Energy Psychology

Psychotherapy & Information Processing Howard Lipke

Psychotherapy and Information Processing

Individuals normally process information to reach a state of adaptation

Information processing can be blocked

Psychotherapy helps clients in reprocessing dysfunctionally held information:

maladaptive beliefs, thoughts, behaviour, emotions, sensations, painful intrusive images

Psychotherapy also helps clients to acquire and process new information to enhance adaptive functioning

The Therapeutic Relationship

All activities of psychotherapist and client take place within the context of a psychotherapeutic relationship, which

establishes contact and reduces anxiety

recognises the positive intention of the client

frames the learning goal and allows learning

helps with the integration of learning experiences into the future

Treatment Activities

Categories:

1. Accessing of relevant information from the client

2. Offering new information to the client

3. Facilitation of processing of information

4. Inhibition of accessing information

(Howard Lipke)

1. Accessing Existing Information

Bringing to awareness of information already stored

from declarative memory systems (events, dates, facts)

conditioned emotional responses

behaviour from non-declarative systems

Examples:

memory of a specific real event, principle, rules, bodily sensations, emotions, fantasies or beliefs

Schools focus on different types of information

2. Offering New Information

Psychotherapists present new information or encourage the client to acquire new information themselves

All methods of therapy provide new information about the treatment they offer

Dynamically oriented therapists may introduce information about the unconscious

Behaviour therapists introduce information about reinforcement

Professionals also present normative data:

What are normal reactions in the given situation?

3. Facilitation of Information Processing

Successful information processing between brain networks leads to adaptive transformation

Painful nonadaptive information can be reprocessed very rapidly, with the same speed that such maladaptive elements were acquired

This opinion is different from the therapeutic expectations of traditional models of psychotherapy

Category 3 activities do not contain or convey meaning in themselves

4. Inhibition of Information Accessing

The purpose of psychotherapy is to process, or reprocess information

The psychotherapist may also help the client to isolate information, to

provide temporary relief of destructive distress, or

inhibit destructive behaviour

Sometimes processing must be inhibited

Example:

Relaxation or selfhypnosis to close sessions in which traumatic events are not completely processed

Meridian-based Psychotherapy & Counselling

The cause of all negative emotions is a disruption in the body's energy system (Gary Craig)

All illnesses start with a diminution of the Life Energy (John Diamond)

What is MPC?

Definition:

A new class of needle-free acupuncture meridian treatments of the body’s electrical system to rapidly remove physical, emotional, cognitive, and spiritual blocks that interfere with optimal mind-body-spirit functioning

(David and Rebecca Grudermeyer)

Principles behind MPC

Richard Gerber:

Matter is energy and Einstein’s equation is the starting point of our theory

All matter, both physical and subtle, has frequency

The etheric and physical bodies have different frequencies and coexist non-destructively within the same space, like light and radio waves

The acupuncture meridian system is a discretely organised network of sub-microscopic ducts, which connects the physical to the etheric body

Principles

The meridian system relays a nutritive energy, ch’i, from the environment to the organs in the physical body via energetic portals in the skin, acupuncture points

Energy disturbances in the etheric body and the acupuncture meridian system precede the physical manifestation of illness

(Richard Gerber)

Acupuncture points

Brain stimulation:

(Zang-Hee Cho (1998) http://www.ucihs.uci.edu/radiosci/radphysics.html )

non-acupoint

acupoint in visual area

light flashing

Meridians

Injection of radioactive Technetium in the experiment of Vernejoul:

other skin point acupuncture point

Disturbances

When a person’s energy system is not balanced,

there is no adequate coping with dangers and chances in the environment

the person loses her autonomy

adequate emotional reactions are suppressed

agression and anxiety appear

bodily symptoms occur

there is a heavy influence of relationships and coping patterns learned in childhood

Equal relationships between individuals are not possible

Treatment

Life events (physical, mental, or emotional) affect the human energy system

Conversely, a therapeutic intervention involving that system can effect positive outcomes

Names:

Thought Field Therapy TFT, Roger Callahan

Emotional Freedom Techniques EFT, Gary Craig

Be Set Free Fast BSFF, Larry Nims

Tapas Acupressure Techniques, Tapas Fleming

Energy psychology, psychotherapy, Fred Gallo

Treatment Principles

Energy meridians become disrupted when the client is involved in an emotionally disturbing circumstance

Negative emotions and physical symptoms may instantly improve by tapping on acupuncture points according to certain sequences: algorithms

Emotional problems consist of separate layers, holons , which are treated successively with the same or with different algorithms

Treatment

With treatment, cognitions often change in a healthy direction as a natural consequence of the healing process

The client cannot get upset about the circumstance

The actual memory stays, but the charge is gone

Typically, this result is lasting for the specific circumstance or aspect

Treatment

Changes brought about by tapping procedures feel so natural that clients tend to ignore that they ever had the problem or had it in that intensity

Subjective units of disturbance (SUDs) allow the client to notice differences in the perception of a problem

on a scale from 0 to 10, where do you put this problem?

