Uses of Energy Psychology Following Catastrophic Events

David Feinstein, Ph.D.

Frontiers in Psychology: Volume 13, April 2022, Article 856209.

Energy psychology, as most widely practiced, integrates the manual stimulation of acupuncture points with imaginal exposure, cognitive restructuring, and other evidence-based psychotherapeutic procedures. Efficacy for energy psychology protocols has been established in more than 120 clinical trials, with meta-analyses showing strong effect sizes for PTSD, anxiety, and depression. The approach has been applied in the wake of natural and human-made disasters in more than 30 countries. Four tiers of energy psychology interventions following the establishment of safety, trust, and rapport are described, including (1) immediate relief/stabilization, (2) reducing limbic arousal to trauma-based triggers, (3) overcoming complex psychological difficulties, and (4) promoting optimal functioning.

Six Empirically-Supported Premises About Energy Psychology:
Mounting Evidence for a Controversial Therapy

David Feinstein, Ph.D.

Advances in Mind-Body Medicine: 2021;35(2):17-32.

A database of peer-reviewed journal articles exploring “energy psychology” is assessed with a focus on energy psychology protocols that include tapping on acupuncture points (acupoints), a frequently used intervention in energy psychology. Six premises are derived about the method’s efficacy, speed, durability, and physiologic effects. These include that acupoint tapping protocols (a) are effective in treating a range of clinical conditions, (b) are rapid compared to conventional treatments, (c) lead to durable benefits, (d) produce changes in biologic markers that corroborate the subjective assessments of clients, (e) are a critical ingredient for the demonstrated clinical effects and (f) send signals that can increase or decrease arousal in specific areas of the brain.

Further consideration of the mechanisms that lead to the reported rapid, durable outcomes suggest that the approach has an unusual capacity for revising outdated mental models.

Thought Field Therapy Clinical Applications

Utilization in an HMO in Behavioral Medicine and Behavioral Health Services

• Caroline Sakai, Ph.D.
• David Paperny, M.D.
• Marvin Mathews, M.D.
• Greg Tanida, M.S.W.
• Geri Boyd, M.S.W.
• Alan Simons, M.S., APRN-Rx
• Charlene Yamamoto, M.S.W.
• Carolyn Mau, M.S., APRN-Rx
• Lynn Nutter, M.A.

Kaiser Behavioral Medicine and Behavioral Health Services Honolulu, Hawaii

This is a preprint of the article published in a special issue* of Journal of Clinical Psychology, 57(10), pp.1215-1227 in October 2001, without peer review but with an invited critical review by Jeffrey M. Lohr, pp.1229-1235.

Abstract

Thought Field Therapy (TFT) is a self-administered treatment developed by psychologist Roger Callahan. TFT uses energy meridian treatment points and bilateral optical-cortical stimulation while focusing on the targeted symptoms or problem being addressed. The clinical applications of TFT summarized included anxiety; adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression; anxiety due to medical condition; anger; acute stress; bereavement; chronic pain; cravings; depression; fatigue; nausea; neurodermatitis; obsessive traits; panic disorder without agoraphobia; parent-child stress; phobia; post-traumatic stress disorder; relationship stress; trichotillomania; tremor; and work stress. This uncontrolled study reports on changes in self-reported subjective units of distress (SUD) in 1594 applications of TFT, treating 714 patients. Paired t-tests of pre- and post-treatment SUD were statistically significant in 31 categories reviewed. These within-session decreases of SUD are preliminary data that call for controlled studies to examine validity, reliability, and maintenance of effects over time. Illustrative case and heart rate variability data are presented.

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