrational Tuning Fork Technique (ATFT). Her presentation included information about the effects of different frequencies on the human energy field. Attendees also learned the five phases of ATFT, and best practices in applying ATFT. Nora developed ATFT with the goal of assisting individuals to transform traumatic experiences and facilitate empowering change. She teaches that ATFT accomplishes this through activation of our innate healing capacities.

If you are interested in learning more about the use of sound as an agent of healing and positive change, click on any of the embedded links above.

Plus... sound healing is usually part of the International Energy Psychology Conference. Savey the date: May 30 - June 3, 2024 | Wigwam Resort near Phoenix, AZ. Registration opens in January/February 2024

Author

Renée LaFountain is a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC), living and working in Massachusetts. She is the director of clinical teams and a staff therapist at Bay State Counseling and Wellness Center, with a passion for serving individuals who are the helpers and “deep feelers” of the world. Renée is a member of the ACEP Communications Committee and is a provider for Unite for HER.

Body Awareness: Tune in for a Tune Up

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 12:00:11 GMT

If you want to tune up your daily living, look no further than your unique body awareness. Tune in and tune up your wellbeing, clearing the way toward greater health and resilience.

Dive deeper with body awareness

Your body systems and processes beat to a rhythm typically outside of conscious awareness. For instance, being able to accurately count how many times your heart beats in a minute, without touching your skin, or knowing the relative fullness of your bladder can help you understand your body’s needs for balance and efficiency. Other more elusive processes, such as the rate of digestion of food and the level of oxygenation of your blood are just a few examples of how your body manages life every day without your awareness. These processes, which scientists refer to as interoception, are foundational to sustenance.

Meet interoception: a look from the inside

Interoception means to look inside. It is a process of the nervous system to sense, interpret, and modulate signals within the body. Subtle body processes, such as the rate of respiration, digestion, and processing of pain, can go unnoticed unless they become problematic. Other experiences have been included as interoceptive processes including hunger, thirst, fatigue, muscle tension, itch, tickle sensation, slow caress (like gently stroking skin), inflammation and skin temperature ( Nord & Garfinkle, 2022).

Interoception awareness is important because the more you notice aspects about your body, the better you will be at making wise decisions in caring for it. For instance, choosing when and how much to eat to support vitality, knowing how much exercise is enough or too much, or responding to signals of danger or safety for yourself and others. Harnessing these rhythms may also enhance your intuitive skill set.

Interoceptive body and mind reading

Interoception is a process that starts with new information taken in by the body, in a “bottom-up” communication. Signals from your skin and organs are called afferent neurons, which collect data that are sent to the spinal cord and brain. The brain then collects, interprets, and responds by sending information to the body via neurons from the central nervous system to the motor neurons, muscles, and glands. These efferent neurons send information in a “top-down” communication. The up and down flowing of information is a constant feedback loop. It forms an internal ”sixth sense“ which guides your choices, experiences, perceptions, and interpretation of reality.

Benefits of interoception awareness

Research studies have found that people who are more aware of their interoceptive functioning have better emotional processing, adaptability, and resilience. They also are found to have improved emotional regulation, decision making, empathy and behavioral regulation (Gibson, 2019).The mind’s ability to understand and respond to information produces clearer thinking, quicker response time and greater flexibility among varying states of arousal quickly and accurately.

Cautions about interoception awareness

There are times when the greater body and mind awareness called for with interoceptive processes may create or exacerbate distress or overwhelm. This may be due to mislabeling cues from the body, or responding in an exaggerated way. When this happens, including confusing the past with the present, people may become overly alert (hypervigilance) and fearing the worst (catastrophizing). Pay attention to these signals, as there may be important information which needs to be respected and addressed.

A word of caution: do not proceed with interoceptive awareness with those who find it stressful or who become emotionally unstable. There may be a history of abuse, trauma, or neglect impacting self-awareness. In other cases, symptoms of dissociation or emotional numbing may arise. It may be important to seek support from trained mental health providers and a team of care professionals to find solutions that are helpful rather than harmful. Check out ACEP’s directory of energy practitioners for assistance near you.

Interoception training

If focusing on the body and mind is safe and welcoming, there are many ways to build greater awareness and accuracy with interoception processes. Contemplative mental training and some forms of breathwork which incorporate attunement to bottom-up and top-down processes can be beneficial, as long as the mind and body are relaxed. Practices which result in increased heart rate variability (such as HeartMath) and increased vagal tone have also been shown to be successful when enhancing interoceptive awareness ( Gibson, 2019 ).

Suggestions for practice

If you want to explore your interoception awareness, you can:

Track your breath frequency, quality, pacing and movement in your body. Try to guess how many breaths you are taking per minute. Then use a timer to count your breaths to see if you are accurate. Find ways to increase your sensitivity to fluctuations in breathing patterns.

Count heartbeats per minute with and without touching your wrist or chest for sensory feedback. Try measuring with both resting and active states.
Focus on areas of tension or relaxation in the body including pain, itch, or temperature differences. Some areas of the body may be more sensitive or harder to identify.

Notice states of hunger and thirst throughout the day. You could also set an alarm to check in with your body at various times.

If you become agitated or tense while doing interoception practices, stop. Instead, you may want to try some simple calming exercises like these from ACEP’s Resources for Resilience , particularly those suited for soothing and connection: soothing butterfly hug, simplified self-havening, calming hug or calming breathing. The Resources for Resilience page includes videos and printed instructions which describe each calming exercise.

Use your best judgment about whether to try interoceptive awareness tools another time, or let it go for now. There may be other things to focus on before interoception awareness is right for you.

At your service

One of the beautiful aspects of living is that the body’s natural health-promoting processes continue with or without your direct awareness. Interoceptive body processes will be engaged in silent and dedicated work on your behalf, so you can survive and thrive. If the time is right, a deeper conversation with your sixth sense of interoception through internal body awareness may be waiting for you.

Learn more about interoception and its relationship to intuition from author Lori Hops’ online classes on Embodied Intuition. If you want to learn how researchers report about intuition, listen to this podcast on the theory and science about intuition , and an article in ACEP’s Energy Field magazine on models of intuition . You can also explore how to work with your subtle energy centers or chakras and intuition as described in this blog.

Author

Lori Chortkoff Hops, PhD, DCEP is a licensed psychologist in Westlake Village, California, USA. She is certified in Comprehensive Energy Psychology and Logosynthesis. Lori is a past ACEP president ( www.energypsych.org ) and is a Reiki master. Learn more about Lori at www.drlorihops.com . Lori teaches online intuition classes and offers personal intuition consultation.

References

Gibson, J. (2019). Mindfulness, Interoception and the body: A contemporary perspective. Frontiers in Psychology, doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02012.

Nord, C.L., & Garfinkel, S. N. (2022). Interoceptive pathways to understand and treat mental health conditions. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 26, 499-513. doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2022.03.004

Energy Psychology Offers Help for the Emotional Effects of Cancer

Mon, 24 Jul 2023 12:00:03 GMT

This is the third in a three-part series on energy psychology and cancer. In the first blog, we gave an overview and discussed some of the theory. In the second blog , we reviewed the research. If you haven't checked them out, I invite you to do so.

Now, let's explore how energy psychology can help the emotional effects of cancer.

Cancer causes tremendous emotional pain. Some cancer patients who have been diagnosed say that cancer is more of an emotional problem than a physical one. Energy psychology tools seem uniquely positioned to help alleviate the distress that a diagnosis causes. Tools like Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) and Thought Field Therapy (TFT), as well as the many techniques listed on ACEP’s Resources for Resilience site , can provide great relief. In this blog, we share stories from the treatment room, describing how energy psychology can help alleviate the emotional effects of cancer.

Mishearing leads to PTSD-like symptoms; relieved with EFT

A woman in her early 50’s had a breast cancer diagnosis. As often happens to people diagnosed with cancer, she was in the throes of shock and distress when she met with her oncologist. Clients often report that they can’t “take in” what their doctors are telling them, that they leave appointments wondering what was just said, and realizing that they have many questions they forgot to ask. In this case, the client mis-heard “grade 4 tumor” as “stage 4 cancer.”

Though she quickly realized her error and understood that she did not have metastatic breast cancer, she was extremely distressed about the idea and still felt terrified. In our counseling session, we tapped together using Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) Tearless Trauma and Tell the Story protocols. Tearless Trauma is a misnomer in this case because she cried easily at the thought of the story. However, we were able to reduce her distress and worked to clear her trauma. Within one session, she experienced a reduction in subjective units of distress (SUDs) from a ten to a zero. The clearing held in subsequent counseling sessions four to six weeks later.

Fear of recurrence

For women with breast cancer who have some understanding of the mind-body connection, fear of recurrence can create what seems like a trap. These women often express a fear that their fear is going to create a negative outcome. Effortfully trying not to think about it, or to think positive thoughts instead, often proves futile. One woman in such a paradoxical trap came for therapy and we began using EFT to manage her fear of recurrence. Her distress reduced during the session. Additionally, having EFT as a self-help tool provided her with a coping tool that she used regularly to help manage her fear as it arose.

EFT tapping in groups

In regular facilitated support groups, women with various cancer types use EFT at the beginning of the sessions to come together and relax. Often, we use the “Constricted Breathing” technique to demonstrate and reinforce the physiological effect of tapping. (In this technique, tapping on constricted breathing allows the breath to become fuller and more satisfying/less constricted). Most women achieve a feeling of un-constricted breath after one round of tapping. They also report feeling more relaxed, more present, and, in one case, feeling “warm and tingly.”

A vision for the future: alleviating the emotional effects of cancer

Because of the deep emotional distress that cancer patients often feel, it is important to provide them with tools and support to reduce these feelings. Energy psychology techniques have a demonstrated ability to reduce subjective distress. Moreover, these are tools that we can use therapeutically and as ongoing, self-initiated self-help practices. Incorporating mind-body techniques such as these for the management of mood and stress in people with cancer can provide a tremendous benefit to patients' subjective wellbeing. Because of the role of stress in disease progression, these tools may even improve outcomes.

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Are you a therapist interested in learning to use these techniques with your clients? Check out ACEP’s training catalogue . Are you a client looking for a clinician trained in these methods? Check out ACEP’s practitioner directory .

Author

Sarah Murphy, LPC, NCC, is a licensed and nationally certified professional counselor. She specializes in energy psychology, including EFT, as well as mindfulness and meditation. Sarah works with individuals seeking to find peace within themselves, people who have serious medical diagnoses, and couples who want to resolve conflict and live in harmony. Sarah is an ACEP Board member and chair of its communications committee; she has a private practice and serves as staff therapist with Unite for HER .

Photo by Anthony Tran on unsplash

Energy Psychology Offers Help for the Emotional Effects of Cancer: The Research

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMT

What we know so far about energy psychology and cancer

A cancer diagnosis causes tremendous emotional upheaval for many people who have received a diagnosis. Energy psychology tools may be uniquely positioned to help. Here is a brief review of the research on energy psychology and cancer from around the world. These tools can offer relief for the emotional effects of cancer.

For a brief overview of some of the theory, go here .

EFT improves physiological markers of health

Bach et al published a study in the Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine in 2019, examining the psychological and physiological outcomes for people (n=203) who attended a four-day EFT workshop. Participants experienced reductions in anxiety, depression, PTSD, pain, and cravings, and an increase in happiness. Several physiological markers were taken of some study participants (n=31). These demonstrated a significant increase in Immunoglobin A (SigA), an antibody that plays a role in immune function, and decreases in resting heart rate, cortisol, and blood pressure.

EFT for chemo brain

Laura Track et al conducted a randomized, controlled study of EFT for cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI; aka “chemo brain”). The study was published by EClinicalNews in August of 2021. Participants were 121 patients in Belgium and the UK who met diagnostic criteria for cognitive impairment. The study lasted 16 weeks. For the first eight weeks, half the participants received instruction in EFT tapping and tapped with a clinician and at home, while the other half waited. They all took a second cognitive test and other assessments. Then, the second group got EFT training. The difference between groups at eight weeks was significant, with the tapping group achieving a reduction in cognitive impairment. The second group “caught up” at 16-weeks, after they had done eight weeks of tapping.

EFT for side effects of treatment

Baker and Hoffman published a study in 2014, investigating the effect of EFT tapping on depression, anxiety, and side-effects of hormone therapies used to treat some types of breast cancer. The side effects include pain, fatigue, and menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats. The study participants (n=41) received three weeks of instructed EFT and we assigned self-tapping for the next nine weeks. They achieved statistically significant improvements in total mood, depression, anxiety, and fatigue, as well as a reduction in hot flashes and the experience of hot flash as problematic.

Pain in cancer patients

Niken, Wahyuningsih, and Prasetyorini published a case study in 2020, documenting the experience of four cancer patients who complained of moderate to severe pain. They found that using EFT reduced the experience of pain.

Spiritual EFT for self-concept of women with mastectomy

Afriyanti and Wenni used Spiritual EFT in a quasi-experimental study of 33 women who had had mastectomies. At baseline, only three had a good self-concept. After three days of tapping, the number had risen to ten. This improvement was statistically significant and gives rise to some questions, including what would happen if the intervention lasted more than three days.

Pilot study in Australia found EFT helped decrease anxiety in cancer patients

Peta Stapleton conducted a pilot study of group EFT for palliative care among cancer patients. Researchers randomly assigned thirty-two cancer patients to EFT or treatment as usual (TAU). The EFT group received two-hour EFT sessions, led by a trained psychologist, for four weeks. Delivery moved from in-person to Zoom after the covid-19 lockdown. All patients took assessments for depression, anxiety, PTSD, quality of life, happiness, pain, hope, and meaning of life. After treatment, the EFT group received significant reductions in anxiety, and trends toward improvements in meaning of life, quality of life, PTSD and happiness. The TAU group did not receive any benefits. These results were compelling enough to launch a full study, which is now underway.

Advanced Integrative Therapy (AIT)

Practitioners of AIT have used this energy psychology technique to address the underlying emotional causes of cancer. They are seeing good enough anecdotal evidence to warrant a full study. Today, a study of AIT and cancer is underway, with preliminary data expected this soon.

The research on energy psychology and cancer is underway and growing. The results so far are promising, which makes sense, according to the theories underpinning energy psychology. We look forward to a growing research base and to helping more and more people with this diagnosis.

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Author

Sarah Murphy, LPC, NCC, is a licensed and nationally certified professional counselor. She specializes in energy psychology, including EFT, as well as mindfulness and meditation. Sarah works with individuals seeking to find peace within themselves, people who have serious medical diagnoses, and couples who want to resolve conflict and live in harmony. Sarah is an ACEP Board member and chair of its communications committee; she has a private practice and serves as staff therapist with Unite for HER.

Energy Psychology and Cancer

Tue, 11 Jul 2023 12:00:01 GMT

Where we are, and where we are heading

This is the first in a three-part series focused on using energy psychology tools when working with people who have been diagnosed with cancer.

Energy psychology tools may be helpful for people with cancer. And there are many people living with this disease. In 2018, the United States saw 1.7 million new cases of cancer. In 2020, 19.3 million new cancer cases were diagnosed worldwide.

Cancer is not just a physical disease: it takes a tremendous toll on patients' mental health. That's because cancer creates an existential crisis for many. People with cancer also experience an elevation in distress: depression rates in the US jump four-fold among cancer patients, with nearly a quarter of cancer patients experiencing depression. Anxiety rates among cancer patients in the US climb as well, affecting nearly a fifth of people with cancer. Many people with cancer report experiencing PTSD-like symptoms, and almost all say they experience feelings of overwhelm.

Sadly, the US healthcare system does not universally encompass mental and emotional care in cancer treatment. This has costs; not only in terms of emotional wellbeing, but perhaps in resilience and ability to heal.

Energy psychology techniques, including the Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), may be uniquely positioned to fill the emotional need of cancer patients. These modalities often focus on addressing and clearing underlying emotional traumas while providing effective self-soothing routines that may help cancer patients navigate the emotions that often accompany diagnosis.

Energy Psychology and Cancer: Addressing the Body-Mind

A key to remission?

Kelly Turner studied cases of unexpected and medically unexplained remission, conducting interviews with people who had experienced these seemingly miraculous cures. She distilled the data and found seven key factors that were almost universal. You can find them in her book Radical Remission.

Among the factors identified are eliminating negative emotions and increasing positive emotions. While the sentence is easy to write, achieving the essence is not! However, energy psychology methods are famous for their ability to heal underlying traumas and the ensuing energy disruptions, which lead to distress and may contribute to disease.

The stress-inflammation-disease cycle

Researchers in the field of cardiovascular disease were perhaps the first to identify the role of stress in disease. Today, people widely recognize the role of stress in disease. Psychoneuroimmunologists have discovered some of the mechanisms by which stress leads to diseases, including cancer.

From stress to distress

Episodic stress is an important part of life, mediating injury and pathogenic assault. When cells are under attack or have been injured, a cascade of activity on the molecular level causes cells to become inflamed, holding fluid. In other cases, it is the threat of assault that causes inflammation: the hypothalamus (a region in the limbic brain) signals to the pituitary body (often called the master gland) to tell the adrenal glands to release adrenaline. We call this cycle the HPA axis.

Under normal stress conditions, this action reduces inflammation. However, this cycle changes in people experiencing chronic stress.

Researchers have found that this is at least partly because an immune system cell or cytokine called interleukin 6 (IL6) triggers inflammation in times of stress. And IL6 plays a role in cancer, as well as a host of other diseases including diabetes, autoimmune disease, obesity, depression, and anxiety.

It might not be unreasonable, then, to wonder if decreasing stress levels might assist in the healing response of those with cancer diagnoses, and to prevent cancer occurrence in the first place. Energy psychology is an excellent tool for decreasing stress.

____

Author

Sarah Murphy, LPC, NCC, is a licensed and nationally certified professional counselor. She specializes in energy psychology, including EFT, as well as mindfulness and meditation. Sarah works with individuals seeking to find peace within themselves, people who have serious medical diagnoses, and couples who want to resolve conflict and live in harmony. Sarah is an ACEP Board member and chair of its communications committee; she has a private practice and serves as staff therapist with Unite for HER.

Using Dreamwork to Guide Your Tapping Process

Mon, 03 Jul 2023 12:00:00 GMT

Dreams can provide powerful insights, and EFT can provide powerful healing. You can get great results when you combine the two, using dreamwork to guide your tapping process. Sigmund Freud called dreams “the royal road to the unconscious.” Carl Jung took “dreams as diagnostically valuable facts.” Edgar Cayce said that “any condition becoming reality is first dreamed.” For these reasons and more, I encourage my clients to keep a dream diary to provide guidance for the other healing techniques we use. These include EFT, expressive writing, and self-hypnosis. I have kept a personal dream diary since 1987 and have received many valuable insights into my own healing journey including numerous precognitive dreams that later came true.

Dreams can save your life.

My interest in health dreams expanded considerably in 2013 when I did a survey of 18 women around the world who reported having warning dreams about breast cancer prior to any physical symptoms or imaging studies. The study was published in Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing in 2015 which led to a TEDx talk in 2016 that was subsequently censored for being too far outside the TED box. In 2018, I published a book, Dreams that Can Save Your Life, co-authored with one of the breast cancer dreamers, Kat O’Keefe-Kanavos, which includes additional types of cancer and other illnesses.

My Certified Energy Health Practitioner training from ACEP in 2010 included muscle testing, but despite success in learning it I must confess that I have not continued to use that skill in my coaching practice. Instead, I rely on the intersection of my intuition with the intuition of the client, and dream analysis often plays a key role in that process.

My approach to physical illnesses is that symptoms are metaphors . We need to address them as sacred messengers from the subconscious about imbalances in our lives. If the conscious mind denies the message, it may bypass that filter and come through dreams.

Using dreamwork with chakra symbolism

The chakras are one of the symbolic energy systems that I find useful in working with symptoms. The themes of dream content may reflect the underlying shadow emotions in these chakras including self-defense in the first, violent anger in the second, sugary sweetness in the third and after-death communication in the fourth. Corresponding affirmations such as “I am safe,” “I am free,” “I am enough,” and “I am grateful” may trigger these tailenders in the form of dreams. You can use dreamwork to help guide your healing when you understand the symbolism of the chakras.

Root chakra

Autoimmune diseases are often related to first chakra imbalances, as the immune system reacts in a fearful way, attacking perceived invaders and damaging normal tissues by mistake. One of my clients with obesity, psoriatic arthritis and painful Achilles tendinitis had a series of related dreams. “I was killing a man in self-defense and burying him, then digging the dead man back up. Later a gigantic female was trying to kill me, and I was physically holding her down with all my strength.” She tapped on “A big part of me is afraid of moving forward” and had a healing breakthrough.

Sacral chakra

Chronic pain is often related to second chakra imbalances as a metaphor for repressed anger stuck in the body. One of my clients, an executive director of a non-profit company, had a frozen shoulder for three months related to an unexpectedly large fundraising burden. The burden triggered these dreams. “I was driving while lecturing a family member when I was pulled over by police. I had a conflict with a board member who resigned.” Her EFT phrase of “My left shoulder resents carrying this heavy burden” led to resolution of her shoulder pain, coinciding with landing a couple major financial donations.

Solar plexus chakra

Eating disorders of all kinds are often related to third chakra imbalances including Type 2 diabetes that may manifest as a metaphor for life not being sweet enough. One of the dreamers in my book with prediabetes had foreshadowing sugary dreams prior to her diagnosis. “I look for munchies in the kitchen cupboard and find a stash of flavored rice crackers. They turn into candy.” I never did EFT with her, but interestingly she did have a precognitive dream about me a few years earlier. “A white male doctor approaches me seeking information about diseases and their symbolic relationships.”

Heart chakra

Sinus problems and postnasal drip are often related to fourth chakra imbalances representing inner crying as a sign of unresolved grief. One of my clients had unrelenting sinusitis and bronchitis for 9 months after her husband’s death despite antibiotics. She shared a vivid visitation dream of him that had features of an after-death communication (ADC). “His presence was in the air, a refined essence. I felt wonder, awe, and magic.” Her grief resolved quickly, and she canceled her scheduled sinus surgery with the aid of tapping on feeling “like Persephone journeying through the underworld of grief.”

And more

Dreams are one of the most reported forms of ADC, which is one of the four abbreviations composing the Spiritual Alphabet Soup of Death and Dying . The most well-known of these phenomena is the Near-Death Experience (NDE) which is like a waking dream, but more real and transformative. Dreams also feature prominently in Nearing-Death Awareness (NDA) and the Shared-Death Experience (SDE). Learning about these liminal states can decrease grief and the fear of death.

Using dreamwork can deepen your awareness

Keeping your own dream diary may be beneficial for both you and your clients. One of my acupuncture colleagues routinely dreams about her new patients before she sees them for the first time, with amazing precognitive results. I once dreamed about a volcano erupting in the Pacific Northwest, and my client the next day turned out to be dealing with explosive anger toward his mother. During the imagery part of our EFT session, he spontaneously went to Mount St. Helens, his favorite vacation spot. We were able to tap through his anger and prevent future emotional eruptions.

Dreams often have multiple layers of meaning resulting in different interpretations, all of which may be true depending on our projections. In 1996, I had a series of precognitive dreams about tornadoes. The next day, real tornadoes landed nearby. I was so stunned with them coming true that I forgot to look deeper into the symbolism. Years later in a dream workshop it was pointed out that tornado dreams may reflect major life upheavals, and I realized I had those dreams when my radiology career was being upended by my passion for holistic medicine, which led me to EFT.

Deepen Your Skills

Want to deepen your EFT skills? ACEP’s EFT certification is the industry’s gold standard for licensed mental health providers. Sign up here .

Author

Larry Burk, MD, CEHP, is a retired holistic radiologist currently working as an on-line Let Magic Happen dream tapping coach . He is the author of Let Magic Happen: Adventures in Healing with a Holistic Radiologist and Dreams that Can Save Your Life: Early Warning Signs for Cancer and Other Diseases. He was co-founder of Duke Integrative Medicine.

9 Free Ways to Keep the Conference Alive in Your Life

Mon, 26 Jun 2023 12:00:01 GMT

The 2023 conference has ended, but the magic of energy psychology is just beginning to take root in your life - or deepen if you've already been using it. Year after year, amazing, talented healers, thinkers and luminaries come together to learn, teach, grow and vibe together at our international energy psychology conference.

The power of this conference and the connections made within don’t stop when the doors close. In fact, the end of the conference is the beginning of a new you bringing a higher vibration of health and healing into your life and the lives of those you touch - whether this is your first conference or your fifth! Keep this exponential momentum going by using the following opportunities to stay connected with ACEP's Energy Psychology Community.

Did you miss the conference this year? Most of these tips can help you as well.

Use the Conference recordings - We know the conference is full of juicy knowledge drops. It’s too much to integrate all at once. You can access and listen to any keynotes, invited presenters or break-out sessions that you may have missed, or experience your favorites once again.
Take & share the Emotional First Aid Course - The emotional first aid course is a free online training that teaches you how to utilize energy-based emotional first aid techniques. This resource is not limited to ACEP members and can be shared with members of your community. Sign up here.
Access the resources for resilience website - The resources for resilience website has a series of free videos that teach mind-body-energy tools to help with crisis situations. These resources are great for practitioners and lay people alike.
Join a committee - Want to help energy psychology keep growing? ACEP has a variety of committees (including the communications committee who writes these blogs) that are committed to helping ACEP and the field of energy psychology grow, spread, and strengthen.
Get a conference buddy - Did you meet some spectacular people at the conference? I know I did. Ask one to be your energy psychology (EP) buddy. Having regular contact with someone else who is integrating this information can support and accelerate your process
Get listed on our practitioner directory - Ready to bring more EP interested clients into your practice? Complete your profile on our practitioner directory and get the flow moving. (Available for ACEP members only. Not a member? Join us today!)
Connect with your local or regional group - Bring ACEP by home by connecting with a local or regional group in your area. Most meet online as well as onsite. If you don’t find one, inquire about starting one.
Start or revamp your daily EP practice - Energy psychology techniques work best when we use them! If you have an EP practice, consider integrating some new tools (if you haven’t already). If you’re new to EP, start a daily routine. Keep it simple and let it grow.
Follow our blog - Here at the communications committee we are members of ACEP, just like you, from all over the world, trying to help spread the message and bring EP home. Keep up with our blog for the latest research trends and practical tools.

The end of the conference is just the beginning of the transformation. From here, you get to choose how you bring these powerful teachings, techniques, and relationships forward in your life and community. We hope that you use this as a launching point to move yourself, your profession, and the EP movement forward into a positive future.

Finally, here's one more way you can keep the conference alive all year long. Join ACEP as a member if you haven't already! There are so many benefits. Explore them and join us today!

Author

Kirtsten May Keach, MA, LMFT, is a licensed marriage and family therapist. She helps couples and singles develop meaningful, lasting, soulful love relationships. In her free time she is an avid traveler, improv comedy performer and amateur salsa dancer. Learn more about Kirsten here .

How Energy Healing Works: Moving Between the Subtle and Physical Worlds

Wed, 21 Jun 2023 14:00:01 GMT

Few of us stop to think about how we transfer information from a text or book to our minds. Or how we move from thinking of an idea, to writing about it, and then other people reading it and making it their own. These transformations from thought to matter, back to thought again are commonplace, yet astounding when you reflect on the process.

It is a movement from the subtle realm of ideas, imagination, or intent, to the physical realm. This happens with computers or written language, moving information from the physical back again to the subtle realm. This process has been alive for centuries. Our ancestors did much the same thing long before written language was captured by symbols on paper. They even used this process for healing. This is how energy healing works, moving between the subtle and physical worlds.

Since time immemorial, people have asked wisdom keepers for advice and healing with matters such as pain, injury, or relationship struggles. Often the answers came through in the subtle realm – through prayer, supplication, or words of support. Other times, healers placed the intention or aim of the healing into an object which acts as a carrier for healing. They used items like a crystal or amulet which the seeker carried or wore. The healer endowed the object via transmission of information, whispered prayers, blown smoke, or other means to enhance the properties of the object.

This pattern of subtle – physical – subtle plays out again. The healer holds intention in the subtle realm and then places it on an object in the physical. Then the seeker absorbs the intention, transferring it back to the subtle. Finally, as healing happens, it materializes in the physical.

How energy healing works

The antennae of our systems act like radio receivers and transmitters. They pull information from our sensory organs, bridging the inner world with the outer world.

For instance, in the physical world, increased pollen in springtime flowers may cause a shift in the allergic reactivity of our nasal cavity. Sneezing attacks clear the buildup of pollen, with white blood cells moving to the rescue to trap and eradicate the foreign threat so homeostasis can return.

Subtle world changes are familiar when thoughts create changes in physical reality. For instance, being afraid of having allergies to flowers may cause allergic symptoms in the absence of the pollen. Simply seeing a scene in a movie of a meadow filled with wildflowers can cause the viewer to begin sneezing. In this case, both the trigger and the reaction take place in the subtle realm: no physical pollen need be present.

These are common examples of how we interact with the world. But what about when the subtle and physical worlds overlap, outside ordinary sensory organs? How do we navigate circumstances moving between these worlds when each informs the other?

Healing the world in your hands

Energy psychology methods work between the physical and subtle realms. They may use the hands to tap, hold or massage acupressure points, such as under the nose and under the collarbones. (This is the protocol of Comprehensive Energy Psychology (CEP) and Thought Field Therapy (TFT) to clear nasal congestion.) The physical act of touching the acupoints while experiencing distress from symptoms disrupts the connection of unwanted patterns. It does not matter if the cause was the actual pollen causing nasal congestion, or the idea of the pollen alone. The body responds to the added information and likely the symptoms either decrease in intensity or disappear completely.

Eliminating allergies

Another technique, NAET (Nambudripad Allergy Elimination Techniques), demonstrates how energy healing works. This method combines manipulation of the spine by a trained practitioner, while the patient holds a vial of homeopathically derived water based in the substance of interest. Through progressively minute dilutions of the substance in water, such as pollen from a flower, eventually the water contains no trace of measurable pollen in the vial. Only the energy or informational traces of the pollen remain. Still, this seemingly “empty” water carries the essence of the pollen. The patient holds a vial of the homeopathic water from the flower’s pollen in their hand while the practitioner adjusts the spinal column of the patient. The patient is encouraged to physically relax and take in new information into the physical and subtle realms as the vial of pollen water disrupts the allergic reaction in the nervous system, mind and beyond.

The Bengston Healing Method

Transfer of information to an object from the subtle realm can be used even when the healer or sender does not know the receiver. A general sense of wellbeing and joy, or other unseen states, can be placed into an object which is later extracted by someone in need of healing. Such is the case with the use of intentionally “charged” cotton, in the Bengston Method, which imparts information into the cotton (or other objects such as water). The receiver then holds or wears the energized cotton.

Studies have shown remission of mammary cancer in mice using hands held around the cage of the animals, while the healer is using the Bengston Method. Dogs wearing charged cotton have recovered from illness. Anecdotal evidence suggests humans also benefit from wearing charged cotton with relief from mental, physical, and emotional ailments.

Bengston's method of using rapid visual cycling of desired outcomes is a simple practice. The practitioner or healer holds the cotton in their hand. After the cotton seems “filled” with the energy of intention, it is ready to be used in the presence of a stated need. For example, it can include a desire for inflammation or pain to be reduced, or health to be returned to optimal states. It is not necessary for the person charging the cotton to know about the healing intention of the recipient. When the healing need arises, the charged cotton is available to address a return to balance.

Healing Customized for You

If you want to play with these ideas, select two small objects like rocks or crystals. Hold one in your hand and place an intention into it such as lovingkindness, peacefulness, or vitality. Then give both items to a friend and see if they can “read” or sense which one carries the intention you sent. While they may not decipher the exact intention, they may sense a difference between the two items. You can also try it for yourself, if the objects are identical in shape, size, and appearance, or if you allow yourself not to see which item is which. Possibly put them in envelopes and hold each envelope, trying to guess which item is which.

You can extend the experiment by holding a piece of food or a vitamin you take for your health. Try to send enhancement to the object, so it is supercharged with goodness for you. Or try upgrading a glass of water. Let your imagination carry you to other experiments. You can also try to extract the goodness in the food, or water, or plant, just by holding it in your hand. See if you can find a way for the sensory antennae of your DNA to use the skin of your hand as a means of transmitting and receiving information, just as your nose does for pollen and other substances.

Read more about how energy healing works in subtle and physical worlds through a description of models of intuition , and how your body and mind know instantly outside of conscious awareness, by developing intuition with the chakras .

Author

Lori Chortkoff Hops, PhD, DCEP is a licensed psychologist in Westlake Village, California, USA. She is certified in Comprehensive Energy Psychology, Logosynthesis, and has trained with Bill Bengston in 2018, practicing the Bengston Method since then, including weekly practice groups since 2020. Lori is a past ACEP president ( www.energypsych.org ) and is a Reiki master. Learn more about Lori at drlorihops.com/ . Lori teaches online embodied intuition classes and offers personal intuition consultation.

Feeling scrambled? Try this.

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 19:01:15 GMT

When your energy feels scrambled you can bring yourself back to balance by practicing the Breathing into Balance Technique. It is based on Roger Callahan's Collarbone Breathing technique, modified by Phil Mollon.

This simple body-based technique helps restore left-right balance and allows you to feel more clear and connected. Practice the technique right now by watching the video below and following along. The next time you are feeling scrambled, remember to try collarbone breathing. You can also download written instructions in English , Spanish , and Portuguese .

How it works.

To do the Breathing into Balance Technique , cross your hands over your chest with your fingers under your collarbones. Breathe halfway in and hold, then breathe all the way in and hold; breathe halfway out and hold, then breathe all the way out and hold.

Then repeat the breathing sequence, this time with your knuckles under your collarbones. Go ahead and give it a try and see how you feel!

Why it works.

By using energy techniques like Breathing into Balance (modified Collarbone Breathing), you help your energy system to rebalance. This allows you to get un-stuck quickly and easily. There are a few things happening in this deceptively simple technique.

By crossing our arms over our midline, we are sending neurons across the corpus callosum. That helps us feel grounded. By placing our hands across our chest with hands under collarbones, we are activating our meridian system ― particularly the K-27 point, which helps reduce anxiety. By breathing slowly, we are slowing our brainwaves, which helps us relax.

This technique is also helpful when you feel confused or disorganized.

More techniques to use when you are feeling scrambled.

If you found Collarbone Breathing helpful, here are a couple more tools you can use when you feel scrambled: the Brain Balancer , also called the "9-gamut"; and the Cross Crawl .

Need Help from a Professional?

Author: Sarah Murphy, LPC

Sarah Murphy is a licensed professional counselor and coach in private practice . She is on the board of and serves as communications committee chair for ACEP and staff therapist for Unite for HER . She specializes in energy psychology, including EFT, as well as mindfulness and hypnotherapy.

Video Resources Provided by the ACEP Humanitarian Committee

Photo by Crawford Jolly on Unsplash

Meditation and gut health. What doo doo you know?

Tue, 09 May 2023 12:00:03 GMT

The open access journal General Psychiatry published a study, Alteration of fecal microbiota balance related to long-term deep meditation . Ying Sun and colleagues examined the feces of long-term, deep meditating monks and compared it to their lay neighbors. They found the monks had a significantly more of important gut bacteria that are linked to emotional wellbeing. The findings suggest that meditation improves GI health.

The theory

The researchers caught scent of the fact that meditation leads to a plethora of benefits. It can help address issues like depression and anxiety. They also knew that the gut-brain axis, through gut microbiota, holds a key to emotional wellbeing. They wondered if the gut microbiome of long-term deep meditators – in this case, Tibetan Buddhist monks – would be significantly different in beneficial gut bacteria compared to their lay neighbors. So, they set out to examine two sets of number two to see what the differences were.

The study setup

Researchers collected 128 stool samples but excluded those of people who were taking antibiotics or consuming yogurt (because of pre and probiotic qualities) and eliminated a few poor-quality samples. They were left with 56 samples.

There were not many laypeople in the area, so the sample was skewed toward monks, with 19 laypeople and 37 monks. The monks in the study practiced meditation for two hours a day, from three to 30 years. All participants matched for age, and all were men.

The diet of laypeople and monks was essentially the same. Are you curious about the diet of Buddhist monks? I was! Apparently, they eat barley, rice, and steamed bread and noodles. This staple is supplemented with vegetables, meat, and butter tea (I had to look that up – here it is).

In addition to stool samples, researchers took blood samples. Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine analyzed the gut microbiota using rRNA sequencing. Charts within the report show the spectrum of bacteria found.

Here’s the scoop:

The intestinal microbiota of the meditation group differed significantly from the control group. The monks had more of bacteria that, according to other studies, mediate mental illness.

These include:

Prevotella, which is more abundant in healthy controls than in people with depression; moreover, children with autism have low levels of it.
Bacteroides, which impacts the brain reward response and reduces binge eating and anxiety.
Megamonas, linked to many psychocognitive factors.
Faecalibacterium; people with anxiety have lower levels of it than healthy controls.

In addition, monks had more glycans, which reduce intestinal inflammation.

Moreover, the blood draws showed that the monks had lower levels of cholesterol and apolipoprotein B, putting them at lower risk for cardiovascular disease and improving immune function.

That definitely doesn’t stink.

We have known for years that meditation leads to improved mental health. The present study examines a potential causal pathway. The gut microbiome of long-term, deep meditating monks contained more of the bacteria that correlate with better mental health.

Now that gives us something to meditate on!

If you enjoy reading our blog, leave us a comment, we love hearing from you! You can support ACEP by donating here . (No, not that kind of donation!)

Author

Sarah Murphy, LPC, NCC, is a licensed and nationally certified professional counselor. She specializes in energy psychology, including EFT, as well as mindfulness and meditation. Sarah works with individuals seeking to find peace within themselves, people who have serious medical diagnoses, and couples who want to resolve conflict and live in harmony. Sarah is an ACEP Board member and chair of its communications committee; she has a private practice and serves as staff therapist with Unite for HER.

Feeling tense? Try this.

Wed, 26 Apr 2023 14:53:16 GMT

If you are feeling tense and are looking for a simple tool to help you relax, you are in the right place. As you may have heard, one of the fastest and most effective ways to get control of our nervous system is to get control of our breath. Our Calm Breathing technique will help you do just that. Practice the technique right now by watching the video below and following along. This is a formula that will help you get calm fast the next time you are too tense. You can also download written instructions in English , Spanish , and Portuguese .

How it works.

To do Calm Breathing , take a sharp, deep breath in through the nose. Hold for a couple of seconds, then let the breath out slowly, with a sigh. You can place your hands over your heart while you do this exercise.

Why it works.

Slowing down our breath is one of the fastest ways to get control of our nervous system. Soon enough, our heartrate, blood pressure, and brainwaves will slow down, too. This can help us get out of anxious high-beta wave frequency and into calm alpha waves.

If you haven’t given Calm Breathing a try yet, do it now. Take notice of how your body feels both before and after you use the technique. This technique is just one of many body-based tools that will help you to relax.

More techniques to try when you are feeling tense.

If you found Calm Breathing helpful, here are a few more tools you can try next time you need to relax: Soothing Butterfly Hug , Simplified Self-Havening , and Calming Hug.

Need help from a professional?

Author

Sarah Murphy, LPC, is a licensed professional counselor and coach in private practice . She is on the board of and serves as communications committee chair for ACEP and staff therapist for Unite for HER . She specializes in energy psychology, including EFT, as well as mindfulness and hypnotherapy.

Video Resources Provided by the ACEP Humanitarian Committee

Photo by Sean Kong on Unsplash

The Founding of ACEP: Creating a home for many healing modalities to come together

Wed, 19 Apr 2023 12:00:00 GMT

Meet ACEP Co-founder David Gruder

David Gruder is the founder of Integrity Revolution (San Diego, CA) and the co-founder and first president of the Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology (ACEP). David’s career has been focused on organizational and clinical psychology. He has a passion for working with corporate and government leaders to affect societal change through increasing practices that are more ethical and socially responsible.

David attended his first training in energy psychology in 1995 as a skeptic, but left the training as a believer. He quickly realized that energy psychology represented a “quantum leap forward in how healing can happen.”

ACEP emerges

David first voiced the concept for ACEP during a conversation one evening with one of his original energy psychology trainers, Greg Nicosia . He felt strongly that there was a need for an organization to unite the field of energy psychology. Greg agreed, and told David that he needed to be the one to create it.

A few years later, in December 1998, David collaborated with co-founder Dorothea Hover Kramer to incorporate ACEP as a nonprofit organization. (If you don't know, Dorothea was a pioneer in energy psychology and energy healing. She passed on in 2013.) As ACEP’s first president, his primary goal was to establish the organization’s infrastructure to allow for ongoing evolution and growth. David and Dorothea created the policies and procedures that would carry ACEP forward and developed the first comprehensive code of ethics for energy psychology. David also wanted to be sure that the full range of energy psychology approaches were represented.

“The purpose of ACEP was for us to stop being siloed, and to come together as a family - not only to cross-fertilize each other and collaborate, but also to collectively establish the credibility of these methods.” - David Gruder

David was pleased to discover that his idea was just what the field needed. He knew that he and Dorothea had read the marketplace accurately when every energy psychology innovator of the time joined ACEP. These EP innovators, researchers, and practitioners stated clearly that ACEP was what they had been waiting for.

ACEP was opened for membership at the first annual conference in May 1999, with about 100 people joining. Fast-forward to 2023 and ACEP boasts a membership of over 1400 heading into its 25th International Energy Psychology Conference.

Looking forward

David has a bold view for the future of ACEP and energy psychology. He wants to see energy psychology approaches reach “standard of care” status with the American Psychological Association. David envisions the field moving from “assessment by mechanical means” to “assessment by intuition” and from “mechanical interventions” to “intervention by intention.” His hope is that ACEP maintains its “maverick entrepreneurial spirit”; continuing to be thought leaders in the human potential movement. David regards energy psychology as playing a pivotal role in healing individuals’ trauma, which he sees as essential for human evolution.

Interested in attending ACEP’s 25th International Energy Psychology Conference ? Join us in Baltimore, MD at the Hyatt Regency Inner Harbor or live, online June 1-5, 2023 for “The Art & Science of Transformational Change.”

Author

Renée LaFountain, LMHC, is a licensed mental health counselor in Massachusetts. She is the director of clinical teams and a staff therapist at Bay State Counseling and Wellness Center, with a passion for serving individuals who are the helpers and “deep feelers” of the world. Renée is a member of the ACEP Communications Committee and is a provider for Unite for HER .

Emotional Freedom Techniques in Hollywood

Tue, 11 Apr 2023 12:00:02 GMT

One of the most frustrating things about being an energy psychology practitioner is seeing the contrast between how quickly energy psychology can become the mainstay of your therapy practice versus how slowly it’s being accepted by mainstream healthcare. I’ve seen signs of progress through my work in the pain program of a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital, as my colleagues and I have been fortunate enough to have our work featured in medical journals and even on PBS (1). ACEP has of course been in the forefront of this movement to increase energy psychology's acceptance, and mainstream media – Forbes, Readers Digest and Katie Couric – is finally beginning to highlight stories about energy psychology (2-4).

A little magic

But sometimes it takes a little magic to get to that next stage, the phase beyond research and data, and that’s what happened to me recently. It all began when a new couch that my wife and I had ordered from a local furniture store here in Western MA was delivered a year late (don’t ask!), in October of 2022. The fellow who unloaded it commented on my wife's British accent and mentioned that he'd gone to school in London - the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). Not the usual furniture delivery guy story! I soon learned that he went on to become an LA-based actor, and he was staying in Western MA to help his mother-in-law's furniture store while scouting out the area for an upcoming film.

EFT tapping advisor for a film about veterans

As we chatted, he told me that the film – which he wrote and would direct and star in - would be about veterans returning from combat ("Oh, I used to work at the VA.") and would feature some new treatments for PTSD ("Oh, I have some experience with tapping."). We quickly realized that this was not your run-of-the-mill synchronicity, and he asked if I could be an advisor on the film. I told him to let me know the details, and I'd be glad to help. But I never heard back from him, and figured that was that - until this February, 4 months later. He and his crew had just begun filming in a converted mill complex near me, so I arranged to come by for a few days and help out (one advantage to being retired is the flexible schedule!).

One of my main tasks as the on-set Psych Advisor (a title we invented) was to teach the actress who played the veteran's therapist how to do EFT tapping properly, at least in an abbreviated adapted format. The therapist was played by Virginia Madsen (Sideways, Prairie Home Companion, etc.), a down-to-earth woman who defused my stereotype of the Hollywood diva, and who was genuinely interested in tapping and in helping vets.

I was able to get a reasonable facsimile of tapping built into the therapy scene, although that wasn’t the case with the EMDR segment (the flashing lights went a bit over-the-top – the director's call, not mine!). It was interesting to watch how the director, Steven Grayhm, sought to balance clinical accuracy with dramatic impact. While I didn’t always agree with his choices (too much therapist self-disclosure, for example), I could see how his higher purpose was always to present PTSD and therapy in a way that the audience could relate to.

Actress Virg inia Madsen learning about tapping from ACEP member Rick Leskowitz

More training for cast and crew

Virginia had never heard of EFT, so to foster her continued interest in tapping, I gave her a copy of my favorite beginner’s guide to EFT, written by ACEP’s own John Freedom (5). I also showed some cast and crew how to use an even simpler version of tapping developed by another ACEP stalwart, the late Dan Benor (6), for their own worksite stress management. That led to some brainstorming about how on-set Psych Advisors could be a valuable fixture in Hollywood - a worthy project for another day.

The film is called Sheepdog (“Protect the flock. Confront the wolf.”)(7) and the plan is to debut it at film festivals this fall. Hopefully, success on the festival circuit (including the big one in Toronto, Steven’s hometown) will gain it wide distribution. But regardless, it's a moving and well-told story that will help spread the word about PTSD, healing, and energy psychology.

Isn't life interesting!

Author

Rick Leskowitz, MD , recently retired after working for over 25 year with the pain management program at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston. A long-time member of ACEP, he has recently completed a book called The Many Faces of Life Energy: From Biofield Healing to Global Consciousness (Inner Traditions Press, 2024).

References

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cFzU3TZehk&ab_channel=TheJoyOfSoxMovie

2. Laurence, Emily. EFT tapping: What you need to know. Forbes Magazine, 10/25/22,

https://www.forbes.com/health/mind/eft-tapping/

3. Levine, Sara. What is tapping therapy, and does it work? Katie Couric Media, 10/14/22,

https://katiecouric.com/health/mental-health/does-eft-tapping-therapy-work/

4. Lee, Annabel. Can tapping help with anxiety? Readers Digest (UK), 2/16/23.
https://www.readersdigest.co.uk/health/wellbeing/can-tapping-help-with-anxiety?mibextid=kdkkhi

5. Freedom, John. Heal Yourself with Emotional Freedom Technique, Teach Yourself Press, 2012.

6. Benor, Dan. Seven Minutes to Natural Pain Release, Wholistic Healing Publications, 2009.

7. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9525878/

Stories from the Treatment Room: How Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) can help your clients overcome fear

Mon, 03 Apr 2023 16:29:09 GMT

Do your clients have a fear that prevents them from doing fun things with their family? Have they ever only been able to watch at a distance as nieces and nephews partake in activities fearlessly, while their stomach flips and folds just as an observer? Maybe they're unable to take their kids swimming because they fear water, or refrain from going on a family holiday abroad because they wouldn’t dare go on a plane.

