Energy Psychology in the Professional Literature

For Energy Medicine and Energy Psychology to be taken seriously by health professionals and mental health professionals, articles that describe energy healing and its research support, clinical applications, or "mechanisms of action" have to be available in the professional literature. David "tithes" some of his time each month to writing papers for these generally unglamorous publications. Over the next several months, four new papers he has been working on for the past two years—which address these three areas—are finally coming to completion and being published. 

The topics of the papers include 1) a review of the research addressing the question of whether Energy Psychology works, 2) the role of "energy" in Energy Psychology treatments, 3) the evidence for surrogate (at-a-distance) tapping, and 4) a close look at why Energy Psychology is so effective in treating PTSD. The first surveys 51 peer-reviewed papers describing outcomes of Energy Psychology treatments and just became available in the "Online First" area of Review of General Psychology, a flagship publication of the American Psychological Association. It stands to be a key in shifting the way psychologists view Energy Psychology.

Emacs!

Psychologists pay attention to research findings, and every one of the studies reviewed in the paper reported positive outcomes! Conditions helped included PTSD, phobias, specific anxieties, generalized anxiety, depression, weight control, physical pain, physical illness, and athletic performance. Eighteen randomized controlled trials (the gold standard in clinical research) were identified and critically evaluated for design quality. The report concludes: "These studies have consistently demonstrated strong effect sizes and other positive statistical results that far exceed chance after relatively few treatment sessions." The papers were authored or co-authored by more than 100 separate investigators, with similar findings having come from more than a dozen countries.

Even though this study—and the substantial body of evidence it presents—is appearing in a prestigious APA journal, the struggle for credibility is not over. The APA's 1999 policy still stands: APA partners who provide professional continuing education can lose their CE sponsorship status by offering credit to psychologists for taking an Energy Psychology course! In short, one side of the APA's brain isn't coordinating with the other. Unfortunately, the losers are the many suffering with PTSD and other painful and disabling conditions who turn to psychologists and mental health agencies that have not looked into Energy Psychology because of the APA's far-reaching influence. The new study, however, means that those of us who are working with the APA, and encouraging it to change its position, have firmer ground to stand on.         

Innersource's Support of "Project Light"

Where have American mental health workers most convincingly demonstrated the impact of Energy Psychology on PTSD?  With American veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, you would think. But you would be wrong. Ask the practitioners and you will hear how close to impossible it has been to get the VA to officially allow therapies that involve tapping. Fortunately, a few heroic efforts outside of established channels have led to important studies published in major journals showing that Energy Psychology is effective with U.S. combat veterans.

But the right answer to the above question is "Rwanda."  With so many still traumatized after the 2004 genocide, the country's citizens have been open to anything that can demonstrate that it works. And five studies conducted in Rwanda have shown that people who have been suffering for more than a decade with insomnia, flashbacks, nightmares, the inability to hold a job, bed-wetting, difficulty concentrating, et cetera, have overcome these symptoms in as little as a single session. One of the studies, using standardized measures for PTSD, found the improvements lasted two years after a single-session treatment. Another single-session study did its follow-up one year later and also found that the improvements were durable.

Innersource has worked closely with the people involved in carrying out these treatment programs and the research documenting their results.  In many cases, the work did not stop when the treatment teams left. Energy psychology self-help techniques became part of the culture, with local leaders teaching it to their communities.

Imagine being able to heal the pain, hatred, and deep damage of warfare and genocide. Imagine being able to help a country that has been crippled open doors so its young leaders can thrive and be effective in shaping a future where wounds are healed and hope becomes realistic. Everything we need to know to be able to do all of this is available, today!  

One of the teams from Rwanda, led by our dear colleague, Lori Leyden, is bringing this work to other countries now with a program called "Project Light."  Click here to watch an inspirational seven-minute clip about Project Light and to find out how you can become meaningfully involved in supporting this important work.