Energy Healing and Psychology

The Theory Behind Energy Psychology

The basic principles of energy healing used in practices like acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine are also used in energy psychology.

According to this more "Eastern" school of thought, energy flows throughout the body in well-defined patterns. When energy is flowing freely, the body, mind and spirit are balanced and healthy. But when blockages occur, physical, psychological and spiritual distress can result. The goal of energy psychology healing is to remove blockages, often by stimulating acupressure points and encouraging energy to flow again along specific meridians in the body.

Energy psychology capitalizes on the potential of energy healing to relieve pain by layering it on to the practice of talk therapy. As patients explore their emotional challenges and traumas with a therapist, the therapist touches or taps key energy points.

This meridian tapping, as it's sometimes called, accomplishes two key objectives of the psychology of energy healing:

• Encourages the body to release blocked energies and emotions
• Helps the client respond differently to challenging memories and emotions.

Energy Psychology and Healing

Energy psychology advocates say the practice helps people achieve results more quickly than talk therapy alone, because it releases the negative feelings—energy blockages—associated with past experiences. Energy psychology is reported to be quite effective for clients with post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as those with stress problems, depression, addiction issues and more.

One possible explanation for the strength of the energy psychology and healing connection is that tapping the meridians activates more basic and primitive areas of the body, like the medulla oblongata, the limbic system and the Enkephalin system.

Different Approaches to Energy Psychology

Several different methods of energy psychology have been developed, including:

• Emotional Freedom Technique: With EFT, as clients concentrate on challenging feelings and experiences, a therapist trained in this form of energy psychology taps certain meridians to restore energy balance.
• Neuro-Emotional Technique: Also known as NET, this practice uses the psychology of energy healing and muscle testing to pinpoint and help clients release blocked energy from traumatic experiences.
• Thought Field Therapy: TFT uses applied kinesiology and energy healing to help clients deal with addictions and phobias.

As with all types of alternative medicine, if you're interested in exploring energy psychology and healing, be sure to thoroughly research all practitioners and consult your health care providers.

Resources

Gazely, J. (n.d.). Energy psychology. Retrieved August 4, 2010, from http://www.asktheinternettherapist.com/counselingarchive-energy-psychology.asp

Holistic Mind-Body Healing. (2009). Meridian tapping techniques and energy psychology. Retrieved August 15, 2010, from http://www.holistic-mindbody-healing.com/meridian-tapping.html

Mork, R. (n.d.). Healing benefits of energy psychology. Retrieved August 15, 2010, from http://www.life123.com/health/alternative-medicine/energy-healing/healing-benefits-of-energy-psychology.shtml

Neill, N. (2010). What is energy healing psychology? Retrieved August 4, 2010, from http://www.neillneill.com/132/what-is-energy-healing-psychology/