Fear can hold us back from so many experiences. It limits us, it can control us, and not only do we feel fear itself (which is bad enough) but we have lots of feelings about that fear being part of us: shame, frustration, self-doubt, guilt, embarrassment, incapability, uselessness. Fortunately, EFT can help your clients overcome fear so they don't have to be held back from the fun!

The fishing net

I see fear as being like a child’s fishing net. It takes the fish from its safe environment and leads it to a place where it is trapped and where breathing becomes impossible. There is nothing the fish can do about its situation. It must relinquish power and control to the net. But what the fish doesn’t know is that the child holding the net will soon return it to safety. It will rejoin the gentle flow of water, swim free again with its mates and regain power and control.

We humans can dodge the fishing net if we know where it is. However, sometimes it just comes out of nowhere. EFT has tools for that. And just like the fish, when your clients overcome fear, they can get back to the fun.

How can EFT help your clients overcome fear?

With the gentle guidance of a certified practitioner, people can use EFT to release fear from the body. A deep-rooted cause of the fear may or may not be revealed. When fear is triggered, the emotional part of the brain (the amygdala) is in overdrive and sensations are of high intensity. Things as simple as a memory, an image, a sight, or a sound can all be triggers. Tapping on acupressure points around the face and upper body will send signals to that emotional part of the brain to calm down those arousal levels. The rational brain can then take more control of the situation and the person can decide whether they are in fact in any danger.

How Adele used EFT to overcome fear

Adele had a lifetime of being frightened of heights. She was fed up with how much this limited the fun experiences she wanted to share with her family. I gave Adele three sessions of EFT. We tapped on previous intensive memories where she had become stuck when up high (including being trapped on a fair ground ride). Many physical sensations arose during the process, and we gently released them throughout the rounds of tapping. We tapped on the feelings she had about having this fear and the pressure she felt about not being particularly adventurous in her life.

Adele now felt ready to put things to the test. So off she went with a sense of buzz and excitement (rather than fear) on a ‘Go Ape’ adventure trail in the trees with her family. Platforms, ropes, bridges, zip wires, all looming high.

Equipped with the tools of Tapping

It didn’t go totally smoothly for Adele. Six meters up high and looking at the bridge in front of her, her body started to react. Panic set in and she couldn’t breathe. She felt stuck, paralyzed with fear. The fishing net had caught her and if she started the course, she knew she couldn’t turn back. She heard a man’s voice, “Are you okay?”. She started to repeat to herself “I’m okay, I’m okay”. This reminded her of one of the phrases we used in Tapping. “Even though I’m feeling this sensation, it’s okay to have that feeling.”

Adele tapped. Her breathing changed back to normal. She could take control of her body again and her brain seemed to recalibrate. Adele was no longer caught in the fishing net. Instead, she was adjusting to the environment around her and became rational yet understandably still cautious of her safety. With lowered arousal levels and with kind, encouraging support from nearby family and a staff member Adele put one foot in front of the other and started the tree-top trail. With harness and cables safely attached she went higher and higher. Bridges become more difficult to cross, but she did it! She felt exhilarated.

In Conclusion

Now, I am not saying that your clients will be able to eradicate all sense of fear after a few sessions of EFT. They won’t suddenly be fearless of extreme sports, partaking in free solo climbing down Mount Everest or white water rafting down the Zambezi River. They won’t be free from fear, and that is a good thing. After all, fear is necessary. It keeps us from danger. But what EFT can do is help heal past wounds associated with a fear. It can help your clients feel better about the fear and the beliefs they have about it. EFT can also provide them with tools to use when they are faced with fear or have just had a frightening experience. They can then also help others in their moments of fear.

More Resources for You

Are you a therapist interested in learning to use Emotional Freedom Techniques with your clients? ACEP offers training and certification in EFT to mental health professionals. If you're in another helping profession, check out EFTInternational.

Are you a client looking for a clinician trained in these methods? Check out ACEP’s practitioner directory .

Author

Melody Lovell is an Advanced EFT Practitioner specializing in working with fears, anxiety, bad habits, cravings, and stress. She is certified and accredited by EFTInternational and serves on EFTi’s Communications team. Melody is English and based in the Southwest of France. She has extensive experience and knowledge of working with children and their families. Learn more about Melody at www.melodylovell.com .

Energy psychology online: Five reasons this is a perfect fit!

Mon, 27 Mar 2023 12:00:12 GMT

The pandemic is hopefully fading into our rear-view windows, though the covid-19 virus with its myriad variants is here to stay. We are learning to live with these new risks, adjusting to the new normal, and learning to love some of the changes that the pandemic brought about. One of those changes is the explosion of teletherapy! Back in 2020, people wondered if energy psychology was going to be as effective when delivered online. Today, the resounding answer is YES! Below are five reasons why online therapy is perfect for energy psychology (EP).

Tapping tools work well.

Energy psychology’s tapping tools, such as Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) and Thought Field Therapy (TFT), work like a charm over Zoom (or other online platforms). People can assess their distress before and after each round of tapping. In some ways, the screen makes things easier. For example, it is really easy to show people the finger points on camera. Even the 9-gamut eye roll is doable online! The imaginary clock in front of the client’s face is a great way to “walk” their eyes around the circle. Tracing outside their glasses frame is another trick that some people can use. ( Go here for information about the finger points and 9-gamut ).

We can do muscle testing by proxy.

Some energy psychology tools, like TFT, can incorporate muscle testing, also known as applied kinesiology. The principle of muscle testing is that our bodies are strong when we are expressing a truth, and weak when we are expressing a lie. The body doesn’t lie! In the old days, we often used the arm test to see what acupoints were at play. Fortunately, we don’t need the client’s arm to do muscle testing. There are many other approaches, such as the postural sway and the finger lock, that can differentiate the true from the false. ( For more information on applied kinesiology, read this .)

Consciousness is nonlocal.

We can have telepathic connections with others – it happens all the time! How often do you and your bff say the same thing at the same time? You don’t have to be in the same room to connect with their vibe, their energy, their thoughts and feelings. When we are deeply and empathically connecting with our clients, we still “feel them” even when they are on Zoom.

Everything is energy, and teletherapy may save yours.

We can connect when we are on Zoom, but maybe we have more of a choice about it than when we are physically together. At the beginning of the pandemic, people complained of Zoom fatigue. Dayslong Zoom meetings can still be a bore. But Zoom therapy is a different animal altogether. Some people, including yours truly, actually find themselves less tired at the end of a Zoom day than an in-office day.

Clients want results, and energy psychology delivers.

Whether you are using approaches that rely on language (like AIT and EFT), tapping (like EFT and TFT), chakras (like AIT and CEP), energy psychology delivers reliable outcomes. Our clients are happy, and our clinicians are committed to continuing to use and spread the word about these fabulous techniques.

Teletherapy is perfect for energy psychology.

No matter how you look at it, the cutting-edge family of techniques we call energy psychology are a perfect fit for today’s move toward online therapy. What started out as a response to a crisis has become mainstream. In doing so, it has given us a new way to make it easier than ever for people to access therapy and get the help they need to live lives they are excited about.

What are your favorite reasons to use energy psychology in your teletherapy practice? We would love to hear from you, so leave a comment below. If you would like to learn more about these exciting techniques, check out our training calendar .

Author

Sarah Murphy, LPC, NCC, is a licensed and nationally certified professional counselor. She specializes in energy psychology, including EFT, as well as mindfulness and meditation. Sarah works with individuals seeking to find peace within themselves, people who have serious medical diagnoses, and couples who want to resolve conflict and live in harmony. Sarah is an ACEP Board member and chair of its communications committee; she has a private practice and serves as staff therapist with Unite for HER .

Photo by Bermix Studio on Unsplash

Muscle Testing 101: Four Tools to Tune into Your Body’s Wisdom

Mon, 13 Mar 2023 12:00:06 GMT

We know that our body holds a storehouse of wisdom. Wouldn’t it be great to be able to tap into that? Well, it turns out, we can! The field of applied kinesiology, or as it’s more commonly called, muscle testing, gives us access to our bodies’ innate wisdom. Some of these tools are meant to be used on yourself, and others are meant to be used with another person. Each can be mastered with just a little practice. This “muscle testing 101” introduces four techniques that will help you understand your body’s messages.

Some people use these technique to find out whether a certain food or supplement is “good” or “bad” for their bodies. Others ask their body questions, especially when they are having trouble deciding, like “is taking this job for my best and highest good?” At ACEP, we use these techniques in our comprehensive energy psychology program. It allows us to ascertain which problems need to be addressed first, whether our clients have scrambled energy, or which chakras or meridians to stimulate or clear. We don’t recommend using them for fortune telling, but they are great for energy psychology detective work!

The postural sway

This technique is so simple it’s nearly impossible to mess it up. You simply stand up and relax, and ask your body to show you a yes, and then a no. Unless your energy is scrambled, you will tilt slightly forward for a yes, and slightly backward for a no. (Some people swing in a circular motion, usually clockwise for yes and counter-clockwise for no.) At first, the movement may be quite subtle, but it’s definitely there. With practice and confidence, you will find yourself stumbling forward or backwards, getting unmistakable cues from your body! Make sure you do this close to something like a wall you can grab for support if you stumble.

The arm test

This is a partner activity. One person is the subject, and the other is the tester.

1. The subject holds their arm out to the side.

2. The tester places a hand gently on the subject’s shoulder (not everyone does this) and the other hand just above the subject’s wrist.

3. The tester gently applies pressure to the wrist. The arm will hold strong for a yes, and become weak for a no.

An easy way to test this is to ask the person to say “my name is (their name)” and press. Then have them say “my name is (some other name)” and press. The arm will hold strong for the correct name, and grow weak for the wrong name.

You can also test this by having the tester place their other hand, palm down, over the subject’s head, then press the arm. Then turn the tester’s hand palm up over the subject’s head, and press the arm. The arm will hold strong for the palm down and grow weak for the palm up. If that doesn’t happen, have the subject drink some water, relax, and try again. If it is still not working, do one of the brief energy correction or collar bone breathing techniques. You can read about them here .

The finger lock

This is a self-help tool. You make interlocking circles of your index finger and thumb. (I.e., right index finger to right thumb, and looped through, left index finger to left thumb.) Pull your hands away from each other with gentle but firm pressure. This puts pressure on the connection between fingers and thumbs. The pressure will hold, however, with a yes. It will release the lock for a no.

Another finger technique

This is a very subtle technique that you can use without anyone else even knowing what you are doing. Because it is so subtle, it takes a bit more practice to master than the other techniques. You can use it for the same reasons that you use any of these techniques. Again, we recommend sticking to diagnostics rather than fortune telling!

To do this, hold your index finger straight, and slightly bend your middle finger, placing it on the back of the index finger near the nail bed. Use gentle pressure to press your middle finger onto your index finger. Your index finger will stay still and strong for a yes, and drop slightly and grow weak for a no.

Muscle testing 101: Four ways to unlock your body’s innate wisdom

Each of these tools may feel awkward at first, but you will get more comfortable with practice. They should not be used, of course, to make medical diagnoses or to tell a client what to do. However, they can help you move intelligently through the process of determining which meridian points or chakras to treat in an energy psychology session.

If you would like to learn more about muscle testing and how you can use it intelligently in your energy psychology practice, check out ACEP’s comprehensive energy psychology certification course. It's currently being revamped, and will be available again in the future.

Author

Sarah Murphy, LPC, NCC, is a licensed and nationally certified professional counselor. She specializes in energy psychology, including EFT, as well as mindfulness and meditation. In addition to her counseling practice , Sarah is an ACEP Board member and chair of the Communications Committee; she serves as staff therapist with Unite for HER.

EFT Research Proliferating Around the World

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 13:00:06 GMT

John Freedom, Marg Hux, and Jan Warner reviewed the literature on acupoint tapping studies published in foreign-language journals. They published their findings, Research on Acupoint Tapping Therapies Proliferating around the World , in a recent issue of the Energy Psychology Journal. This shows that there is great interest in EFT, and EFT research, around the world.

The review covers 91 studies, the majority of which came from Indonesia (71%). This research trove adds to the evidence base for meridian tapping – which already contains 120 clinical trials – and further demonstrates the effectiveness of EFT tapping. Moreover, it shows that interest in EFT is growing outside the Western world, has regional variations that remain effective, and is being used in clinical healthcare settings.

Sleuthing, and a research goldmine

Lead author John Freedom, who serves as ACEP’s Research Committee chair, serendipitously discovered articles about EFT in non-English-language journals. The volume of material surprised him – at first pass, he knew that there were at least 50 "new" studies. And John knows the research on EFT!

Of course, he was also curious to understand what the research found. So, he engaged Marg Hux and Jan Warner, who both serve on the research committee, to assist him in mining the databases and make sense of the articles they found.

The study setup

A search in ResearchGate uncovered 86 studies in non-English journals. Additional searching using the EBSCO search engine uncovered five more studies.

More than half of the studies investigated a variation on EFT called Spiritual EFT or SEFT. SEFT is a protocol popular in Indonesia that combines EFT tapping while reciting verses from the Quran.

Most articles were published in non-English language journals and had only a title or abstract in English. Of those that were translated, the quality of translation varied.

Snapshot of the literature on EFT research around the world:

71% were from Indonesia
81% had only a title or abstract published in English
84% were single group or comparative clinical trials
5% were literature reviews
29% addressed anxiety
15% addressed depression
11% addressed hypertension
47% used EFT
53% used Spiritual EFT, or SEFT

Why this study matters

The review reveals studies that had previously been unknown in the West. It demonstrates that EFT, and EFT research, is growing around the world.

Interestingly, in contrast with most English-language studies, these reports came from hospitals, clinics, and universities. Moreover, they addressed physiological complaints such as hypertension, diabetes, and pain. Finally, they differ from most Western studies in addressing specific populations such as prisoners, addicts, and cancer patients.

In sum, they give us a good look at how EFT is being used – and how effective it is! – in clinical settings around the world.

Want to learn more?

You can download a bibliography of research studies published in non-English language journals on the research section of our web site .

If you would like to learn more about the science behind energy psychology, including EFT, and get CE’s, check out ACEP’s Science of Energy Healing course.

To support ACEP research, consider donating to our Research Committee.

Author

Sarah Murphy, LPC, NCC, is a licensed and nationally certified professional counselor. She specializes in energy psychology, including EFT, as well as mindfulness and meditation. Sarah works with individuals seeking to find peace within themselves, people who have serious medical diagnoses, and couples who want to resolve conflict and live in harmony. Sarah is an ACEP Board member and chair of its communications committee; she has a private practice and serves as staff therapist with Unite for HER .

NASA image of Earth via Unsplash

Feeling out of balance? Try This

Thu, 02 Mar 2023 16:10:36 GMT

When you feel out of balance, nothing seems quite right. However, you can get yourself back in balance by practicing the Brain Balancer , sometimes called the 9-gamut. This simple body-based technique helps restore left-right balance and allows you to feel clearer and more connected. Practice the technique right now by watching the video below and following along. You can also download written instructions in English , Spanish , and Portuguese .

How it works

Tap on the point on the back of your hand between the bones that lead to the ring and pinky fingers. While tapping, do the following:

1. Close your eyes

2. Open your eyes

3. Look down to one side

4. Look down to the other side

5. Roll your eyes in a large clockwise circle

6. Roll your eyes in a large counterclockwise circle

7. Hum a tune

8. Count to five

9. Hum a tune

Why it works

The Brain Balancer blends principles of neuro linguistic programming and energy psychology. While tapping the important triple-warmer meridian point, you move your eyes in certain patterns and activate different brain functions. All of this allows you to feel present, balanced, and centered.

This technique is also excellent to use when you feel like you haven't fully processed your emotions. If it sounds familiar, perhaps that is because this technique often is used in standard Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) and Thought Field Therapy (TFT) sessions.

If you haven’t given the Brain Balancer technique a try yet, do it now. Take notice of how your body feels both before and after you use the technique. This technique is just one of many you can use to get more calm and present.

More techniques to try when you are feeling out of balance.

If you found the Brain Balancer helpful, here are a few more tools you can use to restore balance and get centered: Breathing Into Balance and the Cross Crawl .

Need help from a professional?

Author: Sarah Murphy, LPC

Video Resources Provided by the ACEP Humanitarian Committee

Photo by Ayo Ogunseinde on Unsplash

4 Simple Tools to Boost Your Therapy Results

Sat, 11 Feb 2023 00:10:04 GMT

Tapping the finger points

The 9-gamut

Close your eyes
Open your eyes
Look sharply down to the left
Look sharply down to the right
Roll your eyes slowly in a big clockwise circle
Roll your eyes slowly in a big counterclockwise circle
Hum a little tune
Count to five
Hum a little tune

The Brief Energy Correction

To do this simple exercise, place one hand below your naval. Then place your other hand on the following areas, holding each for just one breath:

Both sides of the collar bone, using thumb and index finger on either side
Under the nose, using index and middle finger
Under the mouth, using index and middle finger
At the tailbone, with the back of the hand on your body and thumb facing upwards

Collar bone breathing

Inhale and exhale completely
Inhale halfway and hold
Inhale the rest of the way and hold
Breathe halfway out and hold
Breathe the rest of the way out and hold
Inhale and exhale completely

Give this simple technique a try and see how easy it is to come back into balance!

Simple tools to boost your therapy results.

Author

Sarah Murphy, LPC, NCC, is a licensed and nationally certified professional counselor. She specializes in energy psychology, including EFT, as well as mindfulness and meditation. Sarah works with individuals seeking to find peace within themselves, people who have serious medical diagnoses, and couples who want to resolve conflict and live in harmony. Sarah is an ACEP Board member and chair of its communications committee; she has a private practice and serves as staff therapist with Unite for HER .

Photo by Jonathan Sebastiao on unsplash

The Brief Energy Correction: A Tool to Rapidly Reduce Pain and Distress?

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 17:00:00 GMT

Robin Bilazarian is an experienced Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) trainer. During one training, she was working with a volunteer who was experiencing pain. Usually, a few rounds of EFT tapping reduces pain. This time, it did not. Bilazarian remembered a tool from her training in Comprehensive Energy Psychology: the brief energy correction (BEC). She led the volunteer through the simple process and their pain finally diminished. Intrigued, Bilazarian enlisted expert researcher Marg Hux to design and perform a study to see if this fast tool could be as effective and efficient as it seemed. What they found is intriguing: this simple process rapidly reduces pain and distress.

They published the findings of their pilot cohort study, Rapid Group Treatment Of Pain And Upsets With The Brief Energy Correction , in the International Journal of Healing and Caring at the height of the pandemic. They found that indeed, the BEC reduced pain and other symptoms remarkable rapidly, even where tapping therapies had failed. This may be the first study that investigates this technique and certainly the only to investigate it as a standalone treatment.

The theory

There is a theory in the world of energy psychology that sometimes, some people’s nervous systems get disorganized or “switched.” This is said to cause problems like confusing left and right, not swinging arms while walking or swinging the wrong arm (i.e., left leg steps forward and left arm swings forward too, homolaterally), spatial issues like bumping into things, and even severe psychological distress and learning difficulties.

A disconnect in nerve impulses seems to cause this disorganization. And when our energy fields are disorganized, meridian tapping techniques are not effective. The BEC hand positions and breaths allow us to reorganize and “un-switch” the energy within our system. It’s sort of the human version of ctrl-alt-del – a reboot. The procedure is part of Thought Field Therapy and in ACEP’s Comprehensive Energy Psychology (CEP) curriculum.

How to do the Brief Energy Correction

To do the BEC technique, place one hand on your navel. Move your other hand to the following places, holding each for just one breath:

Both sides of the collar bone, using thumb and index finger on either side
Under the nose, using index and middle finger
Under the mouth, using index and middle finger
At the tailbone, with the back of the hand on your body and thumb facing upwards

Watch a video of Robin doing the BEC here.

The demonstration of the technique begins at 1 minute, 55 seconds.

The study setup

For the present study, participants were recruited in an online workshop at an annual conference on meridian-based techniques. One hundred thirty people participated in the workshop. Of those, 75 responded to the study questions. Some had pain (39) and others used a current “upset” (36).

Bilazarian led the group through three rounds of BEC-6. A round consisted of six repeats (hence the term BEC-6). Each hand placement lasts one breath, or approximately five seconds, so a round of six takes about 30 seconds. After a round, participants rated their pain or distress, and then proceeded to the next round.

Study results

The group rated their pain or distress on an 11-point scale (0 – 10) before beginning the procedure and after each of the three rounds of treatment. The entire process lasted just 90 seconds. (!!) The drops were substantial.

For pain, the mean ratings were:

Baseline: 5.53
Round 1: 3.72 (p<0.0001)
Round 2: 2.6 (p<0.0001)
Round 3: 1.58 (p<0.0001)

For distress, the mean ratings were:

Baseline: 6.06
Round 1: 3.64 (p<0.001)
Round 2: 2.22 (p<0.001)
Round 3: 0.89 (p<0.001)

This intervention significantly reduced the intensity of both pain and distress. Moreover, it achieved these results faster than most meridian therapies.

It’s interesting to note that the participants in this study had attended a two-day workshop, and this was at the end of it. After two days of EFT tapping, one would expect that most people would not have much pain or distress left! Yet it is precisely this type of resistant pain that the BEC seems to be so adept at clearing.

Rapidly reduce pain and distress: use the brief energy correction!

This adds to the body of research on mind-body tools for healing. It’s the first to explore the BEC and shows it to be a great tool to rapidly reduce pain and distress.

Want to learn more?

Are you intrigued and want to learn more? Sign up for our upcoming Comprehensive Energy Psychology ( CEP) training program . You can also get trained in TFT with master trainer Suzanne Connolly – make sure you give credit to ACEP!

Author

Heart Assisted Therapy Helps People Overcome Trauma

Mon, 23 Jan 2023 13:00:09 GMT

A study by John Diepold and Gary Schwartz, professor at the University of Arizona, explored a unique energy psychology method, Heart Assisted Therapy (HAT), in a phase 1 trial. The journal Explore published the paper in the summer of 2022. The findings show that Heart Assisted Therapy can help people overcome trauma and the lingering effects of distressing life events – even ones that people have been living with for decades.

The theory

John Diepold is a psychologist and a longtime energy psychology practitioner. He created an approach, Heart Assisted Therapy or HAT, that incorporates breathing, cognitions, imaginal exposure, intention, and mindfulness with “heart holding”. HAT is thus an integrative approach that grew out of traditional psychotherapy and energy psychology approaches.

Despite the tremendous benefits his clients experienced using HAT, Diepold knew this therapy would not move beyond his personal therapy practice unless he gathered research to show that it works. This study is the first published on the effects of HAT and the findings are compelling – hopefully enough that other researchers will replicate the study and this safe, efficient therapy will benefit the people who need it.

The study setup

The study rolled out in two parts: an exploratory and confirmatory stage. Forty-three people with a history of traumatic or troubling life events participated. Subjects were recruited from the researchers’ private therapy practices. The average age was 47 years; 17 were women and 26 were men; 12 were combat veterans and 31 were civilians.

Participants were treated by one of the two researcher-clinicians using HAT to address a total of 81 troubling or traumatic life events. A subjective units of distress scale (SUDs) measured their distress before and after treatment. Additionally, follow-up questionnaires demonstrated that results held over time.

Study results

HAT proved very effective and efficient. It took an average of just 3 or 4 sessions to fully treat an event. Before HAT, participants had been dealing with the trauma effect for an average of 18 years; length ranged from less than a year to more than six decades.

In the exploratory study, with 13 participants and 22 events, the mean distress level was 7.5 before and 0.0 after HAT (p < .0000001). In the confirmatory study, with 30 participants and 59 events, the mean distress level was 8.31 before and 0.02 after HAT (p < .0000001). That is about the largest string of zeroes you are likely to find in study results!

In both cases, there is a one-in-ten-million chance that the results were due to factors other than the HAT intervention.

Twenty-nine participants provided follow-up data an average of nine months after completion. The results held, rising ever so slightly from an average 0.01 out of ten immediately post-treatment to 0.33 out of 10 at follow-up.

A HAT skeptic, converted

Interestingly, the second author, Schwartz, was initially quite skeptical of Diepold’s claims about HAT. It was the pursuit of the “extraordinary evidence” to support the extraordinary claims about HAT that led eventually to this collaboration and study.

Heart Assisted Therapy Helps People Overcome Trauma

Because this was a phase 1 study, there was no control group. Additionally, the SUD rating is a self-report measure. Moreover, the mechanism for HAT’s effectiveness is not well understood. Nonetheless, HAT showed itself to be quite effective in healing the aftermath of trauma, much of it long held, in just a few sessions.

Want to learn more?

You can learn more about HAT here . Want to learn the method? John Diepold will be offering a one-day intensive on June 1,2023, right before the 25th International Energy Psychology Conference, taking place in Baltimore's Inner Harbor. You can attend his training and then stay for the conference! Learn more and register.

If you would like to understand the science behind energy healing, check out ACEP’s course .

Author

Photo by Andre Furtado

Irritated? Try This.

Wed, 18 Jan 2023 20:37:47 GMT

Irritation spreads like wildfire, so it’s important to get in under control! Here’s an easy tool you can use the next time you feel irritated.

One of the fastest and most effective ways to release irritation is a breathing technique, the Stress Blow-Out . This simple body-based technique helps your body relax.

This technique is also helpful if you're feeling stuck or upset. This technique comes from Donna Eden . Practice the technique right now by watching the video below and following along. You can also download written instructions in English , Spanish , and Portuguese .

How it Works

Lift both hands over your head, clenching your fists hard. Take a deep breath and hold it for a few seconds. Then pull your hands down fast, blowing the out air out with a ‘whoosh!’ Bend your knees as you go, and open your hands when your arms are fully extended. You can repeat this three to five times.

Why It Works

By using energy-based techniques like the Stress Blow-Out , you help your body release excess emotions like irritation. This allows you to feel relaxed, centered, and grounded. Involving our bodies helps us to release pent-up energy. Breathing, of course, is a powerful tool. Finally, the big movement is clearing out your energy field.

If you haven’t given the Stress Blow-Out a try yet, do it now. Take notice of how your body feels both before and after you use the technique. This technique is just one of many you can use when you need calming and balancing.

More Techniques to Deal with Irritation

If you found the Stress Blow-Out helpful, here are a few more tools you can use to reduce irritation: The Balance Hook Up and the Healing Head Hold . All of the videos and techniques in our "Try This" series were created by ACEP's Humanitarian Committee in order to help people heal by spreading the word about the powerful effects of energy psychology techniques. We invite you to help by sharing this information!

Need Help from a Professional?

Author: Sarah Murphy, LPC

Sarah Murphy is a licensed professional counselor and coach in private practice . She is on the board of and serves as communications committee chair for ACEP and staff therapist for Unite for HER . She specializes in energy psychology, including EFT, as well as mindfulness and hypnotherapy.

Video Resources Provided by the ACEP Humanitarian Committee

Photo by Dai on Unsplash

Conquering Pain with Energy Psychology

Mon, 09 Jan 2023 13:00:03 GMT

Energy Psychology Pioneer Greg Nicosia

Greg Nicosia is the founder of Advanced Diagnostics, PC (Pittsburgh, PA) and creator of Thought Energy Synchronization Therapy (TEST), a form of energy psychology. Over the course of his career, Greg has explored ways of conquering pain with energy psychology.

Greg came to energy psychology through his own experiences, after being involved in a serious motor vehicle accident. He says that pain increased his sensitivity, leading him to begin delving into the mind-body-spirit connection. This connection played a significant role in his work and personal life.

Greg saw and was amazed by how rapidly and effectively energy psychology can lead to drastic shifts. These include spontaneous reframing of trauma experiences, deep and lasting healing, and the promotion of spiritual development.

“I’ve often said that I never met a pain that couldn’t be reduced by at least 50% and, in my honest opinion, this extends to emotional pain/distress, as well.” –Greg Nicosia

Involvement with ACEP

Across his prolific career, Greg has worn many hats: researcher, professor, innovator, trainer, practitioner, and leader. What ties them all together is his burning desire to “teach and lead an army of energy healers to help reach the tipping point that allows for a metamorphosis in human consciousness.”

The concept of ACEP “came to me in a dream,” says Greg. He shared his idea with David Gruder (co-founder of ACEP). Greg’s involvement with ACEP over the years has been pivotal in defining its shape. He worked with other ACEP colleagues for over two years to develop the ACEP comprehensive energy psychology training program. He also has served on the ACEP board of directors and presented at the ACEP International Energy Psychology conference.

Conquering Pain with Energy Psychology

Greg has experienced and seen the astounding results that energy psychology delivers in treating physical pain. One client came to him with severe, unremitting back pain, which was causing her to feel depressed, anxious, and hopeless.

Greg used TEST to treat the client, providing her with a protocol to use outside of her sessions as well. Within three months of starting treatment with Greg, the client reported being able to cease use of pain medication, showed no symptoms of depression, had not experienced a panic attack for many weeks, and was feeling optimistic about her ongoing recovery.

Impressively, the client shares “I look at my life now like a person who has a second chance. When I had the pain, I never thought about my life… all I could think about was that pain. Thank you for your treatment here. It literally saved my life.”

Looking Forward

“We are all gifted with the ability to co-create life experience. We easily lose touch with these abilities and so do not develop these senses into reliable and powerful tools that promote healing,” shares Greg. From his viewpoint, energy psychology approaches can be a valuable tool for anyone to have in support of their own healing.

If you are interested in learning more about energy psychology, visit the ACEP website . Stay tuned for ACEP’s revamped Comprehensive Energy Psychology course , coming this summer!

Author

Renee LaFountain, LMHC, is a licensed mental health counselor, living and working in Massachusetts. She is the clinical director and a staff therapist at Bay State Counseling and Wellness Center, with a passion for serving individuals who are the helpers and “deep feelers” of the world. Renee is a member of the ACEP Communications Committee and is a provider for Unite for HER.

EFT is evidence-based: Research Update!

Tue, 29 Nov 2022 11:00:08 GMT

Dawson Church, Peta Stapleton, Anitha Vasudevan and Tom O'Keefe published an updated review in the online journal Frontiers. The review, Clinical EFT as an evidence-based practice for the treatment of psychological and physiological conditions: A systematic review , is an update on all the research on EFT. It shows – again! – that EFT is evidence-based.

The theory

Back in 2013, Church et al published a study which earned EFT the American Psychological Association (APA) Division 12 label of “probably efficacious treatment.” That study has been downloaded or viewed a whopping 36,000 times. The current study updated the 2013 paper, incorporating nearly a decade’s worth of additional data.

When EFT made its debut back in the 1990’s, there was a lot of skepticism that this strange-looking technique could be legit. Thankfully, many practitioners were not scared off by the “woo-woo” factor, and EFT gained a reputation for its effectiveness. But the mainstream still was not on board.

This is where a dedicated team of researchers and academics stepped up and made a difference. By 2012, there were enough studies to allow David Feinstein to publish his analysis in an APA journal. In 2013, Dawson Church published his review . And in the decade since then, more studies and meta-analyses hit the presses. Today, the research base is robust, and demonstrates that EFT is, indeed, evidence-based.

The study setup

The researchers performed a systematic review of the literature to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses on EFT. They identified 56 RCTs (N=2,013). Of these, 41 were published since the 2013 review. They also found eight meta-analyses. Meta-analyses are important because they aggregate data from other studies. To perform a meta-analysis, a good number of studies, usually RCTs, must exist for the authors to analyze.

Study results

The results confirmed what practitioners of EFT know. RCTs have found EFT treatment to be effective for:

Psychological conditions such as anxiety, depression, phobias, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Physiological issues such as pain, insomnia, and autoimmune conditions
Professional and sports performance
Biological markers of stress

Moreover, the meta-analyses evaluating EFT have all found moderate to large effect sizes.

Interestingly, some studies show EFT treatment is associated with measurable biological effects in the dimensions of gene expression, brain synchrony, hormonal synthesis, and a wide range of biomarkers.

In addition to a review of the studies done to date, the authors also propose next steps for EFT research. These include:

medical issues such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and cognitive impairment
analysis of the large-scale datasets made possible by mobile apps
delivery through channels such as virtual practitioner sessions, online courses, apps and standardized group therapy.

EFT is evidence-based

These findings show that clinical EFT is helpful for a range of psychological and physiological conditions. Clinical EFT is an evidence-based, stable, and mature method. It is popular as a self-help tool, but the research shows that it is much more. The authors state that EFT can be used in primary care settings as a safe, rapid, reliable, and effective treatment for both psychological and medical diagnoses, and the body of evidence continues to grow!

Want to learn more?

If you would like to use EFT to work on some of your own clinical issues, find a clinician using ACEP’s clinician directory . If you are a clinician and would like to be trained in clinical EFT, sign up for ACEP’s certification program .

Author

Sarah Murphy, LPC, NCC, is a licensed and nationally certified professional counselor. She specializes in energy psychology, including EFT, as well as mindfulness and meditation. She works with individuals seeking to find peace within themselves, people who have serious medical diagnoses, and couples who want to resolve conflict and live in harmony. Sarah is an ACEP Board member and chair of the Communications Committee; she serves as staff therapist with Unite for HER .

SLUG: eft-is-evidence-based-research-update

META: A systematic review published in Frontiers in 2022 is an update on all the research on EFT. It shows – again! – that EFT is evidence-based.

Feeling Angry? Try this.

Mon, 14 Nov 2022 11:00:00 GMT

Want to learn techniques to release anger? You’re in the right place. This blog teaches you an easy tool you can use the next time you feel angry.

One of the fastest and most effective ways to release anger is to blow it out, using the Stress Blow-Out . This simple body-based technique helps your body relax as you release that buildup of anger. This technique is also helpful if you're feeling stuck or upset and need to Let It Go. This technique comes from Donna Eden . Practice the technique right now by watching the video below and following along. You can also download written instructions in English , Spanish , and Portuguese .

How it Works

Why It Works

By using energy-based techniques like the Stress Blow-Out , you help your body release excess emotions like anger and irritation. This allows you to feel relaxed, centered, and grounded. Involving our bodies helps us to release pent-up energy. The big movement is also clearing out your energy field.

More Techniques to Deal with Anger

If you found the Stress Blow-Out helpful, here are a few more tools you can use to reduce anger: The Balance HookUp and the Healing Head Hold . All of the videos and techniques in our "Try This" series were created by ACEP's Humanitarian Committee in order to help people heal by spreading the word about the powerful effects of energy psychology techniques. We invite you to help by sharing this information!

Need Help from a Professional?

Author: Sarah Murphy, LPC

Video Resources Provided by the ACEP Humanitarian Committee

Photo by Lisa Fotios

Energy Psychology and the Definition of Mind: Why should you care?

Thu, 10 Nov 2022 15:57:56 GMT

“What is the mind?” This is a fundamental question that all practitioners of energy psychology need to answer.

For that matter, anyone engaged in the business of helping people with emotional problems should answer this question. How you answer the question has a major impact on how you behave as a therapist or coach.

The definition of mind I use

Here is the definition I use – it is adapted from Dr. Dan Siegel and interpersonal neurobiology.

The Mind is an emergent, self-organizing process that arises as a fundamental property of the system of energy and information flow that is created in the body and in interactions with others and our environment. This emergent process then shapes energy and information flow across time.

The missing link

This definition has supplied the “missing link” in what I do, how I understand what I do and what most of us do with energy psychology. In fact, it allows us to create very effective bridges to most of the rest of psychotherapy, mindfulness, meditation and other consciousness-altering practices, and energy medicine. It allows us to frame our work within an individual’s mind-body system, a couples system, a family’s system or a cultural system. How does it do this?

First we need to ask, when do people develop psychological problems? The answer – when the functional flow of energy and information becomes dysfunctional. What we mean by functional or dysfunctional is beyond the scope of this blog, as is the question of how the flow moves from functional to dysfunctional. Like the proverbial blind men and the elephant, there are many different answers to these questions, often based on the school of thought or therapy to which one belongs.

Energy practices adjust the flow of energy and information

The interesting thing about energy psychology and energy medicine is that they are among the few approaches that explicitly attempt to adjust the flow of energy along with information. Consider Emotional Freedom Techniques or Thought Field Therapy for a moment. We ask our clients to adjust the flow of information by shifting attention to a target problem. Then the client taps on meridian points, adjusting the flow of energy while attuned to that specific information, thus creating an interaction effect or harmonic. The client’s SUDS drops from 8 to 0. Now when the client calls up the memory of the problem, the other information or energy that flows with it is altered. Somehow what emerges out of the system no longer includes heart pounding, fear, self-loathing and so on.

Interaction effects

As we move into larger contexts/systems we discover interaction effects. For instance, as part of a couple my energy system and flow interacts with my partner’s and vice versa. My thoughts, words, expectations and actions impact upon my partner’s and vice versa. We can work on gender differences such as described in Men are from Mars Women Are from Venus. We can also work on energy differences between partners. See Eden and Feinstein’s book, The Energies of Love . We can also expand this exploration to the cultural level, but that would require much more space than I have here.

What you can say when people ask you what you do

If you want to sound very authoritative when people ask what you do as a an energy psychology practitioner you can say – I help people adjust the flow of information and energy so that their systems are more functional. The result is that they can lead happier, healthier and more productive lives.

Learn more

Want to learn more about how energy psychology can help increase the flow of energy and information in your clients? Check out the ACEP training catalogue !

Author

Robert Schwarz, PsyD, DCEP has been a licensed psychologist for over 33 years. He serves as ACEP's executive director. Bob has trained therapists internationally on trauma treatment, panic and anxiety, energy psychology. He has organized over 25 conferences on energy psychology trauma treatment, Ericksonian hypnosis, brief therapy, that trained over 18,000 therapists. He has authored 3 books, including: Tools for Transforming Trauma, PTSD: A Clinician’s Guide and We’re No Fun Anymore: Guiding Couples to a Joy Filled Marriage Through the Power of Play, as well as numerous articles and papers including "Energy psychology as a polyvagal intervention for trauma."

The Power of Two: Trauma Tapping Technique with Partner

Tue, 25 Oct 2022 11:52:02 GMT

If you or someone you know experiences a traumatic experience, you can tap together and release the trauma quickly.

A quick and effective way to release trauma is to tap on a series of points on your body, practicing a technique called the Trauma Tapping Technique. This simple body-based technique can be even more powerful when you tap with someone else. Either solo or paired, it helps your body release emotions and relax, and helps you shift your perception and see with greater clarity.

If you want to do it with someone else, you can either do it together, or if you're comfortable, they can do it for you while you relax and receive.

Practice the technique right now by following along with the video below, presented by the Peaceful Heart Network's Ulf and Gunilla. You can also download written instructions in English , Spanish , and Portuguese .

Why It Works

By using energy psychology techniques like the Trauma Tapping Technique , you help your body release blocks and feel better. When you tap with someone else, you also get the benefit of boundaried human touch, and you amplify your impact. This allows you to reduce feelings of trauma quickly and easily. It is also helpful for healing post-traumatic distress, and will help you any time you are in distress.

If you haven’t given the Trauma Tapping Technique a try yet, do it now. Take notice of how your body feels both before and after you use the technique. This technique is just one of many you can use to release trauma.

More Techniques to Reduce Stress Quickly

If you found the Trauma Tapping Technique helpful, here are a few more tools you can use to reduce stress: Easy Thought Field Therapy and Simple EFT . All of the videos and techniques in our "Try This" series were created by ACEP's Humanitarian Committee in order to help people heal by spreading the word about the powerful effects of energy psychology techniques. We invite you to help by sharing this information!

Need Help from a Professional?

Many people are experiencing trauma and seeking alternatives to pharmaceuticals. ACEP is a nonprofit, 501c3 dedicated to the research, education, and sharing of energy psychology. Check out the ACEP practitioner directory to find a certified ACEP therapist in your area or online.

Author

Sarah Murphy, LPC, is a licensed professional counselor and coach with more than 12 years of clinical experience. She is Communications Committee chair for ACEP and staff therapist for Unite for HER . Sarah specializes in energy psychology, including EFT, as well as mindfulness and hypnotherapy. Learn more at www.transformative-therapy.com .

Video Resources Provided by the ACEP Humanitarian Committee

Clear Past Traumas vs. Create Positive Futures: And the Winner Is…

Tue, 18 Oct 2022 04:17:30 GMT

When it comes to understanding true change and healing, which is more effective: creating powerful positive intentions and visualization about the future, or clearing the negative effects of past traumatic events that hold us back?

There is evidence for both camps. But I would like to suggest a far more nuanced answer, rather than choosing one side or the other. In order to do this well, I need to take several passes.

Pass 1: Trauma Star and Happy Star

Imagine the following metaphor. You are a spaceship, floating in space. Behind you is star (called Trauma star) with its own gravitational field. This star represents past traumas. The strength of its gravitational field represents the amount of unprocessed trauma and stress that you have, and its pull on you and your life. In front of you is another star with its own gravitational field. This star represents a positive future – let’s call it Happy star. The strength of its gravitational field represents the clarity and intensity of this future and its pull on you or your life. In this first pass, we can say that at any given moment these two gravitational wells influence you. Therapies and coaching practices that focus on clarifying goals and creating positive, compelling futures increase the pull of Happy star. Therapy and coaching that work on removing the effects of trauma weaken the gravitational force of Trauma star so that you are less likely to be influenced by its gravity and pulled into its gravity well.

On this first pass we can see that both approaches could be successful. As far as I know, there is no research that measures the relative effectiveness of these two approaches (and for many reasons there is not likely to be). I have discussed this imagery with a number of people and they have all found it to be helpful and evocative of many questions. This is only a broad concept; there is much more we could explore.

Pass 2: Is your client closer to Trauma Star or Happy Star when they come to see you?

It should become immediately apparent that this physical/Newtonian metaphor is only useful if you know things about your client at a specific point in time. Perhaps the most important question is, how close is the person/spaceship to Trauma star at the time they come to see you? In other words, is their presenting complaint and life circumstance such that the gravitational effects of Trauma star so great that it must be worked on first or is the person fairly far away from Trauma star, so its effects are relatively small? If so, it may make more sense to work on goals and the future.

Pass 3: Choosing a direction

You may have noted that, in the discussion so far, I have said nothing about the direction of the spaceship or the power of its drive system. It might be more accurate to describe the process of focusing on goals and intentions as working with the power train and navigational settings of the spacecraft moving through life. It is very important to know where you are going. Helping clients improve their ability to direct their spaceship through the fabric of life is a powerful tool. If we are staying with our original metaphor, we can now update it by saying that there are many potential happy stars on various headings. Your clients need to decide which happy star they want to head towards and start moving in that direction. As they do that, the degree to which they are being held back by one or many trauma stars will become apparent. In this manner, we realize that working with both issues can actually make therapy or coaching more effective.

In my opinion there is not a single answer to the original question. Nevertheless, it is a great question to ask. I hope this has provoked some helpful thinking for you.

Learn more

Want to learn more about how energy psychology can help heal trauma and optimize success? Check out the ACEP training catalogue !

Author

Robert Schwarz, PsyD, DCEP, has been a licensed psychologist for over 33 years. He serves as ACEP's executive director. Bob has trained therapists internationally on trauma treatment, panic and anxiety, energy psychology. He has organized over 25 conferences on energy psychology trauma treatment, Ericksonian hypnosis, brief therapy, that trained over 18,000 therapists. He has authored 3 books: Tools for Transforming Trauma, PTSD: A Clinician’s Guide and We’re No Fun Anymore: Guiding Couples to a Joy Filled Marriage Through the Power of Play , as well as numerous articles and papers including Energy Psychology as a Polyvagal Intervention for Trauma (2018).

Grounding’s Vital Role for Wellbeing with Energy Practices

Tue, 27 Sep 2022 19:13:54 GMT

“We move by discharge of energy into the ground.

All energy finds its way eventually into the earth;

this is the principle known as grounding.”

-Alexander Lowen

Why should you care about grounding?

Grounding creates the foundation to:

· Respond rather than react

· Reside solidly in your mind, body and spirit

· Resonate with awareness, balance and centering

People are dynamic, magnetic and electrical beings, with unique hearts, minds and spirits, given free will to choose, to impact and be impacted upon by the environment and others. We function at our best when we are grounded, which means being mentally and emotionally stable, sensible and realistic. To be grounded in mind and body is to be well-centered and well-balanced (Merriam-Webster, 2013).

Learn how grounding...

· appears in daily life physically, psychologically and energetically

· is found in theory and research from body psychotherapy approaches, and

· works with easy-to-follow exercises, based on a variety of conventional and energetically based wisdom traditions.

Grounding, the basics

Ideally, our energies circulate in balance with the earth’s energies - through soil, air, light, plants and more. When grounded, our body systems are being fed vital information to seek harmony with the world. Once grounded, you are available for other possibilities, operating firmly from central command. When ungrounded, you may become lethargic, overly excited, or even ill. Being ungrounded is like trying to drive a car from the passenger seat, or conducting an orchestra from the balcony.

On a physical plane, earth’s gravity pulls down upon the body, while the body counteracts this force by activating resistance up, out and around. This occurs whether standing, leaning, walking, or crawling. On a metaphoric level, common expressions of being down to earth, or having your feet on the ground illustrate these qualities of stability, maturity, and realistic practicality in daily life. To be grounded as a punishment, first associated with pilots who were “grounded” as unfit to fly due to their own actions or unfavorable flight conditions, was meant to restrict freedom of movement. To be grounded as a healthy wellbeing practice is to be given tools for effective processing of life’s dynamic patterns.

Grounding in wellness practices

Alexander Lowen, creator of bioenergetic analysis, first introduced the term grounding in the field of body psychotherapy. He proposed that vital personal experiences are preserved in body posture, movement, and breathing patterns which are intimately related to mind and emotion. Grounding is thought of as a “here and now” perspective based upon psychological and physical presence, functioning as a natural prescription to maintain physical and emotional wellbeing. Englehard, Pitluk & Elboim-Gabyzon (2021), who created an objective observational measurement for grounding, define it is a “stable physical and emotional presence – supported by the ground.”

Contemporary expanded definitions of grounding recognize physical aspects of verticality or contact with the ground, and contact with one’s own body.

