Mindful Energy Psychology: History, Theory, Research, and Practice

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-54
Author(s):  
Fred Gallo
Keyword(s):  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Present Moment ◽  
Energy Psychology ◽  
Therapeutic Benefits ◽  
Thought Field Therapy ◽  
Psychology History ◽  
Mindfulness Practices ◽  
Field Therapy ◽  
Theory Research

Abstract: The dialectic between acceptance and the desire for change reflects a core paradox within psychology. Two clinical methodologies that at first glance appear to be diametrically opposed have been incorporated into an approach that harnesses a reciprocal synergy, seamlessly integrating a focus on acceptance with a focus on change. Mindfulness practices, which involve purposeful, nonjudgmental awareness and acceptance of the present moment, have been shown to promote general well-being as well as to alleviate many psychological and stress-related symptoms. Energy psychology, which utilizes both somatic and cognitive interventions, is believed to rapidly and with precision change the energetic and neurological underpinnings of a range of psychological disorders. Combining the two approaches into a “mindful energy psychology” resolves the acceptance/change paradox with an interplay that yields immediate, potent therapeutic benefits. This paper examines each approach and shows how they may be integrated into clinical practice. Keywords: mindful, mindfulness, mindfulnessbased therapies, energy psychology, mindful energy psychology, tapping, energy tapping, meridian tapping, Thought Field Therapy, TFT, Emotional Freedom Techniques, EFT, Midline Energy Technique, MET, Tonglen, trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder, PTSD

Words to tap by: The use of language in Energy Psychology protocols

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-56
Author(s):  
David Feinstein
Keyword(s):  
Acupuncture Points ◽  
Client Outcomes ◽  
Energy Psychology ◽  
Physical Conditions ◽  
Thought Field Therapy ◽  
Process Outcomes ◽  
Practitioner Training ◽  
Field Therapy ◽  
Meta Analyses ◽  
Stimulation Of

Most Energy Psychology protocols include a component in which the client is guided in the use of personally tailored wording related to a target problem or goal. These phrases are stated simultaneously with the stimulation of selected acupuncture points (acupoints) via tapping. Thought Field Therapy (TFT) and its popular derivative, Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), are the most well-known variations of the acupoint tapping approaches. These therapies have been validated for their efficacy and unusual speed in resolving psychological and physical conditions in more than 100 clinical trials and several meta-analyses. Clinicians and life coaches wanting to incorporate acupoint tapping into their practices can readily learn the basic protocols but are often unsure about how to formulate the most effective wording to accompany the client’s self-tapping. This paper presents a qualitative analysis of videotaped statements that were judged to move the treatment forward in relationship to three process outcomes: (a) the statement resulted in the practitioner becoming better attuned to the client’s intentions for and experience with the therapy, (b) it explored the issues relevant to the client’s needs and goals in order to deepen both the client’s and the practitioner’s understanding of them, and/or (c) it led the client toward more effective ways of addressing pertinent issues. These three categories—attune, explore, lead—were derived from the 62 therapeutic functions of language that were identified as the videotaped wording was being coded. The list is only an initial formulation, based on one clinician’s sessions as analyzed by that clinician. It is intended as a first step toward a more comprehensive investigation of the use of language in Energy Psychology sessions, its impact on client outcomes, and its implications for practitioner training.

scholarly journals A Qualitative Study of Mindfulness Among Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Practices Differentially Affect Symptoms, Aspects of Well-Being, and Potential Mechanisms of Action

2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 482-493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dana Dharmakaya Colgan ◽  
Helané Wahbeh ◽  
Mollie Pleet ◽  
Kristen Besler ◽  
Michael Christopher
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Reactivity ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
Present Moment ◽  
Subjective Experiences ◽  
Quantitative And Qualitative Research

This qualitative study explored and compared the subjective experiences of 102 veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 arms: ( a) body scan, ( b) mindful breathing, ( c) slow breathing, or ( d) sitting quietly. Qualitative data were obtained via semistructured interviews following the intervention and analyzed using conventional content analysis. The percentage of participants within each intervention who endorsed a specific theme was calculated. Two-proportion z tests were then calculated to determine if the differences among themes endorsed in specific groups were statistically significant. Six core themes emerged from analysis of participant responses across the 4 groups: ( a) enhanced present moment awareness, ( b) increased nonreactivity, ( c) increased nonjudgmental acceptance, ( d) decreased physiological arousal and stress reactivity, ( e) increased active coping skills, and ( f) greater relaxation. More participants in the mindfulness intervention groups reported improvement in PTSD symptoms when compared to participants in non-mindfulness groups. Different types of intervention targeted different symptoms and aspects of well-being. Furthermore, type of intervention may have also differentially targeted potential mechanisms of action. This article highlights the importance of employing both quantitative and qualitative research methods when investigating the dynamic process of mindfulness and may inform how practices can be tailored to the needs of the veteran with PTSD.

