Energy therapy entails stimulating prana, or life force energy, to heal both emotional and physical ailments using techniques designed to balance out body’s energies.
Most therapies involve stimulating points on the body similar to those targeted in acupuncture, including body tapping and exposure therapy.
Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)
Emotional Freedom Technique is an energy therapy practice which uses tapping on body’s energy meridians combined with verbal affirmations to remove emotional blockages and enhance natural healing processes in the body. The technique has quickly become a mainstay in modern energy psychology and has attracted widespread support among healers, scientists, and spiritualists.
Based on the belief that negative emotions are caused by disruptions to our body’s energy system, unblocking negative or stuck energy throughout your body can help ease negative emotions while simultaneously alleviating physical ailments and performance issues often associated with these emotions.
This self-administered method requires you to focus on an issue that’s bothering you and rate its severity on a scale of zero to 10. Next, while repeating “I deeply love and accept myself,” tap with your fingers on certain energy points called meridian points – believed to be pathways through which life energy (known as “chi” or prana”) flows – until tapping releases any blockages to its flow and restores equilibrium within your energy body.
Tapping can be done anywhere and requires no equipment; even in front of a mirror to see exactly what you are doing! Furthermore, tapping is an effective and straightforward method for managing stress, anxiety and other forms of emotional turmoil.
Studies have demonstrated the efficacy of EFT for treating PTSD and other emotional traumas, such as by decreasing cortisol levels in the amygdala, decreasing memory reactivity to trauma events and increasing gene expression which regulate stress responses.
Though these studies are small-scale, their findings indicate that EFT is an effective alternative to psychotherapy in helping individuals deal with PTSD, pain and depression symptoms. Furthermore, it encourages patients to trust their natural healing powers of their bodies while improving outlook on life.
Notably, qualified EFT practitioners can give clients a better understanding of the psychological and neurobiological processes involved in EFT treatment, providing them with an holistic perspective that may lead to more successful results.
Thought Field Therapy (TFT)
Thought Field Therapy (TFT) is an energy healing practice that utilizes finger tapping. Practitioners have developed series of tapping sequences known as algorithms to address specific thought fields and emotional issues; using these sequences helps unlock and eliminate negative emotion associated with problems.
TFT applies the principles behind Eastern medical practices like acupuncture and acupressure to facilitate personal healing. Both disciplines conceive of the body as containing specific energy pathways called meridians that, when blocked, cause health problems. TFT utilizes these same meridians by stimulating specific points with fingertips rather than needles to address specific issues in areas of the brain that correspond with each meridian point; these meridian points correspond with areas affected by any particular issue in which TFT sessions may take place.
In a session, clients tap their fingertips on various areas of their face and hands in a systematic sequence, counting, humming or repeating self-affirming quotes while doing it. It is believed that tapping helps increase effectiveness by stimulating certain parts of the brain – this may also help promote rational thought when applying this technique to situations or problems.
TFT sessions typically last 30 to 90 minutes and have been described as painless. TFT has proven itself effective for treating numerous issues ranging from common phobias to PTSD; its application has proved especially useful when faced with witnessing or experiencing traumatizing events.
Therapists increasingly utilize TFT alongside traditional talk therapy to assist clients in processing their experiences and emotions, with TFT even sometimes being an alternative way of discussing trauma directly with a therapist.
Though TFT is not scientifically validated, its effects seem lasting. Studies have demonstrated its success at alleviating anxiety and alleviating PTSD symptoms. It’s important to remember that practitioners are subject to regulations on how they promote their services, so cannot make claims that this treatment will cure specific illnesses or conditions. It is advised that anyone considering TFT seek advice from a qualified practitioner prior to beginning treatment.
Tapas Acupressure Technique (TAT)
TAT is an energy healing technique that uses light pressure on the head to stimulate acupressure points and identify unresolved emotions, beliefs, or traumas. TAT may be used alone or combined with other energy therapy modalities for maximum effect; its application has proven effective at helping people break free of addictive behavior as it reduces stress and anxiety levels, works through emotional blocksages, promotes relaxation and fosters clarity of thought.
TAT was developed by licensed acupuncturist Tapas Fleming in 1993 as an alternative to EFT and has proven very effective. By applying pressure to specific acupressure points on the face and back of head with specific statements repeated over and over, traumas can be released, fears eased, emotional upsets reduced or eliminated entirely, physical issues like pain headaches or allergies can be effectively alleviated and this technique provides quick results.
TAT can be considered as an easier alternative to EFT and is suitable for people of all ages and genders. TAT is easily learned and applied both individually or with family members; its fast learning process makes it accessible for use against depression, insomnia and phobias among other problems.
As with EFT, TACT involves activating the body’s subtle energy system by stimulating various energy meridian points and tapping to activate these points. Affirmations may also be used to address and identify root issues of problems and their source patterns; Tact can be combined with TFT and EMDR therapies for holistic healing.
TAT can be an invaluable asset in addiction recovery, providing valuable relief from emotional blockages and traumas rooted in childhood abuse or neglect (ACEs). By relieving stress, anxiety, relaxation and clarity it can also reduce cravings as it helps release negative emotions such as anger or fear associated with particular triggers while aiding the process of forgiveness.
As with other energy healing modalities, anyone interested in TAT should seek training from an experienced practitioner and carry professional liability insurance as protection from potential claims related to practicing this technique.
Exposure Therapy
People living with anxiety often spend much of their energy trying to avoid people, places or things that make them fearful. While initially this may help lower anxiety levels, over time this can create more negative thoughts and feelings than initially intended. Exposure therapy seeks to combat this by gradually confronting fearful triggers in a safe setting – though this approach can be challenging it’s proven highly successful at treating phobias, anxiety disorders and even post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Exposure therapy comes in various forms. Your therapist will choose which form best meets the underlying psychological issues and severity of symptoms you are experiencing. Therapists usually start out by gathering extensive details on mental health history before explaining how exposure therapy works and setting treatment goals with you.
Exposure therapy usually starts off by working on relaxation and anxiety reduction strategies with you, such as breathing exercises and guided visualizations. Once these have become part of your everyday routine, therapists may introduce one of three exposure methods into their sessions:
In-vivo exposure involves physically placing yourself into situations or environments you fear, such as swimming in an ocean where there may be sharks. Your therapist might encourage this or ask you to visualize yourself being hit by a wave instead. Interoceptive exposure works similarly, though instead of targeting specific physical sensations like elevated heart rate or shortness of breath directly confronting any bodily responses like elevated heart rate such as running in place to briefly increase it instead. Prolonged exposure utilizes both methods at once – proven particularly successful for treating posttraumatic Stress disorder sufferers.
After you have completed the initial stages of exposure therapy, your therapist will slowly increase the intensity of stimuli until you can interact with a previously frightening object, activity or situation without anxiety. This process could last from several sessions up to many more depending on the severity and complexity of your anxiety issues.