Physical grounding:

balancing with gravity while shifting weight from the center of the body or pelvis, as well as moving at will. If there is not enough balance, the body succumbs to gravity with passive weight. Too much force against gravity tires the body with active weight. Neutral weight allows gravity to support muscles and body in a balanced fashion (Bartenieff, 2002).

Psychological grounding:

the capacity for emotional holding, and being able to understand the self, while connecting with and understanding others. This includes grounding in the relationship between clients and wellness practitioners.

Energetic grounding:

involves the discharge of energy into the ground (which may have both physical and etheric components) as well as “energetic and psychic processes by which a person perceives and comprehends reality” (Baum, 2011, p. 265).

Theory and research on the benefits of grounding

How a body is held in space is seen by grounding experts as a record of life experiences and relationship to the earth, as well as defining personal reality. The degree of grounding changes from moment to moment, such as losing balance physically and psychologically, or being solidly planted and stable. Overall, the body and its grounding tendencies express and reveal emotional knowledge and personal records from life (Englehard, Pitluk & Elboim-Gabyzon, 2021). Likewise, healthy grounding is thought to aid in the regulation of emotions, emotional awareness and global functioning.

Research literature finds that grounding techniques are used by body psychotherapy and dance movement therapists to treat depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and somatoform disorders. In one study, compared to controls, depressed patients showed improvement when using grounding techniques with bioenergetic analysis. In another study, somatoform patients showed reduced anxiety, depression and better regulated anger intensity compared to controls receiving physical exercise classes (Englehard, Pitluk & Elboim-Gabyzon, 2021).

In an effort to objectively measure grounding, the Grounding Assessment Tool (GAT) (Englehard, Pitluk & Elboim-Gabyzon, 2021), was created as a reliable and valid measurement for assessment, research and clinical applications, based on a healthy adult population. The GAT is a 13 item, 10-minute observation method which measures four factors related to grounding: fluid and rhythmic movement, emotional expression in movement, pattern of foot placement, lack of stability and weightiness. There is no need for verbal interaction between the rater and the subject, nor any physical measurement tools.

How to ground

According to Lowen, when a person is standing with the body’s muscles relaxed without tension, an energetic flow and discharge of energy into the ground is made possible. The movement is thought to behave like the swing of a pendulum, or pulsating wave which flows from the body. In turn, the body responds to the ground with degrees of support, balance and rooting, similar to a tree or plant.

Grounding is perceived as a bi-directional communication, extending from the head through the pelvis and down through the feet into the ground, as well as from the ground up through the body to the head. This circular process has emotional and physical components aimed to increase the flow of movement. The legs and feet hold the energy of foundation and support for the ego structure, allowing for emotional stability (deTord & Brauninger, 2015).

Grounding techniques have been developing using breath work, bodily sound production, awareness of boundaries in and around the body, and somatic experiences such as providing force from the foot to the floor. If there are experiences of disorientation, confusion, or forgetfulness, these may be alleviated or lessened by becoming aware of the surface of the floor or ground and by deliberately moving upon it.

There are several types of grounding

1. Gentle upright grounding

· Deliberately moving the body by bouncing on heels

· Walking or standing barefoot

· Standing with knees slightly bent.

2. Active grounding

· Jumping, bending, or transferring weight from one leg to the other

· Weeding

· Planting vegetation and flowers

3. Passive grounding

· Standing relatively still while gently swaying

· Lying prone on the earth

· Lying on a large flat stone, boulder or rock

4. Non-movement based grounding

· Directing the breath into the earth

· Visualizing energy from head to earth and back up through the spine

How grounding relates to energy practices

Energy practices universally recognize the vital role of grounding, often teaching this practice as foundational for beginning students. Even among adepts, when out of balance, a common question asked of the person is, “Are you grounded?” Although each energy practice tradition has its own set of theories about how grounding works, similar techniques are found across many traditions. Breathwork, imagery, physical touch, words and concepts link the human system to the ground of being.

The Chinese medicine system

The Chinese medicine system views grounding as a whole body, mind and spirit endeavor. It places supreme influence upon the central and governing meridians, or energy pathways which connect the front and back sides of the body, and interpenetrate the internal organs, sending messages to the entire body. When central and governing meridians are connected and stable, energy flows are able to communicate optimally, like when a battery is connected, with negative and positive charges engaged with one another.

Energy grounding practices which connect the central and governing meridians are like placing a phone call between two parties so they can converse and exchange information. These energy medicine, acupressure-based techniques tell the body to pay attention to the two main meridians. Here are some practices you can use.

· Place the tip of your tongue on the roof of your mouth behind the teeth while breathing
· Tap a finger below your nose above your upper lip, and another finger below your lower lip on the chin.
· Gently tapping on the ridge of your eye socket, directly under the pupil of each eye, on the occipital ridge, activates the stomach meridian.

Energy is sent from the head through the body and legs into the earth, creating a stable ground. Not only is physical grounding achieved, but clarity of mental state, emotional balance, and spiritual guidance are more easily accessed. Not all people will feel grounded at once using these methods, but with practice over time, a subtle message is sent to the mind and body to keep these pathways open and engaged. This makes it more likely that grounding can happen.

The Ayurvedic system from ancient India
The Ayurvedic system from ancient India points to the chakras, or wheels in Sanskrit, as the storehouses of energy and information associated with glands and organs, connecting the internal and external realities with the physical and subtle layers of life. To be grounded in the root chakra, at the base of the spine or perineum, places a personal identity within the frame of the earth and ground. There are also chakras in the feet which are designed to fit like a hand in a glove with earth energies.

Here's a practice you can use.

· Whether standing or seated, deep breathing and mental focus of healthy energy flowing from the root and feet into the earth and from the earth back to the feet and root may enhance the grounding experience.

Many energy practices utilize the notion of manifestation, or creating reality, which is brought to life when intention, focus, and outcome are wedded to positive emotional states. Spoken or imagined words create reality, activating the throat chakra based in communication, and the third eye chakra, seeing future possibility. The crown chakra opens to the universe, allowing for divine guidance, even as focus is placed on the root and feet.

Your grounding practice

Try using some of the practices outlined above and see which works best for you. You can also combine them with statements of affirmations, or use affirmations by themselves.

Here are some affirmations you can try.

· “I am grounded.”

· “I am optimally connected to the earth.”

· “Grounding happens naturally and gracefully for me.”

Energy psychology practices often combine such statements while tapping with acupressure on endpoints of meridians or activating and clearing chakras to achieve desired states.

If objections or obstacles arise when thinking about grounding, explore further to see what lessons they bring. If challenges to becoming grounded seem fruitless or impossible, or lack of grounding is leading to serious symptoms, seek out professional guidance, as there may be important reasons to consider, identify and treat the core of why consistent grounding is elusive.

No matter where you start, or which approaches you use, find a way to ground each day. In the morning before you put your feet down on the ground, take a moment to establish your relationship with the earth and your clear intentions for the day. You can do the same as you go to bed at night, offering gratitude for the grounding you received during the day. By staying present in the here and now you can more deeply capture the vastness of life, and be available from the fullness of who you are to interact with what arises.

Want to learn more?

Access this free guide about clearing blocks with energy psychology. You can customize it for removing blocks to grounding.

Find an energy psychology practitioner who can help you from ACEP’s website.

Author

Lori Chortkoff Hops, PhD, DCEP is a licensed psychologist in Westlake Village, California, USA. She is certified in Comprehensive Energy Psychology and Logosynthesis. Lori is president of ACEP ( www.energypsych.org ), and is a Reiki master. Learn more about Lori at www.drlorihops.com . Lori teaches online developing intuition classes and offers personal intuition consultation.

Photo by PNW Production

Research on Integrative Therapies and Cancer Survivorship

Fri, 16 Sep 2022 03:43:46 GMT

A study by Terri Crudup and her colleagues was published by the online Journal of Oncology in January of 2022. The study examined the relationship between patient survival and the treating hospitals’ use of integrative therapies. While some studies have looked at the subjective wellbeing of patients using some of these therapies, this study is the first to look at institutional endorsement of integrative therapies and patient survivorship.

In this study, patients in hospitals that had low- to mid-level use of integrative therapies had triple the 5-year survivorship of those treated at institutions that had low level use of integrative therapies. Significantly, patients treated in hospitals with high levels of integrative therapies had a 48% increase in 5-year survivorship.

The theory

A cancer diagnosis impacts the whole person, affecting not just physical wellbeing. It also creates a cascade of emotional and mental health correlates, and often prompts a spiritual crisis. It makes sense, then, that integrative therapies are popular among cancer patients. Integrative therapy is the term used for the combination of complementary and lifestyle therapies with conventional medical treatment.

Some of the most popular integrative approaches include nutrition counseling, exercise counseling, massage therapy and support groups. Others include meditation, biofield therapies, and physical practices like yoga and chi gong. However, without institutional involvement, these therapies are difficult for patients to find and to afford. Patient demand alone might not be enough to enroll other hospitals into the integrative world – but research like this might.

The study setup

Participants : The study included 172 patients, treated by 103 oncologists from 103 institutions. All patients were adult women who had been treated for breast cancer in 2013 and 2014. Median age was 51. Eight percent had metastatic disease.

Scoring system for institutional involvement in integrative therapies: The researchers identified 12 therapies that are popular among breast cancer patients, listed below. Then they questioned providers about their institutional involvement on three metrics:

1. First, educate: increase patient knowledge of integrative therapy

2. Secondly, support: recommend, provide access to integrative therapy

3. Thirdly, provide: institution covers partial or full cost of integrative therapy

Integrative therapies included in the study

Nutrition consultation or program
Exercise consultation or program
Patient support groups or patient-survivor pairing
Spiritual services
Psycho-oncology support
Massage therapy
Meditation or mindfulness
Yoga
Acupuncture or acupressure
Music or art therapy
Reiki, Healing Touch, Therapeutic Touch
Tai chi or chi gong

Study results

As noted in the beginning of this article, patients in hospitals that had just a low- to mid-level use of integrative therapies had triple the 5-year survivorship of those treated at institutions that had low involvement of integrative therapies. This was based on multivariate analysis (see below). Here is the breakdown:

5-year survivorship by level of institutional involvement

low cohort: 89%
low-mid cohort: 96%
mid-high cohort: 96%
high cohort: 95%

Considering other factors (multivariate modeling)

Increased odds of 5-year survivorship include:

An older age at diagnosis (66–76),
Having a PPO insurance plan,
Being treated in an academic setting, and
Being treated by an institution with a low-mid or mid-high integrative involvement score.

Of note

You may have noticed that the increase in survivorship among patients of hospitals with low- to mid-level involvement with integrative therapies was quite high. In contrast, the incremental benefit for patients treated at institutions with high-level involvement was relatively low. The authors not that this might be due to increased illness among people seeking treatment centers that offer these services.

Also, interestingly, a 2018 study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that people who used alternative therapies had worse outcomes than those who followed conventional medical practices. Alternative medicine is exactly that: an alternative to the conventional practice. The current study is quite different in that this examined the integrative model.

Why this study matters

This study adds to the growing body of evidence supporting the use of integrative therapies. These therapies offer a sense of safety and increase wellbeing among patients. However, they are more than feel-good therapies. The results of this study suggest that in fact, they impact survivorship.

Author

Sean Oulashin on Unsplash

Try This Next Time You Feel Overwhelmed.

Wed, 07 Sep 2022 15:53:00 GMT

If you want to learn a fast way to deal with overwhelm, you’re in the right place. This blog teaches you an easy tool you can use right now to help you release feelings of overwhelm.

Next time you feel overwhelmed, try bouncing up and down on the balls of your feet. You can also sit in a chair and massage your heel and ankle areas. The Heel Shock Release is a simple body-based technique that will help you get out of your overwhelm and back in your body. The technique comes to us from Donna Eden . Practice the technique right now by watching the video below and following along. You can also download written instructions in English , Spanish , and Portuguese .

How it Works

Why It Works

If you haven’t given the Heel Shock Release a try yet, do it now. Take notice of how your body feels both before and after you use the technique. This technique is just one of many you can use to increase the flow of energy and feel more grounded.

More Techniques to Release Overwhelm

If you found the Heel Shock Release helpful, here are a few more tools you can use to increase your energy and discharge feelings of overwhelm: Four Thumps and Thymus Thump . All of the videos and techniques in our "Try This" series were created by ACEP's Humanitarian Committee in order to help people heal by spreading the word about the powerful effects of energy psychology techniques. We invite you to help by sharing this information!

Need Help From a Professional?

Author: Sarah Murphy, LPC

Video Resources Provided by the ACEP Humanitarian Committee

Photo by Elisa Ventura on unsplash

Is there scientific evidence for the chakras?

Thu, 01 Sep 2022 01:45:14 GMT

Margaret Moda conducted a review of the research on the anatomical and physiological evidence of the chakras. Her study was published in the April 2022 issue of the International Journal of Healing and Caring. After reviewing the literature on the evidence of the chakras, Moda concluded that there is some evidence that chakras emit electromagnetic radiation and have possible anatomical correlates. There is, indeed, some scientific evidence for the chakras!

The theory

The idea of chakras stems from ancient Eastern traditions and has become increasingly popular in the West. The popularity of the concept mirrors that of the meridians – born in the East, gaining traction in the West. There is some scientific evidence supporting the meridians. In this study, Moda sought to examine the evidence for the chakras based on electromagnetic radiation or anatomical correlates.

The study setup

Moda searched databases for studies on the anatomical and physiological studies of the chakras. She excluded papers on theory or intuitive descriptions and expanded her search to include books containing scientific studies. Thus, sixteen studies met the search criteria.

Study results find evidence for the chakras

Moda grouped her results in two categories: anatomical studies and physiological studies.

Anatomical Studies

Two studies found that the chakras align with known nerve plexuses:

Rokade (2017) found a plexus of nerves near the location of the purported heart chakra.

Sweta and colleagues (2018) found a plexus of nerves near the location of the purported base or root charka.

Physiological Studies

Several studies found electromagnetic emissions from the chakras:

One study by Motoyama (1981) used a magnetometer, copper wire and photoelectric cells. When the subjects activated a chakra, the photoelectric cells emitted a faint light and the copper electrode detected high-frequency oscillations.
Hunt used an electromyograph (EMG) (1977, 1986). She detected wave forms and frequency bands from 100 Hz to 1 KHz, corresponding to various colors, in the area of the chakras. Further, she found that, as the subjects activated or "opened" a chakra, the frequency increased. In 1997, Wirth and colleagues attempted to replicate the findings and did, but others have questioned their research.
Rewold and Husen (2020) used electrodes to measure frequencies above 200Hz in a group of biofield practitioners and university students. In both groups, the frequency bands matched what Hunt had found. Additionally, the frequency band power was higher among the biofield practitioners than the students.
Jalil et al (2015) used radiofrequency meters with dipole whip antennas to detect electromagnetic radiation from the chakra locations in young healthy subjects. They found that each chakra emits a particular band of frequencies. Interestingly, their findings (chakras emit frequencies of 29 MHz – 86 MHz) matches the overall frequency of the human electromagnetic field of about 53 MHz.

In each case, there were measurable electromagnetic emissions from the chakras.

Why this study on the evidence for chakras matters

This study adds to our understanding of the human electromagnetic field and rounds up some evidence for the chakras. While many Westerners remain skeptical of the meridians, chakras, and biofield, these concepts are aligned with what we know about physics. Humans have electromagnetic energy and bioelectric fields.

Get involved!

There are many ways for you to participate in ACEP's mission. If you would like to learn more about the chakras, check out ACEP’s upcoming Comprehensive Energy Psychology course !

In order to support research, consider making a donation .

Finally, if you would like to get involved with ACEP, join a committee !

Author

Learn more at www.transformative-therapy.com .

Can Energy Psychology Help with Mindfulness?

Thu, 25 Aug 2022 14:36:34 GMT

The practice of mindfulness meditation is becoming very popular. However, many people find it difficult to start or stay with the practice. Energy psychology practices might help. ACEP founding member and past president Fred Gallo, with his colleagues Bhikkhu Anālayo, Christiane Steffens‑Dhaussy, and Dawn Scott recently published a paper exploring the relationship between mindfulness and the energy practices used in energy psychology. You can find their interesting and insightful article, Energy Practices and Mindfulness , in the June 2022 edition of the online open-access journal Mindfulness. They help answer the question, can energy psychology help with mindfulness.

The roots and reach of mindfulness

The practice of mindfulness is central to Buddhism. Indeed, Jon Kabat-Zinn, creator of MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction), states that MBSR was influenced by his study of vipassana. Vipassana is the traditional meditation practice of Theravada Buddhism. Recently, mindfulness has become the most common form of meditation practice in the US. Mindfulness has permeated other disciplines such as yoga, martial arts and psychotherapy.

The article begins with a discussion the Western concept of energy. It goes on to distinguish it from the Chinese idea of qi and the ancient Greek pneuma, as well as the Chinese and Tibetan concepts of wind. Then follows a discussion of the benefits of qi gong and tai chi and the impact of mindfulness practices on the body’s energy system.

Can energy psychology help with mindfulness?

The practice of vipassana as taught by Buddhist master S. N. Goenka can lead to somatic experiences. This makes sense because this form of mindfulness stimulates the flow of qi. According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), people can experience physical, emotional, and mental problems when their energy is out of balance – whether too high, too low, or even completely blocked.

Stimulating specific acupoints on the impaired meridian/s brings the bodymind back into balance, and the symptoms often clear up. Energy psychology differs from other traditional techniques because it does not use needles or massage, and because it treats primarily mental and emotional symptoms.

Meridian-oriented energy psychology methods, such as EFT, TFT, and TTT, address and reduce or eliminate symptoms of trauma, anxiety, and other mental health issues by combining Western psychology with Eastern-influenced stimulation of meridian points.

Buddhism’s five hindrances correspond to today’s understanding of psychology

The authors also discuss the Buddhist concept of the “five hindrances.” This refers to a particular set of mental conditions that prevent people from feeling peaceful and thinking clearly. Clearing up or overcoming the hindrances allow practitioners to develop their meditation practices and their education in general.

These hindrances are:

Sensual desire
Anger or irritation
Sloth, or laziness
Restlessness and worry
Doubt

Buddhists believe that overcoming the five hindrances is an indispensable requirement for being able to cultivate mental tranquility as well as liberating insight.

Clearing the hindrances

The authors discuss several possible meridian-based treatments to address each of the hindrances. A sampling of their suggestions include:

To address overstimulation of sensual desire, stimulate the stomach meridian and kidney meridian by tapping below your eye (stomach 1 point) and below your clavicle (kidney 27 point).
To address anger and irritation, you can hold your wrist, and stimulate several points on the pericardium, small intestine, and heart and lung meridians.
To address laziness, use the Thymus Thump.
To address restlessness and worry, you can use Frontal Occipital Holding or the ESR (Emotional Stress Release) techniques.
To address doubt, you can try Cook’s Hookup.

In every case, these techniques demonstrate how energy psychology can help with mindfulness. You can view illustrations ang get detailed instructions in their article.

Protection

In addition to the tips listed above, the article suggests techniques for energetic protection.

This protection can be important for clinicians, who often work with clients who are experiencing a variety of mental and emotional upsets, as well as for anyone who interacts with other human beings, who often experience a variety of mental and emotional upsets. Among these techniques for protection are the “second skin,” the “invisible cloak,” and the “zip up.” The article provides detailed instruction on how to do these.

Learn more

If you would like to learn more about the human energy field, consider signing up for ACEP’s new-and-improved Comprehensive Energy Psychology training, coming in the summer of 2023!

Want to go deep into learning one meridian-based energy psychology method? Check out ACEP's Emotional Freedom Techniques Professional Skills 1 training.

To follow research on energy psychology, email John Freedom and ask to be added to the EP Research email list. And make sure to check out the research section on this web site.

Anālayo, B., Steffens-Dhaussy, C., Gallo, F. et al.(2022). Energy Practices and Mindfulness Meditation. Mindfulness. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-022-01923-6

Authors

John Freedom, CEHP, serves as the chair of ACEP’s research committee, on the Board of Trustees of EFT International, and as executive director of FREA: Finding Recovery and Empowerment from Abuse. The author of Heal Yourself with Emotional Freedom Technique, he leads trainings and events throughout the US and in Europe.

Sarah Murphy, NCC, LPC, serves on ACEP’s board and as the chair of ACEP’s communications committee. She has a private counseling practice . She also works as staff counselor for Unite for HER , where she provides counseling for clients who have cancer.

Photo by Lina Trochez on Unsplash .

Need to chill out? Try this.

Sat, 20 Aug 2022 04:13:41 GMT

If you’re keyed up and want to learn how to relax, read on! This blog teaches you an easy tool you can use right now to help you r e l a x.

One of the fastest and most effective ways to get control of our nervous system is to get control of our breath. The Calm Breathing technique is a formula that will help you get calm fast the next time you are too tense. Practice the technique right now by watching the video below and following along. You can also download written instructions in English , Spanish , and Portuguese .

How it works

Take a sharp, deep breath in through the nose. Hold for a couple of seconds, then let the breath out slowly, with a sigh.

Why It Works

Breathing is something that we do all day long without thinking of it, yet we can also control our breathing consciously. When we practice Calm Breathing , we use our breathing to get control over our nervous system. When we slow down our breathing, we slow down our brainwaves. This can help us get out of anxious high-beta wave frequency and into calm alpha waves.

More Techniques to Feel Better Fast

If you found Calm Breathing helpful, here are a few more tools you can try next time you need to relax: Soothing Butterfly Hug , Simplified Self-Havening , and Calming Hug . All of the videos and techniques in our "Try This" series were created by ACEP's Humanitarian Committee in order to help people heal by spreading the word about the powerful effects of energy psychology techniques. We invite you to help by sharing this information!

Need Help from a Professional?

Many people are experiencing stress and distress, while seeking alternatives to pharmaceuticals. ACEP is a nonprofit, 501c3 dedicated to the research, education, and sharing of energy psychology. Check out the ACEP practitioner directory to find a certified ACEP therapist in your area or online.

Author: Sarah Murphy, LPC

Video Resources Provided by the ACEP Humanitarian Committee

Photo by Omid Armin on unsplash

New Research on AIT (Advanced Integrative Therapy)

Fri, 12 Aug 2022 18:25:06 GMT

A pilot study by Gregory Brown and colleagues and published in the journal Energy Psychology looked at using Advanced Integrative Therapy, or AIT, to clear negative emotions related to past trauma. This is the first formal academic research on AIT!

The study, Therapists’ Observations in Reduction of Unpleasant Emotions Following Advanced Integrative Therapy Interventions, found that the subjective units of distress (SUD) decreased from an average of 8.3 out of ten down to a zero or one, in just one session of AIT.

The theory of AIT

Research on energy psychology techniques has grown over the past decades, with most studies focused on meridian tapping treatments like Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) or Thought Field Therapy (TFT). AIT is a chakra- and language-based technique. This pilot study is the first to explore the effectiveness of AIT.

In AIT, the theory is that when we have longstanding patterns of negative emotions, they usually stem from an originating event, probably during childhood. Then the negative pattern is entrenched by some reinforcing events. All that leads up to present-day suffering.

In order to clear these patterns and the suffering they cause, clinicians guide clients in creating statements about the problem. Then, they repeat the problem statement while placing their hands on various points that correspond to the major chakras, down the midline of the body. By going through this process, the problem becomes deactivated, and the subjective distress is resolved.

The study setup

The pilot study was a cross-sectional survey design using clinician data and observation. All participating clinicians were experienced or expert in using AIT. These clinicians, from all around the world, completed a 17-question web-based questionnaire. The questionnaire assessed SUDs, somatic sensation, and emotion.

Results of this research

There were 76 completed surveys included in the study. Participating clinicians were physicians and licensed mental health providers. They used their charts to complete the survey questions.

Emotions addressed included anxiety, sadness, fear, anger, shame, and helplessness. Seventy-seven percent of cases worked on patterns rather than single events. Seventy-five percent of the issues addressed were chronic.

Because of the nature of the study, it is not possible to determine causation. However, the clinicians reported a drop in SUDs from 8.3 to 0 or 1 in 92% of cases.

Why this study matters

This study does not allow us to draw big conclusions about cause-and-effect. However, clinicians reported an impressive drop in the SUD rating after just one “round” or treatment with AIT. The results seem to warrant further investigation. The results are an auspicious beginning to research on AIT. We can consider this a “win” for AIT and for energy psychology!

Want to learn more?

You can keep tabs on research about energy psychology by following our research page . Interested in taking a deeper dive into energy psychology? We will launch our Comprehensive Energy Psychology course next summer! Or you can sign up for our Emotional Freedom Techniques Professional Skills training now.

Author

Sarah Murphy, NCC, LPC, serves on ACEP’s board and as the chair of ACEP’s communications committee. She has a private practice . Sarah also works as staff counselor for Unite for HER , where she provides counseling for clients who have cancer.

Photo by Ashley Batz on Unsplash

Clearing the Shadow of Gratitude

Wed, 03 Aug 2022 17:29:19 GMT

“You’ll never meet a happy ungrateful person, or an unhappy grateful person because gratitude and happiness go together.” ― Zig Ziglar

“It is impossible to bring more abundance into your life if you are feeling ungrateful about what you already have. Why? Because the thoughts and feelings you emit as you feel ungrateful are negative emotions and they will attract more of those feelings and events into your life.” ― Vishen Lakhiani

“I’d love to be grateful, if only I had a reason.” – Anonymous client

Gratitude is heralded as a universal human virtue, a foundation of happiness and peaceful living. Families desire to raise grateful children, businesses aim to have grateful workers and customers, and religious practices in many languages are rich with prayers of gratitude. Although the concept of gratitude is simple to understand, it can be challenging to express sincere gratitude practices on a daily basis. Often unacknowledged are dynamics which can block gratitude from being experienced and shared. The shadow of gratitude, that which is hidden in the unconscious both personally and collectively, fortunately can be identified and modified, freeing gratitude’s benevolent nature. Then the shadow of gratitude can be cleared with easy-to-follow energy practices and tips, allowing enjoyment of gratitude’s gifts.

Gratitude defined

Gratitude is defined as a strong feeling of appreciation or gratefulness, often to someone, or something which is done, to help you. We are commonly taught to say thank you when given presents, compliments, or acts of service, and to return a thoughtful kindness with the same type of gesture. Deep appreciation may be shared through tender eye contact, words of thanks, and simply spending quality time together. Gratitude toward nature, essence, the divine, all of humanity or the planet and heavens may be based on internal processes which are not shared with others. Such gratitude has been inspiration for grand literature, art and creativity. No matter the form, the state of gratitude does not just feel good as a passing fancy. Scientific studies have found lasting and positive benefits of gratitude.

Benefits of gratitude

Research suggests gratitude affirms goodness by acknowledging sources of gratitude outside ourselves. Gratitude practices can enhance many aspects of living.

Physically, people are found to have improved sleep, lower blood pressure, prevention of overeating, and improved pain tolerance.
Hormone and brain health are achieved through activating the bliss centers of the brain, enhancing dopamine and serotonin production which are linked to happiness, and regulating stress hormones to reduce anxiety and fear.
Mind and body interface with better managed grief reactions, and improvement of low mood through chemical changes and positive beliefs.
Interpersonally, gratitude practices create greater capacity for forgiveness, and strengthen relationships, both personal and in the workplace.

The shadow of gratitude

If the benefits of gratitude practices are widely documented and seen as helpful by many, why aren’t more people acting and feeling grateful both easily and more often? The unbounded natural sheer joy of gratefulness is often hampered by unacknowledged factors, mostly cultural and familial in origin. Bringing awareness to these inherited and contemporary hidden beliefs can provide a chance to examine them in the light, and then make conscious changes so gratitude can become a cherished habit. You may find some of these common blocks to gratitude in your own life. If so, keep reading for tips to help clear them.

Vulnerability

If you feel your gratitude, you may also recall times you were not grateful, or were disappointed or alone in your gratitude. It may be too painful to remember or experience when gratitude experiences had failed or gratitude was submerged because it was not allowed to be expressed. Such vulnerability may be a deterrent against future gratitude encounters.

Greed

If you are grateful for what you are experiencing, especially if you name it to self or others, you may fear you are cursing the good fortune, and it could be taken away. Likewise, you may be seen as selfish to want more than you have already. It is best to be grateful for what you have, be happy with your lot, even if it does not feel like enough.

Embarrassment

If your gratefulness is especially compelling or profound, you may fear overwhelming yourself or others with your enthusiastic gratefulness. You may be concerned that you would look crazy or weak or foolish if gratefulness pours out of you. Best to keep those feelings inside. Notice how often people apologize when they cry, even with tears of joy?

Jealousy

Your gratitude could make others feel jealous. They may ask, “Why do you have good fortune or happiness and not me? What makes you so special? “ They may try to reverse your good fortune or take away your happiness.

Insincerity

Stating your gratitude to another person could be perceived as insincere. The thought is that your thanks might be suspect, possibly exaggerated or flatly untrue. You could be seen as a fake or phony.

Indebtedness

If you are thanked, maybe there is an expectation that you owe the person a debt in return. Gratitude can be seen as transactional, as in what do you want from me now? Or now I am obliged to return the favor, which can become a burden.

Rejection

Your gratitude may not be received or understood as sent. If I open up to you with my vulnerable gratitude, you may scoff or not understand or be nonchalant. Unrequited love or misunderstandings could be the result.

10 ways to release the shadow of gratitude

How do you manage the risky business of gratitude? Try following these tips to clear the shadow of gratitude, so you can let your heart sing with joy.

Gratitude is your birthright
Embrace your innate capacity to be grateful. We all have gratitude it even if we were not taught how to work with it or share it with others. Childlike abandon of gleeful gratitude is your birthright. The more you make space for it in your life, give it permission to grow, the more it will enhance your daily life.
Protecting yourself is a natural defense
It is okay and normal to squash tender feelings, as we’ve all been burned and encouraged to hide vulnerability as a coping technique. Repeated heartache and disappointment teach people to tuck in their heart’s longings and satisfactions. Stop fighting what is, and know you are not alone in wanting to protect your wounded heart.
Be gentle with your pain
Opening up to gratitude may unearth sorrows and pain. Sincere gratitude may open you to unexplored grief, anger, disconnection, disappointment, frustrations and more. If so, seek help to shore up your reserves so you can be safely witnessed, then able to tolerate painful memories and feelings and beliefs.
Gradually reveal the gems
Once you clear the messiness of pain, there are gems hidden inside. Let them out slowly, with safety and trust, if even addressed to yourself in a letter you later burn, or a voice memo you erase. Don't let the pain stop you from finding your treasure.
Let nature be your teacher
Watch natural spontaneous examples of gratitude in animals and babies as they squeal with joy and abandon when they are happy. Take in what they do, and imitate it: deep eye contact, happy sounds, consensual touch, playfulness, glee.
Find respite in your body
Discover the sensory experiences you are grateful for and explore them, pushing yourself in a good way to tolerate pleasure and happiness. Let your body teach you how to bring gratefulness into the sensory and movement aspects of living, aspects you may have forgotten or buried.
List your bliss
Write detailed gratitude lists, for simple to deep moments. Hold space for the emotional and memory swirls which surface. Review it over time to notice your progress and process.
Clear debris with energy practices
Learn energy practices to release blocks or challenges to gratitude. You can work with self-reflection, or find a practitioner on the ACEP website or other places, who can work with you.
Keep it real with your people
Be ready to have a frank talk with others as you share your gratitude with them. Go slowly, and be brief. And be ready for greater intimacy to ensue, both with joy and sorrow as you open your heart. Allow them to share their gratitude with you. If it feels uncomfortable, keep going as you acclimate to new ways of receiving love.
Share what you know
Often the best way to learn is to teach. Find eager others to share your wisdom and learn from them. Often overlooked are those we spend time with on a daily basis. The more consistent you are with your gratitude practices, the more you and others will benefit.

There are many layers of conditioning in families, society and media to block the freedom of gratitude, despite agreeing that being in gratefulness is a good way to live. Pay attention to habits and traditions covering up gratitude, and instead establish new ways of being thankful. It takes time and attention to create new patterns. You are well on your way simply by noticing asking questions of how you can be grateful for your life.

Want to learn more?

How Gratitude Changes You and your Brain (2017)

https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_gratitude_changes_you_and_your_brain

Gratitude article in Psychology Today

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/gratitude

Article on science of gratitude

https://research.com/education/scientific-benefits-of-gratitude

Access this free guide about clearing blocks with energy psychology . You can customize it for your blocks to gratitude.

Read about using energy practices to remove common blocks in this blog .

Find an energy psychology practitioner who can help you.

Author

Lori Chortkoff Hops, PhD, DCEP, is a licensed psychologist in Westlake Village, California, USA. She is certified in Comprehensive Energy Psychology and Logosynthesis. Lori is president of ACEP ( www.energypsych.org ), and is a Reiki master. Learn more about Lori at www.drlorihops.com .

Shadows of Gratitude

Lori Hops

To be thankful and grateful may open Pandora's box

Instead of "Yes, it's true!" you may receive lots

of reasons your seasons once fine, turned to ruin

for all of the misgivings and misaligned feelings

that others can't share your internal knowings.

To thank what is, could peel back layers of grief,

unrequited love, misunderstood belief.

Better to be silent, to hold it all in,

than harm a heart heavy with love unspoken.

Else it explodes into rivers of brightly held dreams

creating tsunamis of thankfulness schemes.

Best to live life releasing love through all altitude

to avoid mass causalities from an avalanche of gratitude.

From A Tip a Day for Wellness and Inspiration

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lori.hops

www.drlorihops.com

Try this the next time you feel anxious or afraid

Tue, 05 Jul 2022 11:00:00 GMT

If you want to learn how to feel better fast next time you're upset, you have come to the right place. This blog teaches you an easy tool you can use to help you feel connected and safe.

One of the fastest and most effective ways to restore a sense of safety is to give yourself a calming hug. This simple body-based technique helps your body feel calm, centered, and grounded by harmonizing the spleen and triple-warmer meridians. Best of all, you could do this in public, and nobody would notice! Practice the technique right now by watching the video below and following along. You can also download written instructions in English , Spanish , and Portuguese .

How it Works

It's so simple to do! Cross your arms over your chest, with one hand resting on the side of your chest in the area of a bra strap, and the other resting above your opposite elbow. Hold for a minute, and switch sides.

Why It Works

The calming hug is an energy psychology technique that helps your body balance the yin and yang energies that flow along your triple warmer (that's the hand above the elbow) and spleen (that's the hand in the bra strap area) meridians. This allows you to feel calm and grounded. The technique is also helpful if you are having trouble focusing.

If you haven’t given the Calming Hug a try yet, do it now. Take notice of how your body feels both before and after you use the technique. This technique is just one of many body-based techniques you can use whenever you feel scared or anxious.

More Techniques to Feel Better Fast

If you found the Calming Hug helpful, here are a few more tools you can use next time you feel scared or anxious: Simplified Self-Havening , the Soothing Butterfly Hug , and Calm Breathing . All of the videos and techniques in our "Try This" series were created by ACEP's Humanitarian Committee in order to help people heal by spreading the word about the powerful effects of energy psychology techniques. We invite you to help by sharing this information!

Need Help From a Professional?

Many people are seeking alternatives to pharmaceuticals while they strive to maximize their wellbeing and deal with things like anxiety and fear. ACEP is a nonprofit, 501c3 dedicated to the research, education, and sharing of energy psychology. Check out the ACEP practitioner directory to find a certified ACEP therapist in your area or online.

Author: Sarah Murphy, LPC

Video Resources Provided by the ACEP Humanitarian Committee

Photo by Kevin Valerio on pexels

The Research on Biofield Therapy for Fatigue in Cancer Patients

Tue, 28 Jun 2022 20:21:24 GMT

A study by Shamini Jain that was published in the journal Cancer in 2012 looked at biofield therapy to address fatigue in cancer patients. They found biofield therapy significantly reduced fatigue (p<.0005; that means there is less than a 5 in 10,000 chance that the difference was not because of the therapy).

The theory

Jain and her team noted that fatigue is one of the most common and debilitating complaints of people with cancer. Additionally, they noted that biofield therapy (treatments like Reiki and Healing Touch) are popular among cancer patients, but there is little research about the effectiveness of these therapies. They wondered if biofield therapy could be helpful for fatigue in cancer patients. This study was a follow-up to Jain’s published dissertation, which we blogged about in March 2022.

The study setup

The study was a blinded, randomized, controlled study. Participants were adult, female breast cancer survivors. Participants used RAND 36-Question Health Survey. Those scoring below 50 on the assessment qualified for participation.

Study conditions were biofield therapy, mock therapy, and a waitlist control group. Researchers offered participants in the mock and waitlist groups five biofield therapy sessions. Over the course of four weeks, patients received eight hourlong treatments of biofield therapy or mock healing.

Measures

Fatigue: The primary outcome researchers assessed was fatigue, measured by the Multidimensional Fatigue Symptom Inventory – Short Form.

Cortisol variability: Researchers also examined diurnal cortisol variability, assessed by cortisol slope. Salivary cortisol levels were measured. Participants took saliva samples in the morning, at noon, at 5:00 and at 9:00.

Other psychological outcomes: The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale-revised measured depression. The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B) measured quality of life. Researchers also assessed patients’ belief in the therapy to see how much belief affected results.

Study results

Belief: Patients in the real and mock healing groups were not good at guessing what treatment they received: in both groups, 75% of patients thought they were receiving the real healing.

Fatigue: The biofield healing group received a tremendous reduction in fatigue, as mentioned. The mock healing group also received a statistically significant reduction in healing (p<.02).

Cortisol: The biofield group had a significant change in cortisol variability compared to both the mock healing and control groups (p<.04).

Quality of life: While belief did not predict fatigue or cortisol variability, it did predict quality of life. Patients who believed they were receiving healing experienced a greater quality of life; belief itself was more a predictor than treatment (p=.004).

Depression: There was no difference in depression scores after treatment in either treatment group (biofield or mock therapy).

How much of the reduction was because of rest?

Both biofield and mock healing groups experienced reduced fatigue, which indicates that part of the benefit may come from factors outside the biofield therapy itself. Both groups had a chance to rest twice a week for an hour at a time during the study. It is possible that basic human touch and clinical interaction also contributed to the fatigue reduction.

However, the difference between the biofield and the mock group was large. The biofield group received a larger effect size in reduction of total fatigue, as well as on the physical and mental fatigue subsets.

Why this study matters

Biofield therapies are increasingly popular and have gained traction in the cancer community. However, the research supporting these therapies has not grown as quickly as their popularity warrants. This study adds to the research supporting biofield therapy as an adjuvant therapy for cancer.

If you like reading about research in the field of energy psychology, follow our blog and check out the research section of our web site. If you want to contribute to the research, please do! ACEP has partnered with Peta Stapleton of Bond University to collect data on various energy psychology modalities. You can read more about it here .

Shamini Jain is a clinical psychologist, scientist, and founder and CEO of the Consciousness and Healing Initiative (CHI) , a nonprofit connecting scientists, health practitioners, innovators, and social entrepreneurs to advance the science and practice of healing. She is a leader in the field of consciousness, biofield therapy, and healing. Jain is the author of Healing Ourselves: Biofield Science and the Future of Health .

Author

Sarah Murphy, LPC, NCC is a clinician in private practice. She also serves as staff therapist for Unite for HER. Sarah serves on the board and chairs the communications committee of ACEP. She loves blogging about research.

Photo by Mel Elías on Unsplash

Six Ways to Implement What You Learned at a Conference

Thu, 16 Jun 2022 16:00:06 GMT

The 24 ^th International Energy Psychology conference was a fabulous success, with a blend of engaging keynote speakers, invited presenters, and learning labs. There was a lot of information crammed into just a few short days. The conference was more a sprint than a marathon! And it’s easy to forget things that we learned fast. How do we prevent that from happening? How can we remember and implement what we learned at the conference? Here are six ideas that can help:

1. Prioritize

Take some time to reflect on the conference and decide what, of all the great information, was important to you. Maybe you were impressed by the growing research base of the various tapping tools like EFT and TFT. Maybe you were inspired by chakra-related tools like AIT, which was featured at the research symposium. Maybe it was blending the Eastern and Western paradigms that really hit home with you. Or perhaps you enjoyed mingling with other like-minded practitioners, realizing that you are not the only one who enjoys energy psychology approaches!

2. Start with you

Take the lessons you learned and make them real by applying them to yourself. Did you enjoy the tapping sessions? Do your tapping every day! Did you enjoy learning about the chakras? Keep learning and explore moving your own energy. Did you love the blending of meditation and energy psychology practices that Dawson Church talked about? Make the commitment to do your daily practice.

3. Share with peers

One of the best ways to learn is to teach. So, teach your peers what you learned! Ask to host a roundtable if you work in a group practice or host a get-together of other clinicians if you are in solo practice. Share what you learned, being clear about where your expertise is lacking but honing your understanding of the principles of energy psychology.

4. Use the techniques with your clients

If you have taken extended training in these modalities but got out of the habit of using them in session, review your training materials and get back to practice.

5. Dive deeper

If you were impressed and excited about energy psychology, consider signing up for more training. ACEP offers training on EFT and our revamped, hybrid Comprehensive Energy Psychology training is coming in 2023! Plus, ACEP has other wonderful online trainings. Check out ACEP's training catalogue .

6. Stay connected

You may have exchanged emails or social media contact with new people at the conference. Stay in touch! These are your people. And it’s by staying in touch that we create community.

These six ideas can help you retain what you learned at the conference. What ideas to you have to keep your learning alive? We’d love to hear from you!

Author

Sarah Murphy, LPC, is a licensed professional counselor and coach with more than 12 years of clinical experience. She specializes in energy psychology, including EFT, as well as mindfulness and hypnotherapy. In her therapy practice, she works with individuals seeking to find peace within themselves, people who have serious medical diagnoses, and couples who want to resolve conflict and live in harmony. Sarah's personal motto is that we are here to create a more peaceful world, one more-peaceful person at a time. She is an ACEP Board member and chair of the Communications Committee. Learn more at www.transformative-therapy.com .

The People of Energy Psychology: Meet Robin Trainor

Thu, 09 Jun 2022 19:37:38 GMT

Robin Trainor was an early adopter of energy psychology (EP) techniques. In fact, she presented at one of ACEP’s first conferences. She has worked with people in recovery from addictions, most of whom had underlying trauma, for more than 40 years. Robin, with a group of deeply talented clinicians and researchers, started a nonprofit, FREA . This organization serves those who survived sexual violence. You can read our blog about FREA here . Robin continues to use EP to help people in need in her therapy practice and beyond!

Meet our hero: Robin Trainor

Robin specializes in working with clients in recovery. Through that work, she noted that most of her clients had a lot of childhood trauma. She put together a support group for adult children of alcoholics. Most participants in this group enjoyed the interaction and bonded with their peers. However, there was a segment that did not want to spend time with the group and did not enjoy the social interaction. These people, it turned out, were survivors of sexual abuse.

Before energy psychology: Clients in need, therapist in need

Because there was a clear need for help, but the current group model did not suit them, Robin decided that this population needed a group for themselves. The problem was that there was no structure for this; no research pointed in the right direction; no roadmap had been drawn for survivors of sexual abuse. “I prayed,” she said, “understanding that although I did not know what to do, the power that created us does know what to do.” The best way forward, she decided, was to let the group evolve, and trust.

Before finding energy psychology, EFT and EMDR, Robin said, she had a thriving practice, focusing on trauma, with a caseload of 40 clients and nine clinicians working for her. However, much as she applied the best of clinical skills, people really did not get better. “I didn’t realize how compromised I’d become,” she said. It was the inability to get results that was depleting her.

The “new” tool that changed all that

Energy psychology tools changed all that. Robin was an early adopter of EMDR and energy psychology practices. At her first ACEP conference, she met Gary Craig. The first time she did EFT, it made a radical difference in her life. She was so struck by the power of this technique, that while her friends went to dinner, Robin stayed in her room to tap away long-held issues.

Robin invited Gary Craig to do a training in her area. “People thought we were weird. Which we were,” she laughs. Robin became passionate about learning energy techniques. She found that these tools made a huge difference in ongoing recovery. She was energized and excited about her work in her therapy practice, where her clients were making so much progress.

Bolstered by this success and seeing the tremendous need, Robin was also led to create – with a dedicated group of likeminded practitioners – a nonprofit volunteer organization, FREA (Freedom, Recovery, and Empowerment from Abuse). FREA is dedicated to sharing these powerful EP tools throughout the US and beyond, moving from a one-to-one to a one-to-many therapy model.

Results

At a spiritual retreat in Mexico, Robin met Barbara (name changed for privacy). Barbara shared that she had been gang raped ten years earlier; the rage she felt was eating her up and ruining her life. She could not forgive her assailants, and her life was getting worse.

Robin asked her if she wanted to clear this trauma. Barbara, who had tried almost everything, was skeptical but willing. The two found a space in hotel and got to work. At the beginning, Barbara said her distress was a 10 on a 10-scale. After tapping for about ten minutes, it reduced to zero. Then Robin led Barbara through the Tell the Story Technique. After about 45 minutes, Barbara could tell the story with no charge at all.

A year later, these results held.

Looking ahead

Today, Robin is semi-retired and working with FREA. Her vision for her future is to see her motivated, inspiring clients, and to shepherd FREA to provide the structure and ability to train domestic abuse shelters and rape crisis centers, primarily “care for the caregiver” and “train the trainer” to help share EP with those in need. The vision is to train the staff of these centers to offer EP to their clients. Her favorite emergency self-care tool is the Butterfly hug , which provides quick relief for people with anxiety or experiencing trauma.

Feel inspired?

Robin was using EP techniques before they started making inroads toward the mainstream. We are still working in that direction! Her story might inspire us to push beyond the limits of our comfort zones, and to provide healing tools to people in need. If you want to learn more about energy psychology, sign up for ACEP’s training , or get certified.

Author

Sarah Murphy, LPC, is a licensed professional counselor and coach with more than 12 years of clinical experience. She specializes in energy psychology, including EFT, as well as mindfulness and hypnotherapy. In her therapy practice, she works with individuals seeking to find peace within themselves, people who have serious medical diagnoses, and couples who want to resolve conflict and live in harmony. Sarah's personal motto is that we are here to create a more peaceful world, one more-peaceful person at a time. She is an ACEP Board member and chair of the Communications Committee. Learn more at www.transformative-therapy.com .

Energy psychology delivers quality results around the world, even in places with few mental health resources

Fri, 03 Jun 2022 15:52:26 GMT

War, disaster, poverty: energy psychology delivers results

There is a shortage of mental health resources in many parts of the world, yet people in these areas need access to quality interventions, especially after experiencing natural or human-made disasters. Suzanne Connolly and her team delved into the research to see what interventions work best in these situations. Among the interventions studied, Thought Field Therapy (TFT) performed well, achieving medium to high effect sizes in a shorter time with faster training than other interventions.

