Bringing Energy Psychology to Pakistan: Meet Shazia Shahzadi

Sarah Murphy, LPC, ACP-EFT • November 2, 2023

Dr. Shazia Shahzadi is a psychologist in Pakistan, where she has been working tirelessly to bring the benefits of energy psychology to her community. Since 2005, she has been using energy psychology in Pakistan, gaining a following and helping improve lives! In addition to her work with individual clients, she has led groups and workshops, including the International Committee of the Red Cross. 

The gift of energy psychology

Shazia holds three master’s degrees, two post-graduate degrees, and a doctoral degree, all focused on psychology and speech pathology. When she stumbled upon energy psychology (EP), she was intrigued. Her openness led her to experiment and learn more, and she found – as we do – that using EP gets better results, faster.


She first tried energy psychology with her friends and family. Then she decided to take the practice further, using EP with her patients and students. Shazia has used EP successfully with doctors, nurses, businesspeople, and athletes. She found it especially helpful with her clients in the aftermath of disasters, including earthquake, flooding, and the pandemic.


Shazia uses energy psychology to treat typical psychological disorders such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, stress, frustration, grief, and sleep disorders. In addition, she has treated communication difficulties and relationship issues with EP.


Energy Psychology in Pakistan

Initially, people in Pakistan were extremely skeptical of energy psychology, she says. They asked, “what are you doing?” However, Shazia did not stop! She says she motivated herself, intending that one day, people would come to her asking for energy psychology.


Indeed, today people in Pakistan come to see her especially for EP sessions. They report that after the sessions they feel good. They relax instantly and appreciate the practice. In addition to EFT tapping, Shazia uses progressive relaxation, breathing exercises, therapeutic music, and her own soothing and relaxing voice.


A shining star

Shazia is leading the charge, bringing energy psychology to Pakistan. Her tireless work and positive attitude have helped overcome the initial challenges, and today she is a leader in her community. Along with her EP work, she is an assistant professor; director of holistic medicine and positive psychology; and a mind-behavior transformational specialist.


This year, the Islamabad Chamber of the Commerce and Industry Pakistan awarded Shazia the Best Professional award. To top it off, in August she was appointed director of the Lions Club in Islamabad, and an article on which she was the lead researcher appeared in an international medical journal.

 

Paying it forward

Are you a clinician or stakeholder wanting to bring energy psychology to your community? Enroll in ACEP’s free R4R training. If you’d like to deepen your skills and build your community while earning continuing education credits, enroll in ACEP’s EFT certification. If you would like to help spread the word about energy psychology, please share our social media content on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and support our efforts by making a donation.


Author

Sarah Murphy, LPC, ACP-EFT, is an ACEP board member and communications committee chair. She is a counselor in private practice and specializes in working with people who have cancer or other serious illnesses.

Energy Psychology Helps Heal Veteran’s Combat Trauma

By Ted Blickwedel, LICSW, MSW, MEd • April 9, 2025
After retiring from the military, I conducted individual and group therapy with combat veterans as a clinical social worker for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) at the VET Center in Warwick, RI. In my work, I've had many experiences showing the power of energy psychology to help heal trauma . One of these amazing stories occurred during my tenure at the VA. Veteran suffers from PTSD A 70-year old Vietnam Veteran suffered for 45 years from chronic PTSD as a result of life-threatening events he endured and injuries he sustained during combat. Let's call him Joe (not his real name). His symptoms included nightmares and waking up profusely sweating every night since he returned from the war 45 years ago. Joe also had insomnia and anger issues. Conventional therapies and medication were not able to alleviate the adverse impact of his trauma. Unfortunately, Joe's experience is common among a vast number of Veterans receiving treatment for PTSD at the VA. Energy psychology resolves trauma-related symptoms In the first energy psychology session, I introduced Joe to Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) and explained the process and its efficacy. During the next 6 sessions, he tapped on the EFT meridian points for 2-3 rounds on each combat trauma we addressed. While he tapped, I guided him to verbally release related negative emotions. We did this until he no longer experienced any disturbance associated with these challenging events, as determined by muscle testing. The results were inspiring. At the end of six 50-minute sessions, Joe reported that his nightmares and night sweats completely stopped, and he felt more rested, peaceful, and significantly less anxious. Joe was even able to stop taking most of his anxiety and depression medication. His wife said she noticed a huge positive shift in his demeanor. Lasting results Over the next 3 years, Joe used EFT on his own to clear other developmental traumas and negative core beliefs. During this time, he only had four nightmares during one two-week period, which were triggered by watching a war movie. Afterwards, he did not have any recurrence of PTSD symptoms. Joe felt joy that he did not experience previously, and he was more emotionally open and affectionate with his wife. This heart-warming story shows the power of EFT to heal rapidly and effectively, with results that last. It's why I love using it. Going forward What a difference could be made with Veterans and their families if the VA and Department of Defense (DOD) used energy psychology techniques like these! They would be free of the devastating impact of PTSD, have better relationships and an improved quality of life. Many ACEP members have stories of hope and healing. Let’s share them! When we tell our stories, we can help inspire practitioners to adopt energy psychology methods that are powerfully grounded in effective healingwith long-lasting outcomes. Get trained and make a difference Are you a teacher or school employee? If so, get trained to bring powerful energy psychology techniques to your school by enrolling in ACEP’s free Mind Body Tools for Children training. If you are a clinician or stakeholder wanting to offer energy psychology to your community, enroll in ACEP’s free Emotional First Aid training . If you would like to get trained in using Emotional Freedom Techniques with clients, sign up for ACEP’s online training that begins with EFT Professional Skills 1 . Author Ted Blickwedel, LICSW, MSW, MEd, is an ACEP member and recipient of ACEP's 2021 Special Recognition Award. He is a retired Marine, combat veteran, former VA VET Center counselor, VA whistleblower, and author of Broken Promises: Marine Combat Veteran Turns Whistleblower Exposing Compromised Mental Health Care at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Photo by RDNE Stock Project

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