Finding the Energy to Heal: How EMDR, Hypnosis, TFT, Imagery and Body-Focused Therapy Can Help Restore Mind-Body Health

Finding the Energy to Heal: How EMDR, Hypnosis, TFT, Imagery and Body-Focused Therapy Can Help Restore Mind-Body Health. Maggie Phillips. New York: Norton (2000). xi +276 pages, $35.00 (hardback). Reviewed by Marc I. Oster, PsyD, ABPH, Highland Park, IL

In Finding the Energy to Heal, Maggie Phillips provides, in one source, a paradigm for modern psychotherapy. This approach isn't simply the learning a number of therapy techniques, but integrating a number of therapy models into a logical and coherent style. She states the importance and value of her approach as follows, "...healing moments that have occurred do not come from any specific modality. They appear to arise from a fluid, ever-changing coming together of all the available healing resources that are assembled when we sit together in contemplative focus on their departure from health" (pp. xi-xii).

Finding the Energy to Heal is divided into five sections, each focusing on a different treatment modality. Each section begins with an introduction to the modality and its variants. The introduction typically includes some defining information, history, and a discussion of how that modality creates change in symptoms or resolving the problems presented. Each chapter within the section includes detailed clinical examples with abbreviated transcripts demonstrating the application of model to a variety of mind/body conditions or problems. Finally, each chapter includes questions and answers of importance, such as, "How do the therapist and client decide which approach to use in a given situation? What kinds of healing benefits do each method seem to provide? and How can you anticipate whether one therapy will be more effective than another?" (p. xvii).

Section One describes EMDR with the first chapter in the section addressing stress-related symptoms such as insomnia, overeating, and colitis and eczema. The second chapter addresses EMDR and the resolution of trauma-related symptoms.

Section Two reviews various uses of hypnosis. The chapter on Clinical Hypnosis demonstrates its application to addiction, seizure disorder, and chronic pain. This chapter also discusses the important relationship between trauma, health-related symptoms, and their resolution. In the chapter on Ericksonian Hypnosis, Phillips explains the unique benefits of an Ericksonian approach, providing examples of treating alopecia arieta, rheumatoid arthritis, and bulimia. Back pain, sexual dysfunction and migraine headaches are featured in the chapter on Ego-State Therapy.

Section Three focuses on health applications of Imagery. The chapter on structured or guided imagery explains its application to the treatment of headaches, eating and gastrointestinal disorders, addictions, medical phobias, and nausea secondary to radiation treatment. The chapter on spontaneous imagery examines menopausal and hypersensitivity symptoms.

Section Four explores Somatic Energy Therapies such as Thought Field Therapy, Somatic Experiencing (SE(TM)) therapy, and the integration of bodywork into psychotherapy as they apply to the treatment of injuries, depression, addictions, chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia, arthritis, and enhancing general health.

In Section Five, the author presents three models, each demonstrating the integration of two or more of the therapies in addressing multiple health problems, surgical preparation, and unusual medical conditions. The book concludes with detailed appendices, chapter notes, and a glossary.

In Finding the Energy to Heal Phillips provides us with an easily readable and enjoyable book to read. This is accomplished in part, by including her research and literature citations as chapter notes at the end of the book rather than within the text. Phillips takes a number of complementary therapies and clearly explains what they are, how to use them and how they can be combined in a patient-oriented and collaborative manner. While remaining true to her reputation for treating psychological trauma, she also addresses, with an obvious understanding and sensitivity, a vast array of medical conditions that are clearly affected by one's psychological status, often when one's mental state interferes with the resolution of a medical problem. Particularly interesting were case examples demonstrating how a medical illness, condition, or accident has a lingering psychological impact that is often ignored or overlooked in treatment. Finding the Energy to Heal is written with the intent of integrating therapies. It also provides a useful introduction to the individual therapies. This format provides the clinician skilled in one therapy an exposure to other therapies about which they are less or unfamiliar but interested in learning.

Finding the Energy to Heal appears to have several weaknesses that are readily apparent. Phillips' presentation of some of the therapies, such as EMDR, appears too brief and simplistic, overlooking the complexity of certain approaches. For example, she devotes one and a half pages to explain how EMDR leads to change. Further, therapies such as EMDR and TFT have been surrounded by controversy, yet there is no attention paid to the controversy, suggestions from the literature as to how these problems have been resolved, or adequate cautions about using such therapies given their controversial history. When her clinical approach deviates from standard protocol, Phillips provides no explanation, clinical or evidence based, as to how she arrived at the modification or any research support for such changes. Certain therapies involve the collaboration of two therapists seeing the patient at the same time, conjointly. Having worked this way myself, it can be a valuable tool. It is also rather impractical in terms of scheduling two clinicians and the patient together, where to hold that meeting, and the often prohibitive costs of seeing two therapists in the same hour. The book contains case examples that are very detailed and lengthy, appearing to be a collection of anecdotal success stories. One might expect the disclaimer, "Results not typical" to appear with the case examples. Similarly, she offers no case examples of problematic outcomes, which can be used as a guideline to reduce future treatment failures.

Finding the Energy to Heal is clearly a valuable and unique contribution to the clinician's library. However, I agree with the author that some cautions are in order. In the introduction, Phillips discusses how she came to be interested in and to use these therapies, either by herself or in collaboration with other therapists. Each instance involved obtaining formal training, which she recommends before readers attempt to apply the methods presented. It would be an error to assume that Finding the Energy to Heal provides a shortcut or an alternative to formal training. Similarly, I do not see this book as appropriate for novice therapists. Before one can add to his/her repertoire of new and innovative methods, they have to be well grounded in their primary discipline and experience. While certain excerpts from the book might be useful for certain patients to read, overall, I do not see this book as appropriate for patients. The author clearly states Finding the Energy to Heal is not a self-help book and I agree. It is most valuable for the experienced therapist interested in learning about a variety of therapies now often used in combination with one another and how to plan treatment using these therapies.

I found Maggie Phillips' book, Finding the Energy to Heal delightful, helpful and enjoyable to read and I highly recommend it.

Copyright American Society of Clinical Hypnosis Jan 2003
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