Study methods

The Bulletin of the World Health Organization published this meta-analysi s last summer. Suzanne Connolly, lead author of the study, is a Thought Field Therapy (TFT) practitioner, trainer, and researcher, and an ACEP member. The team a lso included ACEP members Jan Warner and Jenny Edwards. They investigated various mental health interventions used around the world in areas with poor mental health infrastructure.

All studies included in the analysis were delivered by laypeople who were trained by professionals. The studies measured a variety of mental health concerns and were published between 2000 and 2019. Of the 19 studies identified, 10 were conducted in Africa and nine in Asia.

The studies covered a variety of conditions: 13 studied PTSD, three studied depression, two studied alcohol dependence, and one studied mixed depression and anxiety.

The techniques used included CBT (six studies); behavior therapy with psychoeducation (six studies); TFT (three studies); narrative exposure therapy (two studies); and interpersonal psychotherapy (two studies).

The time it took to train the lay counselors varied widely, with the shortest training taking just two days (TFT) and the longest taking one year (classroom-based CBT).

Treatment duration varied widely as well. The shortest duration of treatment was in the TFT studies, which lasted one day; the longest was the classroom-based CBT, which included 15 sessions.

Study results

Overall, therapies delivered by professionally trained lay counselors had a medium effect size, suggesting that this is indeed a practical way to bring mental health treatment to areas in need.

Fourteen of the 20 studies trials found statistically significant effects; six found no effect. The TFT studies fared well: two had large effect sizes and one had a medium effect size.

Why this study matters

There is a shortage of mental health workers in the world, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The problem comes into stark relief in the aftermath of natural or human-made disasters. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended enlisting community members to bridge this gap.

A win for energy psychology

While the goal of the study was to examine the effectiveness of therapies delivered by professionally trained lay counselors, the data also show that TFT produces impressive results with the shortest amount of training and treatment time: just one day of treatment delivered after just two days of training.

This positions TFT well as a relatively easy to learn and implement, effective strategy to address mental health issues in lower- and middle-income countries where there is a lack of robust mental health infrastructure.

If you would like to learn TFT, you can take ACEP's online course, taught by Suzanne Connolly herself, while earning 13 CE credits. Find out more here .

Author

Sarah Murphy is a licensed professional counselor with 15 years of clinical experience. She serves as Communications Committee Chair for ACEP. In addition to her private practice , she is staff therapist for Unite for HER . She specializes in energy psychology, including EFT, as well as mindfulness and hypnotherapy. Send comments to SarahMurphyLPC@gmail.com .

How Energy Psychology Research Translates into Practice

Tue, 31 May 2022 19:34:16 GMT

As of January 2022, over 307 research studies have been published on energy psychology (EP) methods in peer-reviewed journals. This includes 70 randomized controlled trials and 55 clinical outcome studies. All except one of these 125 studies document EP’s effectiveness.

Why is this important if you are a clinician in the field and how can it enhance your own practice?

The importance of research

Evidence-based practice is based on critically appraised research results combined with clinical expertise and the client’s lived experience. Research generally is of high value to society and typically provides important information about disease trends and risk factors, outcomes of health interventions, health costs and use.

Clinical trials can provide important information about the efficacy and adverse effects of interventions by controlling the variables that could impact the results of the study. This can then lead to the development of guidelines for best practice (e.g., Clinical Guidelines for EFT for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder exist due to the research in this area).

Research can also lead to the development of new therapies! An example is how Francine Shapiro developed eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) by walking in the park and moving her eyes, which appeared to decrease her own distress (read more about her story here .)

Integrating research in clinical practice

Research tells us what works, but that does not always translate into clinical practice. Typically, two problems exist:

New treatments take a long time to make their way into clinical practice.
Practitioners are resistant to withdrawing established treatments from practice – even after research disproves their utility – and use the new ones.

There is also the translational gap. It can take a long time before any new therapies become standard care. The American Institute of Medicine says this takes about 17 years. Furthermore, only 20% of new therapies ever make it into mainstream practice.

This is the first reason I encourage clinicians to stay connected with the research – to learn what is no longer recommended and what is! An example from the cognitive field is that clinicians used to recommend that clients wear rubber bands on their wrist and snap it against the skin to stop a negative thought. For many decades this was standard practice. However, research and client feedback has indicated this can become a self-harm behavior. It is no longer recommended AT ALL.

Unfortunately, many clinicians still use the approach. Why? They either have not read the research, have not attended new trainings with updated information, or they simply have not updated their own clinical training skills. When this occurs, the client is the one who is disadvantaged.

Trauma research: A case in point

Research into trauma-informed approaches has also changed in recent decades. Standard cognitive talk therapies used to be the standard of care for PTSD. However, trauma-focused psychological interventions are the gold standard today. The World Health Organization and other bodies recommend these approaches, like trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) and EMDR. They also suggest not using medication as a routine first-line treatment. Instead, they recommend trauma-focused psychological therapy.

Yet you will find therapists using standard cognitive therapies or even other exposure processes for PTSD as routine intervention.

I cannot stress enough the importance of staying up to date with clinical training through conference or workshop attendance. This is usually the easiest way to hear the latest and cutting-edge research being done (and better than reading a journal article!).

This then brings us to the question of how can we disseminate the research in the field?

Getting the research out

Academics such as I usually publish in peer-reviewed journals. However, there is a vast number of journals and a relatively small number of clinically important energy psychology studies. Therefore, just finding the relevant studies can be overwhelming. Moreover, the studies you want may be hiding behind a paywall. Because of this, we have been targeting open access journals (where the academic has to pay to publish) so that clinicians in the field can read the articles free of charge.

Here are some ways you can find the research more easily, and therefore share among your own networks. The most important part is to share it. You may want to share with clients, colleagues, or a wider social network (e.g., I showcase outcomes of EFT research trials on my Instagram account, and then others share them far and wide).

Finding the research

The Cochrane Collaboration has pledged to summarise all randomised controlled trials of healthcare interventions, and is available, updated quarterly. If you search studies on EFT, you will find them. Cochrane is a British international charitable organisation. It organises medical research findings to facilitate evidence-based choices about health interventions involving health professionals, patients and policy makers. It is trusted evidence, so sharing energy psychology research from there will be associated with a rigorous approach.

Many of the EP organisations maintain research pages and these can be the easiest way to read about a study (often with a lay summary included) and share through your own communities too. A list is included below – join their mailing lists or follow them on social media.

ACEP has a robust research section on this web site that lists energy psychology studies, including TFT and EFT. It is updated once a year . You can access it here.
Research on EFT
EFT research with lay summaries

It probably goes without saying, but also be diligent in what you read and where. Many websites are not reputable (e.g., skeptics regularly change Wikipedia’s page on EFT so it does not reflect the actual published research). I recommend that you encourage your skeptical colleagues to cast their search net wider than Wikipedia!

Lastly – Can you do your own research?

Research does not need to be relegated to academics alone, as integrating clinical research within private practice can be intellectually stimulating and rewarding on many levels.

As research funding and grants become increasingly scarce, there may be an increasing need for private practitioners to participate in clinical research, both in cohort studies and in the further testing and development of new therapies.

The patient pool available to clinicians is different (e.g., you may see someone at an earlier stage of illness; or with a subclinical diagnosis). Including these patients in research will add valuable information that may ultimately improve delivery of care to patients. Critics often claim that academic research does not reflect the common issues that ordinary clinicians face. They also charge that academic studies have overly strict inclusion/exclusion criteria.

Participating in / conducting clinical trials can build up your practice in two ways:

It may bring new patients to your practice because of research you advertise, and increase community awareness of your practice.
The clinical research conducted in the private setting can potentially strengthen the clinical skills of any clinician.

Data from private practices could help us argue for increased funding from medical insurance companies as well, ultimately leading to better patient care. You can approach academics at universities to auspice research through their ethics processes, or you can just design informed consent processes yourself and collect data anyway. There are a range of outcome measures available free of charge you can use (like the ones here ). Remember to publish it too! This could be as simply as in your blog, or a specific journal. You do not need to be an academic to publish in a journal and many exists for patient care (e.g., The Journal of Patient Experience ).

A last note, there are documents available to guide practitioners in the field to conduct research –like this one . If you want to learn more about practitioner research, check out P ractice-oriented research: What it takes to do collaborative research in private practice

Join in energy psychology research!

Currently ACEP has partnered with Bond University and is conducting field research into many energy psychology modalities. This could be a way to engage and see what research is like. Both practitioner and their clients are included in this research – you can read more here .

Final thoughts

In sum, there are three important points to take away:

It is important to stay up to date with research outcomes as they are designed to impact clinical practice. If you need to update or change your practice approach, schedule that new training!
When you read or hear of new research outcomes (especially in EP), share this news with people outside your EP circles. Translational gaps will close this way. And everyone will win.
Finally, join the research movement and contribute to the published outcomes! Stay open and curious in your journey and I hope to see you at a conference soon.

Author

Dr. Peta Stapleton is a registered clinical and health psychologist and associate at Bond University (Queensland, Australia). She embraces evidence-based practice and is passionate about new and innovative techniques to support behavior change. Peta is a world leading researcher in Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT or Tapping). She has won many awards, including 2019 ’s Psychologist of the Year by the Australian Allied Health Awards. She has authored the award winning The Science Behind Tapping: A Proven Stress Management Technique for the Mind and Body (Hay House). petastapleton.com

Photo by Becca Tapert on Unsplash

Need rapid stress relief? Try this.

Wed, 25 May 2022 16:39:55 GMT

If you’re stressed and want to learn how to release that stress quickly, you’re in the right place. This blog teaches you an easy tool you can use right now to help you reduce stress right away.

One of the fastest and most effective ways to reduce stress is to tap on a series of acupressure points, practicing a technique called Easy TFT (Thought Field Therapy)*. This simple body-based technique helps your body to relax, rebalance, and come into the here and now. Practice the technique right now by following along with the video below, presented by ACEP member and TFT trainer Suzanne Connolly. Follow along and see how you feel. You can also download written instructions in English , Spanish , and Portuguese .

How it Works

Why It Works

This technique is also helpful if you are bothered by upsetting memories and will help you to leave the past in the past. If you haven’t given Easy TFT a try yet, do it now. Take notice of how your body feels both before and after you use the technique. This technique is just one of many you can use to reduce stress and reduce feelings of upset.

More Techniques to Reduce Stress Quickly

If you found easy TFT helpful, here are a few more tools you can use to reduce stress: Breathing into Balance and simple EFT . All of the videos and techniques in our "Try This" series were created by ACEP's Humanitarian Committee in order to help people heal by spreading the word about the powerful effects of energy psychology techniques. We invite you to help by sharing this information!

Need Help from a Professional?

Author

Sarah Murphy is a Licensed Professional Counselor and coach with more than 12 years of clinical experience. She is Communications Committee Chair for ACEP and staff therapist for Unite for HER . She specializes in energy psychology, including EFT, as well as mindfulness and hypnotherapy. Send comments to SarahMurphyLPC@gmail.com ; Learn more at www.transformative-therapy.com .

Video Resources Provided by the ACEP Humanitarian Committee

Photo by Fred Moon on Unsplash

A Little Goes a Long Way: EFT Helps Reduce Stress in South Korean Medical Students

Wed, 04 May 2022 19:08:52 GMT

The Journal of Oriental Neurology published a study by Lee et al . The study looked at EFT as a stress-reducing tool for medical students. The study found that a brief, group EFT practice alleviated test stress, negative affect, and anxiety in medical students in just six, 15-minute sessions.

Explore more research on energy psychology and academic performance

The research section of our web site contains a comprehensive list of energy psychology studies. You can download a bibliography of studies organized by condition here. In it, you'll find a section on academic performance.

The problem and the rationale

Medical students often experience higher academic stress and lower quality of life than college students from other disciplines. Students attribute this stress to an overwhelming volume of learning to be completed in a short time, frequent examinations, concerns regarding academic grades, and fear of grade retention.

The academic stress of medical students is known to affect the doctor-patient relationship and quality of clinical practice, and contributes to frequent experiences of anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, interpersonal insensitivity, and lowered immune functioning.

Given the importance of this concern and EFT’s track record of reducing stress, researchers wondered if a brief, group EFT intervention could relieve stress in medical students.

The study setup

This was a single group pre- post study.

Participants

A class of first-year medical school students (n=36) participated in an after-school EFT group intervention program.

Protocol

The program included six sessions of 15 minutes/session twice a week for three weeks. The program was led by a neuropsychiatry resident who had completed an eight-hour EFT training workshop.

Assessments

Students were assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Test Anxiety Inventory (TAI), Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) scores pre- and post-EFT and at two-week follow-up.

Study results

There were significant reductions at post-EFT and follow-up measures in TAI-Total, TAI-Worry, TAI-Emotionality, PSS-Negative Perspective, and PANAS-Negative Affect subscales. Trait anxiety was significantly mitigated in the post-EFT measure and the state anxiety at the two-week follow-up measure.

Why this study matters

The authors concluded that the brief (15minutes/day, two sessions/week for 3 weeks) group intervention of EFT alleviated test stress, negative affect, and anxiety in medical students. This study contributes to an understanding of academic stress and shows how EFT can be used successfully to mitigate stress in the competitive environment of medical education.

Do you want to participate in research?

ACEP has partnered with Peta Stapleton to create an online database to track clinical results of practitioners and their clients using a variety of energy psychology methods. This study will add to the literature on non-tapping methods as well as EFT and TFT, which already have a robust body of literature supporting them. If you would like to add to the data, go to ep-research.com and get started!

Authors

John Freedom, CEHP , serves as the chair of ACEP’s research committee, on the Board of Trustees of EFT International, and as executive director of FREA: Finding Recovery and Empowerment from Abuse. The author of Heal Yourself with Emotional Freedom Technique, he leads trainings and events throughout the US and in Europe.

Sarah Murphy, NCC, LPC , serves on ACEP’s board and as the chair of ACEP’s research committee. She has a private counseling practice . She also works as staff counselor for Unite for HER , where she provides counseling for clients who have cancer.

Photo by Sean Kong on unsplash

How to keep your sanity when the world is losing it

Wed, 27 Apr 2022 15:11:04 GMT

The pandemic, the wars abroad, the political divide at home, inflation, commuting again – sometimes it seems the world has gone crazy. How are we to keep ourselves sane and grounded amidst all that turmoil? The question is not rhetorical. I read the research on mental health and talk about these things with my clients all the time. Here are some ideas that can help you stay sane when the world seems to be going crazy.

Get back to your cushion.

I know, the meditation cushion is almost cliché. That doesn’t mean it’s not important! In my case, it’s a futon in the spare room. Wherever you sit, go sit. Do it every day. If you haven’t started a mindfulness or meditation practice, this is a good time to do it. There’s a lot of research that shows how meditation changes our mood and even changes our brain . It’s probably the single best thing you can do to ensure a little smoother sailing when the waters are rough.

Connect to your peeps.

Your friends and family need you and you need them. Human beings exist in relationship to others, and we just can’t thrive without them. So, send a message, or dial the phone. Have a talk or plan a date. Meet for a walk or a coffee. Whatever you do with them, make your people your priority. They’ll remind you what’s important and what’s eternal, and your life will be better for it.

Stay in your body. And help your body calm down.

It’s interesting to see how often people are unaware of the signals of distress their bodies are sending. I remember being unaware of them myself, but with practice, I learned to notice and respond to them. You can, too. Things like walking, running, exercising in general can help you burn off extra energy, which we often need to do. Other things like EFT/TFT tapping, other energy psychology approaches or yoga practices can shift the energy in our body-mind. All of it can help us stay centered, grounded, and calm.

Laugh.

Watch a funny sitcom or stand-up show. Listen to a humorous podcast. Spend time with your funny friend. When all else fails, watch laughing babies on YouTube. Whatever tickles your fancy is fair game – but make laughing a priority. It changes our body chemistry and makes us feel better long after the giggles stop.

Appreciate nature

If you can, go outside. Appreciate the quiet of a snowfall or the din of an ocean or the soothing sound of early birds. Smell the roses! Or the salt air, the moss of the forest, the dry dust of desert sand. Feel the warmth or coolness or shock of cold on your skin. And look! The natural world is beautiful. Cultivate a beginner’s mind and take it all in with appreciation.

Slow down.

When we are in a rush, our body is filling with stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. Over the long haul, that’s not good for you. Even in the short term, it doesn’t feel great. When we are stressed, we feel, well, stressed. Cultivate the opposite: Take a pause before you cross the threshold of any room. Take a breath before you talk. When you transition from one activity to the next, take a moment to notice that you are shifting. This is one that I need to practice more this year.

How about you? What from this list strikes a chord with you? What did I leave out? I’d love to hear from you!

ACEP is a community of professionals working in the field of energy psychology. Energy psychology encompasses biofield therapies like Reiki and Healing Touch, chakra-based tools like Advanced Integrative Therapy or AIT (and which are included in our Comprehensive Energy Psychology training), and meridian-based tools like EFT and Thought Field Therapy or TFT. We believe in, use, and promote these tools because they are so effective in helping people lead happier lives. Do you think like us? Become an ACEP member!

Author

Photo by Erwann Letue on Unsplash

EFT helps reduce fatigue: Results of a study on women with multiple sclerosis

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 19:04:34 GMT

A study by Ghaderi, Nazari and Shaygannejad, published in the Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research explored the effects of EFT on fatigue in women with multiple sclerosis . Fatigue is one of the many symptoms that people with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience. It has a tremendous impact on quality of life, so treatments to address it are important. In the present study, women in the tapping group had less fatigue than those in a sham tapping comparison group. These results add to the growing body of evidence supporting EFT for physical as well as psychological issues. Indeed, EFT helps reduce fatigue in women with MS.

Background

One symptom of multiple sclerosis is fatigue, which can be chronic and debilitating. About 2.8 million people around the world have MS, including as many as one million in the US alone. MS prevalence has increased in every world region since 2013; females are twice as likely to be afflicted as males. Multiple sclerosis usually presents at a highly productive stage of life when people are planning families and building careers, and thus can have a significant impact on affected individuals, their families and society. A growing arsenal of treatments offers opportunities to reduce disability ¹ and extend survival ² of people with MS; however, a cure is still lacking and the etiology of the disease remains unknown.

The study setup

Researchers from the MS Clinic of Ayatollah Kashani Hospital in Isfahan, Iran randomized 50 women with MS into two groups. Twenty-five women received 30 minute sessions of EFT twice a week for four weeks, while the control group received two group sessions of tapping on sham (false) points for the same period. The women completed the Fatigue Severity Scale before, immediately after and 4 weeks after the intervention.

Study results: EFT helps reduce fatigue

There was a significant reduction in fatigue in the EFT group compared to the sham group, both immediately after and at the 4-week followup, p<.001. The researchers concluded: “It seems that EFT is effective in diminishing fatigue among patients with MS, and is recommended as a convenient and safe non-medicament strategy for self-management of fatigue.”

Why this study matters

Note that both the EFT and the sham/control groups were active tapping groups. Had the researchers used a standard of care or a wait-list control, the difference between groups would likely have been larger and more significant. This study also shows that tapping acupoints is an important component of EFT. Some critics have challenged this idea. Meridian tapping is unique among psychotherapies in relieving both psychological and physiological symptoms, shedding light on the mind-body connection.

Professional Training in Tapping

Are you a medical professional looking to add energy psychology skills to your clinical practice in order to help patients like these? ACEP offers training in EFT and Comprehensive Energy Psychology for medical professionals. To learn more, check out our training calendar and certification programs.

Ghaderi, Z., Nazari, F., & Shaygannejad, V. (2021). The Effect of Emotional Freedom Technique on Fatigue among Women with Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research, 26(6), 531–536. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijnmr.IJNMR_188_19

Authors

John Freedom, CEHP , serves as the chair of ACEP’s research committee, on the Board of Trustees of EFT International, and as executive director of FREA: Finding Recovery and Empowerment from Abuse. The author of Heal Yourself with Emotional Freedom Technique , he leads trainings and events throughout the US and in Europe.

Sarah Murphy is a licensed professional counselor and nationally certified counselor with more than 15 years of clinical experience. She is Communications Committee Chair for ACEP and serves on its board. She is in private practice and is staff therapist for Unite for HER .

Photo by Raamin ka on Unsplash

Energy Psychology Pioneers: Meet Asha Clinton, Founder of AIT

Wed, 13 Apr 2022 19:57:34 GMT

Asha Clinton with her 2019 ACEP Award

Advanced Integrative Therapy (AIT) is a part of the energy psychology family of therapies. It is a trauma-informed approach that focuses on chakras rather than meridians. AIT was founded by Asha Clinton, a frequent presenter at ACEP conferences and an invited presenter of the 2022 conference. In 2019, ACEP gave her an award for Outstanding Contribution to the Field of Energy Psychology. Her story is here.

Meet our hero: Asha Clinton

Asha spent her career as a psychotherapist in Princeton, New Jersey, where she and her late husband were faculty members at the famed university. As a new mom, psychotherapist in full-time practice, humanitarian aid worker and wife, her calendar was quite full. She says that when her daughter was young, Asha’s only quiet time was on Sundays in the tub.

It was during one of these baths that the structure and first protocol for AIT came to her. During a nap, Asha learned exactly how to execute this powerful healing protocol. Excited, and not wanting to lose what she had received, Asha jumped out of the tub and ran to her computer. Thus, AIT came to be.

Conventional talk therapy has its place, but often therapists seek different tools to help clients heal faster. Asha had an interest Eastern thought and had investigated other energy psychology modalities. She was always looking for ways to help her clients heal from the wounds of the past and create lives they can be excited about. Within that framework, Asha was primed to receive the gift of AIT.

What’s different about AIT

AIT is a chakra- and language-based energy psychology method. Since its inception in the late 1990s, the technique has helped thousands of people overcome many human difficulties, from dealing with illness to the aftermath of trauma.

The goal of AIT is to treat as many underlying causes of suffering as possible, so that healing can happen. Because of this, it is a trauma-focused approach. It focuses directly on any experience that triggers difficult feelings, elicits negative thoughts, and blocks us from our spiritual development. AIT is holistic in that it works with our physical, mental/emotional, and spiritual nature.

Humanitarian work

Asha and her team have dedicated time and effort to humanitarian work, bringing AIT to communities that have experienced human-made or natural disasters. This work includes working a group of Mayan women in Guatemala who had been profoundly wounded in the recent Guatemalan Civil War. These women had endured horrific trauma, such as watching their entire families murdered in front of their eyes. The women suffered yet persevered, seeking to restore both hope and meaning to their lives. Asha shared AIT with these women, helping them to heal and move forward.

Today, the AIT practice continues in Guatemala, this time helping people recover from the trauma of the eruption of Volcán de Fuego Chi gag in 2018. Bringing treatment to those in need, a dedicated team of AIT practitioners visited the affected communities weekly until their help was no longer needed.

Looking forward

Two studies are underway in the US investigating the usefulness of AIT in the treatment of cancer. Other case studies, such as one involving intergenerational trauma, point to the variety of conditions AIT can address. These studies will add to the growing research base exploring and explaining energy psychology.

If you would like to learn more about Asha and AIT, you can see her at the 2022 ACEP conference , where she is an invited presenter.

Photo by David Clode on unsplash

Try This the Next Time You Feel Keyed Up

Thu, 31 Mar 2022 14:43:01 GMT

If you want to learn a safe mind-body technique to help next time you feel keyed up, you’re in the right place. Read on to learn an easy tool you can use at any time to calm down.

When you feel "keyed up" or out of balance, you can get yourself back in balance by practicing the Brain Balancer . This simple body-based technique helps restore left-ri ght balance and allows you to feel more clear and connected. The technique was adapted by Phil Mollon from Roger Callahan's Thought Field Therapy. Practice the technique right now by watching the video below and following along. You can also download written instructions in English , Spanish , and Portuguese

Why It Works

The Brain Balancer blends principles of neurolinguistic programming and energy psychology. While tapping an important triple-warmer meridian point, you move your eyes and activate different brain functions. All of this allows you to feel present, balanced, and centered.

More Techniques to Improve Focus

If you found the Brain Balancer helpful, here are a few more tools you can use to calm down and get present: Breathing Into Balance and the Cross Crawl .

All of the videos and techniques in our "Try This" series were created by ACEP's Humanitarian Committee in order to help people heal by spreading the word about the powerful effects of energy psychology techniques. We invite you to help by sharing this information!

Need Help From a Professional?

Author: Sarah Murphy, LPC

Video Resources Provided by the ACEP Humanitarian Committee

Photo by Harli Marten on Unsplash

Best Memories from ACEP Conferences: The Conference Can Change Your Life

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 21:07:42 GMT

As we prepare for the 2022 conference, ACEP members reflect on conferences past and how the conference has changed their lives. We hope these reflections will inspire you – and that the 2022 conference will provide an opportunity for you to create cherished memories of your own!

A Cherished Memory: It is Who You Meet (By Chance?)

I was attending my first conference with ACEP in June 2010 in San Diego, California. Dr. B. Raven Lee was leading a learning lab in a crowded room on "Transforming Suffering through Tibetan Practice with Breath, Movement and Sound". When the group began chanting, I felt my spine wake up, as a profound experience of love filled me. I started crying. The source came from behind me. I turned around and found the person behind me had been directing her voice towards me, and apologized due to the lack of space. Lucky me! It was the supremely talented and beloved sound healer Meg Deak, MCAT, LPC. We became fast friends, having shared this intimate experience. Sadly, Meg is no longer in the physical realm, but I feel her love and guidance nearby like a dear sister.
Lori Hops, ACEP President, CA

Introducing a Great Speaker: Over the top!

Introducing a former professor of mine at a 2014 conference mini keynote was the highlight of my time on the ACEP Board of Directors. Several years earlier, when I was a student in her class, Wendy Ann McCarty, PhD, an ardent supporter of ACEP, reintroduced me to EFT. This led directly to my joining ACEP. She is the former department head of Pre- and Perinatal Psychology (PPN), which is one of my specialties. Her talk on the complementary therapies of EFT and PPN for newborn trauma was spellbinding. The joy and exhilaration of presenting this remarkable educator to the audience was "over-the-top!”
Wade Cockburn, ACEP Development Committee Chair, TX

Remote Conference, Increased Connection

I had the pleasure of co-hosting the social and networking nights with Pam Altaffer during our virtual conference in 2021. I still smile when I think of how all of us connected by sharing parts of our identity. Participants shared jewelry, artwork, cherished items and possessions that represented their individual and cultural selves. Despite the physical distance caused by our remote format, we didn't feel distant from one another, as we all leaned in and shared vulnerable parts of ourselves. And we even got a few home tours along the way, something that we wouldn't have been able to share at an in-person conference.

Shawn Blue, ACEP DEI Committee Chair, PA

First Conference, Introductory Track: First Step to Becoming a Pro!

I think my favorite conference memory comes from my first conference in 2012. I went to find out more about energy psychology and EFT, specifically. At the time, I had very little knowledge about either. I admit that I was a bit skeptical when I observed a woman using a pendulum to decide which breakout session to attend. However, I decided to attend the Introductory track and am glad I did. I was impressed with the knowledge and competence of each of the presenters. It was enough to spur me on to enroll in an upcoming EFT training and I haven’t looked back.
George Limberakis, ACEP EFT Certification Committee Chair, UT

Inspiring Speaker

2021 conference: I really love HeartMath as a tool for client growth and it can help those who struggle with meditation. Being able to hear from Rollin McCraty himself the next directions in growth and research with their brilliant team of scientists is so exciting and inspiring. Seeing evidence of our connection to each other and to the earth and how our fields are in a rhythm should help many see that there is something to work we do in energy psychology. Love this work!
Kerri Husman, ACEP Board Secretary, IA

Connected, Even When Alone

During the conferences I enjoy the feeling of inclusion. Even when I attend the virtual conferences alone, I don't feel alone. There is a sense of community, just a feeling of belonging! With ACEP I feel as if I have found people who I can connect with and who understand me.
Linda Wolfe, ACEP Membership Committee Chair, NV

Familiar, Friendly Faces

I love returning to the conference year after year and seeing friendly faces from all over the world and learning about the interesting work people are up to using energy psychology and related techniques. Some of my closest friends are people I met at ACEP conferences.
Rachel Michaelsen, ACEP Humanitarian Committee Chair, CA

A Powerful Force

Bruce Lipton's keynote gave me inner joy hearing and experiencing how energy runs through all fields and joined together we make a powerful force for future healthcare.
Sarette Zacharia, ACEP Comprehensive Energy Psychology Committee Chair, AZ

My First ACEP Conference - I Found Home

The first time I attended the ACEP conference was when I came to the Comprehensive Energy Psychology training. I had already taken several modalities of training but always felt different from other therapists I knew. When I arrived at the CEP training and the ACEP conference, I finally felt like I fit in. Moreover, I finally learned how to integrate all the information I had learned at those other trainings into a comprehensive practice. All the speakers at the conference felt so genuine and everyone was so welcoming. It felt like I finally belonged. I was home.
Sherry O’Brien, ACEP Education Director, IN

A First, and a Blast!

My first conference was in the early 2000’s, a few years after my second child was born. I was welcomed in so many ways! I remember that I was fortunate to present (Tom Altaffer’s) Releasing with Love technique at a breakout. That evening I celebrated by dancing at the ACEP dinner/dance event. I ended up having so much fun with everyone, especially Greg Nicosia! Later, I heard that he talked to people about me possibly being on the Board and here I am back again but now as President Elect!
Pam Altaffer, ACEP President Elect, AZ

Energy Photos, Blown Mind

Thornton Streeter’ presentation at the 2015 (?) conference had me on the edge of my seat. He is an enthusiastic speaker. But even better, he shared images from a device he created that takes “pictures” of energy. He showed us a leaky energy field that looked like a hose; a scene from a morgue, which was a little sad; and a ghost from a haunted house – Goosebumps! I shared the conference recording with my skeptical teenage sons – their minds were blown, too.

Sarah Murphy, ACEP Communications Committee Chair, PA

What’s in store for 2022?

We have an exciting lineup of keynote speakers, invited presenters, and learning labs scheduled for this year’s conference – ACEP’s 24 ^th ! Come join us and earn CE’s while having fun – and maybe even having your mind blown! You can register for the 2022 conference – onsite in New Mexico, or livestreamed – here .

What is your favorite conference memory? We’d love to hear from you – send us your comments below!

Can U.S. States Require Energy Healing Practitioners to be Licensed?

Wed, 16 Mar 2022 19:41:50 GMT

As the use of energy healing methods by the public has grown significantly, both the federal government and a number of states have steadily moved toward considering reg ulating energy healing practitioners. Currently, Massachusetts has referred House Bill #350 and Senate Bill #221, respectively, to the Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure Committee. These bills, if passed, would require energy healing practitioners to be licensed in Massachusetts in order to practice. Other states are also making rumblings about licensing energy healing practitioners or at the very least, requiring energy healing practitioners to be registered.

This article is meant to provide a basic understanding of the legal and regulatory system that governs professionals who offer health care services to the public, including energy healing practitioners. It’s also intended to provide an understanding of how energy healing methods fit into the current health care field.

It’s critical to know that under the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, each state has the right to pass laws and regulations to protect the safety and welfare of its citizens. A primary method of safeguarding the health and well-being of citizens is to license professions to ensure that basic levels of education, competency, and skills are established and maintained. All fifty states have medical and psychology practice acts, as well as other types of practice acts including, social workers, chiropractors, and nurses. The underlying regulatory value for health care licensing laws is the safety, protection, and welfare of citizens.

Energy healing methods fall under the umbrella of c omplementary and a lternative m edicine (CAM), which is defined as a consensus term for healing methods, techniques, processes, and systems that have historically fallen outside established, recognized Western medicine. CAM methods are considered complementary or alternative healing arts in the United States. CAM includes both licensed healing arts practitioners such as chiropractors and non-licensed alternative healing arts practitioners such as Therapeutic Touch practitioners. Therefore, CAM methods fall into two categories, those that are regulated by state licensing laws and those that are not regulated. Chiropractic medicine is regulated in all fifty states in that chiropractors must be licensed in order to practice. There are other CAM methods that are regulated in some states but not in other states. These states require nutritionists (i.e., registered dietitians), massage therapists, naturopathic physicians, and acupuncturists to be licensed in order to practice. There are a multitude of unregulated CAM methods, including Reiki, Quantum Touch, the Emotion Code/Body Code, EFT/Tapping, shamanism, etc. The only exception to these being unregulated practices is that some states, such as Tennessee, require energy healing practitioners that incorporate touch to be licensed as massage therapists.

Over the past 100 years, medical licensing statutes have been construed broadly by the legal system resulting in licensing boards and courts finding that just about any type of healing work is considered the practice of medicine. This finding has occurred if the practitioner is addressing physical issues with a client. For example, courts have historically affirmed convictions of “laying-on-of-hands” healers for unlawfully practicing medicine. Psychotherapy licensing statutes have also been construed broadly resulting in licensing boards and courts finding that just about any kind of emotional work is considered the practice of psychotherapy. Thus, the legal paradigm mirrors Biomedicine’s historical view that alternative practices, such as energy healing methods, are deviant, suspect, or “on the fringe.” Therefore, a non-licensed energy healing practitioner faces the risk of being charged with the crime of practicing a licensed profession such as medicine or psychotherapy without a license. While this may be considered unfair by some energy healing practitioners, they still must operate under the current legal and regulatory framework that governs health care providers.

Besides the safety and welfare issues regarding licensure, there is another catalyst pushing states towards requiring licensure. Some states are reporting that sex traffickers have established energy healing practices such as Reiki as fronts for illicit businesses. For example, the Massachusetts’s state attorney general’s office reported seeing countless cases of these illicit businesses. Health and law enforcement officials say traffickers are able to avoid detection by taking advantage of the loophole in Massachusetts’s Massage Practice Act that exempts bodyworkers (i.e., energy healing practitioners) from licensure which allows their practices to be unregulated. So besides protecting the health, safety and welfare of citizens, licensing unregulated energy healing practitioners can give law enforcement a means to crack down on sex traffickers.

Whether or not you feel licensing of energy healing practitioners is appropriate or needed, states do have the right to license practitioners, such as energy healing practitioners, who offer their health care services to the public.

Author

Midge Murphy JD, PhD (Energy Medicine) is a long time ACEP member and is the author of Practice Energy Healing in Integrity; the Joy of Offering Your Gifts Legally & Ethically. Her book and related e xam on ethics, legal issues, and risk management strategies in the practice of energy healing methods are an essential resource for all practitioners and training organizations . www.midgemurphy.com

Biofield Therapy for Cancer: The impact of healing on stress and disease

Wed, 02 Mar 2022 21:43:46 GMT

Editor's Note: This blog is based on Shamini Jain's dissertation. An updated article by the author was published in the journal Cancer in 2012 . You can access that article here .

Our recent blog about Reiki for cancer patients generated a lot of interest. Today, we're taking a deeper dive into the research. Here we examine one study , a dissertation by Shamini Jain which was published in 2009. In this study, Jain compared biofield therapy to mock healing for breast cancer patients, examining various psychological measures as well as markers of inflammation. Results showed that biofield healing provided significant improvements compared to the mock healing protocol.

Study participants had been treated for breast cancer, which affects millions of women around the world. The stress of a cancer diagnosis can linger long after treatment has been completed, placing cancer survivors at a greater risk for depression and fatigue, which in turn reduces their quality of life. It even increases the chances of disease recurrence. Clearly, we need effective tools to combat this distress.

Jain’s study helps us understand the cycle of stress – inflammation – disease, and offers hope that biofield therapies, which are popular among breast cancer patients, are more than just feel-good practices. The study found a reduction in psychological distress and inflammatory markers in the short term and raises the hope that these practices might lead to better outcomes in the long-term.

How inflammation leads to disease: a microscopic story

To understand this study, it’s important to understand how chronic stress can lead to inflammation and disease. Here’s a short explanation.

HPA axis: The hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is our bodies’ stress response system, a cycle of neural and chemical responses to threat. The hypothalamus, in the brain’s limbic system, cues the pituitary to release a hormone called ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone). ACTH races to the adrenal glands, signaling them to release cortisol. Cortisol pours into our bloodstream, causing our hearts to beat faster, blood pressure to rise, and blood sugar levels to increase. We are not digesting food well or fighting pathogenic invaders; we are ready to fight or run away. When faced with an imminent threat, this is exactly what we need.

Inflammation: The HPA axis and cortisol response also work with our bodies’ inflammatory and anti-inflammatory chemical messengers, called cytokines. When we have an injury or infection, our cells release inflammatory cytokines. These molecules cause cells to fill with more fluid and call on our immune system cells to rush to the affected area. When the crisis has abated, a different set of cytokines, the anti-inflammatory ones, come to the area and reverse the response. Inflammation decreases, and cellular function returns to normal. This works to create an efficient response to a real threat – or a dysregulated system that leaves us open to disease.

Chronic inflammation: When we are under continual stress, our body chemistry gets out of balance. This affects us at the epigenetic level and can cause problems with RNA (ribonucleic acid) protein synthesis. The epigenome is the covering of our DNA that turns on, or off, the expression of genes. RNA are the molecules that replicate portions of our DNA to create the proteins we need for regular cellular activities like cell metabolism and replication. Sometimes the replication goes wrong, and the proteins are incorrectly synthesized, leading to issues like cancer. Thus, in cases of chronic inflammation, dysfunctions in DNA, the epigenome, and RNA errors all may play a role in creating disease.

Stress: Our mental state is certainly a factor in the stress – inflammation – disease cycle. Depression, fatigue, and chronic stress contribute to cellular dysfunction and increase the chances of developing disease. But what can happen if we de-stress? Studies about the benefits of biofield therapy have already shown that these treatments can help ease our fatigue, anxiety, and depression. Do they also change our body chemistry? In this study, Jain sought to determine if energy healing would provide significant relief from the psychological issues of fatigue, depression, and mood disturbance, as well as a physiological decrease in chemical markers of inflammation and cortisol levels.

The study setup

Jain recruited breast cancer survivors near the University of California, San Diego. For this randomized, placebo-controlled study, some participants received an energy healing technique (EH) and others received mock healing, twice a week for four weeks.

Healing protocol: The energy healing (EH) used is similar to forms you may be familiar with, like Reiki, Healing Touch, and Therapeutic Touch. In EH, the practitioner balances their own energy with energy from the universal energy field, then uses a series of hand positions on the patient (feet, knees, hips, bladder, stomach, hands, elbows, shoulders, heart, throat, head, and heart again). The process takes 45-60 minutes. The healers in this study had completed a four-year training in EH and had several years of experience. The mock healers were skeptical or naïve to energy healing.

Participants: 29 women completed the study, 16 in the EH arm and 13 in the mock healing arm. All were adults who had been diagnosed with stage 1 to 3a breast cancer and had completed treatment (surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy) within the previous five years and at minimum, a month before the study began.

Psychological measures: In addition to a demographic questionnaire, participants completed a standard set of psychological assessments, including measures to assess fatigue, depression, mood (including depression, anxiety, anger, vigor, fatigue, and confusion), quality of life, and sleep.

Physiological measures: Researchers measured markers of inflammation over the eight treatment sessions and at follow-up. These included cortisol and various cytokines associated with breast cancer. See the details section at the end of this blog for more.

Study results

Most participants – 75% – believed they were receiving the actual energy healing, 87% in the healing group and 72% in the mock group. This was important to assess for exploring the role of expectancy on results. The differences between groups over time showed the EH group overall received better results than the mock group.

Psychological measures: On most psychological measures, the EH group did better on measures of fatigue, depression, and mood than the mock group (all but sleep, where neither group improved). The mock group’s scores on depression deterioratedover time.

Below are some details. See Details Section at the end of the blog for more specifics.

Fatigue : Overall, the EH group experienced a greater drop in fatigue over time than the mock
Depression : The EH group decreased in depression over time, while the mock group actually increased in depression.
Mood : Women who had received chemotherapy had more mood disturbance at baseline. Both groups showed a large decrease in mood disturbance over time.
Quality of life : Women who had received chemotherapy had a lower quality of life at baseline. Both groups increased in quality of life over time. The belief that they were getting EH predicted improvement in quality of life.
Sleep : Older women had poorer sleep at baseline. The treatments had no effect on sleep.

Physiological measures: While the groups saw roughly equivalent results on one measure (Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor II, TNFRII), the EH group improved more than the mock group on all other measures. The mock group saw some increases in inflammatory biomarkers over time.

Why this study matters: biofield therapy helps people who have had cancer

This study examined the effects of a biofield therapy on both psychological distress and physiological bio-markers associated with inflammation and disease progress in breast cancer patients. It shows that the biofield therapy studied, EH, decreases these biomarkers over time, while improving fatigue and mood issues that are associated with disease progression. This adds to the growing body of evidence supporting biofield therapies, which are already popular among breast cancer patients, showing that these may be more than feel-good therapies. Because of their effects on both psychological and physiological markers of inflammation and disease, these therapies seem to affect us at the molecular level in ways that might slow cancer growth as they promote wellbeing.

Looking ahead

Every year in the US, nearly 300,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer. Almost 3.8 million American women are living with breast cancer. A woman’s chance of being diagnosed with invasive breast cancer is 1 in 8 . And while early detection and treatment are making a dent in prognosis, mortality has dropped by less than 3% . Alongside the rigorous medical research, we have a growing understanding of the mind-body correlates of disease and the cycle of stress-inflammation-disease. This offers us a new hope, and a new tool to add in our approach to fighting cancer. As the research in mind-body therapies continues, pharmaceutical companies, oncologists, and the medical establishment are increasingly open to using these as adjuvant therapies. Patients themselves are eager to take advantage of these therapies to improve outcomes while we wait and hope for the cure.

I envision a time, perhaps not too far in the future, in which healing professionals will increasingly work alongside doctors and nurses to offer energy healing to patients in need. I dream of a day when societies will prioritize the emotional wellbeing of their citizens. As a therapist, I earnestly wish for people to treat each other well, with lovingkindness, erasing the disharmony that underlies so much of today’s stress. Today, we are already moving in that direction, by employing mind-body tools to address these stressors – tools like energy psychology, energy medicine, and energy healing, in their various forms. Because of these results, these techniques increasingly play a role in easing the stress-inflammation-disease cycle.

Actions you can take

To learn more about the human energy field, check out ACEP’s Comprehensive Energy Psychology CEP course , which is being revamped, and will be available later in 2022. To support energy psychology research and humanitarian efforts, make a donation here .

Author

Sarah Murphy, LPC, is a licensed professional counselor and coach with more than 12 years of clinical experience. She specializes in energy psychology, including EFT, as well as mindfulness and hypnotherapy. In her therapy practice, she works with individuals seeking to find peace within themselves, people who have serious medical diagnoses, and couples who want to resolve conflict and live in harmony. Sarah's personal motto is that we are here to create a more peaceful world, one more-peaceful person at a time. She is an ACEP Board member and chair of the Communications Committee. Learn more at www.transformative-therapy.com .

photo by Rod Long on unsplash

Want to dive into the weeds? Here are the study details

Physiological measures
Researchers measured markers of inflammation over the eight treatment sessions and at follow-up. These included cortisol and various cytokines associated with breast cancer. These included:

Interleukin-1 soluble receptor (sIL-1Ra) : This is an analog of the inflammatory cytokine interleukin 1 (IL-1), which is found in breast tissue, is associated with fatigue, has been shown to increase in people with depression; its presence is associated with disease progression. sIL-1Ra is easier to measure than IL-1. It was studied as a marker of fatigue and depression.
Interleukin 6 (IL 6): IL-6 is a proinflammatory cytokine that is associated with breast cancer; higher levels are present in people with breast cancer compared to healthy controls. Increased levels of IL-6 are associated with stage, grade, metastasis, and chemotherapy resistance; it may be particularly relevant in estrogen-positive cancers. It is higher in patients with depression and was studied as a marker of fatigue and depression.
Interleukin-6 soluble receptor (sIL-6R) : This is a receptor for IL-6 and is highly associated with fatigue in breast cancer patients. It was studied as a marker for fatigue and depression.
Soluble Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor II (sTNF-RII) : This is an easier-to-measure receptor for Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-α). TNF-α is an inflammatory cytokine that is associated with both tumor death (as the name suggests) and, paradoxically, tumor growth and metastasis. Its receptor sTNF-RII levels seem elevated in fatigued compared to non-fatigued breast cancer survivors. It was studied as a marker of fatigue.
Interleukin-4 (IL-4) : While IL-4 is considered an anti-inflammatory marker, it is associated with resistance to chemotherapy and apoptosis (cell death). It was studied as a biomarker of fatigue.
Cortisol, and Diurnal Cortisol Variability : Cortisol is particularly relevant for people with breast cancer. In a healthy population, cortisol levels drop at night. In breast cancer patients, cortisol levels are generally higher, have more fluctuations during the day, and do not drop as low at night. Among breast cancer patients with fatigue, these differences are even more pronounced. Thus, mean cortisol as well as nighttime drops in cortisol were measured

Results: psychological measures
On most psychological measures, the EH group did better on measures of fatigue, depression, and mood than the mock group (all but sleep, where neither group improved). The mock group’s scores on depression deteriorated over time. Below are the details:

Fatigue (MFSI-sf) : Radiation was associated with fatigue; time since radiation completed was associated with lower fatigue scores at baseline. Overall, the EH group experienced a greater drop in fatigue over time than the mock group (p = .09, partial eta square = .13 with time since radiation as a covariant; p = 0005, partial eta square = .30 with no covariant).
Depression (CESD) : The EH group decreased in depression over time, while the mock group actually increased in depression (p = .22, partial eta square = .24).
Mood (POMS-sf) : Women who had received chemotherapy had more mood disturbance at baseline. Both groups showed a large decrease in mood disturbance over time (p = .001, partial eta squared = .25).
Quality of life (FACT-B) : Women who had received chemotherapy had a lower quality of life at baseline. Both groups increased in quality of life over time. The belief that they were getting EH predicted improvement in quality of life (p = .037).
Sleep (PSQI) : Older women had poorer sleep at baseline. The treatments had no effect on sleep.

Results: physiological measures
While the groups saw roughly equivalent results on one measure (Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor II, TNFRII), the EH group improved more than the mock group on all other measures. The mock group saw some increases in inflammatory biomarkers over time. Zooming in:

sIL-1Ra : There was a large effect size, with the mock group experiencing an increase in this biomarker over time, while the markers decreased in the EH group (p = .048; partial eta square = .21)
IL-6: A large effect size was found, with the biomarker in the mock group increasing while that in the treatment group decreased over time (p = .06, partial eta square = .19)
sIL-6R : Both groups improved but the EH group saw a greater decrease in this biomarker (p = .02, partial eta square = .32).
IL-4: The mock group saw a slight increase over time while the EH group saw a significant drop (p = .05, partial eta square = .21)
TNFRII : There were no differences between groups; both decreased slightly over time.
Cortisol slope : Both groups ended with a drop in cortisol, but the mock group experienced an increase at midway, and the EH group experienced a steeper drop.
Mean cortisol: Mean cortisol in the mock group increased while it dropped in the EH group.

