Welcome to the Energy Psychotherapy Clinic Blog
Although this is my very first experience with a blog, I am hoping it will be a powerful tool to communicate with my clients between sessions and with others who do not have access to the Energy Psychotherapy Clinic, but are nevertheless interested in learning about and participating in the healing process through energy methods.
I want to give you a little background about my path to energy healing, as you might be surprised to find me pursuing these methodologies, given my very traditional academic and clinical career experiences (I will not detail my professional biographical information here, but if you are interested, see my web page on Psychologytoday.com and the page about my credentials in this energypsychotherapyclinic.com website). Relevant to this discussion, however, is that through the years my thematic interest has been child maltreatment; my methodological path has been teaching, research and consulting; and my clinical speciality has been psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral psychotherapy, particularly for conditions and disorders that arise from childhood trauma (as nearly all do). I also developed a personal interest along the way in brain conditions such as attention deficit disorder, and have treated many patients for the traumatic effects of this largely misunderstood brain “difference.”
I have had great success in learning about and teaching about the link between early traumatizing events and current disabling conditions, and helping clients understand and then break the habits of mind and behavioral addictions that are making their lives shallow and painful. But talk therapy takes a great deal of time and is ineffective for some conditions. A person can understand their patterns, where these patterns came from, and the ways in which they are “shooting themselves in the foot” by holding onto these patterns, but still be unable to change because of that “feeling” they get in certain situations that is so subtle, yet so unpleasant that they will avoid it at all costs. I have come to believe that feeling is a blockage of the subtle energy that we all have flowing through our bodies. It is like a knot, a tangle, and because it is not supposed to be there, it feels bad. It is the bad feeling we have when we remember something embarrassing, or exploitative, or cruel. These energy knots do dissipate with therapy, but in a “top down,” and therefore somewhat inefficient way. Through these traditional modalities, the mind affects the brain, which down the line impacts the energy flow. Energy therapies operate in a more “bottom up” fashion, clearing the energy directly, making unnecessary the compensatory thoughts and behaviors that have developed.
Relaxation and mindfulness are very important adjuncts to psychotherapeutic work, and I have come to recommend such practices to all my clients. I will keep readers informed as to the latest and best aids for achieving a relaxed, mindful state. There are many good books, tapes and classes available these days, and no one should remain in a wound-up, Type A state of consciousness if they desire peace of mind and total health.
So I have added these energetic and technological techniques and resources to my repertoire of services. As I discover new articles or products that I believe are helpful to my clients I will add them to the Resources page of the website (see page links to the right). Many of these will be helpful even to people who do not visit the clinic, but the best results are likely to come from visiting the Energy Psychotherapy Clinic for training in one or more of the energy methods and using one or two products such as an audio CD or biofeedback video system at home to augment the practice of the techniques.
I am excited about working in these new ways and look forward to the people I will meet in the process. Please check this blog often and the other website pages as well. I will try to make sure your time is well spent. (If you want to comment on anything posted, you must register in order for it to show up; see link at right)
Dr Gray, I found your website through visiting The Secret’s webpage, then Craig’s webpage on EFT. And, here you are just 30 minutes from me.
My question is this. Does EFT eliminate emotional pain, ie panic and anxiety attacks, and being reactive to stress and losses in one’s life? Or does EFT help manage panic, anxiety, along with the issues that go with them?
I am a long time suffer of panic and anxiety since early childhood. Of recent I experienced many losses of close friends and family members in one year, and I can’t seem to move forward, or at least out of an anxiety state.
Thank You!
Kathaleen, EFT can do both things that you are asking about. By not being so reactive to things that are happening in the present, your mind can let go of the limiting and damaging mind chatter that reinforces your ego’s narrative of who you are and the kind of life your are destined to live. You then do not create so many new issues going forward. By the same token, releasing the energy knots around certain issues using EFT or another energy therapy (there are many good ones), you effectively “solve” the issues that accompany those blockages. Thank you for writing. My delay in answering you has to do with technical problems that are now worked out. If you want to set an appointment with me, please go to the contact page of my website (see Reach the Clinic link above right).