How It Does It: Tapping
on acupuncture points (along with related techniques) while an anxiety-evoking memory or
thought is brought to mind sends signals to the brain that turn off the anxious response
in the moment and rapidly alter the neural pathways that maintained that response.
The Conditions It Helps: Variations of this strategy also appear to shift, for the
person’s benefit, the brain’s coding of irrational anger, jealousy, guilt,
shame, unremitting grief, compulsive behaviors, phobias, PTSD, depression, addictions, and
chronic pain. The method has also been shown to promote peak performance and to help in
attaining personal goals.
Who Practices It: Both licensed mental health professionals – such as
psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers – and life coaches who do not treat
mental disorders use the methods of energy psychology with their clients. Energy
psychology also offers back-home techniques for clients as well as potent self-help tools
for those not in counseling. Variations include EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques), TFT
(Thought Field Therapy), and TAT (Tapas Acupuncture Technique), among numerous other
formats.
What Does It Do to the Brain: Energy psychology works by stimulating energy points on
the surface of the skin which, when paired with various psychological procedures, send
signals to the brain that may impact stress chemicals such as cortisol and DHEA,
deactivate limbic system arousal, and rapidly alter neural pathways.
Has Its Effectiveness Been Established?
Energy psychology is still a
controversial development within the mental health field (the techniques look quite
strange, are adopted from foreign cultures, and the claims of a growing number of
practitioners seem almost too good to be true), but evidence is mounting that these
techniques are significant, powerful tools for both self-help and clinical treatment (see
following pages).
How Can I Learn More:
The
Promise of Energy Psychology: Revolutionary Tools for Dramatic Personal Change by
David Feinstein, Donna Eden, and Gary Craig (Tarcher/Penguin, 2005) is an award-winning
book which is, according to Robin Kelly, M.D., "widely regarded as the most balanced,
readable, and comprehensive text on the science and practical applications in this
exciting emerging field." |
Energy
Psychology Resources
Energy Psychology Certification
Program: www.energypsych.org
(the non-profit Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology).
Home Study Programs and CEUs: www.EnergyHomeStudy.com
Energy Psychology’s First Peer-Reviewed Journal Energy Psychology: Theory,
Research, Treatment
http://energypsychologyjournal.org
Video Programs that Teach Energy Psychology Methods:
www.eftuniverse.com (click "Free Videos")
www.EnergyPsychEd.com (David Feinstein’s "Introduction to
Energy Psychology" DVD set)
Free Internet Newsletters/Reports/e-support Sites:
www.eftuniverse.com (EFT e-letter, click "Free Newsletter")
www.masteringeft.com/Newsletter-Subscribe.htm
(Pat Carrington’s excellent e-letter)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Meridian-Energy
(Meridian Therapy Discussion Group)
Energy Psychology Practitioner Referral Lists:
http://energypsych.org (ACEP – Assn for Comprehensive Energy
Psychology)
www.eftuniverse.com/ (Emotional Freedom Techniques) -- click
"Find a Practitioner")
www.tftrx.com/web_locator.html
(Thought Field Therapy)
www.energypsych.com (Fred Gallo’s EDxTM—Energy Diagnostic
and Treatment Methods)
www.seemorgmatrix.org (Seemorg Matrix Work/Advanced Integrative
Therapy)
Nonprofit Organizations Concerned with Energy Psychology:
www.SoulMedicineInstitute.org (also includes referral lists and many
other resources)
www.energypsych.org
(ACEP — Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology)
www.theamt.com
(Association for Meridian Therapies)
www.energymed.org
(Energy Medicine Institute)
www.issseem.org
(International Society for the Study of Subtle Energies and Energy Medicine,
ISSSEEM)
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