Indications are phobias, trauma, guilt, grief and addictive cravings

Order of Emotions

Every body has a unique firing order of emotions

This firing order also varies depending on the issue

It is most respectful to ask the client rather than to assume that one emotion must be treated first because it precedes or underlies another

Ask client What emotion do you think we need to address/deal with/ process/treat first?

By starting with the most troublesome emotion, others become easier to sort and treat

EFT: Gary Craig

Emotional Freedom Techniques EFT

an emotional healing technique

also capable of dramatically relieving many physical symptoms

derived from TFT by Gary Craig, a Stanford engineer

EFT was directly derived from Thought Field Therapy (TFT)

Gary Craig trained with Roger Callahan

EFT: The Basic Recipe

Procedure:

1. Rate the Distress

2. Do the Setup

3. Do the Sequence

4. Do the 9-Gamut

5. Repeat the Sequence

6. Rate the Distress again

Repeat the Basic Recipe for every new holon

If the subjective level of distress is down to 1 or 0:

Eye Roll

Rate the Distress

In order to measure progress, rate your distress on a SUD scale, from 0 to 10 (where 0 is no problem and 10 is the worst it can be)

SUD: Subjective Unit of Discomfort

The Setup

Rub the NLR point while repeating three times the affirmation: I deeply and completely accept myself with all my problems and limitations

Tap the karate chop point while repeating three times the affirmation: I deeply and completely accept myself even though I have this ....

Tapping

Tap with two fingers (index and middle) of the dominant hand on either side of the body

tapping, not hitting

Tapping Points I

Face & Body Points:

inside eye brow

side of eye

under eye

under nose

under lower lip

collarbone point

under arm

Tapping Points II

Hand points:

thumb

index finger

middle finger

little finger

karate chop point

Points can be tapped on either side of the body

The 9 Gamut

While contually tapping on the 9-gamut spot on the back of the hand:

1. Close your eyes

2. Open your eyes

3. Look down in one corner

4. Look down in the other corner

5. Roll your eyes in a circle

6. Roll your eyes in a circle in the other direction

7. Hum a few notes of any tune

8. Count to seven

9. Hum a few notes again

The Eye Roll

When SUDs are reduced to 1 or 0, do the Eye Roll:

While continuously tapping on the 9-gamut spot:

close your eyes

open your eyes, look straight ahead

move your eyes down to the floor and then slowly up to the ceiling

Starting exercise

People's emotional issues often show up in constricted breathing

Dealing with the breathing reduces the intensity of these issues and can take the edge off of the emotional problem before working with it directly

Most people have some constriction in their breathing which is rather easily corrected with EFT

Take a deep breath or two before doing the first SUD assessment, this helps the lungs to stretch so that the initial SUD score is more likely to be valid

Have your client take a deep breath and ask them to assess how that breath compares to what they consider to be their potential (10)

Most people come up with a lower SUD number, such as 7 or 8

A round or two of EFT usually brings them to a 10

When it doesn’t work

Problem resolution can be inhibited by

psychological reversal

neurological disorganisation

energy toxins

Psychological reversal

Psychological reversal creates a polarity block

It blocks treatments from working

PR entails reversed energy flow in the meridians which results in a negativistic, self-sabotaging state

PR is indicated when strong/weak responses are reversed

PR treatment often quickly corrects this condition so that therapy can proceed successfully

EFT always uses PR correction

PR Correction

Massive:

While rubbing NLR spot: I deeply and completely accept myself with all my problems and limitations

Specific:

While tapping kc or un, repeat three times: I deeply and completely accept myself, even if I have this problem

PR Correction

Mini reversal:

While tapping karate chop or under nose point, repeat three times: I deeply and completely accept myself, even if I still have some of this problem

Recurrent reversal

While tapping kc or un, repeat three times: I deeply and completely accept myself, even if this problem keeps coming back

Resistance

EFT and many of the other rapid and powerful therapies tend to violate people's conventional beliefs about what constitutes “real therapy”

“ they don't compute”

there is no tangible link between the stunning results we get and people's existing beliefs

Whether one's beliefs are helpful or damaging, they form the foundation from which one makes sense of the world

To challenge them means challenging one's very sense of security and causes resistance

