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ACEP news release: APA rejects request for CE approval for Energy Psychology despite evidence of effectiveness

Washington, D.C., January 20, 2010   APA rejects ACEP’S request for CE approval for Energy Psychology despite evidence of its effectiveness in treating PTSD and other disorders

On December 28, 2009 the American Psychological Association (APA) denied the appeal of The Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology, a non-profit association of practitioners and researchers in Energy Psychology, to provide APA Continuing Education credit for Energy Psychology. This action sends a potentially chilling effect on the utilization of one of the most promising treatments for PTSD and trauma at a time when hundreds of thousands of our returning soldiers are suffering from PTSD and more effective treatments are desperately needed. Energy Psychology methods have been used successfully throughout the world to treat thousands of traumatized disaster survivors and US soldiers and have been adopted by three international disaster relief organizations as a core modality in working with the mental health needs of disaster survivors.

One “Energy Psychology” technique involves the stimulation of acupuncture points by tapping on them at the same time that a traumatic memory or stressful trigger is brought to mind. The procedure is believed to send signals to the brain that counteract the stress response. Early research is finding it to be surprisingly effective. A paper presented at the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine Conference in San Jose last September, for instance, showed that symptoms of traumatic stress were dramatically reduced in 19 military veterans with PTSD after six hour-long sessions using the method, and that 16 of the 19 of the veterans no longer scored within the PTSD range. Scores for a comparison group that did not receive treatment were unchanged. These outcomes are stronger than outcomes reported for conventional treatments such as Cognitive Behavior Therapy, where a 50% success rate with PTSD after twelve sessions is considered a highly favorable response.

Despite findings such as these the APA forbids any of its CE providers to give credit for course offerings in Energy Psychology. For the last 2 years The Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology, has been working to end this practice by becoming the first APA approved CE provider offering courses in Energy Psychology. First one application was denied; followed by a second that was denied, followed by a request for reconsideration that, too, was denied.

The essence of the CE Committee’s (CEC) denials that prompted the appeal was that Energy Psychology remains “controversial and of uncertain acceptance” and that, “the CEC decision found that sufficient controversy existed to render uncertain the credibility of their claims and theory in the broader communities.”

Continuing education is one of the primary ways a profession introduces new developments to its members. A course meets the APA’s published standards for CE credit if it meets any one of four criteria. The first is that the psychological community has been studying or applying the approach. More than two dozen papers on energy psychology have appeared in peer-reviewed mental health journals, most of them showing favorable outcomes in systematic studies of the method. Meanwhile, at least three international disaster relief organizations have adopted energy psychology as a core modality in working with the mental health needs of disaster survivors.

Another criterion that would define a course as appropriate for APA CE credit is if its “program content has peer-reviewed, published support” beyond publications devoted primarily to the promotion of the approach. Besides the numerous papers mentioned earlier, the APA’s own prestigious journals, such as Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, have published highly favorable assessments of energy psychology.

In June, 2009, ACEP filed an appeal with the APA that was accompanied by a 80 page brief listing 17 counts establishing that the APA CE committee’s decision was 1) arbitrary, capricious or otherwise not in accordance with the standards and criteria and the procedures of the Committee; or (2) not supported by substantial evidence

On Dec 14, the appeal was heard. During that meeting the representatives of the APA CE committee claimed that they followed proper procedure and that the Committee gave our application careful review. Upon further questioning, the CEC Committee Chair stated that the CEC Committee did not have measurable criteria for their decision and that it was based solely on their “professional judgment”.  ACEP repeatedly asked what the threshold was for Energy Psychology reaching credibility in their eyes. They stated that there was “no line”.

Despite the substantial evidence submitted by ACEP and their admission that there was no measurable criteria used by the Continuing Education Committee, the APA appeal panel upheld the original decision of the APA CE committee.   This ban is antithetical to APA’s stated CE  objective of  “the encouragement of psychology in all its branches in the broadest and most liberal manner.”

Greg Nicosia, PhD the President, Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology and Member of the American Psychological Association stated, ”Frankly we were stunned by the APA’s lack of ability to give a measurable objective that could be used to demonstrate the effectiveness of energy psychology. We wonder can this bode well for any new therapy that could be effective. Has the APA become so large and powerful that all it can do is defend their status quo? Because continuing education is one of the primary ways a profession introduces new developments to its members, we can only hope that the APA will someday see fit to stop defending its errant position and support the education of psychologists in a method that has the potential to significantly improve treatment for our soldiers and other suffering individuals. Our response now is to raise the funds necessary to conduct the state-of-the-art research that cannot be ignored.”

Dr. Nicosia is available for interviews.

For Information contact: Dr Robert Schwarz, Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology, Executive Director.  Acep_ed@energypsych.org  610-203-9262

The Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology Website:  www.energypsych.org

EFT World Hub Tribute to Gary Craig, EFT Founder

Starting January 10, for seven days Gary Williams, founder of the EFT World Hub, will be hosting a celebration of Emotional Freedom Techniques and paying tribute to EFT creator Gary Craig. The first day will feature a recorded interview with Gary Craig, who discusses his new film based on his work with war trauma and veterans, questions being asked about his retirement and Web site, and other topics.

During the seven-day event, EFT World Hub will provide free access to interviews with well-known EFT practitioners from around the world. These experts include Patricia Carrington, Sophia Cayer, Judy Byrne, Pamela Bruner, Steve Wells, Maryam Webster, Ingrid Dinter, Alina Frank, Carol Look, Jacqui Crooks, Gwyneth Moss, Emma Roberts, Sasha Allenby, Ann Adams, Rick Wilkes, Karin Davidson, Paul Zelizer, Tania Prince, Rue Hass, Gwenn Bonell, Marie Holliday, Tapas Fleming, Andy Bryce, and Sue Beer.

