Definition of Energy Psychology by ACEP

The Association of Comprehensive Energy Psychology (ACEP) has defined “Energy Psychology” as the following:

Energy Psychology is a family of evidence based interventions that balance, restore and improve human functioning.  These techniques are being used around the world by thousands of mental health and allied professionals and lay people alike to achieve rapid, dramatic and lasting changes in feelings, thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors.  Incorporating a mind-body approach, they can be simple enough that children can be taught to use them independently.  Yet, they are so powerful that they are being employed by several organizations worldwide to provide first response to disasters and other traumatic situations.

Positive clinical and experimental outcomes have been found with a multitude of populations including, Trauma and PTSD, Anxiety and Phobias, Depression, Addictions, weight management, pain and school, sports and work performance.

This innovative approach to mental and physical health is currently being studied by the National Institutes of Health, the Kaiser Foundation, and the Veterans Administration.  A growing body of clinical research has thus far been very promising, as well as fMRI and QEEG results that show positive brain activity after the use of energy psychology techniques.  Despite the fact that the scientific study of energy psychology approaches is in it its early phases, these results are highly promising.

Energy psychology combines physical interventions using the acupuncture system, the chakras and other ancient systems of healing with modern cognitive interventions such as imagery-based exposure therapy to bring about therapeutic shifts in the thoughts, emotions and behavioral patterns that are involved in a very wide range of problems.

Mind-body approaches to human functioning recognize a multi-layered systemic inter-connection between the different systems of body, the brain and the mind.

These connections are supported through numerous scientific disciplines including: psychoneuroimmunology, epi-genetics, interpersonal neurobiology, and neuroplasticity.  The effectiveness of energy psychology approaches appears to derive from a synergistic effect of systematically focusing attention on specific memories and other cognitive-affective experiences while teaching clients skills to activate the energy systems of the body to normalize functioning, including disruptions in the brain and brain stem.  The result transcends the normal ability change experience through conscious effort.  Instead, subjects repeatedly report spontaneous resolution of negative thoughts feelings and memories.

“Tapping Techniques” such as EFT and other meridian tapping approaches are some of the more common approaches used in this field.

Dr. Cynthia Howard has used this approach for 20 years and worked with thousands of individuals, many work teams and spoken to dozens of professional groups on the topic. Dr. Howard is a member of ACEP.