Don’t Take Prisoners

Anything that runs through the client’s mind needs processing

This isn’t going to work, This is silly, I will fail at this

Continued processing leads to other material

jump around from topic to topic or image to image

immediately moving to another issue

processing in sound, color, light, cartoon images, numbers, body sensations

Then return to target and see what changes have occurred

image, affect, bodily sensations, SUDs level

TFT

TFT, EFT and the other energy psychotherapies use very similar procedures

TFT uses specific algorithms for specific individuals and types of problems

The type of intervention is decided upon by the use of diagnostic methods, like muscle testing

There are no clear indications when to use which technique, it depends on the therapist and the client in their unique relationship

Algorithm

Definitions:

A mindless procedure which, when followed, must produce an outcome

A procedure in which a series of process steps are executed in a predetermined order:

take coffee from a machine

Muscle Testing

TFT uses muscle testing to diagnose inner states

The unconscious mind can answer questions by strengthening or weakening muscles

Muscles are strengthened when a statement is true for the client, weakened when a statement is false or when the client experiences a problem

Clients may have unconscious control issues which prevent them from joining in the collaboration

You can get in your own way and influence a test with personality biases

Dehydration, threats and exhaustion can disrupt the circuitry

Muscle testing

1. Introduce the purpose and process of muscle testing and tell the client you're going to calibrate the basic state for a strong muscle

2. Ask the client to hold one arm stretched at the side of the body and relax the other one

3. Stand before the client, put one hand on the opposing shoulder and with the other one press down gently on the client's stretched arm, just up the wrist

4. Ask to resist only enough to support the pressure of your fingers, after you say "Hold" or "Resist"

5. Allow them to get a sense of how that feels

6. Next, tell them you're going to press harder, and ask them to allow you to press the arm down, after you say "Hold"

7. Press down just a little harder and encourage them to let their arm yield, after you say "Hold" or "Resist"

8. Practice steps 2-7 a few times

9. The client should now be easier to test. If not, continue to practice reduced resistance going through steps 2 - 7

Basic Testing

Test names

Ask the client to say: “My name is ...” and test

Test for truth:

Ask the client to say a true statement like (2 + 2 = 4) and test

Ask the client to say an un true statement (2 + 2 = 5) and test

Test for polarity

Test with hand over head palm down and palm up

Palm down must be strong, palm up weak

Test for massive reversal:

Test with the the client saying “I want to be happy” and “I want to be miserable”

Starting Procedure Start Test Name Test Truth Test strong Test strong Test Polarity Test strong Drink Water Do Thymus Thump Test strong Test Massive Reversal Drink Water Correct NDO Cook's Hookups Correction for Massive Reversal Treatment Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No No Zipper

TFT Algorithms

A classical TFT algorithm consists of:

Sequence of tapping points (Sq)

9-Gamut procedure (9G)

Repetition of sequence (Sq)

eye roll (ER)

Every algorithm works for one single holon

After the treatment of every holon, another one may show up, until the SUDs are down to zero

When SUDs are zero, another issue with higher SUDs may arise

Basic Technique TFT

Test in Clear: name, true/false, polarity, massive reversal

If you get unclear or reversed answers: Drink water, do over-energy correction (OEC) or collarbone breathing exercise (CBE), and/or correct massive reversal

Attune to disturbing thought by referencing the body (MT)

If muscle not weak suspect and correct reversal

Rate SUDs (1–10) by referencing the body with muscle test

Treat client with appropriate algorithm

Rate SUDs (1–10)

If SUDs > 1:

test and correct for mini-PR or additional PR

Repeat algorithm or use another

When SUDS < 1: Eye roll

TFT: Anxiety

Algorithm:

sequence: ue, ua, c

9 gamut

repeat sequence

eye roll

(Abbreviations on p. 56)

TFT: Anxiety

Current anxiety protocol:

first time

worst time

most recent time

finally future projection

TFT: Anger & Rage

Anger Algorithm:

sequence: lf, a, c

9 gamut

repeat sequence

eye roll

Rage Algorithm:

sequence: oe, a, c

9 gamut

repeat sequence

eye roll

TFT: Trauma

Trauma Algorithm:

sequence: eb,e, a, c

9 gamut

repeat sequence

eye roll

Complex trauma with guilt and anger

sequence: eb, e, a, c, if, c, lf

9 gamut

repeat sequence

eye roll

TFT: Addiction

Addictive urges & generalised anxiety:

e, a, c–> 9G –> Sq –> er (simple)