Evidence Keeps Growing: Research in Mexico shows tapping reduces distress

Thu, 24 Feb 2022 17:55:37 GMT

A study by Fernando Vicente Barraza-Alvarez from the University of Cordoba in Colombia was published in the World Journal of Biology Pharmacy and Health Sciences in late 2021. It examined psychological measures of 14 women working in a childcare center in Texcoco, Mexico and found that Thought Field Therapy (TFT) reduced subjective distress (SUDs) from a high of eight, nine or ten on a ten-point scale, all the way to zero – Z E R O. Callahan’s thought field therapy in the management of emotions associated with stress is a small study, but, with its graphics and clear procedural explanations, it provides a compelling story of how TFT can reduce distress rapidly and effectively.

The theory

Texcoco, Mexico’s Universidad Autónoma Chapingo is internationally renowned for its defense of, and research into, complementary and alternative medical (CAM) therapies. These modalities, including TFT, fill an important need for cultural openness and sensitivity as well as patient/client choice. TFT is appealing because it is rapid, noninvasive, economical, easy to learn, and can be used both therapeutically and as a self-help tool. In the present study, researchers wondered if TFT could help women address a variety of mental health issues.

The study setup

Fourteen women were recruited for the study. They were childcare workers at a nearby center, aged 19 to 47. They reported distress because of anxiety, fear, obsession, or rejection. The data were self-report, using a 10-point scale. This was a simple pre-post study, with measures taken before and after treatment with TFT. The women also wrote about their experiences, adding qualitative data to the results.

The women used specific tapping sequences for their various complaints, as well as the 9-gamut and “brain gymnastics” (brain gymnastics is tapping accompanied by slow, vertical eye movement) sequences.

The tapping sequences were as follows:

For the three who had obsession: collar bone, under eye, collar bone
For the four who experienced fear: under arm, under eye, collar bone
For the five who experienced anxiety: under eye, under arm, collar bone
For the two who experienced rejection: eyebrow, under eye, under arm, collar bone

Study results

Quantitative data

All women experienced relief from their distress, down to a zero out of ten using the self-rating SUD scale.

Researchers also questioned the women about three features of TFT: Was it rapid? Was it effective? Was it believable? All variables were near the maximum score of five (out of five) for all features, using the Likert-type scale created for these measures.

Qualitative data

Some of the comments the women wrote regarding their TFT experience:

“Now I have a lot of courage.” (Obsession)
“I felt relaxed and in a better state of health.” (Fear)
“I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I needed it.” (Anxiety)
“I no longer care about some people’s criticisms and attacks towards me. This was so sudden, and I already feel free.” (Rejection)

Cultural sensitivity

Barraza-Alvarez notes that medical systems are “enriched by the ethnic and cultural diversity of communities.” Complementary approaches seek health by balancing the mind, body, and soul, yet these approaches have often been rejected by mainstream Western practitioners. Today, increasing cultural sensitivity and sharing information lead people increasingly to seek CAM approaches. These approaches can be used alongside mainstream methods. Indeed, the two models – Western and CAM – can be complementary, rather than antagonistic.

Why this study matters

The present study builds on the research base supporting TFT, the “father” of all of today’s tapping techniques. Roger Callahan, with TFT, was the first to use acupoint tapping in Western psychological treatment. We all can share a moment of gratitude to him, and to all those who have worked to further the field through research and practice. Together, we are healing the world.

Want to learn more about TFT? Check out this online TFT course, taught by Suzanne Connolly , ACEP member and former Board member .

Author

Sarah Murphy, LPC , is a licensed professional counselor and coach with more than 12 years of clinical experience. She specializes in energy psychology, including EFT, as well as mindfulness and hypnotherapy. In her therapy practice, she works with individuals seeking to find peace within themselves, people who have serious medical diagnoses, and couples who want to resolve conflict and live in harmony. Sarah's personal motto is that we are here to create a more peaceful world, one more-peaceful person at a time. She is an ACEP Board member and chair of the Communications Committee. Learn more at www.transformative-therapy.com .

Photo by Jay Castor on Unsplash

Next time you're troubled by racing thoughts, try this.

Thu, 17 Feb 2022 18:42:09 GMT

If you’re looking for a tool to help you calm your racing thoughts, you’re in the right place. This blog teaches you an easy tool you can add to your self-care toolkit.

One of the fastest and most effective ways to calm a racing mind is the Healing Head Hold . This simple body-based technique helps you to defuse negative emotions helps balance your brain hemispheres. You can do this technique alone or with a partner, and in less than five minutes you should feel much calmer. Practice the technique right now by watching the video below and following along. You can also download written instructions in English , Spanish , and Portuguese .

How it Works

Why It Works

By using energy techniques like the Healing Head Hold , you help your body relax and your brain rebalance. This allows you to calm your thoughts quickly and easily.

If you haven’t given the Healing Head Hold technique a try yet, do it now. Take notice of how your body feels both before and after you use the technique. This is just one of many body-based tools you can use to help yourself calm your thoughts.

More Techniques to Help Improve Focus

If you found the Healing Head Hold technique helpful, here are a few more techniques you can use to calm racing thoughts: the Balance Hookup and the Stress Blowout .

Need Help from a Professional?

Many people are experiencing trouble focusing and are seeking alternatives to pharmaceuticals. ACEP is a nonprofit, 501c3 dedicated to the research, education, and sharing of energy psychology. Check out the ACEP practitioner directory to find a certified ACEP professional in your area or online.

Author: Sarah Murphy, LPC

Sarah Murphy is a licensed professional counselor and coach with more than 12 years of clinical experience. She is ACEP Communications Committee Chair and Board member. She specializes in energy psychology, including EFT, as well as mindfulness and hypnotherapy. Learn more at www.transformative-therapy.com .

Video Resources Provided by the ACEP Humanitarian Committee

Cover photo by Lucas Ludwig on unsplash.

How Energy Psychology Tools Help Heal Sexual Abuse

Wed, 09 Feb 2022 21:47:37 GMT

Sexual violence is one of the greatest traumas a human can experience. It affects millions of Americans, leaving lasting effects on functioning and wellbeing. It is difficult to address using conventional talk therapy. The research on conventional talk therapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), for sexual violence is disheartening, with high dropout rates and only modest gains.

Energetic and somatic therapies are particularly effective at addressing trauma, so it stands to reason that they would be effective in addressing the trauma of sexual violence. Energy psychology has demonstrated efficacy with traumatized populations. Importantly, Feinstein (2021) found that almost all – 77 of 79 – studies that included long-term follow-up found participant gains held over time, demonstrating how powerful and effective these techniques can be.

Sexual violence affects more than one third of women worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. Men can also experience sexual violence, however the rates are difficult to determine due to underreporting, according to the United Nations. More than one half of assaults are committed by someone known to the survivor. There is a stigma of guilt and shame, where many victims blame themselves for what happened. The need for effective therapeutic tools to help people who have experienced sexual violence is clear, and energy psychology might fill that need. Here is what the research tells us so far.

Adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse

Kirsten Schulz (2009) evaluated the experiences of 12 therapists (with a minimum of ten years’ experience) who had integrated energy psychology into their treatments for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. In this qualitative study, the researcher explored the therapists’ experiences with their clients. The therapists reported that using energy psychology with their clients who had experienced childhood sexual abuse was helpful because:

Energy psychology does not require clients to talk about their trauma,
Energy psychology reliably reduces trauma without having the client re-experience distress,
After energy psychology therapy, core issues can be discussed without client discomfort,
Anxiety disorders are most effectively treated by energy psychology techniques, and
The rapid rate of healing can affect treatment goals.

This article may be particularly relevant for clinicians who are interested in incorporating energy psychology in their work with survivors of childhood sexual abuse, as the results provide guidelines for therapists considering incorporating these techniques into their practices.

Sexual assault-specific PTSD

Anderson, Rubik and Absenger (2019) explored the effectiveness of combining EFT and hypnosis in the treatment of sexual assault-specific post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms. This study was conducted in a private psychotherapy office and used a sequential mixed methods design.

Thirty individuals with self-identified sexual assault-specific PTSD were recruited and participated in this study. The investigators used the PCL-5 (PTSD Checklist – 5), a standard assessment for measuring symptoms of PTSD.

The researchers found an overall decrease of 34.3% on PTSD symptom severity based on PCL-5 assessment scores, after just four sessions of the combined EFT and hypnosis treatment.

Survivors of sexual violence

Nemiro and Papworth (2015) explored the effectiveness of two therapies, CBT and EFT, in the treatment of sexual violence in the Congo.

Participants were 50 internally displaced female refugees who had been victims of sexual gender-based violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). They were assessed using the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ) and the Hopkins Symptom Checklist–25 (HSCL-25), which measures general mental health. Participants received two, 2 ½ hour group treatment sessions per week for 4 consecutive weeks (eight sessions total).

Assessments occurred before and after treatment, and 6 months later. Participants demonstrated significant posttest improvement on both measures for both groups. Follow-up assessments showed that both groups maintained their gains over time.

Hope. And a new paradigm?

Trauma is difficult to talk and think our way out of. When we have experienced trauma, we need tools that can help us heal. Energy psychology offers a set of tools that help us do just that. As these ideas become more widely known, energy psychology methods will come increasingly into the mainstream. Then, many people will be helped and healed.

Want to help spread the word about energy psychology?

Share this article with your friends and colleagues! If you are looking for a trained clinician, you can find our practitioner directory here. If you are a clinician, consider getting certified in energy psychology. For more information (including citations and abstracts) on energy psychology research, visit ACEP’s research page.

Finding Recovery and Empowerment from Abuse (FREA) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to teach self-help tools and skills empowering people in recovery from abuse. The FREA website includes numerous blogs, articles and videos demonstrating energy psychology techniques for folks in recovery. Learn more about FREA here.

Authors

John Freedom, CEHP, serves as the chair of ACEP’s research committee, on the Board of Trustees of EFT International, and as executive director of FREA: Finding Recovery and Empowerment from Abuse. The author of Heal Yourself with Emotional Freedom Technique , he leads trainings and events throughout the US and in Europe.

Sarah Murphy, LPC, is a licensed professional counselor and nationally certified counselor with more than 15 years of clinical experience. She is Communications Committee Chair for ACEP and serves on its Board. She is in private practice and is staff therapist for Unite for HER.

Photo by Nadine Shaabana on Unsplash

Activism in the Field of Energy Psychology

Thu, 03 Feb 2022 15:46:44 GMT

Learn about ACEP's 2021 Spreading the Word Award winner Maria Limardo and how you can help spread the word.

Dr. Maria Limardo (PhD, CMIQP, medical intuitive, CEP), has been sharing the gift of energy psychology in her home state of Florida and throughout the US and Central and South America for just four years. In that short span, she has a dedicated following, particularly among the Latinx community. In fact, in 2021, it is estimated that Maria reached as many as 100,000 people!

In addition to her energy psychology work, Maria is also a medical intuitive. She combines these tools in her private practice . She reaches many in the Latinx community via her Facebook page and using the popular WhatsApp platform. She teaches EP techniques using ACEP’s Emotional First Aid training . She works via tele-therapy with individuals and groups.

Spreading the word

Maria has given many talks, webcasts, and other online trainings to promote energy psychology. She is passionate about spreading the word because she has seen how powerful these tools can be. Her enthusiasm led her to a training program through the UN and television appearances on Univision and on CNN Español.

In 2021, she won ACEP's Spreading the Word award for her “outstanding efforts to garner credibility and respect for the field of energy psychology by interfacing with allied professional networks, organizations, or the public media.”

Energy psychology tool of choice

Maria's EP tool of choice is the Trauma Tapping Technique ( TTT ), a nonverbal tapping tool. TTT has been used successfully in refugee and trauma situations all over the world. It is currently part of a large study run by Peaceful Heart Network and Dr Peta Stapleton . Maria says she has taught mothers to use it on themselves to keep calm, and to calm their children by using a kid-friendly, hands-on approach, with mothers tracing the points on their children’s faces and torso. The people Maria teaches often comment that TTT is “magic.” Her clients are mostly very poor mothers who need tools to center themselves and their children. The majority of people who come to her, Maria says, are referred by medical doctors.

Looking toward the future

When asked about her future plans, she says that sees the field of energy psychology growing. In the US, she believes, this is driven by the increase in the evidence base as well as doctors’ increasing understanding of the powerful negative fallout of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).

In addition to an increasing visibility of these powerful tools in the US, Maria says, there is a tremendous opportunity for ACEP to grow outside of the US. In Latin America. They are open to trying it, see it working, and keep using it.

Background: From conventional doctor to energy psychology practitioner

Born in Boston to Venezuelan parents, Maria spent her childhood in the US and Venezuela. She earned her MD and her PhD in human genetics from the Thomas Jefferson University of Philadelphia. Maria was a renowned expert on Butterfly Syndrome Disease. Working with this rare and debilitating illness pressed Maria to look beyond the wisdom of conventional medicine and into the intuitive healing arts.

Since 2012, Maria has shared her gift with many others by teaching medical intuitive practices at spiritual centers throughout South Florida. Additionally, she was on the teaching staff at the Florida Institute of Complementary and Alternative Health (FLICAH) in Doral, Florida, where she taught a Medical Intuitive Coach Certification course. In 2018, Limardo discovered ACEP, attending her first ACEP conference and becoming an active member of the humanitarian committee.

How you can help spread the word

Feel inspired? If you’d like to help spread the word in your neck of the woods, please like, share, and comment on our posts on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter .

ACEP’s humanitarian committee has developed tools for community outreach, including Resources for Resilience and Emotional First Aid Training . If you want to be more involved, join a local-regional group or one of our committees .

Authors

Sarah Murphy, LPC, is a licensed professional counselor and coach with more than 12 years of clinical experience. She specializes in energy psychology, including EFT, as well as mindfulness and hypnotherapy. In her therapy practice, she works with individuals seeking to find peace within themselves, people who have serious medical diagnoses, and couples who want to resolve conflict and live in harmony. Sarah's personal motto is that we are here to create a more peaceful world, one more-peaceful person at a time. She is an ACEP Board member and chair of the Communications Committee. Learn more at www.transformative-therapy.com .

Sara Whittall is a Body Code Practitioner and member of ACEP 's Humanitarian Committee.

Blog cover photo of words by Brett Jordan on Unsplash

A Study Finds EFT Effective for Treating Chemo-Brain

Tue, 25 Jan 2022 21:19:40 GMT

A research team led by Laura Track conducted a randomized, controlled study of EFT for cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI; aka “chemo brain”). Track and her colleagues are independent researchers from three universities in Belgium and the United Kingdom. Their work was published by EClinicalNews , the online, open-access journal of The Lancet , in August of 2021.

The results are clear: in this study, EFT was very effective in addressing chemo brain.

The theory

After completing chemotherapy, many patients report a decline in cognitive function. “Chemo-brain” can impair mental functioning and cause considerable emotional distress. Until now, there have been no medical or psychosocial tools to help it.

The researchers wondered whether addressing underlying psychological symptoms, such as fear, anxiety, anger, sadness, and trauma, could help mitigate the cognitive impairment. They chose EFT because of the rapidity of its results, and because it can be used both clinically and as a self-help tool.

The study setup

Between 2016 and 2020, 121 study participants, all adults who had completed curative cancer treatment, were recruited into the study. All had taken the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ) and scored 43 or higher. CFQ scores range from 0 – 100; a score of 43 or greater indicates CRCI.

Most participants were women (93%) who had been treated for breast cancer (78%); the average age was 52. The study was coordinated by AZ Groeninge Kortrijk hospital in Belgium and included three affiliate hospital locations.

Participants were randomized into immediate treatment (ITG) or waitlist control (WLC) groups. The treatment group received EFT sessions for 16 weeks; the WLC group began EFT treatment after 8 weeks. The CFQ was given at baseline, after 8 weeks, and after 16 weeks.

Study results

There was a significant drop in CFQ scores among the immediate treatment group after 8 weeks of tapping, with 59% scoring less than 43; the wait list control group scores remained stable. This difference was significant (p<.01) and showed that EFT had decreased the level of CRCI. The wait list control group scores dropped at 16 weeks, after they had done 8 weeks of tapping, matching the results of the immediate treatment group at 8 weeks.

In addition to the CFQ, other patient-reported outcomes measures (POMS) included measures of distress, depression, problems, and fatigue; health-related quality of life (HRQOL) was measured using a standardized European scale. All POMS dropped in the immediate treatment g after 8 weeks. The difference between groups was significant at 8 weeks (p<0.001); after 16 weeks, there was no longer a statistically significant difference in scores between the two groups. Differences in HRQOL followed a similar trajectory.

Why this study matters

Chemo brain is a side effect of cancer treatment that impairs cognitive functioning and causes significant distress. To date, there have been no effective tools to deal with it. EFT is a simple, mind-body technique that can be taught in classes and groups, in one-to-one therapy, or by patients themselves as a self-help tool. The current study’s findings are clear: in this study, EFT helps decrease CRCI and improves other measures of well-being.

The Belgian Foundation Against Cancer is supporting a rollout of EFT for CRCI across Belgium, recruiting and training healthcare workers and volunteers to implement the EFT program. Additionally, the research team is building on these findings, and planning another study into the effect of EFT on the fear of cancer recurrence in survivors.

Want to learn more about EFT?

If you are a client looking for a practitioner, check out ACEP’s practitioner database . For more information on EFT research, see ACEP’s research page . If you are a clinician and want to get trained in EFT, enroll in our online certification program . If you'd like a great, free introduction to EFT, sign up for ACEP's free master class .

Author

Sarah Murphy, LPC, is a licensed professional counselor and coach with more than 12 years of clinical experience. She specializes in energy psychology, including EFT, as well as mindfulness and hypnotherapy. In her therapy practice, she works with individuals seeking to find peace within themselves, people who have serious medical diagnoses, and couples who want to resolve conflict and live in harmony. Sarah's personal motto is that we are here to create a more peaceful world, one more-peaceful person at a time. She is an ACEP Board member and chair of the Communications Committee. Learn more at www.transformative-therapy.com .

Turn Dream Resolutions into Reality with Self-Care and Energy Practices

Tue, 18 Jan 2022 17:06:32 GMT

Does this sound familiar?

It’s the New Year, and I try to set goals to improve my life for New Year’s Resolutions. I start out OK, but before long, I skip a few days, and then I stop altogether. It seems I feel worse about myself because I tried and failed. Is there anything I can do to keep the goals going well past January?

Fret not! You are not alone. Many people face this same situation when setting goals for themselves throughout the year. It’s normal to become more aware of goal setting when focused with others who are also making their New Year’s Resolutions. The New Year offers the promise of an enhanced beginning. You may have confidence that this year will be different, and will be focused on positive outcomes. But what happens when you face obstacles, or lack of motivation? Many people give up too quickly, and grow cross with themselves. What’s a well-intentioned person to do?

Number One: Know Thy Goal

The first step in solving a problem is to understand it. Rather than being overwhelmed by a challenge and then giving up, look at the problem one piece at a time. For instance, if you have a goal to eat enjoying better nutrition, a first step for one person may be to find tasty and healthy recipes, while another person may want to imagine eating foods they enjoy, which are good for the body, whereas another person may not know where to start as they become anxious when thinking about food. Set up a step-by-step program for yourself, along with identifying ways to know when you hit the mark, so you can measure success. Energy psychology approaches such as EFT , TFT , and CEP are designed to discover the rough spots where you get stuck with your goals. Once the resistance, energy blockage or limiting belief is addressed, you may be well on your way toward reaching your goal. You can receive a freeguide from ACEP on using energy psychology practices for removing blocks to goals.

Number Two: Keep It Simple, Sweetheart!

Many people stop short of their goals because they take on too much at once, and have unrealistic expectations. Instead, try setting a series of small achievable goals that do not require drastic changes. Although it may seem boring, or that you are not making progress, most likely the consistent effort is paying off. As they say, slow and steady wins the race. After a few days of success, gradually increase your set of goals. By the end of several tries, you may be on your way to starting a new happier and healthier habit, and because it is gradual, it feels easy and simple.

For instance, with new food ideas, look for a few fun recipes or ask some friends for suggestions they enjoy. Keep recipes or photos saved on your computer or phone where you can look at them during the day, or print out some images to decorate your fridge, just to get the hang of a new way of eating. Then you may be ready to move on to writing the shopping list, or throwing a cooking and dining party in person or online. If you start to take on too much, calm yourself by using grounding and centering techniques, such as these meditations about gratitude , or try some breathing techniques . Once you are calm, and start again with easier goals and slow down.

Number Three: Reward Good Behavior

Acquiring a new goal is not the time to launch into self-criticism and self-doubt. Instead, treat yourself gently, and with positive rewards. It may feel silly at first, but try anyway. Many people are more comfortable with stern voices in their heads rather than supportive ones, but you’ll likely go farther with a bit of sweetness and generosity of spirit. Find a small reward or fun activity you like, and give it to yourself every time you work on your goal. Change the reward to keep it fresh and motivating. Lavish with easy or quick self-care rituals, take comedy breaks by watching your favorite shows or routines, or get some fresh air. Be creative and inspired so you have fun and are relaxed.

If you find you are still hearing those pesky negative messages, consider turning them around with positive affirmations, or address them head on with focused approaches to change, such as Logosynthesis, using words to move energy. You can learn more about a variety of other energy psychology practices on the ACEP website Resources section .

Number Four: Don’t Go it Alone

Find others with the same goal as yourself, and make it a team effort. Choose supportive people you trust, possibly a family member or friend near or far to share the joys and challenges of moving through goals. You may want to set up a social media online support community with likeminded folks, to encourage sticking with resolutions long past January. Sharing your joys and sorrows with others can reduce isolation, and make you see you are not so different from others.

If you feel overwhelmed, stressed, or are burdened by emotional, psychological or energetic distress when working toward your resolutions, consider finding a coach, counselor or mental health professional to give you a hand. ACEP has an energy practitioner directory you may find helpful.

You had good reasons to launch into the new year with resolutions, so don’t lose sight of the goodwill, desire for positive change, and belief in a better way of life. You are valuable, worth the effort, and with some focus, determination and finding the right support, you may turn your dream resolutions into sustainable reality.

Author

Try This Next Time You Need an Energy Boost

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 20:26:41 GMT

Groggy? Too much activity and not enough rest? This blog teaches you an easy tool for an energy boost.

(by Sarah Murphy, LPC) Next time you need an energy boost, try the Four Thumps . This is a simple body-based technique that will help you get your energy flowing. The technique comes to us from Donna Eden . Practice the technique right now by watching the video below and following along. You can also download written instructions in English , Spanish , and Portuguese .

How it Works

Tap lightly under your eyes. Then tap or rub under your collarbones, on the middle of your chest, and on your bottom rib.

Follow along with the video above and give the Four Thumps a try! Take notice of how your body feels both before and after you use the technique. This technique is just one of many you can use to get your energy flowing again.

Why It Works

When you use techniques like the Four Thumps , you are interacting with your body’s energy system and increasing the flow of energy through your system. This technique turns your circuits back on and gets your energy flowing again.

This technique is also helpful if you feel discouraged, numb, shocked, or paralyzed.

More Techniques to Get Your Energy Flowing

If you found the Four Thumps helpful, here are a few more tools you can use to increase your energy: the Heel Shock Release and Thymus Thump . All of the videos and techniques in our “Try This” series were created by ACEP’s Humanitarian Committee in order to help people heal by spreading the word about the powerful effects of energy psychology techniques. We invite you to help by sharing this information!

Need Help From a Professional?

Author: Sarah Murphy, LPC

Sarah Murphy is a Licensed Professional Counselor and coach with more than 12 years of clinical experience. She is Communications Committee Chair for ACEP and staff therapist for Unite for HER. She specializes in energy psychology, including EFT, as well as mindfulness and hypnotherapy. Send comments to SarahMurphyLPC@gmail.com ; Learn more at www.transformative-therapy.com .

Video Resources Provided by the ACEP Humanitarian Committee

Holiday Energy Helpers So Your Clients Can Thrive

Fri, 10 Dec 2021 20:28:41 GMT

(by Lori Chortkoff Hops, PhD, DCEP)

The holiday season, coined the most wonderful time of the year, can offer beauty, but can also deliver acute stress. Pressure to live up to an image of perfect gatherings, meals, and gifts, can render feelings of inadequacy or exhaustion in people when comparing real life to the dream. Festive parties may be coupled with tense conversations when folks don’t see things eye to eye. Clients may feel especially alone in their experiences, thinking others are fine, even though many share these uncomfortable reactions to supposedly cheery days.

Mental Health Struggles During the Holidays

According to a NAMI study , 64% of those with mental health problems faced increased symptoms, such as more severe depression, manic behavior, and suicidal urges during the holidays. These symptoms may cause those suffering to pull away from others, or experience increased interpersonal friction, abuse, or violence, creating a downward spiral of more extreme social isolation and hopelessness. The pandemic has presumably made these reactions worse, due to long periods of staying at home, facing possible illness, and even losing loved ones. One study showed an increase in anxiety and depression among adults in the US between August 2020 and February 2021.

Holiday Helpers

Practitioners are trained to be aware of the greater risk of worsening symptoms for their clients during the holiday times. For instance, it is important to remind your clients of what coping strategies already work for them, as it is easy to forget to use what they know when under stress. You may want to discuss with clients anticipated holiday pressures and triggers before the big day(s) arrive. Along with typical triggers unique to your clients are holiday specific changes, such as spending time with people whom they don’t prefer, enduring long trips in crowded or confined spaces, or being alone or away from loved ones.

Common seasonal solutions may involve:

setting realistic financial plans to spend wisely on gifts and parties.
assembling a team of available helpers to ease with holiday cooking, shopping or travel.
monitoring use of alcohol, drugs, food or other substances which are often abundantly available at parties and in pantries, leading to potential overuse and/or relapse.
watching for reactions when reminiscing about the good old days with family and friends; it may bring out heightened grief missing those who are no longer around.
assessing clients for signs of depression, risky behavior and suicidal intentions.
scheduling extra therapy or counseling appointments if needed.
providing that back up services are in place for your clients if you are out of the office. Give your clients local and national contact resources in case of emergency. For example, the National Suicide Prevention Line is 1-800-273-8255.

Moving beyond conventional interventions to include energy practices affords your clients additional layers of support. Energy practices can be customized for seasonal needs.

Energy Practices to Add Cheer

If your clients are reacting to holiday greetings of bliss and joy with the opposite reactions possibly of negativity, angst, or dark moods, psychological/psychoenergetic reversals may be the culprit. If so, they can be addressed through focusing on releasing trapped energy and information. A free guide to addressing reversals may be helpful. Here are some other ideas to consider:

Play up the gratitude so often found in holiday greetings, movies and songs. Write a gratitude list each day counting down until a celebration, or write a list of 12 months in review, to be reminded of what to be thankful for as we close out the end of the year. Tap or hold the space between the eyebrows to reinforce good feelings, or do some calm breathing as shown in this video from Resources For Resilience on the ACEP website .
Reinforce healthy boundaries by strengthening the biofield with chakra exercises, such as weaving the chakras and connecting heaven and earth from Eden Energy Medicine, or other energy practices such as massage, Reiki or hatha yoga.
Entrain the brain by listening to music designed to induce relaxation, or guided mediations on gratitude.
Create a personalized meditation track for your client you can record on their phone in session, which they can keep and listen to in between appointments.
Manage triggers by creating advanced techniques like designing a customized energy plan, such as EFT tapping scripts, customized chakra or meridian sequences, or affirmations to enhance competency and success.

Make room to appreciate the little things in life, slow down and enjoy, and you’ll create a safe and welcoming space to share with your clients and those in your personal life.

ACEP is here to support you as you support your clients. We offer training in EFT to enhance your skills in energy practices. Consider joining a community of practice to meet fellow practitioners, to bolster your support network. Sign up to join us at our next live in person conference. Registration opens in mid January. Sign up for alerts to get best pricing . Let’s celebrate what we are and who we are becoming, as we all create a bridge into the new year.

Author

Feeling Stuck? Try this.

Fri, 19 Nov 2021 20:32:19 GMT

If you’re feeling stuck and want to learn a safe mind-body technique to help, you’re in the right place. This blog teaches you an easy tool you can use right now to get un-stuck.

(by Sarah Murphy, LPC) When your energy feels scrambled, leaving you confused or stuck, you can bring yourself back to balance by practicing the Collarbone Breathing Technique . This simple body-based technique helps restore left-right balance and allows you to feel more clear and connected. The technique was adapted by Phil Mollon from Roger Callahan’s Thought Field Therapy. Practice the technique right now by watching the video below and following along. You can also download written instructions in English , Spanish , and Portuguese .

How it Works

Cross your hands over your chest with your fingers under your collarbones. Breathe halfway in and hold, then breathe all the way in and hold; breathe halfway out and hold, then breathe all the way out and hold. You repeat the breathing sequence, this time with your knuckles under your collarbones.

Why It Works

By using energy techniques like the Collarbone Breathing , you help your energy system rebalance. This allows you to get un-stuck quickly and easily. There are a few things happening in this deceptively simple technique.

More Techniques to improve focus

If you found Collarbone Breathing helpful, here are a few more tools you can use to clear confusion and clumsiness: the Brain Balancer , also called the “9-gamut”; and the Cross Crawl . All of the videos and techniques in our “Try This” series were created by ACEP’s Humanitarian Committee in order to help people heal by spreading the word about the powerful effects of energy psychology techniques. We invite you to help by sharing this information!

Need Help From a Professional?

Author: Sarah Murphy, LPC

Video Resources Provided by the ACEP Humanitarian Committee

Developing Intuition with the Chakras

Thu, 11 Nov 2021 20:36:23 GMT

(by Lori Chortkoff Hops, PhD, DCEP) Intuition. The aha moment. The flash of insight. Suddenly solving a vexing problem. Gooseflesh on your arms as you meet an important stranger. A sinking feeling in the gut just before receiving bad news. Our bodies can register nearly instantly vital information for our well-being and growth, and our minds slowly play catch up trying to make sense of it all.

Intuition Defined

Intuition is hard to define, but easy to recognize.

Intuition is:

knowing that you know
without knowing how or why
without conscious reasoning
your built in GPS
protecting and guiding you
the still small voice
hard to quantify
easy to dismiss
vital to honor

How Intuition Helps You

Intuition can bring a measure of clarity to a confusing and complex world, saving you from danger, as a fail-safe pre-programmed setting. For instance, it can suddenly tell you to stop your feet from crossing into unexpected traffic, despite your mind’s plans to walk ahead. Though a natural occurrence for safety’s sake, you need to deliberately focus on developing intuition in order to benefit from its gifts of subtilty, creativity and depth of awareness. By activating your free will to summon intuition on demand, it will assist you with life’s challenges, reveal secrets, and become a source of trusted advice.

The Body is Primed for Intuition

You were born intuitive. Recent empirical evidence suggests how this works. Read my article in the 2016 Energy Field listen to this podcast about the science of intuition . The right brain is designed for the hallmarks of intuitive processing of information: global thinking, seeking coherence, pattern recognition, and rapid processing of nonverbal information. The body’s physical receptors capture vibrations, light, sound, touch flooding the stomach, heart and nervous system with information for the brain to decode as we very slowly think with our left brains. Our commonly overrated left brains are primed for logic, sequence, language, limited data storage, mapping onto expectations, flavored with opinions, sifting through the onslaught of data from the body and right brain. Then we react, sometimes too late, possibly never. Intuition bypasses the slow left brain for a quick message to the right brain. It’s up to us to pay attention to the messages of intuition, act on it, or ignore it.

Physical and Subtle Information

If we decide to pay attention to intuition, it accesses the physical body as a conveyor and container, translating between physical and subtle information. Physical information is represented by three-dimensional reality, such as objects. Subtle information is represented by nonphysical reality, such as thoughts. Here are some commonly known intuitive systems which pass through sensory systems, though the list is not exhaustive.

The eyes register and capture physical light variation, by wakeful time in form, by dreamtime or reverie in metaphor. Clairvoyance is clear seeing, with the mind’s eye.

The body’s skin and organs measure weight, pressure, and temperature in response to the outside world and inner realms like thoughts and feelings. Gustatory reactions lead to clairsentience, or clear feeling, with chills, gut reactions, sudden fear or relaxation as instant signs of subtle messages.

The ears react to vibrational waves coursing through the air. Hearing someone’s voice, or even their thoughts (telepathy): clairaudience is clear hearing with the ears, what is unexpressed or intended but not physically spoken.

The mind memorizes facts, decodes puzzles with formal knowledge, and almost magically can also understand without obvious reason, instantly grasping a knowing beyond expectations or conventions, beyond space and time. Claircognizance is clear knowing all at once, appearing effortlessly and often unexpectedly.

Lesser recognized is the nose receiving odor which is not in the physical, or clairaulience. It is clear smelling, such as catching a whiff of grannie’s old perfume no longer present, when no one is around.

The Chakras and Intuition

In order to be a clear and grounded recipient and sender of intuitive information, it is important to be fully present in the body. Steadiness on the earth, rooted with the lower body and the bottom of the spine correctly aligned, hips balanced, healthy and open for creative exploration, and clarity of power in the belly sourced from integrity are a recipe for success with intuition. Chakras are seats of energy, and hubs of information and communication, recognized by many healing systems from around the world. Primarily located along the spine, although found throughout the body, the chakras are related to physical organs, endocrine glands, colors, sounds and concepts; esoteric and practical wisdom is contained in them to enhance life. Chakras process internal and external information and are translators from the physical to the subtle and back again.

The root chakra (Sanskrit for wheel) is at the bottom of the spine, the sacral chakra is in the pelvic area below the navel, and the solar plexus chakra is in the abdominal region above the navel. Once these lower chakras are developed and stable, then the upper body can follow suit with the relational heart chakra, clear voice communication in the throat chakra, third eye chakra between the eyebrows for visioning and the crown chakra associated with higher dimensional and mind-based intuition.

Three Lower Body Chakras and Matching Elements

The Root of the Matter: The first or root chakra connects you to home, the earth, grounding. Like the soil which nourishes new life, the root keeps you alive and vital, or can bury or poison you. The element of earth, which is associated with the root, builds, protects, and soothes, as well as repairs and rebuilds when necessary. Intuitive messages from the root are part of your sense of family, place, history and legacy, and all it represents. Stability, trust, safety and the absence of such, like fear and mistrust reside here.

The Ways of Water: The second or sacral chakra in the hip area is characterized by creativity, reproduction, and emotion. Like water that soothes, washes, cleanses, and absorbs, and can be frozen or fluid, the sacral chakra offers generativity or stagnation. Intuition through the sacral chakra can release writer’s block, relieve pent up emotion and memory, and explore the themes of guilt, pleasure and forgiveness. Sexual reproduction and expression are found in both the root (location of the genitals) and sacral (womb, ovaries) chakras.

Solar Fire: The third chakra or solar plexus is associated with the various organs in the belly below the ribcage, creating agency, will and self-image. Your personal sun, sending and receiving messages of power are connected to the element of fire which eliminates, purges, builds excitement, and heat. Intuitive messages about relative position and interaction within hierarchies, systems and community reside here, shaping and being shaped by how others and you perceive your self-worth, shame, pride and effectiveness.

Triad of Manifestation: Intuition with Earth, Water and Fire

When the elements of earth, water and fire combine as part of the three lower body chakras, intuitive work accelerates with manifestation. Intuitive knowing, which is grounded in the rooting of earthiness, tempered by the watery flow of emotion and creativity, and ignited from the fire power of interacting with the world combine into a triad of manifestation. Sourcing your intuitive nature with these features sets you in an optimal place, when balanced with wisdom, to bring alive your truth. It readies you for working with the upper chakras, through the prism of the heart center, to align the physical world with the heavenly world. It all starts with learning how to nurture your natural intuitive senses, following the messages you discover, testing out what you learn and staying open with discernment for new experiences.

You can combine intuition and chakra work with energy psychology, extending the practices into a therapeutic format for clients. Advanced Integrative Therapy , founded by Asha Clinton, PhD, uses all of these modalities from a psychodynamic perspective, amongst other approaches. Another approach is John Diepold’s Heart Assisted Therapy , which combines energy psychology with heart-based chakra work with conventional psychotherapy methods and mindfulness.

Want to learn more?

You can learn about the chakras, energy psychology, intuition and more through ACEP’s vast library audio subscription . You’ll get downloadable learning labs, keynote presentations and invited presentations from past conferences.

“Intuition’s Spark” by Lori Chortkoff Hops

There’s a mystery that flashes quick, unexpected, yet familiarly unfamiliar. Genius strikes, making landfall, lightning speed. The moment before is often forgotten, singed with tension or boredom. The moment after is complete, silent, blinded. Dumbstruck, it may take years to study, absorb, share. Venus fully formed in the shell. Like time in reverse, bits fall off to be caught piecemeal by the searching brain, sieved through the unsubstantial heart groping for the glimmer, deafened by the inspired inspiration.

Author

Lori Chortkoff Hops, PhD, DCEP is a licensed psychologist in Westlake Village, California, USA. She is certified in Comprehensive Energy Psychology and Logosynthesis. Lori is president of ACEP ( www.energypsych.org ), and is a Reiki master. Learn more about Lori at www.drlorihops.com . Lori teaches online developing intuition classes and offers personal intuition consultation.

Putting off a cancer screening? These energy psychology tools can help you overcome your resistance.

Thu, 04 Nov 2021 19:50:33 GMT

Every October, the focus is on cancer screening and the world turns pink as we honor those affected by breast cancer. This year, the focus shifted to screening and early detection for all types of cancer. Unfortunately, some people have too much anxiety to schedule a screening. Is fear getting in the way of booking a scan? These mind body tools can help you overcome your resistance to getting the screening that experts advise. While October has just ended, the need for cancer screening hasn’t.

Energy psychology practitioners in action

Amy Frost, ACEP member and 2018 Humanitarian of the Year award winner, supports adults and children with cancer and their caregivers through Angels of Las Vegas . She became a Dallas Cowboys wife by marriage, bringing the NFL Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign into sharp focus for her.

Every October, she says, the campaign prompts her to look at her own state of health and to schedule her yearly check-up. This year, the NFL updated their yearly campaign, Crucial Catch , to face not just breast cancer, but to raise awareness for all types of cancer, highlighting the importance of early detection and risk reduction.

Amy combined her interest in cancer and early detection with her enthusiasm for energy psychology to compile a set of tried-and-true energy psychology techniques that can help ease distress and resolve resistance so you can get the screening you need.

Cancer screenings dropped during covid

Initiatives like the NFL’s are more important this year than ever, since covid put a stop to a lot of screening, according to the American Cancer Society , and we are even further behind than usual.

In the UK, the problem is similar: around 430,000 fewer people than normal were on an urgent suspected cancer referral during March 2020-February 2021, compared with the same time the previous year according to Cancer Research UK.

Following your intuition

Have YOU noticed any hints from unexpected places that things may not be quite right? Sometimes these hints may come in the form of dreams, as outlined in ACEP member Larry Burke’s book, Dreams that Can Save Your Life . Sometimes the intuition comes in more subtle ways, like it did for Jan from Hampshire, UK. Jan was on a cruise ship with her husband Dave, when she just kept hearing a woman’s voice saying, “it’s all about the PSA you know, all about the PSA”.

When Dave was due for a doctor check-up, she told him to ask for the PSA test. The doctor wasn’t at all keen to do this test, but she had primed her husband and told him to pretend he had been getting obvious symptoms, so they did the test. It was the woman’s message to her that made her get her husband to make the call… and he was very shocked to unexpectedly receive a prostate cancer diagnosis, with not a symptom in sight.

Making self-care a practice

Here are some steps that can help you to make that screening call. We also provide additional steps to take should you receive a diagnosis. We are calling this the CRUCIAL CATCH Support Process: Care, Accept, Take Charge, Help self. This process can help you turn self-care into a daily routine to help YOU.

1. Care

We all look out for others every day – be it our kids, our other half, a friend in need, our colleagues. We like to think that we are good at offering a friendly, non-judgmental ear, a warm hug, a knowing glance, a shared understanding, a soothing look.

Here’s a question you may never ask yourself – How are you when it comes to caring for yourself? When was the last time you offered a non-judgmental ear to your irritation with self over not accomplishing your to do list yet again? When did you last smile with self-support in the mirror…without shooting yourself a barb or two? Have you ever cheered yourself with a high five, instead of giving them all away to everyone around you?

2. Accept

Sometimes it’s good to sit down with yourself and accept that on an everyday level, you alone can’t save the world. Take five minutes, even just once a day, to reflect that some things are outside of your control. Take time to notice that thing, which is niggling you, that you are squashing to the bottom of your to do list… keeping super busy and constantly hoping that it will go away.

3. Take Charge

But that “thing” doesn’t go away. It may poke you daily or nightly, reminding you that something isn’t right. Maybe the feeling is telling you that something is physically wrong; maybe it’s simply fear of finding out that something might be wrong, or guilt for avoiding the screening you committed to get. Whatever it is, you’ve kept yourself busy to avoid addressing it.

4. Help Self

If you are like the average person, it’s probably been two to three times longer than usual since you saw your doctor and were able to share your worries and book a screening to put your mind at ease and take advantage of early detection. It’s more than time – it’s probably past time to make the call.

Energy psychology tools can ease the stress that leads to resistance

Now is the time to make the most critical catch and call your healthcare provider for an appointment. Here are some mind-body tools that can help you to overcome fear, guilt, and resistance that might be stopping you from scheduling your appointment.

Butterfly Hug

When it’s time to act but you feel paralyzed, sit down, catch your breath, and receive a hug from the butterfly using the Soothing Butterfly Hug. This popular tool was originated and developed by Lucina Artigas. To do it, follow these simple steps. You can also download an instructional pdf or watch a video here .

Cross your hands over your heart with your fingers touching the “sore spot” or neurolymphatic point at the upper chest toward the shoulders.
Flap your hands like the wings of a butterfly
Breathe slowly and notice the change

Breathe…

If you can’t do anything else, because even thinking about this ‘niggle’ sends you spiraling down with anxiety and panic, learn to consciously BREATHE. You can use the technique of Connected Heart Breathing by following the steps below, and linked here :

Place both hands over the centre of your chest.
Breathe gently and deeply – imagine breathing through your heart
Recall a positive feeling of love, appreciation, or gratitude
Continue heart focus/heart breathing for several minutes

If you don’t remember to do anything else to help yourself in the moment, then just think that you take in life force energy and take action every couple of seconds just by breathing!

Take time to share your worry with someone close to you. As the old saying goes, a problem shared is a problem halved, and after all you are always there for others, see if you can accept some help for yourself. Accept a hug from them. When you are by yourself, try Simplified Self Havening , outlined below:

Cross arms, each hand on opposite shoulder
Pull hands from both shoulders down to the elbows, with firm but gentle pressure
At the same time, hum a tune

Engage

Make the telephone call. Decide what time of day you are going to do this. If you need support, ask the person who you shared with to be there with you.

Try the Thymus Thump (sometimes called Four Thumps) just before you pick up the phone, to help wake up your senses, get your blood pumping, and help get you ready to make the call. This is also a useful exercise after lunch to wake yourself up for the afternoon’s challenges, or before important exams or an interview.

To do the Thymus Thump, simply pound the center of your chest vigorously with a closed fist.

Calm your anxiety

Now you are in the waiting phase, having booked your appointment. Each time you notice a panic or anxiety, try to calm yourself with the Healing Head Hold , outlined below:

Focus on the fear, distress, or discomfort
Place one hand across forehead
Lightly hold the back of head with other hand
Breathe
Hold position until calm & can feel pulse in fingers 3- 5 minutes

Take courage

Keep communicating with your accountability partner or friend, with whom you can feel you are not alone and praise yourself for loving yourself enough to share your worries. Mark the calendar with the scan appointment and make sure everyone knows that you will be busy that day. Ask someone to attend with you, so you don’t chicken out of going, and if possible, get them to drive you there and back.

Once in the waiting room you can do the stealth Calming Hug to keep you calm:

Cross your arms
Hold for a minute
Switch & Repeat using opposite arm

Give yourself a High Five!

Having got through this part of loving yourself – notice how you feel now – having taken action.

Realize you may have just taken the most critical steps in your life… Congratulate yourself and celebrate your courage. Your team all around you will be very thankful that you have got to the appointment and that you have all learned several new techniques for daily self-help in the process.

Amy Frost MBA, MA spiritual psychology, is a trainer, community collaborator and facilitator. She has used tapping and energy psychology techniques in all her training, coaching and presenting for over twenty years. Amy is a long term ACEP Humanitarian and 2018 Humanitarian of the year. You can learn more at www.amyfrost.com .

Sara Whittall (Author) is a Body Code Practitioner and member of ACEP Humanitarian Committee.

For more information on mind body tools visit Resources for Resilience , a project from ACEP’s Humanitarian Committee.To join ACEP’s Humanitarian Committee contact acephum@gmail.com .

Next time you feel scared, try this.

Thu, 21 Oct 2021 16:26:11 GMT

by Sarah Murphy, LPC) One of the simplest ways to reestablish feelings of safety is to reconnect with your body and come to rest in the present moment. Here’s one easy way to do that. Apply gentle but firm pressure to your arms and upper torso using Simplified Self-Havening. This simple body-based technique helps your body become calm and centered. Practice the technique right now by watching the video below and following along. You can also download written instructions in English , Spanish , and Portuguese . You can use this technique any time you feel scared and want to re-establish a sense of safety.

How it Works

It is exceptionally simple to do! Cross your arms over your chest with your hands on your shoulders. Using firm but gentle pressure, draw your hands down your arms to your elbows. While you do this, hum a little tune.

Why It Works

If you haven’t tried Simplified Self-Havening yet, do it now. Notice how your body feels both before and after you use the technique. This technique is just one of many you can use to feel calm and safe.

More Techniques to Feel Better Fast

If you found Simplified Self-Havening helpful, here are a few more tools you can use next time you feel scared or anxious: Calming Hug , the Soothing Butterfly Hug , and Calm Breathing . All of the videos and techniques in our “Try This” series were created by ACEP’s Humanitarian Committee in order to help people heal by spreading the word about the powerful effects of energy psychology techniques. We invite you to help by sharing this information!

Need Help from a Professional?

Many people are seeking alternatives to pharmaceuticals. Body-based techniques like Simplified Self-Havening can help with issues like anxiety and trauma. ACEP is a nonprofit, 501c3 dedicated to the research, education, and sharing of energy psychology. Check out the ACEP practitioner directory to find a certified ACEP therapist in your area or online.

