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ACEP news release: APA rejects request for CE approval for Energy Psychology despite evidence of effectiveness
- Published 01/20/2010
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
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
- Published 01/10/2010
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
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
- Published 01/5/2010
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
- Published 01/5/2010
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.
Read the entire post
2009 Canadian Energy Psychology Conference Begins October 15
- Published 10/1/2009
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).
Henry Grayson Clinical Workshop Level 1 - October and November 2009
- Published 09/30/2009
Dr. Henry Grayson is offering a Clinical Workshop for former attendees of his other seminars including: Use Your Body to Heal Your Mind, Grayson's Synergetic Therapy and Synergetic Therapy. Anyone who has attended any of these three Grayson-led seminars or a weekend or year-long class conducted by Dr. Grayson can attend any Clinical Workshop. Also, if you have not attended an event by Henry Grayson but have completed an introductory course on Energy Psychology, you are eligible to attend.
This is a part of Grayson's Clinical Workshop Series where participants will have more time to practice the energy methods, view more demonstrations, all of which are best for assimilation of these approaches in a way you can feel more comfortable using them. Those of you who are using them are reporting such excitement about the results you are getting and how rewarding this work is for both you and your patients. This series will include practically focused workshops (with some new theory and research mixed in with practice, supervision, and demonstrations).
After completion of each Clinical Workshop, you will receive a Certificate of Completion and if you attend all of them, you will receive a Certificate of Completion for the series. These workshops will enable you to hone your skills and implement Synergetic Therapy and Energy Psychology into your practice. You will have a clear understanding of how and when to use what you have learned.
Clinical Workshop Level 1
- Review and practice the energy psychology methods so you can integrate them more comfortably into your practice.
- Learn when, where and how to integrate and use these methods in your practice with others and on yourself.
- Demonstrations of how to make assessments of traumas (adult, developmental, intrauterine, past life, and genetic memories) and when and how to use these assessments in the process of therapy.
- How to become adept at identifying the negative beliefs which grew out of those traumas.
- How to open new neural pathways for assimilation of changes and creation of new habit patterns.
- Become more adept and confident in using muscle testing for assessments
- Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009 from 8 am to 6 pm, New York City
- Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009 from 8 am to 6 pm, San Francisco
- Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009 from 8 am to 6 pm, Waltham, MA
EFT study looking for 60 veterans with PTSD
- Published 08/5/2009
(Reprinted announcement from EFT Insights Newsletter)
We need 60 veterans! We're finishing up a very important study of veterans and EFT. This study by a wonderful team of volunteer EFTers led by Dawson Church (The Genie in Your Genes) is the key to getting EFT into veterans hospitals.
If you know a Vietnam, Iraq or Afghanistan veteran troubled by PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder), please encourage them to look at www.StressProject.org, or to simply email study coordinator Crystal Hawk (crystal.hawk@sympatico.ca) to find out if they're eligible for free EFT sessions.
We need 60 veterans! We're finishing up a very important study of veterans and EFT. This study by a wonderful team of volunteer EFTers led by Dawson Church (The Genie in Your Genes) is the key to getting EFT into veterans hospitals.
If you know a Vietnam, Iraq or Afghanistan veteran troubled by PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder), please encourage them to look at www.StressProject.org, or to simply email study coordinator Crystal Hawk (crystal.hawk@sympatico.ca) to find out if they're eligible for free EFT sessions.
Gary Craig explains why he's not part of the EFT World Summit
- Published 04/21/2009
Gary Craig, the developer of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), explains on his blog why he is not part of the EFT World Summit, an online event that runs April 20-28.
Read the blog post here
Read the blog post here
EFT World Summit 2009 - Free online virtual event, April 20-28
- Published 04/16/2009
EFT is an Energy Psychology technique that is used to work with
emotional, health and performance issues. It is based on the concept of
subtle energy, and Gary Craig, the developer of EFT, refers to the technique as a needle-free emotional version of acupuncture.
According to the event producer, "Never before has this group of experts revealed some of the astounding and life-changing information and techniques that they will be giving during this weeklong event.... This online event — the 'EFT World Summit' — is about giving you answers to your most pressing questions about EFT as well as expanding your consciousness and understanding to take you to new levels of emotional and physical health, abundance, and overcoming barriers and traumas that may have been haunting you for years."
The EFT World Summit will run April 20-28. Remember, it's FREE. Click the banner below to learn more or to register.
If you’re interested in learning or experiencing EFT, now is
your chance to do so for free. Nick Ortner, the producer of the
documentary film about EFT called Try It On Everything, has assembled 16 top EFT practitioners for the first-ever EFT World Summit. It’s a virtual online event, so you don’t have to travel anywhere to attend.
According to the event producer, "Never before has this group of experts revealed some of the astounding and life-changing information and techniques that they will be giving during this weeklong event.... This online event — the 'EFT World Summit' — is about giving you answers to your most pressing questions about EFT as well as expanding your consciousness and understanding to take you to new levels of emotional and physical health, abundance, and overcoming barriers and traumas that may have been haunting you for years."
The EFT World Summit will run April 20-28. Remember, it's FREE. Click the banner below to learn more or to register.
2009 ACEP International Energy Psychology Conference
- Published 11/17/2008
The Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology's 2009 conference will be held May 28 through June 1 at the Florida Hotel & Conference Center in Orlando, Florida. The ACEP energy psychology certification course runs June 1-3.
The theme is Intention, Transformation and Change.
Keynote speakers include:
- Jean Houston, PhD, author of twenty six books on human potential
- Larry Dossey, MD, author of ten books on alternative medicine and healing
- Beverly Rubik, PhD, leading biofield researcher
- Lama Surya Das, author of ten books on Tibetian buddism and spirituality
Thursday, May 28, 2009, 7:30 - 9:30 p.m.
Bevery Rubik, PhD
Transforming Illness & Maximizing Well Being: The Role of the Human Biofield
Friday, May 29, 2009, 7:30 - 9:30 p.m.
Larry Dossey, MD
Remember the Future: The Power of Premonitions, and How They Shape Our Existence
Learn more, download a brochure, or register at http://energypysch.org.