eb, e, a, c–> 9G –> Sq –> er

e, c, a–> 9G –> Sq –> er

e, c, a, c, e –> 9G –> Sq –> er

e, a, c, a, e, c –> 9G –> Sq –> er

TFT Algorithms

Anger

lf, c –> 9G –> Sq –> ER „I forgive X, I know he/she can’t help it“

Guilt

If, c –> 9G –> Sq –> ER I forgive myself, I’m doing the best I can

Rage

oe, c –> 9G –> Sq –> ER

Jealousy

mf, c –> 9G –> Sq –> ER

mf, a, c –> 9G –> Sq –> er

Stress Reduction

er –> 9G –> Sq –> er

Treatment No Yes Test strong Correct Specific Psych. Reversal Name Problem Treatment Establish SUDS Test SUDS Make Notes Tap Sequence No 9 Gamut Tap Sequence Establish SUDS Test SUDS Make Notes SUDS down Eye Roll to 1 or 0 Test/Correct for Mini PR Moderately Find New Algorithm or change aspect Test strong Name Problem EXIT Yes No

When it doesn‘t work

Reasons:

The client makes headway but shifts from aspect to aspect

To the client, this seems like nothing

Core issues are not addressed

Psychological reversal, different types

Neurological Disorganization

In individuals with this problem, the body seems to have forgotten "which way is up"--the body lacks consistent polarity

MPT techniques are variably successful in these individuals, until ND is corrected with Cook‘s hookups

Disturbances in the therapeutic relationship on the energy level

practitioner may tap on the client,

practitioner may treat himself first

Energy toxins

When it doesn‘t work

Have the stuck person use, on their next round of treatment, the phrase „Even though I‘m stuck at 5 (4,7, etc.)...“

This breaks the resistance in about 80% of cases

It may take 2 rounds of saying this to get the process going

Another aspect of the problem may surface

(Pat Carrington)

Thought Fields

Thought Fields are specific thoughts, perturbations and related information which are active in a problem or treatment situation

Psychological problems are manifestations of isolated pieces of active information, energetically coded within thought fields

In order to diagnose and treat effectively the appropriate thought field must be attuned

Examples of thought fields:

Memories

thinking about or being in proximity of phobic object, or even the thought of an elephant

Cook‘s Hookups

Have the person sitting, with feet on the floor

1. Place left ankle over right

2. Place hands out in front, arms extended, with backs of hands touching

3. Bring right hand over left (so that palms are touching)

4. Clasp/enfold fingers and fold hands and arms in, resting on chest

5. Breathing in, rest tongue against upper palate (i.e., behind front teeth)

6. Breathing out, rest tongue against bottom palate

This is done for one to two minutes, breathing normally

If you have been using muscle testing, re-evaluate

If not, just proceed with the EFT treatment

TFT Tapping Points

bladder beginning of eyebrow (BL2) eb trauma, restlessness

gall bladder outside eye (GB-1) oe rage, fury, wrath

stomach under eye (St-1) ue fear, bitterness, greed

governing upper lip, under nose (GV-27) un embarrassment

central lower lip (CV-24) ul shame

kidney collarbone (K-27) c (sexual) indecision

spleen under arm (Sp-21) ua self-confidence, realism

lung thumb (LU-11) t contempt, disdain

large intestine index finger (LI-1) if guilt

circulation/sex middle finger (CX-9) mf jealousy, regret

heart little finger (HT-9) lf anger

small intestine side of hand (karate chop) (SI-3) kc sadness, sorrow

triple heater/thyroid back of hand, gamut point (TH-3) g depression, despair

liver under nipple (LV-14) l unhappiness

Quotes

"Everything that can be invented, has been invented." -- Charles Duell, commissioner, US patents, 1899

"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers." --Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943

"Computers of the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons. -- Popular Mechanics, forecasting the relentless march of science, 1949

"This 'telephone' has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device has no value. --Western Union, internal memo, 1876

"There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home. -- Ken Olson, pres, chairman, founder of Digital Equipment corp. 1977

"Who the hell wants to hear actors talk?" --H.M. Warner, Warner Bros. 1927

"Drill for oil? You mean drill into the ground to try and find oil? You're crazy." -- Drillers whom Edwin Drake tried to enlist to his project to drill for oil in 1859

"Louis Pasteur's theory of germs is ridiculous fiction." -- Pierre Pachet, Prof of Physiology, at Toulouse, 1872

"If I had thought about it, I wouldn't have done this experiment. The literature was full of examples that said you can't do this." -- Spencer Silver on the work that led to the unique adhesives for 3-M "Post-It".

"The wireless music box has no imaginable commercial value. Who would pay for a message sent to nobody in particular?" -- David Sarnoff's associates in response to his urgings for investment in the radio in the 1920's.