Author: Sarah Murphy, LPC

Video Resources Provided by the ACEP Humanitarian Committee

Photo by Hello I’m Nik on Unsplash

Energy Psychology and The Forgiveness Solution: Helping a Couple Recover from an Affair

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 16:29:42 GMT

(by Sarah Murphy, LPC) Do you incorporate spiritual principles in your therapy practice? Have you moved to teletherapy and wonder if your clients are getting good results? Are you interested in learning about new ways to assess clients’ progress?

If you answered “yes” you have something in common with longtime ACEP member, psychologist, and author Phil Friedman, PhD. In this blog, I’ll discuss his case study that demonstrated a couple’s progress over the course of therapy using interesting data obtained by HIPAA-compliant digital tracking tools. Read on to learn more!

Digital Tracking Measures Couples’ Success with Spiritually Influenced Energy Psychology Delivered Online

Like most therapists, study author Phil Friedman ¹ moved to a tele-therapy delivery model in March of 2020. Phil is a long-time scholar-practitioner and ACEP member. He has been tracking his clients’ progress using paper-pencil assessments for decades. As an assessment afficionado and longtime spiritual student, he has developed a series of psychometric scales to assist with tracking his clients’ progress, including measures of spirituality.

When Phil switched to tele-therapy, he searched for a way to deliver these assessments online. He began using customizable digital tracking tools designed for mental health professionals, Pragmatic Tracker and, to a lesser extent, Blueprint . Both tools were easy for the clients to use, and both generate color-coded, easy-to-read graphs that visually demonstrate client progress. According to the assessments and termination essays, the couple felt increasingly positive about their relationship during the course of therapy and found therapy very helpful. They reported that the energy psychology tapping exercises; the psychological uplifter, ² an energy psychology tool developed by Friedman; and Friedman’s book TheForgiveness Solution were the most beneficial in therapy.

The Study Setup

This case study documented the progress of a couple who sought therapy to recover from the wife’s infidelity. The clients attended regular weekly therapy sessions, filling out assessments on the morning of therapy. They reported that the assessments took about 10-15 minutes to complete.

In addition to standard depression and anxiety scales, Phil added his psychometric scales to the assessment trackers. These tools, the Friedman Scales, are available for free for non-commercial use and are encouraged for research and clinical use. The Friedman Life Balance Scale assesses reflection, understanding of self and others, and self-compassion; it includes a spirituality subscale. The Friedman Spiritual Awakening Scale assesses spiritual awakening, including oneness, spirituality, higher power, inclusion, perfection, and compassion.

Study Results

The couple experienced an overall positive trend on all measures during therapy. The husband began in greater distress about the state of the marriage; the wife began in greater distress generally. Overall, the wife made greater changes than the husband with one exception (the marital measure):

The marriage: Both husband and wife improved in marital satisfaction (Friedman Marital Harmony scale)
Individual functioning: The wife experienced significant decreases in depression and anxiety (six Friedman scales); both wife and husband improved in satisfaction with life (Satisfaction With Life Scale)
Spiritual Assessment: The wife improved significantly on these metrics (Friedman Spiritual Awakening Scale; Spirituality subscale of Friedman Life Balance Scale).
Helpfulness of therapy: The couple began with a tepid perception of how helpful therapy would be, rating it 4.5 out of 10; however, at the end of therapy, both rated therapy as a 10-out-of-10 in helpfulness (termination essays)
Most helpful part of therapy: In termination essays, the wife reported that the tapping, the psychological uplifter, and The Forgiveness Solution book were most helpful; the husband reported that tapping and other techniques were the most helpful

Why it Matters

Energy Psychology for couples: Functioning within the partner dyad has a tremendous impact on quality of life. The energy psychology techniques used in the study were cited by both husband and wife as among the most effective tools in therapy.
Spiritual Principles: The model outlined in The Forgiveness Solution incorporates spiritual principles with energy psychology. For clinicians who are interested in the spiritual aspect of clients’ progress, the Friedman Scales offer a tool to assess spirituality and spiritual awakening.
Assessing tele-therapy: As we move to tele-therapy, it is important to understand how effective our work is. This case study demonstrates the effectiveness of tele-therapy in couples therapy.
Digital tracking: The study explores two HIPAA-compliant tracking tools for therapists and found both to be easy to use and customizable.

The Takeaways

The present study demonstrates that couples therapy delivered online is effective. The tracking tools were effective , simple to use, and generated easy-to-read graphs carting clients’ progress; the couple improved on every measure. Additionally, the couple reported that using energy psychology as well as the researcher’s book The Forgiveness Solution helped them heal from their marital issues. The Forgiveness Solution incorporates, and the Friedman Scales assess, spirituality in therapy .

The full article is available free of charge in the August 24, 2021 issue of the International Journal of Healing and Caring.

Want to learn more about the research on energy psychology? Explore energypsych.org/research . Do you have a case study of your own in mind? We would love to hear from you .

Author

Sarah Murphy is a licensed professional counselor with more than 15 years of clinical experience. She is Communications Committee Chair for ACEP and staff therapist for Unite for HER . She specializes in using energy psychology, mindfulness, and hypnotherapy in working with cancer patients. Learn more at https://transformative-therapy.com .

¹ Philip H. Friedman, PhD, is a licensed psychologist and Director of the Foundation for Well-Being in Pennsylvania. He is the author of The Forgiveness Solution and Creating Well Being in addition to the Friedman Assessment Scales on Well-Being, Beliefs, Quality of Life, Affect, Life Balance, Spiritual Awakening and the Mini-5 Factor Personality Scale. Phil is an adjunct professor on the faculty of Sophia University (formerly the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology). He is the founder of Integrative Forgiveness Psychotherapy (IFP), the Positive Pressure Point Techniques (PPPT), the Practice Based Evidence Approach (PBEA) and the Digital Assessment and Tracking Approach (DATA) to assessment and change. www.philipfriedman.com and www.forgivenesssolution.com .

² The Psychological Uplifter was developed by Friedman and is outlined on p. 69 of The Forgiveness Solution. To do the Psychological Uplifter, rub the sore point (neurolymphatic point) while repeating the reminder phrase: “Even though I have some of this problem or negative emotion (e.g., fear, anxiety, hurt, anger, depression, sadness, guilt, shame, low self-esteem, work, marital, relationship and family problems, etc.), I accept myself deeply and profoundly and I am a good, competent and magnificent person”. Repeat three times. Then, while continuing to rub the sore point, say “I love myself unconditionally despite my problems, challenges and limitations” three times; then, continuing to rub the sore point, say “I am entitled to miracles” three times.

Energy Psychology and the Tao of Qigong

Wed, 06 Oct 2021 16:32:46 GMT

An interview with Michael DeMolina, PhD(c), MS, LPC, DCEP

As an energy psychology practitioner, have you wanted to delve deeper into the realm of energy and consciousness? You know that energy psychology has its roots in Eastern approaches. What is the relationship between energy psychology and Qi Gong or Taoism?

On the other hand, maybe you practice Qi Gong or acupuncture and you have been hearing about this energy psychology stuff. Are you wondering what it is about? Should you care about energy psychology?

Or perhaps you practice transpersonal humanistic psychology and you want to know how these energy approaches fit in with your cosmology.

You have come to the right blog!

This fascinating five-part video series chronicles a 45 minute conversation between me and Michael DeMolina, Qigong master, ACEP’s EFT lead North American trainer, master addiction counselor and president of Wisdom Traditions Healing Centers in Alaska. The conversation covers a lot of ground: energy, consciousness, Taoism, addictions, trauma, enneagram, Jungian archetypes, neuroscience and more. I had a blast talking with Michael, and I hope you enjoy it.

Why not watch one video (8-10 minutes) each morning with your coffee or tea? What a great way to start the day and get your juices flowing. A warning: each video may raise more questions than it answers. And that is a good thing.

View the video in five short segments here .

Want to learn more about energy psychology and get trained? Check out our trainings here .

Robert Schwarz, PsyD, DCEP

Author, Tools for Transforming Trauma

ACEP Executive Director

www.energypsych.org

Reiki for Cancer Patients: A Complementary Therapy for Wellbeing

Fri, 01 Oct 2021 16:36:06 GMT

(by Sarah Murphy, LPC) Energy psychology includes tapping therapies, which have been widely researched and which we write about frequently. However, there is more to energy psychology than meridian tapping. Some energy psychology practices focus on the chakras (Advanced Integrative Therapies, for example, is a chakra-based energy psychology method). Others focus on the biofield. Energy psychology practitioners also may use biofield therapies from other energy-based disciplines. Reiki is one example. It has gained popularity and traction in recent years, particularly in the field of palliative care for cancer patients.

What is Reiki?

Reiki (pronounced ray-key) is a noninvasive practice that uses a light touch on, or hovering just above, the body. The goal of Reiki is to direct the flow of energy through the biofield, the purported energy that surrounds and interpenetrates us, in order to promote healing. Reiki promotes a sense of wellbeing and relaxation, reduces stress and anxiety, reduces pain, and increases energy levels.

Reiki originated in Japan, where, according to legend, the monk Mikao Usui created it as a spiritual practice. The word rei means universal, and ki is life energy (like chi). It is now widely used in the West as a popular form of complementary therapy and wellness tool. It is increasingly popular in cancer centers, where it helps address the emotional and spiritual needs of cancer patients. Reiki does not address the cancer itself, but rather, promotes the wellbeing of the patient. It has no negative side effects and patients almost universally endorse it as a relaxing treatment that connects them to a sense of wellbeing.

How does Reiki work?

Reiki providers typically deliver Reiki as a hands-on, using light touch, or hands-over therapy in a series of about 30 hand positions. It is similar to Healing Touch and Therapeutic Touch. The client usually lies fully clothed on a massage table, though sometimes cancer centers have Reiki practitioners deliver Reiki to people receiving treatments in an infusion chair.

Advanced practitioners can also deliver Reiki from a distance by tuning in to the client’s energy field and delivering the treatment. Interestingly, a study in 2004 documented an equal and significant reduction in depression and anxiety among people who received distant Reiki healing. In that study, people did not know whether they were receiving Reiki or not, and there was no evidence that people felt anything during the treatment. During the covid pandemic, Reiki providers often connected to their clients via telephone or video call, and guided the client through some of the hand positions while the practitioner directed the flow of energy, sometimes using their own body as a proxy. Patients reported feeling relaxed and experiencing a greater sense of wellbeing during these sessions. In more common in-person Reiki sessions, people experience relaxation and wellbeing, and often describe being in a liminal state regarding time, place, and even self.

Many cancer patients who receive Reiki report feeling relaxed, often experiencing the first reprieve from anxiety and worry since diagnosis. It is common for people to fall asleep during Reiki treatment. After treatment, people report feeling more optimistic, less tired, and more comfortable.

What does the research say?

According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine (NCCIM), there are not enough studies to make claims to Reiki’s efficacy. However, the studies we have to date show that Reiki helps with distress, anxiety, depression, fatigue, and pain. In addition, the anecdotal evidence is strong, and many patients want to try Reiki. Researchers had to close one planned large study because not enough people would agree to be in the no-Reiki comparison group. Reiki and integrative therapies in general are more appealing to women and younger people.

A study by the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine collected pre-post survey data from 213 study participants. Reiki volunteers came to infusion rooms, waiting rooms before radiation or proton therapies, and inpatient hospital rooms. Sessions lasted just 10 – 30 minutes. Recipients reported statistically significant (p< .001) reductions in distress, anxiety, depression, pain, and fatigue. Those who turned in their surveys also liked the session and found it helpful, said they would do it again, and most would recommend to others. In open-ended question responses, most said they found it relaxing, it helped them think positively, relieved physical and psychological symptoms, helped them feel connected to self and others, and increased their sense of spiritual wellbeing.

A randomized, controlled, double-blind study from the Centro Hospitalar de S. João in Portugal tested Reiki on patients with blood cancer. The 230 study participants received Reiki, delivered by Reiki practitioners, or sham Reiki, delivered by sham therapists not trained in Reiki. They received biweekly hour-long Reiki sessions for four weeks. Participants took the World Health Organization’s Quality of Life questionnaire before and after treatment. The data showed that pain was the biggest factor in decreasing quality of life, and that those who received Reiki experienced greater quality of life. The WHOQoL data is divided into five domains: general, physical, social, environment, and psychological. Interestingly, in this study only the psychological domain did not reach statistical significance; the other domains all achieved significant improvements (p = .05). Results were impressive enough that the hospital decided to incorporate Reiki therapy in the services available to patients.

A pilot study published in the journal Integrative Cancer Studies focused on Reiki to address fatigue among cancer patients. Researchers compared Reiki to rest among 16 participants. Participants experienced both treatment conditions, being randomized into Reiki then rest, or rest then Reiki. Reiki consisted of five consecutive days of hour-long Reiki, a week of no treatment, two more Reiki sessions, and another two weeks off. The rest condition consisted of five days of hour-long rest during the day, followed by a week of no intervention, and a final week of no intervention. During the Reiki condition, participants experienced a reduction in fatigue (p = .05); they also achieved significant improvements in tiredness, pain, and anxiety. These improvements were not found in the rest condition.

A 2012 study published in the American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care investigated the effect of Reiki on pain and anxiety using a numeric rating scale by Reiki providers. The 118 study participants received between one and four, 30-minute Reiki sessions. Seventy percent of recipients said Reiki improved their wellbeing; 88% said it helped them relax; 45% said it eased pain; 34% said it helped them sleep. For those who received all four Reiki sessions, anxiety decreased dramatically (p = .000001). Pain decreased, and participants reported that receiving Reiki improved their overall wellbeing, sleep quality, relaxation, pain relief, and anxiety.

A 2013 study published in the same journal investigated Reiki at a cancer infusion center. Participants received Reiki and filled out a survey, rating their improvement in pain, mood, distress, sleep, and appetite. Ninety three percent of Reiki recipients rated it a positive experience, and almost 90% said they would like to have it again. Eighty seven percent said it helped them relax, 75% said it helped ease worry, 79% said it improved their mood, 38% said it helped them sleep, 48% said it helped reduce pain, 41%said it helped with loneliness, 67% said it improved their attitude, and 30% said it helped with their appetite.

A team of researchers conducted a review of randomized controlled trials of Reiki for pain and anxiety. All studies in the review included a control or treatment as usual group and a Reiki group; all were published in peer-reviewed journals since 2000. Reiki achieved small effect sizes, measured by Cohen’s d, for reducing anxiety and pain, suggesting that Reiki may be effective for addressing these concerns.

The body of evidence supporting Reiki as a complementary therapy for people with cancer is growing, but small. More, larger studies will help move the field forward. In spite of the research, many oncology centers offer Reiki to their patients. The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center offer Reiki; all have participated in gathering some evidence of its efficacy.

Who gives Reiki treatments?

Reiki providers do not hold professional licenses in that method, though in some states they must carry a massage therapy license. Some professionals who use energy psychology also use Reiki in their practice.

There are three or four levels of training; each comes with an attunement given from Reiki master to student. At the first level, practitioners learn the hand positions. In the second level, they learn to do distant Reiki. At the third level, they deepen their understanding, learn symbols, and are prepared to teach Reiki to others. After giving an attunement to a trainee, they are called Reiki Masters.

Trainings, however, vary widely. Some people can become Reiki Masters in a weekend or through online courses. One study suggested that Reiki practitioners with more experience generated better results. On the other hand, studies found that practitioners untrained in Reiki giving sham Reiki actually help patients feel better. It will be interesting to see how the field of Reiki changes as the practice becomes more popular and more evidence based.

Bottom Line

Reiki is a form of energy therapy that has roots in the East and is gaining popularity and a research base in the West. It is particularly popular in cancer centers because of its ability to help with anxiety and to reduce pain.

Want to learn more about the research on energy healing and energy psychology? Explore energypsych.org/research or sign up for our online Science of Energy Healing course and earn CEs.

Author

Photo by LightField Studios

Pandemic Flux Syndrome: What it is and how to help

Fri, 24 Sep 2021 16:40:36 GMT

(by Kirsten Keach, LMFT) If you’re feeling a strong desire to make a major life change, or just shut down for the next few months, you may be responding to the impacts of “pandemic flux syndrome.” Pandemic flux syndrome is not an official diagnosis. It is a term coined by Amy Cuddy and JillEllyn Riley in order to describe impacts that this phase of the pandemic is having on many people.

In their article in the Washington Post, Cuddy and Riley discuss the emotional process that many went through over the Summer. In June, with the widespread availability of the vaccine and the onset of the exciting summer season, most people described themselves as optimistic about the future. But by the end of July, with the uncertainty of the delta variant, many people started to report higher levels of anxiety and depression.

People who leaned more towards anxiety felt a strong desire to make a major life change, i.e. quit their job and start training to hike in Nepal. People who leaned more towards depression experienced an urge to shut down, sleep, and hide from the world during this time. Both of these experiences are reactions to the impacts of the ongoing pandemic.

Cuddy and Riley identified three different factors that may be contributing to this state. First, there was no end of the pandemic, reset moment like many were hoping would happen with widespread vaccinations. This contributes to the feeling that the pandemic is going to drag on for an unknown amount of time. This makes future planning and being optimistic more difficult.

Second, our brains and bodies have experienced crisis, or flight or fight mode for an extended period of time. Our bodies’ emergency systems are designed for short-term use, in order to help survive an immediate threat to our survival. This threat has occurred for 18+ months now with little reprieve. To put it simply, our nervous systems are fatigued.

Third, we are making “affective forecasting errors” that could be seriously impacting how we feel about things. Affective forecasting errors, coined by psychologists Dan Gilbert and Time Wilson, refer to the consistent unreliable predictions that we make about how we are going to respond emotionally to events in the future. For example, people anticipate that exciting events in their life will make them feel good and continue to feel good for a long period of time. The period of time is usually much shorter than expected. Alternatively, people often anticipate that they will be devastated after a difficult event like a break-up for a much longer period of time than they actually are.

Affective forecasting errors in the case of the pandemic might look like feeling like seeing your friends again was going to make you feel better for a significant period of time, when in fact, for some people, it didn’t have that effect, or the benefits were only temporary. Other people were holding on for the vaccine and felt that they would feel safer when they were vaccinated. For some people, that wasn’t the case. They were vaccinated and still feeling unsafe. This sense of hope for the future not coming to fruition could be contributing to the increase in emotional stress.

How to Help Yourself Heal

One of the best ways to support yourself during this time is to support your nervous system and help your body’s emergency response systems to calm down. A great way to do that is to have a daily practice or routine using energy medicine techniques. Below are a few techniques you can try. This way you can experience the benefits for yourself and see if they improve your sense of well-being through-out the day.

Four Thumps

Heel Shock Release

Thymus Thump

Want to try more energy practices to relieve stress and trauma?

Visit ACEP’s Resources for Resilience .

Author: Kirsten May Keach MA- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Kirsten Keach is a licensed marriage and family therapist based in Orlando, Florida. Her specialty is relationships. She helps couples and singles develop meaningful, lasting, soulful love relationships. In her free time she is an avid traveler, Improv comedy performer & Amateur Salsa Dancer. Learn more about Kirsten here .

Video Resources Provided by the ACEP Humanitarian Committee

Learn more about pandemic flux syndrome

Why this stage of the pandemic makes us so anxious

Brené with Amy Cuddy on Pandemic Flux Syndrome

Photo by Jakayla Toney on Unsplash

Self Care and Restoration: How energy psychology practices can enhance your self-care routine

Wed, 22 Sep 2021 16:42:53 GMT

(by Aviva Chansky Guttmann, LMSW) There is an increasing shift toward looking inward and finding ways to self soothe in our chaotic world. Self-care is invaluable in helping us to internally recalibrate in a challenging world ― a world that sends us incessant messages that we should not take the time to care for ourselves. Energy psychology practices can play a key role in returning to a state of energetic balance. Developing and maintaining self-regulating practices encourages us to find ways to disconnect and intentionally to return to these practices. Here are some ideas that can help you develop a self-care routine ― or change the routine you already have.

Disconnecting and consistency: Two keys to developing a self-care routine

Two key components operate in creating a self-care and self-development routine. One is finding a way to disconnect from the distraction, noise and intrusiveness of the outside world in a way that works for us individually.

I myself gravitate to nature. Once immersed in the flow of walking or biking in nature my chattering mind slows down and allows for peace and the reset I need. Exercise also encourages endorphin release, which increases the sense of calm. Discovering what is unique to us takes experimentation and openness.

The second component (which can also be a challenge) is finding opportunities to return to these practices with intention, especially in circumstances when we are least able to find a quiet space in our physical environment. How can we do this?

In practices such as EFT and meditation, for example, we can learn a reminder phrase or grounding technique to stabilize our nervous system. It is absolutely an inside job in most cases, which is invaluable, because we are the person most available to us. We learn to self-regulate by using our reminder phrases or grounding techniques. This empowers us, allowing us to learn to count on ourselves rather than turning to a friend, practitioner, or guru.

Sharing energy psychology practices with others

As practitioners focused on energy modalities we have put our faith in a reality below the surface of what we see in the 3D world. The difficulty arises when trying to help someone who bases their belief system solely in the external world of tangible and measurable reality.

One effective way I’ve discovered to help people with a strictly concrete focus is using the analogy about how invisible things are scientifically validated. Taking the example of a virus and its tenacity to multiply which we cannot see with the naked eye but know exists and comparing it with the way energy waxes and wanes and transitions within our bodies, it is possible to help someone visualize how energy vacillates.

Prioritizing self-care in a world that does not

Practicing the self-care techniques that resonate with me has offered me solace and calm when stepping away from my cognitively focused brain. In generations past, much of this was encompassed (and still is) by the concept of prayer. However the comfort of prayer can also expand to non-religiously based areas including meditation, immersion in nature, music, yoga and sound bathing, to name only a few.

Self-care is a necessary part of life if we are to fully enjoy and participate in the world and the relationships around us. We cannot operate from a worn down and depleted vessel, although many of us try. Cultural messages to multitask and push beyond our energetic reserves are aspects to be mindful of and cautious about. When we act without awareness about how much we are offering others, how little rest we have allowed ourselves or quality nutrition we’ve absorbed, our bodies will alert us with fatigue and lethargy. Mindfulness and restoration practices are crucial for returning us to a renewed baseline.

Some people believe they don’t deserve their own care-giving and even if not consciously aware of this, their over-giving and care-giving of others takes a significant toll on them. I believe the primary reason for overlooking self-care relates to feeling undeserving, combined with our society’s emphasis that staying busy and productive holds inherent virtue. We carry an ancestral imperative from our diverse cultural backgrounds that reinforced this for generations.

As we’ve evolved, we remain a highly productive and creative society with a wealth of energy restoration practices to share and utilize to enhance our lives. We can be both industrious AND self nourishing! We can also examine any limiting beliefs standing in the way of using our energy psychology tools.

You can learn body-based energy psychology tools that you can add to your self-care toolkit here. If you would like to learn more about energy psychology and get CEU’s, sign up here .

Author

Aviva Chansky Guttmann, LMSW, is an Advanced Certified Imago Relationship Therapist with over 25 years experience. She specializes in couples work, chronic and terminal illness, caregiver stress, special needs parenting concerns, and adoption issues. Aviva has trained in EFT and CEP 1 and 2 with ACEP, and is an ACEP member. She has a private practice in the Hudson Valley and also works online. Learn more here .

Photo by Michael Krahn on Unsplash

More Evidence Supports EFT: An Iranian Study Shows EFT Helps Postmenopausal Women Combat Depression

Tue, 14 Sep 2021 16:45:02 GMT

(by Sarah Murphy, LPC)

A study published in the May 2021 issue of the Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine documents the effectiveness of eight weeks of EFT for depression in postmenopausal women. Researchers documented a ten-point decrease in depression scores from 21 to 11 on the Beck Depression Inventory, among study participants, compared to a two-point drop among sham-treatment controls. The study adds to the growing evidence base for tapping .

Can EFT Help Depression?

Researchers from the Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences Midwifery Department in Ahvaz, Iran, evaluated Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) as a way to treat depression among their postmenopausal population. After menopause, women are more likely to experience depression, which has a negative impact on quality of life.

The Study Setup

This randomized controlled study was comprised of 88 women, recruited from a menopause clinic, who had mild to moderate depression (scores between 14 and 28 on the Beck Depression Inventory 2 Scale).

All participants received training in tapping, and were asked to tap daily for eight weeks. Half of the participants were trained in EFT. The rest were trained in sham tapping, where they tapped on different body points: eyeball, elbow, forehead, arm, chin, and nose. These are not points associated with EFT or any other form of tapping therapy, which draw on Traditional Chinese Medicine’s (TCM) acupressure meridians and treatment points. The sham points did not correlate to known meridian treatment points.

Both groups received phone follow up for the next eight weeks to make sure they were doing their daily tapping, following the protocol. The study was designed to provide two sessions of live training. However, the covid pandemic hit Iran after the first training, and a second live training was impossible. The researchers switched to virtual training using WhatsApp.

Study Results

The mean depression score for the sham tapping group dropped only slightly, from 19.15 to 17.01. The scores among the EFT group dropped from 20.93 to 10.96.

In the sham tapping group, the frequency of moderate depression dropped from 50% to 29.5%. The EFT group’s score dropped from 56.8% to 9.35%.

And some women no longer met criteria for depression after the eight weeks: 34.15% in the sham group, compared to 63.4% in the EFT group.

Why it Matters

Depression is widespread, affecting nearly 20% of American adults. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it affects 264 million people worldwide. All over the world, women reaching menopause experience an increased rate of depression. A simple, evidence-based tool that can help alleviate depression can make a big difference. Importantly, EFT can be used as a self-help technique that people can do to treat themselves. This can be very useful in parts of the world that lack a strong mental health infrastructure.

Interesting Note

For those who question the validity of EFT’s tapping points, this study should help clear things up. Both groups tapped, but one used sham points and the other used EFT’s acupressure points. As other studies have shown, the sham-point tapping was not as effective as the standard tapping protocol. These results highlight the validity of acupressure points.

Making it Real: EFT Can Help Depression

EFT is an easy-to-learn, easy-to-use tool that helps with depression (as well as a host of other issues). It is a therapeutic tool as well as a self-help tool; it can be done in groups or for oneself. Many therapists assign tapping homework to reinforce the effectiveness of their one-to-one tapping sessions.

Imagine a world where many public health centers taught their patients to tap as a means of emotional self-regulation, and to alleviate depression and anxiety. When I imagine that, I see a world filled with peaceful, happy people.

And that leads me to ask: How can we help spread the word, and make it so? Maybe start by sharing this article with your friends. Please leave comments below!

Want to learn more about the robust body of research? Explore energypsych.org/research .

Author

Photograph by Javad-Esmaeili on Unsplash

Consciousness: Your First Tool in Energy Psychology

Thu, 02 Sep 2021 16:47:41 GMT

(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

Energy Practice Burn Out: Stop It in Its Tracks

Fri, 27 Aug 2021 16:52:14 GMT

(by Lori Chortkoff Hops, PhD, DCEP) Are you experiencing burn out in your energy practice work?

Maybe you’ve been noticing increased exhaustion, inefficiency, or growing cynicism related to your work life, three hallmarks of burn out. Don’t let these influences rob you of your peace and happiness. You owe it to yourself to make improvements – for you, and for the sake of your clients. Know that you are not alone, as work-related stress is on the rise recently. There are practical and immediate things you can do to address this problem, even before it becomes entrenched, using energy practices to assist you.

The Problem of Burn Out

The Mayo Clinic defines work related stress as physical or emotional exhaustion, reduced sense of accomplishment, and loss of personal identity.

Although not an officially recognized diagnostic condition, the commonly used term of job burn out has negative consequences on the body with increased risk of insomnia, heart disease, high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes. Emotional impacts of burn out may present as feelings of anxiety, depression, anger and irritability. Mental effects may arise with a lack of belief in the self, diminished achievement potential, or perceptions of incompetence. Some may engage in substance use and unhealthy escapism as temporary solutions to try to feel better, which can later lead to more problems.

Energy Practice Risk Factors

The very things that make an energy practice attractive and unique, may also be associated with an increased risk of burn out on the job. Energy practitioners work in deeper psychological states than the average therapist, often accessing subtle energy systems in addition to paralinguistic and non-verbal communication. The invisible impact of what is not seen, said or acknowledged can take a toll on the energy worker. Meanwhile, the energy practitioner is aware of their own complex energetic reactions, increasing the volume and impact of what transpires inside and between work sessions. These risk factors are coupled with those of a general therapy practice. Simply working in health care is a risk factor by itself. Other risk factors known to therapy practices are working in social isolation, having to keep secrets, sitting for long hours in front of the computer or in person, while deeply concentrating on sometimes graphic, heavy and dark life problems. Other causes of burn out, common to many work environments and also experienced by energy practitioners, are work life imbalances, working long hours, unclear job expectations, or lack of control over structure and function of work-related activities.

Energy Practice Protective Factors

There are qualities of energy practices which may protect you from burnout and reverse the trend. Burn out signals that your mind and body are working outside healthy boundaries of functioning. Energy practices are designed to immediately reestablish mental and physical calm, focus and adaptive functioning. Practice them enough, and you will move from flight, fright and freeze responses to stress, to a here and now grounded awareness which is stable and resilient in the face of new stressors. Daily practice between sessions helps you, as does using these techniques in session with your clients, when distressing material is likely to be discussed and experienced. Not only are you taking care of yourself, so you can be calm for your clients, but you are helping your client reduce their stress, and model how to handle new stressors when they arise.

Don’t Let Them Get You Down!

After you notice, or others point out that you are starting to experience burn out, it’s time to stop it in its tracks. Acting right away when you notice signs that you are off your game, will hopefully lower your risk of burn out altogether. Here are some tips for self-care you may find useful.

Pay attention to the needs of your body by providing adequate sleep, naps, good nutrition, frequent breaks from work, engaging in relaxing activities, and exercise.
Have a dedicated attractive workspace that makes you feel relaxed and productive. Create a “commute time” even when working at home, by engaging in enjoyable transition time activities between work and home life hours. Better yet, get away from it all for an hour, an afternoon, or take a proper vacation.
In the mental realm, evaluate your needs, desires and goals in writing, or share your thoughts with a trusted person, including work supervisor or mentor. You can brainstorm to change expectations, timelines for deliverables, and reprioritize goals. Practice good boundaries, even if it means disappointing others. Define what gives your work meaning and purpose and see if it aligns with what you are actually doing. If not, make some changes.
Seek nurturing social support from friends, colleagues and family, and don’t forget the healing role of playing with companion animals and regular immersion in nature’s flora and fauna.
Secure medical care if you need it. Don’t wait for serious (or any) symptoms to take up residence in your being, and if they have, listen to the messages they are offering you sometimes in the form of metaphor, and find healthier solutions. Consider hiring a coach, therapist, or energy practitioner to work with you, helping reverse the effects of burn out.
You can turn to spiritual sustenance in whatever form suits your needs.
If you tend to give good stuff to others, turn it around and agree to receive, maybe even more than is at first comfortable for you. Call in your better angels, in whatever form or state they emerge.
Use the energy practices you share with your clients on yourself. Want to expand your self-help energy toolkit? Read on!

ACEP Can Help You Bloom

Resources for Resilience videos can help you enhance your energetic hygiene, reduce stress, alleviate depression and quell a nasty temper. Go here and follow along , with downloadable instructions and multiple language offerings in downloadable brochures .

Join ACEP Local and Regional Groups for collegial support, education, shared vision and some fun. Find people in your area to discuss professional issues, learn more about energy psychology and connect. Some of these groups meet online.

Join ACEP! Become a member to join our vision of bringing energy psychology into the world to alleviate suffering, through education, scholarship, research, ethical practice, humanitarian outreach, lobbying, fund raising, and being represented by a professional body of like-minded practitioners.

Want more? Delve deeper into self-care and wellness practices to stave off burn out by following suggestions in my ACEP blog “Using Energy Practices When Life is Like a Marathon.”

Author

Lori Chortkoff Hops, PhD, DCEP is a licensed psychologist in Westlake Village, California, USA. She is certified in Comprehensive Energy Psychology and Logosynthesis. Lori is president of ACEP ( www.energypsych.org ), and is a Reiki master. Learn more about Dr. Hops at www.drlorihops.com . You can visit her Facebook page for A Tip A Day for Wellness Program at Facebook.com/Lori.Hops .

Photo by Holzfigur

US Veteran Uses EFT to Process the Withdrawal from Afghanistan

Thu, 19 Aug 2021 16:56:40 GMT

As a former Behavioral Health Officer in the U.S. Army, watching the US withdraw from Afghanistan this week is a painful, and emotionally devastating experience. I know I am not alone in this experience, as many veterans who served in Afghanistan and lost friends are going through their own deeply emotional experience.

Even though we can’t take away the horror of what’s happening there, we can reduce the emotional burden for ourselves. I like to use a technique called Emotional Freedom Technique or EFT. EFT combines tapping on energy meridian points commonly used in modalities like acupuncture and acupressure, except EFT is self-administered, giving you a useful tool literally at your fingertips that you can use on your own to calm your nervous system.

Traditional EFT combines putting your attention on the truth of how you feel about an experience, result, or current issue/person with an affirmation of acceptance of self even with the painful or stressful thought, feeling, or action while tapping through the points. By doing this, you are sending a calming signal to the amygdala, the part of your brain where your flight/flight response is housed and able to achieve a reduction in symptoms or a sense of peace and/or clarity.

Below is a video containing an example of how I used tapping to help navigate the complicated emotions I was feeling. If you are familiar with the use of EFT, it might not look like exactly what you are used to, as I had to stop several times and just tap through the points until I could get my tears under control and gather enough clarity to form a setup statement. That’s okay; sometimes putting your attention on the pain while tapping through the points is enough to find a release until you can regain control of your thoughts and begin to craft your setup statement.

Watch the video here

https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=269977091239666&ref=watch_permalink

More information about how to use EFT

At times, EFT can tune you into your feelings first, causing your distress to go up before coming down. If that happens to you, it’s totally normal. There are two important things to remember: KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN and KEEP TAPPING.

You can also combine tapping through the points with grounding exercises to keep you grounded in the present moment. To do this, tap through the points while paying special attention to sights, sounds, and textures around you:

“I feel my fingertips against my skin.”

“I see three things that are green: a tree out the window, a sticky note, a shirt in my open closet.

“I hear the fan, people talking outside the window, the sound of my tapping.”

Do this until you feel calm.

You can learn other ways to reduce stress and calm down by watching free videos on ACEP’s Resources for Resilience. Feeling in shock or exhausted? Go here. Feeling upset by traumatic memories? Go here.

Author

Jess Johnson is a life coach with more than 12 years of clinical and trauma focused experience. She uses a combination of powerful mindset coaching, EFT, and Matrix Reimprinting in her practice, teaching women to get out of their own ways and defeat self-sabotage. You can follow her on Facebook at Jess Johnson Coaching Services, Instagram at @seekingagreatperhaps1, or at her website: http://www.jessjohnsoncoaching.com

DISCLAIMER: EFT is a powerful self-healing technique, but issues you’ve been dealing with for years will likely require a skilled certified practitioner and/or one that specializes in the area you’d like to work on.

Beautiful questions with David Whyte

Thu, 05 Aug 2021 17:08:19 GMT

(by Robert Schwarz, PsyD, DCEP)

What are beautiful questions and what do they have to do with our clients?

According to David Whyte, beautiful questions enlarge the context in which we live. They’re often disturbing, because they shake the structures we’ve built, inviting us to engage with a larger, deeper part of our identity. Inviting our clients (and ourselves) to live with these questions can expand inner and outer horizons.

But how can we help our clients find these beautiful questions? Take a few minutes to listen to my riveting conversation with David Whyte. This conversation took place in 2017 (before he joined us at our 2017 conference), and is just as relevant today as it was then.

Want to expand your horizons? Check out our trainings .

Robert Schwarz, PsyD, DCEP

ACEP Executive Director
energypsych.org
energypsychologyconference.com

Emotional Freedom Techniques reduce stress: Another study makes the point, and an APA journal publishes it

Fri, 30 Jul 2021 17:12:03 GMT

(by Sarah Murphy, LPC) The journal Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy published a special issue on complementary and integrative approaches to trauma therapy a few months ago. The issue includes a study by Peta Stapleton and colleagues showing that EFT reduces physiological stress as demonstrated by significant decreases in the stress hormone cortisol.

Study methods

This randomized controlled study replicated a 2012 study by Dawson Church. In the current study, researchers randomized 53 study participants into three, one-hour treatment conditions: EFT, psychoeducation, and a no treatment group.

They measured salivary cortisol (a sensitive marker of stress) 30 minutes before and after treatment. The levels dropped significantly in the EFT group. Researchers also administered the SA-45, a brief measure of psychological symptoms.

Study results: EFT reduces stress

The difference between the EFT group and the control groups (psychoeducation and no treatment) was huge. The EFT group’s cortisol dropped almost 20% lower than the psychoeducation group. The no treatment group actually experienced an increase in cortisol. The researchers did not find significant changes in the SA-45 among any participants. However, according to Stapleton, the SA-45 is “not designed to measure change over one hour, but rather the previous 7 days.” They needed to use this measure, she said, as this study was a replication and the measure was used in the original.

The biomarker of stress reduction ― the cortisol reduction ― was clear. Interestingly, the drop in cortisol was almost double what was found in the original study: there was a 43.24% drop in the current study, compared to a 24.7% drop in the 2012 study. The current study used EFT in a group; the original study delivered EFT individually. This “suggests borrowed benefits are at play,” Stapleton observed.

Why this study matters

In their introduction to the special issue , editors Sandra Mattar and Paul Frewen wrote that mind-body approaches to healing have been used for thousands of years yet, until recently, they have largely been ignored by modern Western society.

Today, they write, these methods are widely used. One in three adults in the US have used complementary and integrative health (CIH) approaches to healing, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (part of the National Institutes of Health). An international study found that 99.6% of psychologists have used at least one CIH treatment in the last year, and 64% were trained in delivering them.

These methods are not just popular: There is a growing body of research demonstrating the effectiveness of these techniques in treating trauma. However, mainstream psychology has not embraced them. Yet.

A win for EFT

The latest study adds to the body of research demonstrating the effectiveness of EFT for reducing stress. The fact that an APA journal published this study is a win for EFT and energy psychology. Kudos to Stapleton and her team for getting published in this APA journal! These techniques work, and there is strong experimental evidence that they do. Moreover, people need help. Let’s all commit to continuing our efforts to not just healing our clients but to spreading the word about energy psychology.

If you’d like to brush up on the science of energy psychology and energy healing, you can take ACEP’s course and earn CE/CME/CNE here . Want a free taste of the full course? Sign up for ACEP’s free master class on the Science of Energy Healing.

To read some research highlights, check out this blog and ACEP’s Quick Facts . Not an ACEP member? Consider joining us !

Author

Sarah Murphy, LPC, is a licensed professional counselor and coach with more than 12 years of clinical experience. She specializes in energy psychology, including EFT, as well as mindfulness and hypnotherapy. In her therapy practice, she works with individuals seeking to find peace within themselves, people who have serious medical diagnoses, and couples who want to resolve conflict and live in harmony. Sarah’s personal motto is that we are here to create a more peaceful world, one more-peaceful person at a time. She is an ACEP member and chair of the Communications Committee. Learn more at www.transformative-therapy.com .

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Feeling Dark Inside? It’s Your Time to Shine!

Fri, 23 Jul 2021 17:15:13 GMT

(by Tapas Fleming, LAc)

Here’s how to get there.

Have you heard or felt yourself or clients feeling lonely, attacked by dark, gripping thoughts and contemplating “What’s the point of my life? What difference would it make if I wasn’t here?” Not exactly suicidal thoughts, but facing in that direction. And on top of it all, not wanting to tell anyone…because it is just not your normal?

In a dark place?

From the UK to Canada, the USA to India, clients and friends all over the world are coming up with the exact same phrases and feelings. Energetically, many look like they have the end of a bullet-shaped, thick metal encasement suspended around their head, neck and shoulders. Dark, lightless clouds are within the covering and relentless, heavy rain is pouring down, rain that sucks all the happiness out of the person. I’ve seen this in many people and they say, “Yes, that’s just how it feels.” (I can see, hear and feel conditions in people’s energetic fields.)

Get back into the light, using TAT!

Once we do a TAT session about all this, the negative thoughts and feelings, metal encasement, darkness and horrible rain totally and effortlessly clear up. And then, wow!!! People are shining from their hearts like the sun: a brilliant white, warm light that seems to go on forever and connect them with life with a new effortless strength. It is beautiful, inspiring, and attainable. If you yourself are in that kind of dark condition, take heart: you’re not the only one and relief is very near along with an incredible new condition of happy brilliance. This is your new natural self.

In your healing work with clients and yourself, consider that if you see, hear or feel anything like I’m describing, you can include this whole picture in your healing intention.

Want to learn more? Watch a quick TAT session

Here’s a demo of a quick TAT session I did with someone who had their version of the above going on and how it cleared so fast.

Author

Tapas Fleming, LAc, a California licensed acupuncturist, created a simple technique (TAT®) that can gently and easily reduce stress, end limiting beliefs, and greatly enhance presence. One of the most celebrated leaders in energy psychology, Tapas has taught TAT to hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. She is a long-time ACEP member. tatlife.com

3 Steps to Alleviate Money Guilt: How Energy Practices Can Help

Thu, 08 Jul 2021 17:20:58 GMT

(by Lori Hops, PhD, DCEP)

Do you feel guilty when charging clients for your energy practice services?

Do you believe your services should be given for free or on a donation basis?

Is it hard to ask for money for missed appointments, late cancellations, or additional time?

If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, you are not alone. It is not just energy practitioners who may feel guilty about charging for services. Service providers in many areas struggle with issues of how much to charge, sometimes cloaked in hidden beliefs which run contrary to successful business practices.

It helps to identify the beliefs getting in your way, along with contrasting ideas about how charging fair market prices assist your clients. Follow these three easy tips so you and your business can prosper with less guilt when charging for services.

Forgive Yourself: It’s Not a Bad Thing if You Feel Guilty

Qualities of good energy practice may conflict with setting fair fees for service

The very qualities that support your work as an energy provider can sometimes backfire when charging for services. High degrees of empathy, perception, compassion and intuition may contribute to a heightened awareness of money issues with your client. If you are resonating with your clients’ worries, fears of lack, and constricted beliefs about money, abundance and worth, you may have trouble setting realistic and helpful boundaries for your practice when setting your fees. It helps to examine these beliefs so you can address them directly. Take these three steps to uncover beliefs that block you, finding reasons to support your goals, and moving your energy from guilt to freedom so you can achieve your financial goals while taking care of your clients.

Step 1. Uncover Beliefs About Money and Guilt

Common beliefs about not trading money for services

Your fees are taking too much from your client.
When being paid, you are benefiting from your client’s pain.
You have a belief in the sanctity of poverty or selfless giving.
Money is the root of all evil, and tarnishes the working relationship.
Helping comes naturally and should be what people do for one another without exchanging money.
You believe service is a sacred act or is a higher calling, and is beyond the mundane world of money.

Step 2. Identify Reasons That Support Financial Goals

Why trading money for services is of benefit

Money is an exchange of energy, just like other energy practices.
Therapy helps people function better so they can be more productive and possibly earn more.
People spend money on things that don’t help and may harm them. Therapy is designed to help them, as an investment in their wellbeing.
People commit to what they pay for with time and money, and may work harder or be more committed to their wellbeing.
Charging a fair price for services indicates wellbeing is valuable, as is the work you do.
Those who pay your full fee give you opportunity to offer sliding scale or reduced cost to others.

Step 3. Find Ways to Release the Guilt

Moving from guilt to freedom

There are many creative approaches to releasing yourself from guilt and money. Consider these ideas, or make up your own.

Reflect on generational beliefs about money including family stories or slogans. Identify family history with access to education, work, opportunity, discrimination, favoritism, and legalities. There may be beliefs based upon differences in gender, age, race, geography, culture and religion.
Read the list of blocks, or make ones of your own. Simultaneously, see if there are areas in your body where there is constriction or distress. Consciously breathe into those places and observe your reactions. Notice any new thoughts, sensations, or ideas.
Use familiar or new energy practices, or other approaches. For instance, you can move energy in the chakras using hands or imagery or both. Dedicate time each week to this goal, so you are accountable to finding a new path and reinforcing positive changes.
Install new beliefs once the guilt or blocks are cleared. It is as important to establish new ways of being, as it is to clear the old, so you can build a new reality for yourself and your clients. Be a way shower, so your clients can forge a new reality for themselves and others.

Want to become more aware of, and resolve your blind spots around money issues? Learn how from Lynn Twist in ACEP’s online training: Clarity & Wisdom: Ethics & Energy Healing . Plus, you can upgrade your ethical knowledge while expanding your clarity and wisdom in these areas: risk management issues in your practice, managing boundaries, expectations and other relationship issues and spiritual competency training. clarityandwisdom.org 8 CE/CME/CNE available.

Author

Lori Chortkoff Hops, PhD, DCEP is a licensed psychologist in Westlake Village, California, USA. She is certified in Comprehensive Energy Psychology and Logosynthesis. Lori is president of ACEP ( www.energypsych.org ). She is certified in Comprehensive Energy Psychology, and is a Reiki master. Learn more about Dr. Hops at www.drlorihops.com . You can visit her Facebook page for A Tip A Day for Wellness Program at Facebook.com/Lori.Hops .

Keeping Up with Scientific Knowledge About Tapping

Thu, 01 Jul 2021 17:24:16 GMT

(by David Feinstein, PhD, DCEP)

When I first learned of energy psychology in 2001, the number of peer-reviewed clinical trials published in scientific or clinical journals was 0. Today it exceeds 120, and the total number of journal papers on energy psychology just passed 250. How does one keep up?!!!

Background

As many of you know, I got into energy work through marriage. I had just returned to my family in Southern California after seven years away, serving as an instructor in psychiatry at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. I returned to take a position as a senior clinical psychologist for San Diego County Mental Health Services.

During my first year there, I enrolled for an evening course on bioenergetics at the UCSD Extension program, and on the first night I met another student in the course, Donna Eden. Donna claimed to be able to see energy. But I liked her anyway, and 44 years later we continue to have rich discussions about the topic.

Donna believed that the energies she sees carry information and exhibit intelligence. I patiently explained that all forms of energy fall on the electromagnetic spectrum and are not known to exhibit the qualities she attributed to “chakras,” “meridians,” and other fictional concepts.

I eventually lost these arguments. While scientific evidence was still sparse, there was the empirical fact that Donna’s practice was bringing in a sizable portion of the family income. Plus she was developing an international reputation for her effectiveness as a healer, and I was witnessing highly impressive “before” and “after” outcomes.

