No matter what background you bring
to your work as an Eden Energy Medicine practitioner, it’s important to understand
that although the work of Energy Medicine can and does deeply affect and influence mood
and can have a profound impact on bringing emotional balance and healing, it’s not a
replacement for the treatment of your client who has, in clinical terms, an
"emotional disorder." While EEM does impact these issues, it is ethically
inappropriate, illegal, and a serious liability for you to treat or claim to treat
a disorder diagnosed by a physician or mental health professional.
Your client may have a history of disorder and may not
need a therapist now – or may have no diagnosis and be in dire need, and yes,
telling the difference can be a complex process! People who are fragile, who may
dissociate, become deeply agitated/delusional, depressed, or who have a history of severe
trauma and unresolved emotional pain may need to connect with a proficient mental
health care provider since EEM does not provide this kind of training. If your client
complained of severe stomach pain, you would (in addition to treating with all your EEM
tool kit of options) also listen to medical progress, or encourage a medical referral (and
document this in your notes); sore muscle aches that don’t resolve could get a
referral to a massage therapist, acupuncturist, and/or chiropractor or osteopath, or
tooth/gum/jaw pain to a dentist or orthodontist; and nutritional issues to a nutritionist!
On the other hand, while you cannot prescribe a
treatment – you can say what has worked for you, personally, and you can say
what is considered a norm, or is supported by research (i.e., for your client who only
eats hot dogs and soda – fiber, whole foods, good fats, low cholesterol and low fat
options – avoid trans fats or saturated fats – and a variety of fruits and
veggies is considered a norm for healthy eating; or, meditation and exercise help to
increase endorphin production; or, many people are deficient in minerals such as
magnesium). You can encourage a client to research something – and you can refer to a
specialist whose area of expertise relates to their concerns.
As a psychotherapist, my goal is to identify,
acknowledge, heal, and clear out discordance and/or trauma where it exists, help clients
to build skills and optimize functioning, creativity, and ultimately, bring balance, allowing
the joy and magic of life to flow.
If you don’t have a list of experienced
psychotherapists, I encourage you to check out some in your area. Find out who is
interested or open to your work in EEM so you have an easier initial understanding –
and can develop professional relationships, which may then evolve into a referral network.
I also encourage you to find one who is expert in
the use of EFT or other energy psychology trauma-release work, which is effective with
trauma issues (where talk therapy alone is not as effective) such as rape, abuse, loss,
death, witnessing a crime or being victimized, experiencing fear, betrayal, shock, or some
other experience which left them with stuck emotions and pain/disturbance.
Disorders may include
- unstable self-image/personality issues
- major depression (whether short cycles or longer bouts)
- mania or bipolar/mixed mood disorders
- anxiety disorders
- dissociative disorders
Other issues, often co-occurring, such as immune
system disorders, relate to trauma or major stressors which may not be apparent initially,
but which may reveal themselves during the work or during your intake session. These deal
with issues that interfere with your client’s functioning in life.
Some signs that may determine your need to refer could be:
- excessive drug/alcohol use (can they imagine not using the substance/s?)
- anxiety/panic attacks
- inability to maintain self care
- sadness for more than 2 weeks
- lack of motivation or focus in work or life
- increase or loss of appetite
- severe relationship conflicts
- weight gain or loss (more than 5%)
- suicidality or homicidality (911 or immediate in-office referral may be needed)
- erratic mood swings &/or behavioral changes
- disruptive or disturbing comments or behavior
- expressions of victimization
- history of trauma which may not be fully resolved
These symptoms give you an idea of how to identify
issues that could benefit from working with a licensed mental health provider, and
highlight the importance of asking some key questions in your intake so you can know right
off the bat if you may need to refer to a professional counselor (LPC), clinical social
worker (LCSW), psychologist, etc. Each state has different rules and requirements for
licensure, so it is good to know what your state requires and how specialties are defined.
Your client needs to be clearly informed about what you do – keeping clear
boundaries, knowing when to refer is a key to providing the best options to your clients.
For a long
laundry list of signs and symptoms, go to www.ellenfarrell.com, New Client Forms,
Intake form, page 3. |
