Energy Psychology in Psychotherapy: A Comprehensive Sourcebook

Energy Psychology in Psychotherapy: A Comprehensive Sourcebook. Fred P. Gallo, Ph.D., Editor. New York: W.W. Norton (2002). Xxxii + 432 pages (hardback). $65.00 USA, $95.00 Canada. Reviewed by Philip L. Accaria, Ph.D., Upper Montclair, NJ and Maggie Phillips, Ph.D., Oakland, CA.

Energy Psychology in Psychotherapy: A Comprehensive Sourcebook edited by Fred P. Gallo, Ph.D. is just that, a comprehensive sourcebook! This is an outstanding volume. Dr. Gallo revealed that his motive for editing this book was to "... invite key proponents [of the energy psychology paradigm] to write chapters for a source book that would further assist in defining, cross-pollinating and advancing the field of energy psychology" (p.xv). We believe this goal has been accomplished. In both his Preface and Introduction, Gallo sets the tenor of this work by emphasizing that the methods and theories presented are "attempts in simply trying to find our way through the new [energy psychology] paradigm" (p. 37).

The book is divided into four parts. Part I presents an overview of the basic approaches to energy psychology and is comprised of seven chapters. Part II (five chapters) provides a presentation of what Gallo refers to as "integrative approaches that combine modalities into a unified treatment plan (p. xvii). This section addresses the utilization of meridians, hypnosis, EMDR, energy therapies and more. Parts III (six chapters) and IV (also six chapters) cover "Special Populations" and special topics respectively. Theories, case studies, empirical studies, therapy session transcripts and treatment protocols are generously offered throughout this work.

In reading the first two sections, the reader will encounter descriptions and discussions of such energy psychology methods as Thought Field Therapy (TFT), Energy Diagnostic and Treatment Methods, The Tapas Acupressure Technique, the Seemorg Matrix Work (TM), Dynamic Energetic Healing TM and the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). There are also chapters which interweave various theories that might be considered traditional psychology, like psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral psychology, with the practice of therapeutic touch, energy transmission techniques such as Reiki, chakra work, chi kung and the practices of yoga, prayer and shamanism.

This volume is also replete with references to hypnosis and the utilization of hypnotic communication in the various applications of energy psychology methods. Specific chapters authored by Mary Hammond-Newman and Howard Brockman ("Dynamic Energetic Healing: Trauma and Soul Work at the Origins"), Brian Grodner ("Using Hypnotic Language Patterns to Enhance Energy Psychotherapy") and Lee Pulos ("Integrating Energy Psychology and Hypnosis"), offer interesting and stimulating reading. The comparison of the muscle testing procedure and hypnotic ideomotor signaling on page 174 is particularly intriguing and thought provoking. Some of the quasi-scientific theorizing accompanied by graphs and figures seemed a bit off-putting. There are not many of these chapters, however, and readers new to Energy Psychology may find them enlightening.

The second half of the book is of special interest to readers with previous exposure to Energy Psychology methods who are interested in their synthesis with more mainstream therapy approaches. Lillian Gross and Harold Ratner's chapter on "The Use of Hypnosis and EMDR Combined with Energy Therapies in the Treatment of Phobias and Dissociative, Posttraumatic Stress, and Eating Disorders," for example, offers overview sections on hypnosis and EMDR followed by eight cases demonstrating diverse clinical applications. Another noteworthy chapter is by Loretta Sparks on "Energy Psychotherapy as an Adjunctive Treatment for Addiction," which features practical step-by-step suggestions for using EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) to address specific tasks during three different stages of treatment. These include the treatment of cravings and compulsive urges, recurring stress, family conflicts, and common barriers to recovery.Other readers might appreciate Willem Lammers' chapter on using meridian-based treatment with introjected parent ego states presented from a Transactional Analysis (TA) perspective, and Mary Wheeler's related chapter on The Early Recollection Technique, which is based on a synthesis of Adlerian therapy with Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) to address introjective conflicts as part of reworking painful past memories.

A strength of this volume is the range of possibilities thoughtfully presented to readers who are new to energy psychology as well as to those already steeped in this new orientation who are seeking new ideas for synthesis and clinical application. As with any edited work, a limitation of Energy Psychology in Psychotherapy is its uneven quality. Some of the articles are easy to read and offer clearly elucidated strategies that can be immediately employed by the motivated reader, while others are more obscure in style and require additional training and reading to understand, let alone make use of the author's ideas. This is particularly true in Section IV on "Special Topics", which juxtaposes such esoteric subjects as remote attention in EMDR therapy and ways of grounding energy psychology in the physical sciences, with precise prescriptions for activating and enhancing radiant energy circuits in the body, and methods for using the biomonitor, which measures galvanic skin response in teaching clients stress reduction techniques.

We, as healthcare professionals, are witnessing the emergence of a new/"old" paradigm of energy medicine and energy psychology. To those identified with Western psychology, these modes of practice and conceptualization may appear ultracontemporary and unproven. However, many facets of energy psychology and energy medicine are tens of thousands of years old as practiced by many of the indigenous peoples of North and South America and Africa (Villoldo, 2000). There is a movement afoot in psychology to foster and facilitate a rapprochement between constructs such as "energy," "soul." "spirituality," "energy entities" (e.g., Ancient Spirit guides), and "nonlocality," and the bioenergy data obtained through the scientific method over the past 100 years or so.

In his chapter on "Integrating Energy Psychology and Hypnosis," Lee Pulos points out that "the history of ideas in general and the history of science in particular both demonstrate that every new major concept met with outright rejection, which gradually subsided into resistance where it remained, in the discomfort zone of science, before moving into acceptance" (p. 167). We believe this effort on the part of Gallo and his contributors to Energy Psychology in Psychotherapy will do much to facilitate the movement of energy psychology and energy medicine into the mainstream and comfort zone of both the science and practice of psychotherapy.

References

Villoldo, A. (2000). Shaman, healer, sage. New York: Harmony Books.

Copyright American Society of Clinical Hypnosis Jan 2003
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