Curiosity

The biggest surprise in terms of impacting my own work was when my skeptical mind was dragged to a presentation that featured a tapping session with a middle-aged woman who had struggled with severe claustrophobia since childhood. After less than half an hour, she was able to step into a small coat closet, close the door, and come out a few minutes later smiling and feeling triumphant.

I’d never produced such rapid results with systematic desensitization, other forms of exposure treatments, or the rest of the considerable repertoire of psychotherapeutic tools at my disposal. I became intensely curious about what had occurred, and this led me to discover that what I witnessed was not just a lucky shot but was replicable.

Asking Tough Questions

That realization resulted in my enrolling in an EP training program taught by Fred Gallo and then incorporating the approach into my practice. But the curiosity never went away. How can such a silly-looking procedure produce such profound outcomes? Really!!!

Because of my academic bent, I found myself studying what other practitioners were reporting and asking the leaders in EP the same kinds of tough questions I had asked the innovators of new psychotherapies when I was part of a research team at Hopkins that was investigating innovations in psychotherapy.

Papers That Examine Energy Psychology

It’s been decades since I held an academic position. Why I continue to write academic papers is one of the great mysteries buried somewhere in my psyche. They require tons of painstaking cloistered work. And the sobering tongue-in-cheek statistic about such efforts is that only five people read the average journal article, and that includes the author’s mother!

Nonetheless, despite making Donna a computer widow far too much of the time, I trudge on. And I have tackled some interesting topics. What do we know about using acupoint tapping protocols with addictions? Can tapping on psychological issues really help heal physical illness? What about claims of “surrogate tapping” benefitting people who are miles away? And how does it work anyway, that tapping on the skin changes fundamental processes in the brain?

A New Series

As these published papers have accumulated, I realized that as a set, they provide a reasonable overview of the scientific developments in the field. It’s not because I’m a great writer, I’m not, but because for each paper I’ve published, I’ve carefully reviewed the literature bearing upon the topic, both from within EP and from broader scientific understanding.

I wanted to make the papers more available to EP practitioners because I believe that working from a firm scientific foundation builds therapist confidence and enhances clinical effectiveness. But everyone is busy. So we decided to summarize the papers, highlight some of the most important points, and then link to the full paper. And rather than hit everyone with all 10 papers, we decided to release one a month.

New Study: How Tappers See Tapping

The first article just came out, “How Tappers See Tapping,” examining the reports of more than 800 practitioners and clients who participated in 15 studies based on interviews or online surveys.

Continue to a Summary of that Study and a Link to the Entire Paper

Check out a full list of energy psychology studies on ACEP’s web site: energypsych.org/research

David Feinstein, PhD, DCEP , is a clinical psychologist. He has received nine national awards for his books on consciousness and energy healing, which include The Promise of Energy Psychology (co-author) and Personal Mythology. David has also published 80+ articles. He is an internationally recognized leader in the field of energy psychology.David has served on the faculty of The Johns Hopkins Medical School and, with his wife, Donna Eden, directs the world’s largest organization teaching energy medicine

Energy Psychology & Emotional First Aid: Report from Brazil

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 17:26:31 GMT

(by Helen Jacobs) How are energy psychology practitioners spreading the word and making techniques accessible throughout the world? Read more to find out!

Emotional First Aid in Brazil … and at sea!

ACEP international member and occupational therapist Priscila Leiko Fuzikawa devoted time during covid to sharing the benefits of energy psychology in her home country, Brazil, using ACEP’s Emotional First Aid training (EFA) as a guide. EFA training provides simple tools to manage effects of stress and trauma for individuals and groups.

During covid, offshore oil crews from many countries had their work shifts and isolation periods lengthened. Many struggle with mental health issues as a result.

Fuzikawa facilitated EFA training with several offshore rig teams via Zoom as they gathered in their dining halls or in their hotel rooms while quarantined before going offshore.

“It was a real departure from my normal days but also a very enjoyable challenge,” she said.

Sharing energy psychology

Fuzikawa also shares the EFA techniques in private practice and as an occupational therapist, supporting family health teams at a community clinic. The clinic provides health outreach to communities in the Amazon jungle.

For Fuzikawa, sharing energy psychology starts with the commitment to do one tiny thing at a time. She focuses on prevention, health promotion, and stress management as she connects with people at work and outside of work, whether with first responders or psychologists, through social media or through work referrals, both individually and in groups.

She even shared with colleagues, who noticed their own stress levels increasing during covid. Some may fear illness, others may have old wounds have crept in from losses forgotten or pushed aside. When she realized colleagues at work seem to have concerns about confidentiality during group training, Fuzikawa opted for doing more individual training with colleagues.

“There is so much need in my country,” Fuzikawa observed. “Offering EFA training is a great way to help people learn how to settle their own emotional overwhelm.”

Want to share emotional first aid? Here are some tips:

Fuzikawa advises keeping the message simple, and, if possible, having a goal in mind. Her goal, she says, is to empower the people she shares with to be able to do something for themselves. “Assisting one person at a time is what inspires me to do more,” she said.

Fuzikawa says that being a member of ACEP has allowed her to become part of a large community that has members around the world. “It’s one of the precious parts of being a member of the ACEP organization. Connecting to this network, we learn how others are responding to the challenges they face. Having access to the research and scientific publications are also helpful,” she says.

“Collaborating with other members committed to making a difference in the world is a gift for us all.”

ACEP’s Emotional First Aid

The mission of ACEP’s Emotional First Aid sub-committee of the Humanitarian Committee is to alleviate suffering by teaching self-help techniques to those affected by violence, trauma and natural disasters. “We believe that humans are naturally flexible and resilient; and given effective tools, information and support, can recover from disaster and adversity.”

Want to support ACEP’s humanitarian work? Make a donation or join ACEP as a member . Want to take the Emotional First Aid Training? Sign up HERE .

Author

Helen Jacobs focused her career on working with diverse groups who dream of transformative shifts in their relationships and results. Now pro-tired, Helen applies her broad experience in business, facilitation, energy psychology, and multi-party collaboration in supporting numerous communities and non-profits including ACEP’s Humanitarian Committee. Helen has been a member of the Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology (ACEP) since 2008.

Featured image by nightman1965

Some limits of trauma-focused energy psychology work

Fri, 18 Jun 2021 17:28:19 GMT

(by Phil Mollon, PhD)

As the various modalities of energy psychology (EP) have developed, there has been a shift from an original phobia-based paradigm – as in the classic TFT case of ‘Mary’s fear of water’, and the early EFT example of ‘Dave’s fear of water’ – to one that is trauma-based, focused particularly upon the early adverse experiences that have given rise to troubling patterns of self-defeating behavior. This emphasis is very much present in ACEP’s own teaching of EFT, and it is indeed a helpful guide to effective clinical work. The skilful practitioner will ask simple but crucial questions to arrive at the key experiences that have shaped the client’s internal model of the interpersonal world. In this way, we target the foundational fabric of the partially unconscious core beliefs and schemas that result in continually replicating patterns of misery.

However, there are often instances in which this model of work can be a little too simple. One point is that although the ‘internal working models’ (John Bowlby’s term) ^[i] are derived from actual experiences in childhood, these templates of the mind have a tendency to become somewhat autonomous and detached from their origins. In EP work, it can be helpful at times to make the link explicit. This is a key feature of Asha Clinton’s AIT, which can usefully be included in other modalities. For example, if we are using EFT, after targeting a number of relevant specific events in the normal and thorough way, we might at times use an additional setup statement such as “Even though I learned from repeated experiences with my father that all men might be violent and unpredictable, I realise now that this belief might have been an overgeneralisation.” Tapping the side of the hand, small intestine meridian point, whilst holding such a statement in mind, can greatly facilitate a deep reappraisal of core beliefs. Another example might be “Even though I learned from many experiences of trauma, and danger, and abandonment in my childhood, that it is not safe to feel safe, and not safe to trust anyone, I can review these beliefs and assumptions now as an adult”.

Another problem with a simple trauma-focused model is that a person’s psychodynamics can be quite complex, based around unconscious attempts to avoid pain. Consider the example of a man – let’s call him Ben – undergoing a ‘mid-life crisis’ (Jaques, 1965). Unconsciously, Ben begins to panic about ageing, with a subliminal awareness that he may only have as much or less time ahead than he has already lived, and he fears he has not achieved his earlier ambitions, sees his life descending into a decline of mediocrity, and is painfully haunted by his father’s high expectations of his material and social success. His wife seems less attentive to him, as she is inevitably preoccupied with the needs of their two children, now approaching adolescence. In response, Ben buys a powerful motorbike, takes a training in NLP, and embarks on an affair with a woman he met at work. These responses constitute his ‘manic defences’ ^[ii] against depressive pain of loss, disappointment and ageing. To complicate his emotional situation even further, his lover suffers a climbing accident and dies – so that his manic pursuit of life has left him clutching at death. He is full of anguish, remorse and guilt, hopelessness, despair, and shame. At this point he seeks help.

In this example, there are several potential targets for an EP intervention: his experiences of his father’s high expectations; the shock of realising he is in midlife; his disappointment at what he has not achieved in terms of his earlier ambitions; his distress at his wife’s lessened attention to him; his feelings about his bodily ageing and fears of diminishing potency – and then the catastrophe of his lover’s death and the complexity of his emotions and thoughts about this. The problem is that in order to address these, it is necessary carefully to disentangle this emotional web and facilitate his access to states of pain that his manic defences were functioning to avoid. This may require much careful listening of a more conventional psychotherapeutic kind. If the therapist were to rush prematurely into applying EFT or other EP modalities, this would be adding a further shared manic defence into the mix.

There are times when we have to sit back, listen and feel, and reflect – and be alongside our client in their suffering. In this way we can combine EP and psychotherapy with optimum synergy to facilitate healing.

Learn more about ACEP’s professional training in Emotional Freedom Techniques .

Reference

Jaques, E. (1965). Death and the Mid-Life Crisis. Int. J. Psycho-Anal., 46:502-514.

Author

Phil Mollon is a psychoanalyst, clinical psychologist, and energy psychotherapist in the UK. He is the developer of Psychoanalytic Energy Psychotherapy [PEP]. For 37 years, he worked full time in the British National Health Service. He teaches on the ACEP EFT program, is Chair of the Ethics Committee, and is a past president of ACEP. The author of 13 books, his latest is Blue Diamond Healing.

^[i] There are many similar concepts that have arisen in different psychotherapeutic traditions, including the psychoanalytic concept of internal object relations, Dan Stern’s concept of ‘repeated interactions that have become generalised’ (RIGS), and internal family systems.

^[ii] The concept of manic defences was developed originally by Melanie Klein, to describe a constellation of mental attitudes of denial and triumph that are unconsciously used to avoid emotional pain.

Next Time You Can’t Sleep, Try This.

Fri, 11 Jun 2021 17:48:48 GMT

Want to learn a great technique to help you sleep? You’re in the right place. This blog teaches you an easy tool you can use tonight to help you get the sleep you need.

(by Sarah Murphy, LPC) The Balance Hook-Up , also called the Wayne Cook Posture, is a technique that can help overcome insomnia. In two to 15 minutes, you will feel your body and mind relax, which can help you fall asleep. This technique comes to us from Donna Eden . Practice the technique right now by watching the video below and following along. You can also download written instructions in English , Portuguese , and Spanish .

Why It Works

The Balance Hook-Up is a simple technique that actually has a lot to it! Crossing our ankles, arms, and hands, we are crossing the brain’s corpus callosum; this helps us feel grounded. The gentle pressure and attention to our chest area and slow breathing help activate the upper portion of the vagus nerve, which helps us calm down. Moving our tongue up and down applies gentle pressure to our meridian system. All of these ingredients combine to make a fabulous self-soothing, anti-insomnia recipe.

If you haven’t given the Balance Hook-Up a try yet, do it now. Take notice of how your body feels both before and after you use the technique. It is helpful not just for insomnia, but any time you feel upset or have racing thoughts. In fact, this technique is just one of many you can use when you need calming and balancing.

Spreading the Word About Energy Psychology

If you found the Balance Hook-Up helpful, we would love to hear from you! Please write to us in the comments below.

All of the videos and techniques in our “Try This” series were created by ACEP’s Humanitarian Committee in order to help people heal by spreading the word about the powerful effects of energy psychology techniques. We invite you to help by sharing this information!

Need Help from a Professional?

Many people are looking for holistic ways to address common emotional and psychological issues. ACEP is a nonprofit, 501c3 dedicated to the research, education, and sharing of energy psychology. Check out the ACEP practitioner directory to find a certified ACEP therapist in your area or online.

Author Sarah Murphy, LPC

Video Resources Provided by the ACEP Humanitarian Committee

Featured image photo by Nubelson Fernandes on Unsplash

Having a hard time focusing? Try this.

Thu, 27 May 2021 17:53:09 GMT

If you’re having a hard time focusing, you’re in the right place. This blog teaches you an easy tool you can use right now to help improve your focus.

(by Sarah Murphy, LPC) One of the fastest and most effective ways to improve your attention is to help your body rebalance while reconnecting your left and right hemispheres. You can do this by practicing a technique called the Cross Crawl. This simple body-based technique helps your body to rebalance and allows you to feel more connected. Practice the technique right now by watching the video below and following along. You can also download written instructions in English , Spanish and Portuguese .

Why It Works

By using energy techniques like the Cross Crawl , you help your body rebalance. This allows you to regain focus quickly and easily.

If you haven’t given the Cross Crawl technique a try yet, do it now. Take notice of how your body feels both before and after you use the technique. This technique is just one of many you can use to improve your focus.

More Techniques to Help Improve Your Focus

If you found the Cross Crawl technique helpful here are a few more tools you can use to calm anxious feelings: Breathing into Balance and Brain Balancer .

Need Help from a Professional?

Many people are experiencing trouble focusing and seeking alternatives to pharmaceuticals. ACEP is a nonprofit, 501c3 dedicated to the research, education, and sharing of energy psychology. Check out the ACEP practitioner directory to find a certified ACEP therapist in your area or online.

Author: Sarah Murphy, LPC

Video Resources Provided by the ACEP Humanitarian Committee

The Science of Tapping: What happens in our brains while we’re tapping? Results of an fMRI study

Thu, 27 May 2021 17:50:50 GMT

(by Sarah Murphy, LPC) A German study presents another possible explanation for why tapping is effective: bifocal emotional processing. This functional magnetic resonance imaging ( fMRI) study , conducted at Hannover Medical School in Germany by Dina Wittfoth and her colleagues, gives us a glimpse at what happens in our brains when we tap. The study adds to the growing evidence base for tapping .

The theory

Researchers wondered if tapping is effective because of bifocal emotional processing, i.e., attending to two stimuli at the same time. In this case, one stimulus was images designed to elicit feelings of disgust or fear, and the other stimulus was imaginary tapping.

The study setup

Because people in fMRI machines need to keep still, the researchers in this study asked their participants to visualize tapping.

Seventeen healthy young adults participated in the study. They were fMRI scanned twice in the same day. Between scanning sessions, they learned a tapping sequence taught by five lay practitioners. Participants chose their three favorite points to visualize tapping on during the second scanning.

Inside the machine, participants watched the disgusting or fear-inducing images. In the second scan, researchers cued participants to visualize tapping while watching the images, to “stay present with the picture while tapping” and to “be curious to see what happens.”

Study results

Participants rated the subjective unit of distress (SUD) on a scale from 0 to 10 for each image. The SUD rating decreased significantly for disgust (p= 0.001) and moderately for fear (p=0.089) in the imagined-tapping round.

The fMRI images showed that the amygdala increased activation, while the ventral anterior cingulate cortex decreased activation during the visualized-tapping scan. The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, associated with working memory and multitasking, showed moderately more activity in the visualized-tapping scan.

How the brain changed during visualized tapping

The anterior cingulate cortex links the emotional limbic brain to the thinking cortex. The ventral anterior cingulate cortex plays a role in sizing up a situation and processing emotional stimuli . Researchers suggested that the diminished activity in this region might indicate that this process was reduced when participants were focusing on the tapping visualization; thus, tapping seems to slow down our quick appraisals and mitigates against our fear conditioning, helping regulate our autonomic nervous system.

It was previously thought that activity in the amygdala, which is known as a structure responsible for processing visceral emotion, would be decreased. Instead, its activity increased. Interestingly, the increased activation in the amygdala was found specifically in a subregion, the left and right sides. The sides of the amygdala work with the visual cortex. Perhaps this increased activation was due to the dual tasks of seeing and visualizing.

Making it real

Tapping, and even imaginary tapping, seems to mitigate our “gut reactions.” Imagine a world in which people learned tapping from a young age. The practical method of emotional self-regulation would be second nature. Reinforced with regular practice, we could learn to keep our emotional reactivity at bay. What a beautiful world it could be.

Check out other research studies

ACEP has extensive bibliographies of research studies on energy psychology. And you can download them.

Visit energypsych.org/research .

Author

Sarah Murphy is a licensed professional counselor and coach with more than 12 years of clinical experience. She is Communications Committee Chair for ACEP. She specializes in energy psychology, including EFT, as well as mindfulness and hypnotherapy. In her therapy practice, she works with individuals seeking to find peace within themselves, people who have serious medical diagnoses, and couples who want to resolve conflict and live in harmony. Learn more at www.transformative-therapy.com .

Energy, Spring, and Post-Isolation: an Energy Psychology Approach

Thu, 22 Apr 2021 17:57:29 GMT

(by Aviva Chansky Guttmann, LMSW) With spring’s arrival this year, we may experience an array of contradictory emotions about the immediate future. Global hopes about the efficacy of COVID vaccines bring the tentative yet welcome promise of more freedom to gather with loved ones and celebrate life. Under non-pandemic reality, spring is associated with the colloquial “spring fever.” We are suddenly ebullient from the long-awaited contrast to winter, basking in the sunshine on our faces and relishing warm days where we can take off those extra layers of clothing and smell the scent of blossoming flowers.

In our new post-COVID-social-isolation world, spring fever could actually feel risky and dangerous, as we are understandably tentative and confused about our reality and surroundings. We may struggle with mixed emotions and our energy system may be equally confused as it constantly scans our environment for safety. When signs of safety are ambiguous, we second-guess ourselves. A virus and its ability to affect us are invisible and so much of how we determine safety now requires a leap of faith and trust in the information we receive from our leadership and scientific communities. Our senses are not necessarily finding the reassurance we need. Our energy is not finding its alignment.

Energy is the foundational component of life. The Law of Conservation states that energy can be converted in form, but not created or destroyed. Energy moves continually from one form to another and much of it is intangible and invisible. We see the results of energy transmission in our electronics and machinery that depend on it, but in many situations we must imagine, envision, and trust that the ever-constant exchange from one energetic state to another exists.

When we discuss EFT/ tapping, for example, we are asked to imagine a blockage in the energy pathways obstructing freely flowing Chi (life force) and understand the intention of EFT is to unblock these obstructions through administering tapping sequences along the meridian points (energy center pathways) exiting our bodies.

We can think of emotions, also invisible, as energy in motion. Just as energy transmutes, so do emotions ― and they often do so without our conscious intention. Within minutes, we can experience joy or delight, fear or aversion, sadness or grief, and any other nuanced shades of feeling along the continuum. As we envision our post-isolation lives, we struggle for energetic alignment as our senses are not necessarily finding the reassurance we need.

As practitioners of energy psychology, we can approach this lack of clarity through practicing mindfulness and keeping our intention for healing and wholeness in awareness. “Where intention goes energy flows,” as author James Redfield states. Similarly, if using EFT, we may consider a setup statement akin to “Even though I am confused and anxious about the new reality and the safety of venturing out post-COVID, and although I’ve had my vaccines, I deeply and completely accept myself and hope to feel more secure in the safety of the world.” How would we rate the SUDS on this? We can start wherever we are and work with our energy systems to address ambiguity.

Feeling uncertain in uncertain times is normal and adaptive. The world continues to go through rapid and overwhelming changes. Emerging from enforced social isolation and safety precautions and the emotional adjustments of doing so has been a strain. We must restore and refresh ourselves at whatever pace we can manage. Fortunately, we have many energy psychology tools available to us.

Want to expand your toolkit with some simple, self-help videos that you and your clients can use to create calm and resilience? Visit ACEP’s free Resources for Resilience .

Author

Aviva Chansky Guttmann, LMSW, is an advanced Certified Imago Relationship Therapist with over 25 years experience counseling couples, individuals and families who experience challenges ranging from marital conflict, sexual and emotional intimacy, chronic and terminal illness, caregiver stress, special needs, parenting concerns, adoptees’ identity concerns, and other areas of suffering and difficulty. Aviva has trained in Emotional Freedom Techniques and Comprehensive Energy Psychology with ACEP. An ACEP member, she is based in the Hudson Valley in New York State.

www.avivachanskyguttmann.com

Photo by kiyomi shiomura on Unsplash

A mathematical formula that explains the creation of psychoenergetic disruptions

Wed, 14 Apr 2021 18:02:46 GMT

by Robert Schwarz, PsyD, DCEP

A few years ago, I gave a 20 minute TED-style talk on energy psychology at the Psychotherapy Networker conference. One of the major differences of an energy psychology approach is in the recognition that traumatic events are not the real source of clients’ problems. It is not the event itself that causes the problem. If it were, the resulting PTSD or other symptoms could never be healed. The real source of the problem is an energy disruption in the system.

“Traumatic events” are events whose “objective” characteristics are highly likely to create energy disruptions. This includes acts of violence, for instance. But what does that relationship between the characteristics of an event and the formation of energy disruptions look like? Some people experience very traumatic events and seem to be “okay” whereas others experience relatively minor events that create massive difficulties.

While preparing for the talk, I was reflecting on a simple way to explain this phenomena when I realized that it could be expressed in a mathematical formula!

Let’s unpack this.

E ^T E stands for event and the superscript T is the degree of traumatic intensity. This variable is a measure of the “objective” traumatic intensity of a given event. Being violently raped is more objectively negative than being yelled at by your mother.

R ^AP R stands for resources. AP refers to resources available to the person at the time of the E ^T .

In the formula above, we see a ratio of the amount of negativity/toxicity in a given event and the amount of positive resources available to process the event. If there are not enough resources available to process the event, an energy disruption in the system forms.

The more that ratio goes above one the greater the intensity of the energy disruption. This is expressed below. (ED = energy disruption; I = intensity)

This formulation accounts for the many individual differences that occur when and if people have a negative reaction to a specific event. Highly resourceful people are often not traumatized by negative events because they have sufficient resources to “handle” things. But sometimes sufficient resources are not available and the event becomes “traumatic”. For people with fewer resources many things become “traumatic” and their vulnerability to becoming traumatized tends to get worse over time. This explains why more general energetic and consciousness approaches (such as mindfulness) can be effective – they increase access to resourceful states of mind. In other words, they increase the denominator of the ratio so that the final product heads below 1.0. Working on specific events with TFT or EFT also works on the denominator because they help restore energy flow as the person engages the traumatic memory.

This brings us to a deeper understanding of how energy, resources and memory work. Once the event happens in time and an energy distortion is created, that distortion loops back and reduces the availability of resources when the memory comes up. This process continues to occur as time moves on. If the recursive looping continues to degrade resource availability, the person is more and more likely to develop symptoms. We can express this using the formula below.

It is not hard to see how, over time, this formula for one event, or a memory of an event, would get linked up to other “traumatic events” to create associative chains and loops that eventually coalesce into behavioral patterns, schemas or beliefs. These in turn can create more and more negative spirals of increasing dysfunction.

Our job as healers is to use our approaches to restore natural and healthy energy flow in such a way that eventually positive healing spirals begin to emerge and grow. I did not have time to talk about any of this during my twenty minute TED-style talk. So I thought I would share it with you here. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Robert Schwarz, PsyD, DCEP

Executive Director, ACEP

Author, Tools for Transforming Trauma

energypsych.org

Want to learn more about how to treat psychoenergetic disruptions and other powerful energy psychology methods? Register for the 23rd International Energy Psychology Conference at EnergyPsychologyConference.com

The Tapping Project: What happens when students learn tapping in schools

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 18:06:26 GMT

(by Sarah Murphy, LPC) What happens when school children learn tapping? Can this ease their anxiety and increase their wellbeing? Dr. Margaret Lambert explored these questions with her newly published dissertation on The Tapping Project. Her answer: Yes! EFT tapping in school helps students.

The project is the first to examine the benefits of tapping in primary schools. It included 138 students in their 5 ^th and 6 ^th year of school in the Northern Territory in Australia. Nine teachers attended two hour-long trainings and then began The Tapping Project, using EFT tapping in their classrooms. One hundred percent of the participants thought it was effective and that all schools should teach tapping. Anxiety symptoms improved, wellbeing improved, concentration improved, classes were calmer, and some students even reported getting better grades, as their focus improved after using EFT tapping in school.

The Tapping Project format

The project was held in two, four-week stages. In the first, students and the teacher tapped together following the teacher’s tapping script. In the second, students tapped quietly, using their own words to identify the problems they needed to work on. Everyone liked the second, quiet phase best.

At the end of each session and again about ten weeks after the project was finished, students felt less anxiety and greater wellbeing. They also had less physical discomfort and reported that they had an easier time paying attention. Every participant ― all nine teachers and 138 kids ― agreed that EFT should be taught in all schools.

EFT tapping in schools helps students

In her quantitative analysis, Dr Lambert used the Subjective Units of Wellbeing Scale (SUWS) and the Revised Children’s Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMS-2). Over the 30 weeks of the project, anxiety decreased significantly and wellbeing improved. Those students who reported feeling “anxious” or “not great” received the greatest benefit from tapping.

In her qualitative analysis, Dr Lambert reports that 131 students said tapping was helpful, while 52 did not. Those who did not find it helpful tended to be from the older grade and mostly reported that tapping was boring. That said, they reported that their classes calmed down more quickly and got to work more readily, hence they agreed that all schools should teach tapping.

How does EFT tapping in schools help?

Lambert identified three areas where tapping caused beneficial changes: cognitively, emotionally, and physically. Students reported they were able to feeling more confident and better able to focus; some grades improved, and students attributed this to their better concentration. Students felt calmer. Some students reported a decreased in physical discomfort (such as nervous stomach, shaking hands, and butterflies).

The results translated outside the classroom, as some students reported that they used tapping on their own; some even taught their families. One boy reported using tapping to calm down when he became frustrated with his video game; another used it to calm down after getting angry with his family. Some students used tapping for sports and performances, while others used it for feeling overwhelmed by workload or test anxiety. Students whose parents or family members responded positively or with curiosity taught tapping to their family members. One girl reported that her dad had a lot of back and leg pain, and tapping improved his symptoms.

What about the kids who didn’t think tapping benefited them?

Most of those said tapping was boring, or they were afraid they would look weird and people would think they looked weird. Most of those kids were in the 6 ^th year, and the teachers guess that this was a manifestation of being “too cool for school.” There were some students who were not doing well (as reported on the SUWS) and sometimes tapping didn’t help. That said, even if they felt it didn’t benefit themselves, all students endorsed tapping ― they could see the results for others.

What did the teachers say about tapping in school?

The teachers thought the students liked and benefited from tapping. They found their classrooms were calmer after tapping. They said some students responded better than others, and that students with special needs or mental health concerns benefited greatly. Students with ADHD, for example, seemed calmer. One girl with serious depression stopped making alarming statements and seemed happier.

As Haim Ginott (1972) said, and Lambert quoted: “Only if a child feels right can he think right.” The Tapping Project gives good preliminary evidence that tapping in schools can help children feel better, and that might help them learn better. Now that is something we can all endorse!

Would you like to learn how to teach children tapping and other energy psychology methods in a variety of settings – including schools?
Sign up for this one-day, pre-conference intensive, “Mind/Body Tools for Children: Techniques for Trauma, Resilience, Self-Confidence & Performance”. LIVE, ONLINE May 12, 2021. And then be sure to join us for the 23rd International Energy Psychology Conference – The Art & Science of Transformational Change, May 13-16.

Author

Sarah Murphy, LPC , is a licensed professional counselor and coach with more than 12 years of clinical experience. She specializes in energy psychology, including EFT, as well as mindfulness and hypnotherapy. In her therapy practice, she works with individuals seeking to find peace within themselves, people who have serious medical diagnoses, and couples who want to resolve conflict and live in harmony. Sarah’s personal motto is that we are here to create a more peaceful world, one more-peaceful person at a time. She is an ACEP member and chair of the Communications Committee. Learn more at www.transformative-therapy.com .

Photos by Ridofranz and Monkey Business Images

Feeling Anxious? Try this.

Fri, 19 Mar 2021 18:10:22 GMT

If you’re feeling anxious and in need of quick relief, you’re in the right place. This blog teaches you an easy tool you can use right now to help reduce those anxious feelings.

(by Kirsten Keach, LMFT) One of the quickest and easiest ways to get your anxious feelings to subside is to help your body to calm down and relax. You can do this by practicing a technique called the Thymus Thump*. This simple body-based technique helps your body to relax and allows you to calm down quickly. Practice the technique right now by watching the video below and following along. You can also download written instructions in English and Spanish .

Video: How to do the Thymus Thump

Why It Works

By using energy medicine techniques like the Thymus Thump you help your body reduce stress. This allows you to return to calm state quickly and easily.

If you haven’t given the Thymus Thump technique a try yet, do it now. Take notice of how your body feels both before and after you use the technique. This technique is just one of many you can use to reduce anxious feelings.

More Techniques to Help with Anxious Feelings

If you found the Thymus Thump technique helpful here are a few more tools you can use to calm anxious feelings: Soothing Butterfly Hug , Healing Head Hold , Calm Breathing .

Need Help From a Professional?

Recovering from trauma and shock is difficult. It’s normal to need help with this. You don’t have to go through this alone. Check-out the ACEP practitioner directory to find a certified ACEP therapist in your area or Online.

Author: Kirsten May Keach MA- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Kirsten Keach is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist based in Orlando, Florida. Her specialty is relationships. She helps couples and singles develop meaningful, lasting, soulful love relationships. In her free time she is an avid traveler, Improv comedy performer & Amateur Salsa Dancer. Learn more about Kirsten here .

Video Resources Provided by the ACEP Humanitarian Committee

*from John Diamond, Behavioral Kinesiology

EFT and Memory Reconsolidation: An example from the treatment room

Fri, 05 Mar 2021 19:18:37 GMT

(by Sarah Murphy, LPC) I had a powerful session recently with a client I’ll call Kate. We have been using EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) to clear the emotional intensity of troubling or traumatic incidents from her past. Our experience shows how EFT can heal traumatic memories.

The theory behind this ― and there is plenty of evidence that it works ― is that troubling or “traumatic” experiences undergird issues that bring people to therapy. Things like anxiety and low self-esteem have their roots in earlier experience, often from childhood. Nothing much new there.

What’s different in EFT is that we treat the memory, tapping on acupressure points until the emotion is cleared and only a neutral memory remains. Best of all, the theory goes, as we clear the emotional valence of memories we also clear the overarching issues.

A powerful case of EFT

This session with Kate was particularly powerful. Therapists have stories like this, of those magical sessions when the stars seem to align and things just go so well. Energy psychology practitioners are often working on memory reconsolidation, taking the emotional charge out of traumatic events from our clients’ pasts.

I think that there’s a reason for the powerful result in Kate’s case, that it was a spectacular example of memory reconsolidation because of an accidental joke that gave us the giggles.

When Kate started to remember the troubling incident from her childhood, she started to tear up. She said her intensity of feeling was a 10 on a 10-scale. In order to help Kate feel safe, I used a tried-and-true EFT technique called “tearless trauma.” We create space between our clients and their troubling memory by asking them to put the memory in an imaginary box on an imaginary shelf. We ask them to name the memory, as if it were a movie. Then we tap on the name, which is in the box on the shelf, until they are calmer and more detached. Once that mission is accomplished, we proceed with our therapy.

An accidental laugh, and how powerful it was!

During our therapy session, Kate happened to be sitting in her kitchen, and I saw the microwave oven behind her. Instead of the “box on the shelf,” I asked her to “put the memory in ― well, put it in the microwave.” Then I asked her for the title of the memory, and she said “Leftovers.” Her memory literally involved trouble over eating leftovers.

We had Leftovers in the microwave! And it made both of us giggle. The absurdity of the coincidence, or the synchronicity, that she had “Leftovers” and I had suggested “in the microwave” struck both of us as just so funny.

We tapped a few rounds and she was clear. Her intensity had gone from 10 to 0 after just the preliminary step. I asked her to tell me the story of what happened, and rate her intensity at each segment. Every time, she answered “0”. “Go slowly, really get into the story, close your eyes and picture it,” I asked. “How is your intensity?”

“It’s a 0,” she smiled.

How EFT can heal traumatic memories

This got me to thinking again about memory reconsolidation. Every time we remember something, the thing we remember changes a bit. I also thought about the fact that it’s impossible to hold two emotional states at the same time. Putting these two ideas together gives us insight into how memory reconsolidation can be a therapeutic tool. Using EFT, for example, we hold a calm physiological state while remembering something that was troubling. In very short order, the troubling memory is no longer troubling. (You can read more about memory reconsolidation here .)

I thought about the great results of energy psychology modalities like EFT and Thought Field Therapy, as well as EMDR, and some NLP and hypnotherapy techniques. I thought of the times when cognitive therapy is helpful, and how simply sitting and sharing with someone who is calm is inherently calming.

It seems to me that the “secret sauce” in all of these therapy techniques is to remain calm while activating a troubling memory. In every case, we deliberately activate a troubling memory and apply a therapy that keeps us physiologically calm. In pretty short order, the emotion associated with a memory changes.

EFT and other energy psychology techniques are unique in that they accelerate the rate of change (you can see some research here ). They also have built-in “safety valves” that help clients stay calm (putting “Leftovers” in the microwave, for example) while working through their issues. After as little as one session, the traumatic memory can be healed.

That is powerful indeed.

If you’d like to learn more about energy psychology and earn CE’s, check out ACEP’s courses here . And register for our upcoming conference, The Art and Science of Transformational Change , featuring an amazing lineup of speakers and plenty of opportunity to learn about energy psychology while earning CE’s here .

Author

Sarah Murphy, LPC, is a licensed professional counselor and coach with more than 12 years of clinical experience. She specializes in energy psychology, including EFT, as well as mindfulness and hypnotherapy. In her therapy practice, she works with individuals seeking to find peace within themselves, people who have serious medical diagnoses, and couples who want to resolve conflict and live in harmony. Sarah’s personal motto is that we are here to create a more peaceful world, one more-peaceful person at a time. She is an ACEP member and chair of the Communications Committee. Learn more at www.transformative-therapy.com .

Photo by Blake Cheek on Unsplash

The science of energy medicine and energy psychology: A new direction

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 19:21:23 GMT

(by Rick Leskowitz MD) I went to medical school over 40 years ago, and its conceptual foundation was pretty straightforward: it was all about anatomy and physiology. First we learned about all the organs and cellular structures (it was called gross anatomy because the organs are so solid and tangible, not because dissecting them is unpleasant!), and then we learned how these components functioned together in health and illness. And not much has changed since then – doctor as auto mechanic, now upgraded to include regular maintenance checks (ie, lifestyle advice).

In many ways, the set-up is the same for energy medicine: subtle anatomy and energy physiology are the keys. Many people are aware of the three main energetic structures of our subtle anatomy: the biofield, the meridians and the chakras (in layman’s terms, the aura, the energy pathways and the energy centers.) Traditional Chinese Medicine states that the mind directs this energy (qi), and the blood (ie, the body) follows the qi. But how, exactly?

This is where energy physiology fits in, by way of two key interfaces: the places where energy psychology and energy medicine techniques affect our subtle anatomy, and the places where energy-induced energy shifts impact our biology. For better or worse, energy psychology (EP) research overlooks qi by seeking to explain its effectiveness in terms that conventional medicine will understand (ie, fMRIs). But if energy is real, we should be able to make these EP-to-qi-to-body connections. So here are some next steps.

With respect to the first interface, each energy psychology and energy medicine modality has its own unique subtle anatomic target. One size does not fit all, because Reiki, EFT, TFT, TAT and EMDR each impact different layers and components of the energy body; see the reference below for a detailed map of how and where these interactions happen.

Regarding the second interface (energy-to-body), remember that biology and DNA can’t explain cell growth and differentiation – how stem cells decide to become, say, neurons, and grow over there – but the biofield can. Just as iron filings align to a magnet’s invisible lines of force, so will cells go and grow where and how the biofield tells them to. Consider post-amputation phantom limbs – many practitioners have palpated the invisible phantom with their hands. That’s possible because the phantoms are not illusory creations of the brain, but independent energy fields that exist in empty space, even when their corresponding physical structure (e.g., the iron filings) has been cut away. The body follows the qi’s template.

Another form of energy/biology interaction happens when strong emotions stir up sensations in our body. Feelings like being “choked up” or getting “butterflies in the stomach” aren’t just randomly located perceptions, but the results of specific chakra activations. Each of the chakras has an emotional function that is associated with a commonly felt bodily sensation (Figure 1).

Here’s another connection – athletes using acupuncture to relieve muscle cramps after vigorous exercise. The standard explanation is that lactic acid has built up and must be metabolized, and that is true – as far as it goes. Energetically, though, muscle tension and pain result when energy flow through the meridians is blocked. That “friction” creates oxidative stress, which effectively causes the cells to “rust” by building up lactic acid; energy treatments (plus anti-oxidants) restore intracellular balance.

Bottom line: there are still many gaps in the story, but these energy psychology/energy/biology links show the direction to go if we really want to understand what energy psychology is all about.

Eric (Rick) Leskowitz MD, ABIHM was a consultant psychiatrist to the Pain Management Program at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston for over 25 years, is co-director of their Integrative Health Initiative, and is a research affiliate at Harvard Medical School. He is a long-standing member of the Association of Comprehensive Energy Psychology. For over 40 years, he has studied energy healing and energy psychology, meditation, hypnosis and their integration into mainstream medicine. He has edited three textbooks and produced a documentary film about group energies and sports, The Joy of Sox: Weird Science and the Power of Intention, that was broadcast on PBS stations nationally. His work can be accessed at: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Eric-Leskowitz/publications

Want to learn more about the science behind energy psychology and energy healing?

Join us for the 23rd International Energy Psychology Conference! Live, online, May 12-17, 2021. Free with conference registration – access to the 10th Annual Research Symposium, May 13, 2021. Early bird prices end March 31, 2021.

References

Leskowitz E. A cartography of energy medicine: From subtle anatomy to energy physiology, Explore: Journal of Science and Healing, Nov 2020. ( PDF available here .)

Feeling Lonely? Try This

Wed, 17 Feb 2021 19:40:28 GMT

(by Kirsten Keach, LMFT) You can’t control many aspects of the pandemic. But you can do something right now in order to help remind your body that you are safe and connected to others even if they aren’t in the room with you.

When you start to experience anxious or unsafe feelings, your body sends out signals via stress hormones that cause your flight, flight, freeze systems to become activated. These stress hormones make it more difficult to calm down. You can learn how to calm your body’s stress responses naturally.

One way to do that is to practice a technique called Simplified Self-Havening. You can try this practice by following the video below.

Try Simplified Self-Havening Now

More Techniques to Help with Lonely & Scared Feelings

If you found the Simplified Self-havening technique helpful here are a few more tools you can use to calm anxious feelings: Soothing Butterfly Hug , Healing Head Hold , Calm Breathing .

Need Help From a Professional?

Author: Kirsten May Keach MA- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Kirsten Keach is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in relationships. She helps couples and singles develop meaningful, lasting, soulful love relationships. In her free time she is an avid traveler, Improv comedy performer and amateur salsa dancer. Learn more about Kirsten here .

Video Resources Provided by the ACEP Humanitarian Committee

The mission of the ACEP Humanitarian Committee is to share energy practices and resources to promote safety, connection, happiness, health and resilience around the world. We do this by developing resources for the public and by encouraging and assisting ACEP members in developing humanitarian projects that utilize recognized energy psychology and other modalities that meet ACEP’s standards and guidelines. Learn more here .

Ideas You Can Use: Energy psychology practitioners make a difference in their communities

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 19:48:55 GMT

(by Sarah Murphy, LPC) Many energy psychology enthusiasts want to share these powerful techniques in the community, spreading the word and making our techniques accessible to anyone in need. We all know the power of energy psychology practices. In this time of covid stress, social isolation, and political upheaval, our work is more important than ever.

A role model

ACEP Humanitarian Committee Chair Rachel Michaelsen, LCSW, DCEP, has been sharing energy psychology’s tools for resilience in her native California and beyond. Funded by a state program to train mental health and social services providers who work with system-involved youth, Michaelsen has taught energy psychology practices to providers who would not otherwise have had the opportunity to learn about them. Through that work, she has been instrumental in getting energy psychology techniques into communities in need.

Michaelsen was part of the team that developed ACEP’s Resources for Resilience website ( r4r.support ), a great resource filled with information on simple, effective energy psychology and other energy-based techniques. Under her leadership, the Humanitarian Committee also created a toolkit to teach energy psychology practitioners to share our methodologies with community groups and organizations. Members have used the toolkit to teach fire departments, schoolteachers, and community organizations. You can find the toolkit, and get trained in how to use it, here .

ACEP Humanitarian Committee at ACEP’s International Energy Psychology Conference (2018).
Rachel Michaelsen is in the 2nd row in the middle, in the blue dress.

How it helps – one example you can use

In addition to her professional and committee work, when the pandemic and lockdown struck, Michaelsen opened her own Zoom to share free sound and energy healing, including tapping. She has been sharing these free sessions twice a week for months now, and her work has reached hundreds of people.

Michaelsen says that she regularly has about 25 participants and sometimes as many as 50. Although the pandemic was the impetus for convening the group, the healing results extend beyond covid-era problems. One frequent attendee wrote to Michaelsen that she is handling pre-existing life stressors better now than before the pandemic. In these days of suffering, that is saying a lot.

The night after the insurgence in Washington DC, Michaelsen’s group gathered to restore their equanimity and increase their resilience. Demand was higher than usual that day. The combination of sound healing and EFT tapping helps downregulate our autonomic nervous systems. Participants left the session with a renewed sense of peace and wellbeing. This is a powerful way to help address our collective trauma.

Michaelsen suggests that any energy psychology practitioner can offer something similar to their community. All it takes, she said, is a platform and an audience. The need is great, and so are the rewards.

Because of these practices, many participants are able to see clearly how the things that unite us are so much greater than those that divide. Whenever we waver from that truth, it is time to get back to our tapping, or other energy-based practices, or our meditation cushion. From that place, we can help others to find their place of calm and ease.

The road ahead might be bumpy, but we can have a smoother ride if we keep practicing what we know works. And as we work to keep calm and remain steady as best we can, we are doing our part to create a more peaceful world – one more peaceful person at a time.

Get involved!

If you would like to check out Michaelsen’s Energy & Sound Healing groups, you can sign up here . To learn more about ACEP’s Humanitarian Committee, go here , and to access the Humanitarian Committee’s Resources for Resilience, go here . To sign up for free training in how to share emotional first aid with your community, go here .

Author

Sarah Murphy, LPC, is a licensed professional counselor and coach with more than 12 years of clinical experience. She specializes in energy psychology, including EFT, as well as mindfulness and hypnotherapy. In her therapy practice, she works with individuals seeking to find peace within themselves, people who have serious medical diagnoses, and couples who want to resolve conflict and live in harmony. Sarah’s personal motto is that we are here to create a more peaceful world, one more-peaceful person at a time. She is an ACEP member and chair of the Communications Committee. Learn more at www.transformative-therapy.com .

Energy Psychology: An Integrated Neuroscience Paradigm

Fri, 08 Jan 2021 19:50:43 GMT

A poll of ACEP membership found that the thing most members want to know about is the science behind energy psychology. With that in mind, here is a video of a conversation I had with Michael DeMolina, where I discussed a coherent neuroscience frame for why energy psychology works. Included is a description of three interlocking brain processes (amygdala deactivation, polyvagal theory and memory reconsolidation) that explain why energy psychology is so effective in treating trauma. It accounts for the deep changes that people regularly experience and how previously traumatic memories are permanently changed to neutral or processed memories in as little as a single session.

This is the first time these three processes have been integrated into a coherent narrative about energy psychology’s effectiveness within an interpersonal neurobiology frame.

You can view the video here in three short segments .

Thought Field Therapy vs. CBT for Trauma: Results of a Small Study

Thu, 03 Dec 2020 19:53:37 GMT

(by Sarah Murphy, LPC) Here’s a little nugget from the research on energy psychology, also known as cognitive somatic energy practices. Thought-field therapy (TFT) is a well-researched form of energy psychology. Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is a popular and widely researched modality in the world of mental health. Each modality has its place in therapeutic settings.

However, in the world of trauma treatment, energy psychology seems to have a greater efficacy than CBT. Our colleagues in Kurdistan, Iraq, along with ACEP member Suzanne Connolly, recently published a study that illustrates the point.

Study participants live in Garmian, a region that has experienced genocide, chemical attacks, displacement, and violence. Predictably, people who have survived these things seem to have high rates of mental health problems. In fact, researchers believe that as many as 20% of people in post conflict settings such as Garmian experience mental health disorders.

The study is small and we need more studies before drawing big conclusions. But these results are compelling!

What did they study?

Pegah Seidi is a psychotherapist and lecturer at Garmian University in Kurdistan. She treated 31 people with trauma symptoms, using either CBT or TFT.

The Garmian region has experienced a lot of violence, atrocities, and political upheaval. Many people in the region are suffering from trauma-related mental health problems. There is poor mental health infrastructure in the area, and there is a huge need for high quality, easily delivered, and cost effective mental health services.

What did they find?

The CBT group had 13 participants. Their symptoms stayed the same or even worsened. Some participants dropped out of the study.

The TFT group had 11 participants. All participants experienced an improvement in symptoms.

A third group with 7 participants received CBT and did not improve. They then switched to TFT, and their symptoms improved.

Overall, people treated with CBT did not fare well. This is not surprising to me. Fifteen years ago when I was in grad school, my research “pet project” was trauma. The literature in those days was filled with CBT studies with poor results and high dropout rates. This is why I searched outside the mainstream and found energy psychology.

Today, with results like this, I dream of having energy psychology techniques become part of the mainstream. Don’t you?

What is the significance of this study?

Energy psychology is among the top ten psychotherapeutic techniques in terms of research. This small study adds to our understanding of its benefits and effectiveness. As Bessel Van der Kolk thoroughly explains in The Body Keeps the Score, cognitive therapies do not seem to move the needle on trauma, but involving the body does.

This TFT study adds to our understanding that energy psychology is effective for treating trauma. You can request a copy of the study here .

More research will help move the field of trauma therapy forward.

To get up-to-date information about the latest research on energy psychology, for continuing education, or to get certified, please join ACEP .