After the event, a recording of the tribute will be available in the EFT World Hub library for download for a small fee.

You can also join Gary Williams for three live broadcasts at 3 p.m. EST (8 p.m. GMT) on:

Sunday, January 10
Thursday, January 14
Sunday, January 17

Click here to sign up for the tribute


2010 ACEP energy psychology conference open for registration

Registration for the Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology (ACEP) 12th International Conference on Energy Psychology is now open. The conference, titled Evolving Tools for Healing Mind, Body and Spirit, will be held June 3-6 at the beautiful Loews Coronado Bay Resort in San Diego, California.

Confirmed keynote speakers include:

William Bengston, PhD, researcher in energy healing of cancer

Norman Doige, MD, author of The Brain that Changes Itself

Dean Radin, PhD, author of The Conscious Universe and Entangled Minds

Donna Eden, author of Energy Medicine and Energy Medicine for Women

David Feinstein, PhD, author of  Energy Psychology Interactive and The Mythic Path

Debbie Ford, author of The Secret of the Shadow and The Spiritual Divorce 

Click here for information

Register before February 15 to get the best price.

EFT founder Gary Craig retiring January 15

Gary Craig, founder of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), announced his January 15, 2010 retirement in a blog post dated December 12. Many in the EFT community were stunned, as evidenced by the hundreds of blog comments.

Craig's emofree.com Web site, which contains valuable articles, stories, testimonials, case studies, and training materials, is scheduled to close March 1.

In his post, he points to an intriguing view of the future, describing EFT as "but the doorstep to a far grander Palace of Possibilities." Following is the excerpt.

The Future – Where to From Here?  

EFT has two important features: (1) What it does and (2) Where it points. The vast majority of EFT’ers are fascinated by what it does and are forever delivering ooohhs and aaahhs as EFT does its magic. This is fine. However, this is nowhere near as important as where it points.
 
EFT is but the doorstep to a far grander Palace of Possibilities. It is way outside our normal experience and its results cannot be properly explained by medicine or conventional science.  As remarkable as it now seems, EFT is actually a toy that will someday be tossed away as a mere introduction to the exquisite beauty that is our birthright. It points to a future mental state where disease, war and resentments do not exist. This level cannot be reached, however, by...
  • more tapping points or,
  • the "latest and greatest" options for delivering EFT or,
  • any of the other varied offerings that have found their way onto the EFT scene. 
Instead, it will require a new approach, a new way of thinking that may or may not be directly related to EFT. I will be exploring the upper reaches of this Healing High Rise and have my sights on the Penthouse. Perhaps we will meet there someday.

Read the entire post

2009 Canadian Energy Psychology Conference Begins October 15

The 11th Annual Canadian Energy Psychology Conference takes place October 15-19 at the Novotel Toronto Centre in Toronto. This year's conference is titled Integrative Healing and Transformation and features keynote speakers David Feinstein, Ph.D., Joe Dispenza, D.C., and Sam Menahem, Ph.D.

Special events held Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings are open to the public. Presenters are Donna Eden with David Feinstein (Energy Medicine: A Hands-on Demonstration), Steve Bhaerman as Swami Beyondananda (Wake Up Laughing: The Up-Wising Has Begun) and Joe Dispenza (Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself - A Workshop for Personal Change).

Get the details here

The following invitation is from conference director Sharon Cass Toole:

"Join us at this unique event and further explore the powerful connection between science, consciousness and healing.

Thursday evening, October 15th you are invited to join us for an evening of Energy Medicine with the unmatchable Donna Eden along with David Feinstein. Energy Medicine is both a complement to other approaches to medical care and a complete system for self-care and self-help.

Our exceptional lineup of star presenters provides an excellent opportunity to meet and learn from the best of the best in the field of Comprehensive Energy Psychology. Feed your intellect, nourish your soul and satisfy your professional Continuing Education requirements all in an atmosphere of collegiality, collaboration, compassion and fun.

We will explore the fascinating connection between energy psychology and the mind/body phenomenon as a neural integration process with Dr. Joe Dispenza, D.C. Find out how mental rehearsal, meditation, and intentional mind training, can physically prepare the brain and body ahead of an actual experience.

The question of why Energy Psychology works with PTSD has seemed a mystery. Focusing on the surprising effectiveness of EP with PTSD, David Feinstein, Ph.D will examine what is happening in the brain before, during, and after tapping treatments. will wrap up many of the issues covered in this conference in a humorous, positive, uplifting manner with full audience participation.

This conference is open to all mental health professionals including Psychologists, Psychotherapists, Psychiatrists, Physicians, Nurses, Naturopaths, Chiropractors, Social Workers, Counselors, Educators, Clergy, Human Resource Professionals, EAP Counselors, Trauma Specialists, Coaches, Police & Correction Workers, Energy Medicine Practitioners, Alternative Health Care Providers, massage therapists.

The conference is also open to anyone interested in their own healing and personal growth.

Our conference sessions and our pre and post conference workshops feature some of the best-known and talented educators in the field of Energy Psychology.

We look forward to greeting you in the beautiful city of Toronto!"

Get the details here

The Energy Psychology conference is sponsored by the Canadian Association for Integrative and Energy Therapies (CAIET) and supported by the Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology (ACEP).
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