A Survey of Energy Psychology Practitioners: Who They Are, What They Do, Who They Help

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Feinstein
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Emotional Reaction ◽  
Peak Performance ◽  
Cognitive Changes ◽  
Energy Psychology ◽  
Thought Field Therapy ◽  
Process Outcomes ◽  
Field Therapy ◽  
Meta Analyses

Abstract: An online survey of the members of the Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology (ACEP) was completed by 294 of the organization’s 1,220 members (24%) in March 2016. The majority of respondents reported using acupoint tapping protocols as a core component in the successful treatment of generalized anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), phobias, and depression. All 106 of the respondents who had applied acupoint tapping for facilitating “peak performance” in contexts such as business, education, and sports reported the approach to have been “of great value” (68%) or “moderate value” (32%) for this objective, with none of the respondents having reported it to be of “little value.” The survey also asked participants to estimate the number of sessions that are typically required to achieve each of seven “process outcomes” that are shared among various clinical approaches. For instance, the elimination of an unwanted physiological/emotional reaction to a specified trigger could typically be achieved in three or fewer acupoint tapping sessions according to 94% of the respondents, and within a single session according to 71% of the respondents. Two thirds of the licensed mental health professionals who reported that they use acupoint tapping protocols said they integrate them into existing therapeutic frameworks rather than use acupoint tapping as an independent modality. This finding suggests that the approach is portable and is being applied within the context of established therapeutic systems with the intention of more rapidly facilitating targeted neurological, emotional, and cognitive changes. In brief, the practitioner reports generated in the survey corroborate clinical trials and meta-analyses that suggest acupoint tapping protocols are rapid and effective with a range of conditions. Keywords: acupoint tapping, biofield, chakra, Emotional Freedom Techniques, EFT, energy psychology, meridian, survey, Thought Field Therapy

scholarly journals A Thematic Analysis of Health Care Workers’ Adoption of Mindfulness Practices

2018 ◽  
Vol 66 (11) ◽  
pp. 538-544 ◽  
Author(s):  
Morgan Valley ◽  
Lorann Stallones
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Behavior ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Behavior Change ◽  
Present Moment ◽  
Behavior Change Interventions ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Mindfulness Practices

Mindfulness training, which teaches individuals to bring awareness and acceptance to the present moment, has been effective in improving the well-being of health care workers. Limited research examines the adoption of mindfulness practices using health behavior theories. The current study sought to conceptualize hospital health care workers’ experiences in adopting mindfulness practices using the Health Belief Model (HBM), a theoretical framework used by health promotion practitioners to design and implement health behavior change interventions. Hospital health care workers in Colorado participated in an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course. Participants ( n = 19) answered open-ended questions about their experiences adopting mindfulness practices. A theory-driven thematic analysis approach was used to analyze data with key constructs of the HBM acting as the framework for the analysis. Results showed that HBM constructs, including internal cues to action, perceived benefits and barriers, and self-efficacy, helped portray the participants’ experiences and challenges in adopting and adhering to the mindfulness practices taught in the MBSR course.

Narrative as active inference

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nabil Bouizegarene ◽  
maxwell ramstead ◽  
Axel Constant ◽  
Karl Friston ◽  
Laurence Kirmayer
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Social Practices ◽  
Human Adaptation ◽  
Active Inference ◽  
Future Projection ◽  
Future Developments ◽  
The Social ◽  
Parsimonious Model ◽  
Living Organisms ◽  
Theory Research

The ubiquity and importance of narratives in human adaptation has been recognized by many scholars. Research has identified several functions of narratives that are conducive to individuals’ well-being and adaptation as well as to coordinated social practices and enculturation. In this paper, we characterize the social and cognitive functions of narratives in terms of the framework of active inference. Active inference depicts the fundamental tendency of living organisms to adapt by creating, updating, and maintaining inferences about their environment. We review the literature on the functions of narratives in identity, event segmentation, episodic memory, future projection, storytelling practices, and enculturation. We then re-cast these functions of narratives in terms of active inference, outlining a parsimonious model that can guide future developments in narrative theory, research, and clinical applications.

Trauma in the correctional field and the correctional worker habitus

Incarceration ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 263266632110217
Author(s):  
Laura McKendy ◽  
Rose Ricciardelli ◽  
Kate Konyk
Keyword(s):  
Job Performance ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Subjective Effects ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Work Stressors ◽  
The Social ◽  
Emotional Insecurity ◽  
Correctional Settings ◽  
Key Aspects

Prisons and other correctional settings are spaces often marked by numerous sources of physical, psychological, and emotional insecurity. Researchers have consistently found correctional work to be associated with outcomes such as burnout, posttraumatic stress disorder, and depression. Drawing on open-ended survey questions with correctional workers (CWs) in the province of Ontario, we first identify salient themes in discussions of work stressors and potentially psychologically traumatic events (PPTEs); these include situations involving harm to prisoners, harm to staff, and harms associated with occupational and organizational culture. Next, employing the concept of “habitus,” we consider the social-subjective effects of exposure to PPTEs as revealed in respondent accounts. Key aspects include a disposition of hypervigilance, desensitization, disillusionment, and distrust. We suggest that the CW habitus may, in some ways, serve to mitigate threats in the work environment, though may have negative effects on job performance and well-being, and come to shape social experiences in everyday life.

scholarly journals Post-traumatic stress disorder following COVID-19 pandemic among medical students in Riyadh: a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zainab Ifthikar ◽  
Saima Sajjad Fakih ◽  
Saumy Johnson ◽  
Johnson Alex
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Emotional Impact ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background In recent times, COVID-19 has been recognized as a public health emergency and thus far, most papers published on it are focused only on the clinical characteristics of infected patients. This pandemic has also made phenomenal emotional impact among the young and the old. We aimed to find out the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological well-being of medical students in a University at Riyadh. Results There were 309 participants in the study. Out of them 44% did not have PTSD, 29% had score more than 37 which might contribute to immune suppression, in 18.4% PTSD was a clinical concern and 8.6% had probable PTSD. Female participants were the majority in the group and they also had higher chance of having consequences than the male counterparts (P < 0.001). Avoidance score between male and female gender was significantly different. Conclusion COVID-19 pandemic has not just affected the physiological functioning of the affected individuals but also has had a probable post-traumatic stress disorder among young college students. Screening for psychological well-being and the treatment for PTSD is imperative in college, school and general population.

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