What Does Energy Have to Do with Energy Psychology?

Abstract

An obstacle to professional acceptance of the growing body of research supporting the efficacy of energy psychology is the vague use of the term energy in the fi eld's name and explanatory frameworks. This article explores whether the concept of "energy" is necessary to fully account for the observed clinical outcomes that follow "energy psychology" treatments. Evidence is presented that shifting 3 types of energy-electromagnetic signals, brain waves, and energy fi elds-gives energy psychology protocols their advantage in quickly changing longstanding patterns in the brain. Electromagnetic signals that reduce threat arousal in the amygdala follow the stimulation of selected acupuncture points (acupoints). Acupoint stimulation also produces delta waves that are believed to depotentiate neural pathways that maintain maladaptive fear. Meanwhile, energy fi elds that organize neural activity provide a possible solution to a quandary in neuroscience. Conventional neurological models cannot explain how the diverse brain activities that are involved in information processing are coordinated. Just as electromagnetic fi elds have been shown to organize cellular activity in wound healing, energy fi elds are believed to organize neurological processes. The rapid resolution of intrusive, unprocessed memories seen in energy psychology treatments is attributed, in part, to the way acupoint stimulation is able to directly impact these "organizing fi elds." A working model that attempts to explain energy psychology treatment outcomes contains 3 premises about electromagnetic and more "subtle" energies in psychotherapy: (a) energy is an omnipresent dimension of body and mind that can be infl uenced to impact each in desired ways, (b) energy carries information, and (c) clinical interventions can draw upon the ways energy fi elds, through resonance, infl uence other energy fi elds as well as neural activity.

Spiritual emotional freedom technique (seft) to reduce the diabetes distress in people with diabetes mellitus

“…Dossey (Zainuddin, 2018) contended that prayer and spirituality affect healing, even having the same power as medication and surgery. Energy psychology uses the body's energy to improve mental, emotional, and behavioral conditions, such as depression, stress, and anxiety (Feinstein & Oregon, 2012). Besides, SEFT has been proven to lower the levels of depression, anxiety, and stress (Bakara et al, 1970), relieve stress (Avianti & Desmaniarti, 2014;Mutmainnah, 2018), and improve the quality of patients' life (Kusnanto et al, 2016).…”

“…Zainuddin (2018) explained that the energy psychology in SEFT therapy is performed by gently tapping with the fingertips on 18 points in 12 meridian lines of the body, representing 361 acupuncture points. The tapping stimulates the center of a group of active cells (electrically active cells) on the body's surface, causing stimulation in the form of signal transduction in the biochemical processes in the body due to stimulation on the EFT points (Feinstein & Oregon, 2012) According to (Brooks & Church, 2010), an increase in neurotransmitter signaling downregulates hypothalamic -pituitary -adrenal axis (HPA), thus reducing the cortisol hormone production related to a patient's stress.…”

Can the Concepts of Energy and Psychological Energy Enrich Our Understanding of Psychosocial Adaptation to Traumatic Experiences, Chronic Illnesses and Disabilities?

“…Finally, concepts borrowed from the emerging field of energy psychology (EP) further highlight the relationships between the presence of energy fields, including electromagnetic signals and brain waves, and adaptation to CID. Although discussion of the field of EP is beyond the scope of the present paper, EP does suggest that intrapersonal disturbances, including medical and bodily conditions (e.g., limb amputation) and psychiatric disorders (e.g., PTSD, obsessive-compulsive disorder, mood disorders), and trauma-linked responses (e.g., anxiety, anger, grief, shame, guilt, rejection) are related to disturbances in the adjacent environments (interpersonal and extrapersonal), including the body's biochemical and electromagnetic energies and its energy fields (Gallo, 2004;Feinstein, 2012Feinstein, , 2021. As such, EP is conceived as a set of physical, cognitive, behavioral, psychodynamic and therapeutic modalities (e.g., imaginal exposure therapy, acupuncture, mindfulness) designated to target emotions, cognitions and behaviors associated with, among others, CID-generated psychosocial reactions.…”

“…As such, EP is conceived as a set of physical, cognitive, behavioral, psychodynamic and therapeutic modalities (e.g., imaginal exposure therapy, acupuncture, mindfulness) designated to target emotions, cognitions and behaviors associated with, among others, CID-generated psychosocial reactions. More specifically, EP employs a set of structured mechanisms, utilizing tapping on specific acupoints, during imaginal exposure, to produce electrical signals and subsequently reduce brain arousal ( Feinstein, 2012 ). EP’s two most commonly employed experimental techniques, namely, Emotional Freedom Techniques and Thought Field Therapy, apply stimulation of (i.e., tapping on) sensitive skin regions to regulate stress and achieve personal transformation.…”

The Effectiveness of Spiritual Emotional Freedom Technique (SEFT) to Reduce Stress and Increase Work Motivation in Nurses

“…Energy psychology memberikan bukti empiris dalam studi yang dilakukan mengidentifikasi perubahan fisiologis yang berhubungan dengan klinis yang diamati. Stimulasi titik meredian atau acupoint mampu menurunkan kadar hormon stres kortisol, mengaktifkan gen mengurangi stres, menormalkan pola gelombang otak yang menyimpang, dan meningkatkan produksi opioid dan neurotransmitter lainnya yang berhubungan dengan rasa senang (Feinstein, PhD, 2012).…”