Author

Sarah Murphy, LPC, is a licensed professional counselor and coach with more than 12 years of clinical experience. She is an ACEP member. Sarah specializes in energy psychology, including EFT, as well as mindfulness and hypnotherapy. In her therapy practice, Transformative Therapy, she works with individuals seeking to find peace within themselves, people who have serious medical diagnoses, and couples who want to resolve conflict and live in harmony. Sarah’s personal motto is that we are here to create a more peaceful world, one more-peaceful person at a time. Learn more at www.transformative-therapy.com .

Removing Blocks to Treatment with Energy Psychology

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 20:13:07 GMT

(by Lori Hops, PhD, DCEP) Do some of these statements from your clients sound familiar?

“I know this lifestyle isn’t good for me, but I can’t seem to change it”, or

“I get started on a new path with treatment, and then things just fall apart.”

It may be that treatment is working for a while but then stops, motivation for change decreases, or self-sabotage occurs.

What do you do when your clients face blocks to successful treatment, despite their (and your) best efforts?

Energy psychology has a unique way of addressing these problems , without the need to blame the client or the therapist, or using labels like “resistance to change” or “treatment failure”.

Psycho-energetic reversals can get in the way of change

A psycho-energetic reversal (PR) is a subtle energetic condition in the human psyche and body. A car battery offers a good metaphor. PR’s can be thought of as similar to a reversal of the battery’s wiring. If the negative and positive wires are connected to the opposite poles of a battery, the battery won’t work properly. We are made up of electrical energy, and at times, our systems become scrambled, leading to reversals of what we want to create. We shut down instead of opening up; we become upset when we want to be peaceful; we can’t think straight when we need to solve difficult problems. The outcome of PR’s is attracting the opposite of what we want to achieve, often without awareness of how or why it is happening, or what to do to change.

The “Big 5” psychoenergetic reversals

Most impediments to treatment are connected to five common PR’s. They are linked to the survival instinct of perceived SAFETY, personal awareness of self or IDENTITY, accepting the right to receive and to be in existence through DESERVEDNESS, being open to new options of change through POSSIBILITY and WILLILNGNESS. When any one or more of these five principles are reversed, it becomes difficult to institute change.

Identifying the source of the PR is the first step to changing it. Statements or beliefs may include these notions:

I don’t think it’s possible and/or safe for me to change.
I don’t deserve to live differently than I am now.
I may not know who I will be if I change.
Right now I am unwilling to change.

How to clear PR’s

If you know that your client has been able to change in the past, and does not need to acquire new skills, it may be time to identify likely PR’s that are getting in the way of their goals. Using energy psychology techniques to integrate new patterns of awareness, while bringing to mind the problem, allows new connections to be made. Once reversed polarities are realigned, additional learning and experiences can occur. Energy and consciousness are related to one another. When you change your energy pattern, you change your consciousness.

5 Steps to Clearing a PR (Simple Procedure)

Use whatever method works for you to identify if a PR is in the way of treatment. This may include ideomotor testing (aka muscle testing) or other approaches, such as exploratory questions or review of past patterns of obstruction to growth.
Ask your client bring to mind, and feel in their body in the here and now, the relevant feeling or reactionary state identified as the PR. For instance, it could be the idea that it is impossible for them to be happy.
Ask your client to immediately and gently tap, rub or hold the side of the hand (see figure of side of hand point) with the opposite hand.
As they’re doing step 3, ask your client to state their current belief or feeling, along with a self-acceptance statement. For instance, if your client feels it is impossible to be happy, they will tap their hand and say three times, “Even though I think I’ll always be unhappy, I deeply and completely love and accept myself.”
Have them stop tapping, relax and see what if anything has changed about the belief or feeling state.

Complex PR’s

Not all situations are as straightforward as in the simple procedure just described. For instance, more than one PR may be operating, or it may be difficult to identify which aspect of a problem is causing the most disruption. If you want to know more about how to clear complex PR’s, and for more information about removing PR’s, access this free report .

Author

Lori Chortkoff Hops, PhD, DCEP is a licensed psychologist in Westlake Village, California, USA. Lori is president-elect of ACEP ( www.energypsych.org ), and Chair of ACEP’s Communications Committee. She is certified in Comprehensive Energy Psychology, Logosynthesis, and is a Reiki master. Learn more about Dr. Hops at www.drlorihops.com . You can visit her Facebook page for A Tip A Day for Wellness Program at Facebook.com/Lori.Hops .

Cover photo by Caleb Angel on Unsplash

Our Pillar of “Trust” is Being Challenged by the Invisible

Thu, 12 Nov 2020 20:15:06 GMT

(by John H. Diepold, Jr, PhD) In this era with an invisible foe (covid-19), many of us may be experiencing a myriad of conflicting thoughts and feelings that shake us to the core.

These are times that we ought to, and need to, be able to “Trust” our healthcare systems to both protect us and heal us as needed. However, healthcare is complexly entangled with the availability of health care providers to the influence of mega-organizations. Consider also hospital availability and medical readiness, influence of manufacturers and labor unions, insurance and pharmaceutical companies, local and state politics, state and federal governments, and world-wide opinion and resources.

We need to Trust in so much, and in so many. During this invisible assault, our health and survival depends on Trust. However, our sense of Trust is being tested in most all areas of our lives. What can we Trust? Who can we Trust? Who can we believe? Can the “truth” be told, accepted, or rejected? Are our medical and governmental leaders being honest and forthright with us? Are the safety precautions of frequent 20-seconds of hand-washings, social-distancing, and donning of masks and gloves necessary, helpful, and effective? Perhaps all of us have thought about these questions while willingly, or unwillingly, complying with the recommended directives.

Trust (and distrust) comes with a price. Aside from the harsh economic and social consequences, there are also physical, mental, and emotional consequences that exacerbates the situation for all of us. The reality of contending with this invisible foe frequently results in such questions as “will I get it, do I have it, will it kill me or my loved ones…?” Such worry spawns fear, anxiety, despair, panic, uncertainty, anger, and skepticism that can compromise the immune system and render us more vulnerable. We must be able to Trust in our ability to manage this threat.

Like Covid-19, Trust is invisible and non-tangible yet a highly instrumental element affecting all aspects of our lives. While it is spoken and written in many places, “In God We Trust”, what do we really understand about Trust? The ability and need to Trust is ever-present and warrants examination. Consider the following model that describes the ebb and flow of Trust in our lives.

In the English language, the word “trust” is used in daily language and is spelled t-r-u-s-t. However, if we examine the word more closely, we can see the letters that make up the word can have deeper meaning.

The first letter: “T”

The capital “T” signifies “truth”, which is the beginning of the development of trust. The perception of truth grounds our ability to trust, which is important and necessary in healthy, safe, and mutually beneficial relationships. Relationships involve family and friends, co-workers, social and religious organizations, and also medical and health care professionals, news sources, and political and governmental organizations.

Trust is defined in many ways and contains elements of faith, confidence, reliance, protection, responsibility, belief, hope and so on. When the experience of Trust is shattered, destroyed, and rendered null, then a state of distrust emerges.

The second through fifth letters: “rust”

When we take away the “T” from trust, what we are left with is “rust.” When distrust emerges, the desired benefits and expectations of Trust begin to “rust”, decay, breakdown, and destroy the confidence and assuredness that was once there or believed to be there. This can result from deception, aggression, assault, lies, repeated disappointment, irresponsibility, and accusations, which can come as a surprise or shock. The resulting injury and damage can be mild to severe, and can have lasting implications.

The third and fourth letters: “us”

When the “rust” goes unrecognized and untreated, the “us” connection, which was once held between individuals, groups, or entities, is seriously destroyed to potentially catastrophic levels. This individually experienced insult of disconnection serves to divide and separate “us” from the attachments we once held deeply, closely, and with unconditional acceptance. The experience of “us” is further shattered by a loss of direction and uncertainty of how to move forward safely in attempt to avoid a repeat of distrust.

The fifth and final letter: “t”

This last lowercase letter, “t”, provides a hopeful turning point that Trust can again be established with an understanding about what causes “rust” and ways to dissolve or remove the rust. This last “t” serves as encouragement about how to go forward and rebuild the sense of “us”, free of “rust”, in order to “Trust” again.

Lastly, Trust is both individual and universal. Trust is an essential building block for healthy individuals and nations. We must all do our part to develop and preserve our Trust for the betterment of all. We need to recognize and accept that Trust is a fluid and ever-changing state that can be used and restored as needed. Together we must challenge that which attempts to tear the fabric of Trust we all share. The goal is to Trust that we can heal as individuals and as nations in overcoming this invisible foe.

Once again, “In God We Trust”.

Author

John H. Diepold, Jr, PhD, is a licensed practicing psychologist for 39 years in Moorestown, NJ. He is an ACEP member, and past ACEP Board member. John created Heart Assisted Therapy , an energy psychology method.

We invite you to join ACEP as a member and become part of this inspiring community of practitioners from many fields who use holistic methods with their clients. We welcome licensed mental health professionals, coaches, chiropractors, acupuncturists, physicians, nurses, energy healing practitioners and more. Together, we’re working to make these powerful methods available to all. energypsych.org

“I remember but I don’t feel upset”: How energy psychology facilitates memory reconsolidation

Thu, 05 Nov 2020 20:17:37 GMT

(by Sarah Murphy, LPC) One of the best things about being an energy psychology practitioner is seeing that look of wonder in our clients’ eyes when their traumatic memories are no longer traumatic.

“I remember it, but I don’t feel upset about it,” they say.

It’s the kind of experience that makes this profession so rewarding.

I remember one instance in particular. A client was working on a childhood trauma. He was in tears ― lots of them ― before we even started working. When I asked him to rate his distress on a scale of 0-10, he said it was 100. He looked as if he were telling the truth.

We began working. If you practice one of the meridian-based forms of energy psychology (like Thought Field Therapy and Emotional Freedom Techniques), you know the drill. We tapped, and down the rating went: 10 to 6, 6 to 3, 3 to 0 or 1. At the end of the hour, and the end of the story, we arrived at a wide-eyed, “How-did-this-happen, I-remember-but-I-don’t-feel-upset, it’s-a-ZERO!!”

Memory reconsolidation

How did this happen? A part of the answer, at least, has to do with memory reconsolidation.

Neuroscientists used to think that once something was encoded into long –term memory, it was there for good. The emotions associated with a memory were permanent. Or so it seemed.

In the late 1990’s, researchers began studying memory reconsolidation. It turns out, thank goodness, that memories are changeable. When memories are activated ―when we remember― the memory becomes labile. This means that every time we access a memory, that memory can be changed, or reconsolidated. When a memory is reconsolidated, the uncomfortable emotions associated with it can be erased.

The concept of memory reconsolidation has been popularized by Bruce Ecker (see his 2015 article ), with an emphasis on the role of disrupted expectations as key factor. Pairing an emotional memory with discrepant information is a key component of all therapy for anxiety, yet most anxiety therapies offer at best, “extinction”.

And extinction is really a misnomer. Like the salivation response of Pavlov’s dogs, after “extinction”, so too with extinction-oriented therapy: anxiety-provoking memories, and their flood of feelings, can come back unbidden at any time.

Memory reconsolidation is something different: an elimination of the anxiety associated with a previously disturbing memory. Discrepant emotional information alone cannot explain the memory reconsolidation process.

The mechanisms and conditions of memory reconsolidation are complex and subtle, as Kindt explains, but the startling and rapid effects of acupoint tapping suggest that energy psychology may contribute a crucial component.

Tapping on acupoints can bring about a shift in physiology, so that activation of the memory no longer evokes the previous pattern of bodily feedback. As neuroscientist Antonio Damasio (2000) argues, emotions are the brain’s interpretation of the body’s state; if the body’s state is calm then the emotion has gone. The memory will reconsolidate with this changed information. You can read more of Damasio’s research here , or check out his book here .

Memory reconsolidation and energy psychology

Memory reconsolidation offers a powerful tool to help overcome these issues and can facilitate transformational change. It is helpful to understand how it happens. Researchers have identified three key ingredients:

Vividly remember
Change the internal physiology
Repeat

In his 2015 article, David Feinstein explained energy psychology tapping in terms of memory reconsolidation. His article is worth a read; the link is here .

Meridian tapping is soothing, rhythmic, and relaxing. Studies show that tapping on meridian points changes body chemistry and brain activity:

A recent study using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) showed deactivation in limbic regions following tapping.
A 2009 study , using electroencephalogram (EEG), demonstrated healthy changes in brainwave patterns after trauma treatment with energy psychology.
A 2012 study showed energy psychology reduces levels of salivary cortisol.

When we do energy psychology tapping, we ask our clients to activate the memory. While they do that, they are tapping on meridian points. Our clients are simultaneously activating a troubling memory and calming their internal physiology.

Energy psychology is a good way to facilitate memory reconsolidation; memory reconsolidation is a good model to explain how energy psychology works. No matter how you look at it, energy psychology helps our clients heal old wounds and feel better about themselves.

Author

Sarah Murphy, LPC , is a licensed professional counselor and coach with more than 12 years of clinical experience. She is an ACEP member. Sarah specializes in energy psychology, including EFT, as well as mindfulness and hypnotherapy. In her therapy practice, Transformative Therapy, she works with individuals seeking to find peace within themselves, people who have serious medical diagnoses, and couples who want to resolve conflict and live in harmony. Sarah’s personal motto is that we are here to create a more peaceful world, one more-peaceful person at a time. Learn more at www.transformative-therapy.com .

3 Ways to Improve Your Mental Health Resilience – Right Now!

Fri, 30 Oct 2020 19:21:09 GMT

Now is the time to learn how to strengthen your mental health resilience. Resilient people are able to recover more quickly and easily from difficult circumstances. Taking the time to build your mental health resilience can help you feel a sense of personal power in a world that can feel out of control.

In today’s blog, we are going to learn three research-based strategies that you can use to strengthen your mental health resilience right now.

Strengthen Relationship Connections – The biggest predictor of resilience is an active social network of social connections. I know, it’s hard right now, but finding ways to stay emotionally connected with others even when physically distanced is more important than ever. Being disconnected and separated is against our nature as humans.

Practice: Take a moment to make a list of friends you haven’t spoken to lately, and call one.

Change Your Orientation – The way you think about the pandemic can influence your ability to adapt and bounce back. Having an active orientation instead of a passive orientation to the pandemic builds resilience.

Active Orientation: Involves accepting what is right now and determining what you can do to move forward given the situation you are in.

Passive Orientation: Involves waiting for it to go away, wishing it wasn’t here, blaming others, or feeling like a victim to the situation.

Practice: Ask yourself – What small thing can I do today to move forward?

Find the Positive, Possible, & Good – Resilient people are able to find the positive, the possible, and the good in difficult situations. This does not mean that they deny the reality that things are difficult. What they do do is look for places where they can find a way to positively reframe aspects of the situation. For example: The pandemic is bringing about opportunities for new beginnings, or old systems are breaking down so that new ones can be formed.

Practice: What is one opportunity available to you now that wasn’t as easily accessible before the pandemic?

Like what you’ve learned so far? Watch the video below to learn more strategies for building your mental health resilience.

Video: Building Emotional Resilience in Challenging Times

Video Provided By ACEP members Victoria Danzig LCSW & Dr. Enid Singer PhD

Need Help From a Professional?

Finding your way through these unprecedented times is difficult. It’s normal to need help with this. You don’t have to go through this alone. Check-out the ACEP practitioner directory to find a certified ACEP therapist in your area or Online.

Author: Kirsten May Keach, MA, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Kirsten Keach is a licensed marriage and family therapist based in Orlando, Florida. Her specialty is relationships. She helps couples and singles develop meaningful, lasting, soulful love relationships. Learn more about Kirsten here.

Boost Your Kindness Quotient with Energy Practices

Fri, 23 Oct 2020 19:24:07 GMT

(By Lori Chortkoff Hops, PhD, DCEP) Most people recognize the value of kindness in their lives, giving and receiving generosity, consideration and friendliness. Research shows that kindness raises endorphins, reducing pain, enhances serotonin production, responsible for relaxation, happiness, and wound healing, and promotes oxytocin production, that reduces blood pressure, enhances heart health, and creates a surplus of loving feelings (www.randomactsofkindness.com). Even watching others behave in a kind fashion can make you feel good. You are then more likely to pay it forward to others, resulting in a “helper’s high” through being kind.

Though most would like to think of themselves as kind, there are circumstances and qualities that deter kindness, such as being under a time crunch, having conflicting needs, stress induced narrow thinking, and having negative thoughts about yourself. Energy practices can be used to boost your kindness quotient, making it more likely that kindness is part of your daily life.

Time Demands

It has been found that generous people are less likely to behave in a kind fashion when they are rushed or late to an appointment. Modern life seems to be speeding up, and with more people working remotely, work and private time seem to blend, decreasing the sense of relaxed spaciousness and leisure. As a result, people may be less likely to express acts of kindness.

Suggestions: One answer is to slow down. Energy practices, including energy psychology techniques, grounding and centering, and energy medicine approaches, bring you into the present moment. As well, deliberate breathing exercises, and focused intention can yield greater patience and awareness, increasing the chances of noticing kindness in others, and going beyond just thinking of being kind, but actually doing so. You might find these techniques of value for yourself or others: calm breathing, simplified self-havening , and/or breathing into balance .

Conflicting Needs

It is easy to be kind when your needs and desires are aligned with those of others. It is more difficult to be kind when cross purposes arise, from mild misunderstandings to full blown arguments. Likewise, you may want to be kind, but your act of giving to others may be seen as harmful to you in some way (or visa versa). For instance, offering an olive branch may lead to perceived or actual increased conflict, rather than peace making.

Suggestions: Being kind in the presence of conflicting needs requires creative problem solving. There may be a solution that is not obvious at first, one that satisfies the needs of both parties. Buying time by delaying action may also solve the problem. Perspective helps, taking a step back, as not all situations are remedied by kindness. Success is found more easily when objections to change, or blocks, have been discovered. Examples of blocks to kindness are, “If I am kind to Mary, she will get away with breaking the rules” or, “If I receive kindness, I’ll be seen as weak, and I may lose my competitive edge”. Using energy psychology to treat these blocks or obstacles may be a preliminary step forward, so kindness can be offered even when multiple needs seem to conflict.

Tunnel Vision

When you are stressed, in fight, flight, freeze or flop mode (run, fight, hide, play “dead”), in order to survive your senses become hyper focused, noticing limitation rather than possibility. Immediate detail becomes prominent, often accompanied by “what could possibly go wrong” mentality. You are less likely to generate creative solutions, or to trust the motivations of others, even if they are trying to be kind to you, misreading the signs around you. Kindness is less likely to be offered.

Suggestions: Energy practices can correcting the body’s tendency under stress to manifest polarity imbalances and neurological disorganization. When your energy is running optimally, all other systems are enhanced. Then you can apply your natural creative and intuitive tendencies to think broadly and consider multiple perspectives. Giving and receiving kindness flows from a state of safety, trust and perceived abundance. If you feel scrambled, using these energy techniques may create greater balance: the cross crawl/cross over shoulder pull, brain balancer , or balanced hook up .

Negative Self-Talk

We tend to be more critical of ourselves than others are of us. The inner voice that tells us what is wrong and why things can’t work arises more often than many realize. Sometimes this mode of speaking to oneself is so common, it goes unnoticed until and unless we slow down and pay attention. Thoughts like, “Why should I be kind to them when they don’t appreciate me?” or “What do I have to give to others, anyhow?”, stop us from finding out what happens after kindness is chosen as a social option. We can quiet the negative inner voice by offering kindness to ourselves instead.

Suggestions: Practice kindness self-talk, combined with negative self-talk such as that used in Emotional Freedom Techniques and other energy practices. For instance, “Even though I can be by own worst critic, I completely and totally love and accept myself.” Stating opposing yet truthful statements sets up a contrast that the brain must resolve. If it is true that I have negative statements about myself or others, and that I am a loving person, then there may be room for me to shift my belief that I am only capable of negative self-talk. While simultaneously tapping on the meridian endpoints, these statements offer a calming balm to body, mind and spirit, opening the door to new possibilities. This video shows how to practice Simple Emotional Freedom Technique .

Boost Your Kindness Quotient

It pays to enhance our kindness quotient, as kindness is positively related to increased self-regulation and decreased emotional reactivity, two factors that allow our better selves to appear. Our loved ones, workplace community, and the general public all benefit. When we slow down, reduce conflict, broaden our perspective and adopt positive thoughts, we are more open to seeing ourselves and others as doing the best we can given the circumstances. Then we can offer and accept kindness as the gift that it is.

Author

Lori Chortkoff Hops, PhD, DCEP is a licensed psychologist in Westlake Village, California, USA. Lori is president-elect of ACEP ( www.energypsych.org ), and chairs ACEP’s Communications Committee. She is certified in Comprehensive Energy Psychology, and is a Reiki master. Learn more about Dr. Hops at www.drlorihops.com . You can visit her Facebook page for A Tip A Day for Wellness Program at Facebook.com/Lori.Hops .

3 Ways Mentioning Energy Psychology Research Can Help You – And Your Clients!

Wed, 07 Oct 2020 19:33:22 GMT

(by Sarah Murphy, LPC) I like to throw in a teeny bit of “well, the research says …” when I introduce my clients to energy psychology. I find it helps clients believe what I’m talking about, feel comfortable doing what I’m asking them to do, and trust that I know what I’m doing.

I am a bit of a research geek. Every month when I write my research blogs for ACEP, I have to go back and review what the research says.

It forces me to take a deeper dive than I have since I was in graduate school. I like the dive.

However, just a snorkel can give us enough information to use when we talk to our clients about the research on energy psychology . A sentence or two can make a big difference when we are introducing our clients to energy psychology protocols.

Here’s how having a few research talking points can:

Lower the barrier to entry and take the “woo-woo” out of energy psychology.

I don’t even need to say it, do I? Most Western mental health and health practitioners are still holding to the Western paradigm ― which is just a paradigm, not a cornerstone on truth. However, many people accept it as truth.

The drumbeat in Western mental health (and medicine in general) is a very materialistic one. The mind and the brain are the same; memories are stored in “file drawers” in the brain; mental health problems are the result of brain chemistry imbalances. When we talk about tapping on meridian points to address emotional issues, we are speaking outside the dominant paradigm and we can come off sounding a bit woo-woo.

Energy psychology relies on a non-Western paradigm, but it is not woo-woo. It is an evidence-based set of therapies. In fact, energy psychology therapies are among the top 10 most-researched forms of therapy (in a crowded field of more than 400 therapeutic techniques). Being able to state that makes energy psychology more palatable to the Western palate and takes these methods out of the world of woo-woo and places them in the cutting-edge, evidence-based treatment room where they belong.

Enroll your clients into following the protocols.

When we ask our clients to tell the story or feel the feelings while tapping on body parts, they might feel a little silly. This is certainly not a mainstream activity ― yet! We can help them feel more comfortable with it when we are able to let them know that more than 115 studies have been published in quality journals, and more than 99% show that doing this silly-seeming activity really is effective.

Moreover, when our clients are dealing with depression or anxiety or PTSD, and we tell them that a meta-analysis shows that doing energy psychology will help with depression or anxiety or PTSD, it helps them feel less silly and more ― well, smart for doing it.

Position yourself as an expert ― a smart one whom they can trust.

Being able to cite research, even briefly, lends us credibility. I find that all of my clients straighten up a little bit when I cite research. It shows them that I’m not just partisan, and I’m not just a nice person who makes them feel better. I know my stuff.

The difference can affect therapeutic rapport and boost the therapeutic alliance. Clients understand that there is a science as well as an art to all this, and ― even if they never get into the weeds about the science ― it helps them to know that the science is there.

Here’s a snorkel you can use right now.

200+ articles published in peer-reviewed journals, including
115 studies; of those,
99% document efficacy for energy psychology, including
12 systematic reviews and
5 meta-analyses

Want a deeper dive?

Check out these recent studies on the physiological response to energy psychology (in this case, Emotional Freedom Techniques)

fMRI(functional magnetic resonance imaging) study found that EFT facilitated structural changes in the limbic system and a decrease in food cravings corresponding to the brain changes.
Micro RNA was downregulated following EFT. Micro RNA plays a role in gene expression and may be factors in depression.
EFT changed a host of physiological markers salivary immunoglobulin-A (related to immune function), cortisol, resting heart rate, and blood pressure.

When you have just a few of these stats or studies on the tip of your tongue, you might find your clients trust energy psychology (and even you) a little more than before.

I’ll be writing about a cool new study comparing Thought Field Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy next month, so stay tuned!

In addition, ACEP will be sharing a FREE master class on “How to Tell a Great Energy Healing Science Story” next week – October 13-19, 2020. You don’t want to miss it. And if you’ve seen it before, it’s well worth another look. Go here to sign up.

Author

Sarah Murphy, LPC , is a licensed professional counselor and coach with more than 12 years of clinical experience. She is a member of the Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology. Sarah specializes in energy psychology, including EFT, as well as mindfulness and hypnotherapy. In her therapy practice, Transformative Therapy, she works with individuals seeking to find peace within themselves, people who have serious medical diagnoses, and couples who want to resolve conflict and live in harmony. Sarah’s personal motto is that we are here to create a more peaceful world, one more-peaceful person at a time. Sarah’s therapeutic approach brings an Eastern influence to Western psychological modalities. Learn more at www.transformative-therapy.com .

Try This to Recover from Doomscrolling

Wed, 30 Sep 2020 19:36:25 GMT

(by Kirsten Keach, MA, LMFT) When your online world is filled with fear inducing news it can be difficult to turn it off. If you find yourself spending long periods of time reading online content that is sad, depressing, or makes you feel bad inside, you are likely doomscrolling. Doomscrolling is a new term used to describe the experience of continually reading bad news without the ability to stop or step back (On “Doomscrolling” and “Doomsurfing”, 2020).

A run of doomscrolling can leave you feeling hopeless, worried, anxious or fearful. But don’t worry, you don’t have to stay in that difficult emotional place. You can come back to a sense of peace here in the present moment.

One of the quickest and easiest ways to bring yourself back to a calm centered place is to connect with your body. You can do this by practicing a technique called Simplified Self-Havening*. This simple body-based technique helps your body to relax and allows you to return to a sense of peace and calm more quickly. Practice the technique right now by watching the video below and following along. You can also download written instructions in English . Spanish will be available soon.

Video: How to do Simplified Safe-Havening

Why It Works

By using energy-based techniques like Simplified Safe-Havening, you help your body reduce stress hormones. This allows you to return to a calm state quickly and easily. Exposure to too much upsetting news can cause your brain to signal your body that you are in danger. This can lead to your system being flooded with hormones that put you in a state of high alert. This is what makes calming down difficult. By using the technique above, you give your body and mind a boost by reducing those stress inducing hormones.

If you haven’t given the Simplified Safe Havening technique a try yet, do it now. Take notice of how your body feels both before and after you use the technique. This technique is just one of many you can use to bring yourself back after you’ve read upsetting news.

If you found the Simplified Safe Havening technique helpful here are a few more tools you can use to calm anxious feelings: Soothing Butterfly Hug , Healing Head Hold , Calm Breathing.

Need Help From a Professional?

Author: Kirsten May Keach, MA, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Video Resources Provided by the ACEP Humanitarian Committee

The mission of the ACEP Humanitarian Committee is to share energy practices and resources to promote safety, connection, happiness, health and resilience around the world. Learn more here .

Bibliography

On “Doomscrolling” and “Doomsurfing”. (2020). Merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 09 24, 2020, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/doomsurfing-doomscrolling-words-were-watching

Using Energy Practices When Life is Like a Marathon

Tue, 22 Sep 2020 19:45:48 GMT

(by Lori Hops, PhD, DCEP) We often face challenges in life that resemble a marathon, but if we treat them like a sprint, we are likely to create more stress than is necessary.

The strategy of a long-distance race is different than running a quick sprint. And here is where we have a lot to learn from marathon runners.

Successful marathon runners train for long-distance races by maximizing their energy and stamina, while protecting their bodies from overuse and damage. They pinpoint when and how to exert effort, conserve energy and deeply rest.

Our capacity for endurance in 2020 and beyond may be enhanced by following tested tips from the pros on marathon race training, blended with energy practices.

4 Key Steps You Can Take

Step 1: Identify necessary requirements

Step 2: Gather resources

Step 3: Practice rejuvenation

Step 4: Face reality

Step 1: Requirements: Pacing, Strengthen, and Stretch

The first rule of the road is to pace yourself. If you work too hard too soon, you may face burning out, or peaking early. Sustain your energy with daily energy practices such as those that can be found in our Resources for Resilience . You can also create reminders to slow down by setting alarms on your phone, and prioritize your tasks so you are not overwhelmed.
Build your strength. A strong physical inner core efficiently supports your entire being, stores energy for endurance, and supports you when fatigued. Strengthening your physical, emotional and energetic systems is vital for longevity. Communicate your needs and feelings to yourself and others in a healthy way. You can create energetic resilience by grounding, centering and using energy practices to reinforce the lower chakras (root, sacral and solar plexus). Breathwork, chakra clearing, and barefoot connection to the earth may be helpful.
Stretch yourself on all levels. Strength and flexibility are twin processes that support one another. When you stretch your body, your nimbleness can help avoid injuries. Massaging overactive muscles reduces inflammation, which in turn reduces the risk of injury and disease states, and promotes rapid recovery. Stretch your consciousness by expanding your perspective and connections outside yourself. Learn something new by taking some risks. Energy healing techniques like Connecting Heaven and Earth and Heaven Rushing In can build your energy field and spiritual access.

Step 2: Resources: Inventory, Plans, Goals

Take an inventory of what is going well, and name what you still need, by assessing your strengths and weaknesses. A good coach will start here, when working on long term goals. We tend to overlook and undervalue what comes easily to us, while overestimating our difficulties when faced with a lack of resources. Give yourself credit for what is already working, and ask for help to shore up the gaps. Identify and treat areas of weakness when appropriate, using energy practices (i.e., Comprehensive Energy Psychology, Emotional Freedom Techniques, Thought Field Therapy, Tapas Acupressure Technique) or other approaches. Share your woes with a trusted friend, and then let them give you a good push from shore when it’s time to move on.
Make plans based on changing situations. Endurance events require greater adaptability to change than shorter events. Create and modify your plans over time, from day to day, and over the course of weeks, months, and possibly years. Your mind, body and spirit shift from minute to minute, but trends can be tracked over time. Find your rhythm and move with the shifting tide.
Set realistic goals. No one finishes a distance race without building up to it in steps. Remember that incremental changes that are doable are better than more ambitious goals that are not achievable. Look to the past for when you were successful in reaching goals despite long-term challenges. What supported your success? Use this knowledge when setting new goals. Energy practices can help you work on blocks that arise as you tackle your goals.

Step 3: Rejuvenation: Have Fun, Relax, Simplify

Have fun! You can’t spend all your time pushing yourself. Runners who have a daily practice need a break from training, too. Life is meant to be enjoyed, even (or especially) when times are hard or you feel down. Find creative ways to add pleasure, doing things that put a smile on your face, either alone or with others who are up for some levity. One idea is adding laughter therapy to your life, deliberately turning your frown upside down. Your mind, body and spirit will be refreshed with a healthy boost of deep breathing, filling your body with a biochemical soup of joy, while receiving an abdominal workout. Remember, seven days without laughter can make one weak!
Relax like you mean it! The body is not a machine. Although your mind and spirit may want to be engaged with life 24/7, athletes know if you push too hard, you risk injury and losing motivation. When you relax, you rebuild and rejuvenate on all levels. Schedule time off and stick to it. See it as a vital appointment in your day (which it is!). Find ways to relax, even if it is not easy at first. Dreamy down time may spark unexpected creativity. Let others take care of you, possibly exchanging energy practices with one another.
Keep it simple. Simplicity has a brilliance often overlooked. If you are overwhelmed or it’s not your day, slow down, simplify your life, and get back to basics. Even master runners know they can polish their skills by reviewing foundational techniques. When all else fails, reset your system by closing your eyes and taking a breath.

Step 4: Reality: Truth, Adversity, Opportunity

Face your truth. It’s easy to ignore painful truths, especially when you are working with sustained effort. Runners sometimes find they make the same mistakes race after race. Being creatures of habit, people tend to recreate the same approaches without much conscious awareness. It is natural to dismiss what makes us uncomfortable, inadvertently generating additional problems. Stop avoiding. For effective problem solving, face your truth on an ongoing basis. Energy practices can often shift your ordinary awareness, revealing expanded perceptions, and novel opportunities for change.
Adversity can be your teacher. Just as in life, runners face adversity. If you have pain, disappointment, or blocks to your hopes and dreams, learn from it. Take the time to reflect on the message behind the adversity. If it’s a familiar pattern, see if you have resources you already know about and can use. If it’s a new problem, there is a chance to learn and grow. Place the adversity center stage in your energy practice by naming it. As is said in energy psychology tapping sequences, “Even though I (have pain, am disappointed, am angry, etc.) I love and accept myself.”
The opportunity in endurance. Simply getting up and facing another day can be a victory in itself when enduring long-term challenges. Long distance runners learn from daily practice that consistency, dedication and the choice to do it all again yields its own treasures that are not available with shorter term experiences. You may discover skills and character traits you did not know you had. Similar to peeling the onion on an issue, when you work on liberating the layers of an experience or memory with energy practices, you often can’t anticipate where you’ll wind up. Be open to the wonder and joy hidden in the toil and boredom that can come with sustained effort.

The road can seem long and lonely when facing sustained challenges. You don’t have to go it alone. Reach out to others in your energy psychology family. There are ACEP local groups , communities of practice , and volunteer committees that are dedicated to spreading the word about energy practices. Find likeminded friends and colleagues to share your joys and sorrows. Building your support team will help to reinforce stamina, consistency and morale which wax and wane so you don’t waste your precious energy that is required in the marathon of life.

Au thor

Lori Chortkoff Hops, PhD, DCEP is a licensed psychologist in Westlake Village, California, USA. Lori is president-elect of ACEP ( www.energypsych.org ), and chair of ACEP’s Communications Committee. She is certified in Comprehensive Energy Psychology, and is a Reiki master. Learn more about Dr. Hops at www.drlorihops.com . You can visit her Facebook page for A Tip A Day for Wellness Program at Lori Hops .

Feeling Frustrated and Stressed at Work? Try This

Thu, 27 Aug 2020 20:46:23 GMT

(by Kirsten Keach, LMFT) If you find yourself dreading your workday or end it feeling excess stress, you are not alone. Careers paths, job roles, work environments, and entire industries are turned upside right now. What you once knew, what felt secure and sure is no longer that way. Working right now can be more difficult than ever.

This topsy-turvy work world can lead to excess feelings of frustration and stress. These feelings are normal and expected given the growing pains that come with the upendness that you’re working within.

The good news is, you can do something to relieve these feelings of stress and frustration. Below is an energy-based practice that is designed to help you reduce feelings of stress. It is called the “Stress Blow-Out.” This technique is best practiced in a place where you have some quiet and privacy for yourself (the bathroom works if no other option is available.) If you’re ready to give it a try, follow the video below.

Try the Stress Blow-Out Technique

Why it Works

When you’re feeling stressed, frustrated, worried, anxious or upset, your body gets flooded with stress hormones. These stress hormones signal your brain that you’re are in danger. Once this occurs it becomes difficult to relax because your physiology is on high alert. You’re in part being run by your stress hormones. This makes getting through a challenging work situation even more difficult. By using energy-based techniques like the Stress Blow-out technique you can help your body reduce stress. This allows you to return to a calm state more quickly and your work to flow more easily.

Pro Tip

Instead of waiting until you’re totally overwhelmed, integrate this technique throughout the day. This will help you stay calmer and more focused all day long.

More Resources to Help You Reduce Work Stress

If you found the Stress Blow-Out technique helpful, here are a few more tools you can use to calm down and relax: Simplified Safe Havening , Healing Head Hold , Calm Breathing .

Need Help From a Professional?

Navigating this crisis can be challenging. It’s normal to need help with this. You don’t have to go through this alone. Check-out the ACEP practitioner directory to find a certified ACEP therapist in your area or online.

Author: Kirsten May Keach MA- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Kirsten Keach is a licensed marriage and family therapist. Her specialty is relationships. She helps couples and singles develop meaningful, lasting, soulful love relationships. In her free time she is an avid traveler, Improv comedy performer and amateur salsa dancer. Learn more about Kirsten here .

Video Resources Provided by the ACEP Humanitarian Committee

The mission of the ACEP Humanitarian Committee is to share energy practices and resources to promote safety, connection, happiness, health and resilience around the world. We do this by encouraging and assisting ACEP members in developing humanitarian projects that utilize recognized energy psychology and other modalities that meet ACEP’s standards and guidelines. Learn more here .

Featured image photo by bowdenimages.

The easy-to-read research summary you’ve been waiting for

Thu, 20 Aug 2020 20:50:35 GMT

(by Sarah Murphy, LPC) Many practitioners understand that energy psychology works, but find that they are hesitant to introduce it to neophytes, or stumble when defending it to skeptics and critics. If you have used energy psychology, you have likely experienced its effectiveness; if you are a member of ACEP, there is little doubt that you have witnessed its powerful effects, personally and professionally. And it’s not just “in your head”.

There are more than 400 kinds of therapy; most have little or no research backing them. In terms of research, energy psychology is in the top 10% of therapies, as ACEP Executive Director Bob Schwarz wrote in his 2015 blog on the topic.

A growing body of research demonstrates that energy psychology methods such as Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) and Thought Field Therapy (TFT) are effective for a variety of issues, from depression, anxiety and PTSD, to addictions and weight loss, to pain and health, to academic and sports performance.

Perhaps the need for all this research, and the persistent resistance to its acceptance, exists because people who adhere to the dominant Western medical paradigm have a hard time accepting the Eastern-influenced paradigm of energy psychology. Yet the research does exist. Here are some highlights. (Read all the way to the end to learn about some of the cool studies published last year, including a genetic-marker study and an fMRI study.)

The literature

To date, more than 200 articles about energy psychology published in peer-reviewed journals demonstrate its effectiveness. Publication in a peer-reviewed journal is significant; it means that your research has been vetted by professionals in the field; your paper is more likely to be scientifically valid, and its conclusions more likely to be accurate.

Among these 250 articles are more than 115 studies; 99% of the studies document efficacy for energy psychology modalities. These include more than 50 pre-post studies and 65 randomized controlled studies.

Pre-post studies measure changes before and after treatment with energy psychology. In randomized controlled studies, researchers randomly assign participants to energy psychology or another condition, and the results both before and after treatment and between treatment groups are compared. This kind of study helps answer the question, “was the benefit from just getting help, or from getting this specific type of help?”

Multiple research studies document the efficacy of energy psychology methods for:

Pain
Anxiety
Depression
Food cravings
Trauma and PTSD
Peak athletic performance

Aggregate data

The body of research includes 12 systematic reviews. A systematic review includes only studies of higher quality, and which can be found by searching major databases such as PubMed, PsychInfo, ProQuest, and Science Direct. This allows the researcher to make conclusions about the validity of the findings. If the studies are of higher quality, the results are more likely to be valid.

To date, there have been five meta-analyses of energy psychology therapies. A meta-analysis is a statistical analysis of individual studies. Researchers use inclusion criteria to examine quality studies, and use statistical methods to aggregate and summarize the results of the collected studies as a whole. Typically, meta-analyses will also assess the methodological rigor of individual studies, rating them as low, medium or high quality. This kind of study allows us to make apples-to-apples comparisons, and to draw conclusions about the overall effectiveness of an intervention for a specific condition. It is also a measure of the rigor of the research: there must be five to seven quality studies meeting criteria of methodological rigor in order for a researcher to conduct a meta-analysis. Having 5 meta-analyses is a big deal, and speaks to the breadth and quality of the research.

Physiology

2019 saw an uptick in research on the physiological markers of energy psychology.

Stapleton et al published a preliminary study of neurological changes using fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging). They found that EFT facilitated structural changes in the brain. The changes occurred in the limbic system, which is associated with emotions, often called the “animal” or “emotional” brain. Structural changes did not occur in the control group. This study was part of Stapleton’s work with food cravings; the treatment group also experienced a decrease in food cravings corresponding to the brain changes.

Yount et al measured changes to micro RNA among veterans using EFT for trauma. Micro RNAs seem to play a role in gene expression. Certain micro RNAs seem to be factors in depression, and these were downregulated following EFT treatment.

Bach et al looked at a host of psychological and physiological markers and found that a four-day EFT training led to drops in depression, anxiety, PTSD, cravings, and pain, and a boost in happiness; as well as improvements in immune function (measured by salivary immunoglobulin-A), cortisol, resting heart rate, and blood pressure.

Answering the call

Energy psychology continues to gain popularity in the popular culture as a self-help tool, and it continues to grow in use by therapists and practitioners as well. As more studies demonstrate its effectiveness for different conditions, and more practitioners become aware of the research, energy psychology will assume its rightful place in psychotherapy. Many people will benefit.

We know how helpful these methods can be, and we can all be ambassadors of energy psychology! It is important to educate our friends and family, and to address questions from skeptics, to help bring energy psychology into the mainstream.

Sarah Murphy, LPC, is a licensed professional counselor and coach with more than 12 years of clinical experience. She specializes in energy psychology, including EFT, as well as mindfulness and hypnotherapy. In her therapy practice, Transformative Therapy, she works with individuals seeking to find peace within themselves, people who have serious medical diagnoses, and couples who want to resolve conflict and live in harmony. Sarah’s personal motto is that we are here to create a more peaceful world, one more-peaceful person at a time. Sarah’s therapeutic approach brings an Eastern influence to Western psychological modalities. Learn more at www.transformative-therapy.com .

Evolve Your Therapy Practice for a Dynamic Future

Tue, 30 Jun 2020 20:57:28 GMT

(by Kirsten Keach, LMFT) I closed the doors on my face-to-face therapy office. I will be 100% online for the foreseeable future. This was a big but necessary decision to make. One that I know many therapists are struggling with as we all try and adjust to unpredictable circumstances.

Going to my office, even to do video sessions, made me feel normal— it was a tether to the ease of my pre-COVID life. But that time period is over now. We can’t go back to the way things were before. It is prudent to create a practice and lifestyle that allows flexibility within the unknown.

Many of you reading this article were thrust into practicing online as a result of the closures and may have considered it a temporary adjustment and structured your practices as such, with the intention of going back to your office. Depending on your circumstances and location, going back to the office may be a long time off for you. I wrote this blog to help you shift your temporary online practice into something more long-term, engaging, fun, and creative. Even when you can see clients in person, an online practice can be a powerful addition for you.

This article will help you see the benefits and options available to you as a therapist working online AND how to craft an online lifestyle that works for you for the long-term.

I started dabbling in online therapy in 2016 when a very entrepreneurial friend explained to me that ALL non-emergency medical services would eventually be online only and that many major hospitals were already planning that transition. Foreshadowing?? I took his advice and decided to get ahead of the game. I quickly found that providing online therapy was very different than providing face-to-face therapy.

Being a successful online therapist requires you to adjust your lifestyle and your practice in order to accommodate the type of energy it requires. With this comes the opportunity to design your lifestyle AND you get to be creative with how you practice – even more so than when you are working in a face-to-face practice.

To get you started in re-imagining your practice, let’s begin by talking about all of the great benefits that come with working online.

Benefits of Working Online

It is location flexible – for both you and your clients
Lower overhead – you can cut costs by not having office space if you choose.
Easier scheduling – It is easier for clients to schedule because it removes travel time.
No longer have to work evenings – I find most people can take a lunch break during the day, so I don’t have to see people after normal business hours.
Better client fit – Because you are less limited by geography, you can access a larger pool of people who may be perfect for you to work with.
Makes returning from maternity leave easier – You can work from home and have the ability to see your baby or breastfeed between sessions. This is critical in a field that is approximately 73% female.
You can provide in-home family therapy without having to physically go to the client’s home, allowing you access to the entire family system.
You get to have your emotional support animal with you all day ��
You have more options for the way you deliver therapy.

Types of Online Therapy

Let’s talk about the different types of online therapy out there. When most people think of online therapy they think of video sessions. But a successful online practice can involve more than just replacing your in-person sessions with video sessions. Working online gives you permission to explore a variety of mediums for your client’s personal growth. Below are some of the options.

Video Sessions – delivered online via a secure video software.
Message Based Therapy – This type of therapy is generally done email style, where your client has a secure area or room where they leave you messages that you respond to, and the majority of the therapy is conducted that way. For people who need flexibility this can be a great option because you don’t have to be anywhere at a set time or worry about using video. Some clients really prefer this type of therapy.
Multimedia Messages – This can be an extension of message-based therapy. Some therapists exchange video, and audio messages with their clients in addition to doing text-based therapy. For example, you can send a video of yourself doing a tapping sequence to help your client.

*Please make sure you are using HIPPA compliant communication platforms for all of the above options.
Online Courses – You can create online courses and or resources for your clients to use between sessions. This is really helpful if you find yourself using the same interventions over and over again. It also adds value to your service and provides another option for clients.
Online Content – An easy way to systematize how you share information is creating online content. This is similar to creating an online course, but is simpler and easier to share. Examples of online content include: YouTube videos, blog posts, instructional images etc. This gives your clients resources to use to learn new concepts or practice skills between sessions.

When you are thinking about your practice, think out of the box. The above types of practice can be blended and mixed and matched. That is the benefit of the online practice, you don’t just have to do one thing anymore. Check with your specific profession about any rules that may apply to how you can practice.

Things that Make Online Therapy Easier

Let’s make your life and your work as EASY as possible. If the online space is newer for you, that is okay. There are many tools out there to help.

Take advantage of existing platforms – There are platforms that already exist that you can join in order to learn about new ways of doing therapy. These platforms may not be the best paying, but they provide you with lots of free training, free supervision and clients to help you learn. Most of them only require you to accept a very minimal amount of clients. This a great way to get started when trying something new, especially message-based therapy.

Software is your friend – Having good software makes things much easier. There are great platforms like SimplePractice that have everything integrated for you, including all consent forms, payments, online scheduling, and video software. This makes life much easier and saves TONS of time.

Buddy up – Find an online practice friend to share information and learn alongside. Online therapy is a new and evolving field and it involves learning experiences.

Create a lifestyle around it – The personal impacts of working online are not the same as working in an office. Create a lifestyle and a schedule that works for you. Be creative with this. The options are endless.

Try a session for yourself – If you haven’t had a session with an online therapist, do it. Trying online therapy myself made me a believer in the impact it can have.

Creating an online therapy practice that embraces the dynamic and online world we live in can be fun if you go into it with the right mindset. The world is changing rapidly, don’t be afraid to jump in and go with it.

Author Bio

Kirsten Keach is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in relationships. She helps couples and singles develop meaningful, lasting, soulful love relationships. In her free time she is an avid traveler, improv comedy performer and amateur salsa dancer. Learn more about Kirsten here .

Photo from The Lazy Artist Gallery by Pexels

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