Energy Psychology and the Definition of Mind: Why should you care?

Robert Schwarz, PsyD, DCEP • November 10, 2022

“What is the mind?” This is a fundamental question that all practitioners of energy psychology need to answer. 

For that matter, anyone engaged in the business of helping people with emotional problems should answer this question. How you answer the question has a major impact on how you behave as a therapist or coach.

 

The definition of mind I use

Here is the definition I use – it is adapted from Dr. Dan Siegel and interpersonal neurobiology.
   

The Mind is an emergent, self-organizing process that arises as a fundamental property of the system of energy and information flow that is created in the body and in interactions with others and our environment. This emergent process then shapes energy and information flow across time.
 

The missing link

This definition has supplied the “missing link” in what I do, how I understand what I do and what most of us do with energy psychology. In fact, it allows us to create very effective bridges to most of the rest of psychotherapy, mindfulness, meditation and other consciousness-altering practices, and energy medicine. It allows us to frame our work within an individual’s mind-body system, a couples system, a family’s system or a cultural system. How does it do this?
 

First we need to ask, when do people develop psychological problems? The answer – when the functional flow of energy and information becomes dysfunctional. What we mean by functional or dysfunctional is beyond the scope of this blog, as is the question of how the flow moves from functional to dysfunctional. Like the proverbial blind men and the elephant, there are many different answers to these questions, often based on the school of thought or therapy to which one belongs.
 

Energy practices adjust the flow of energy and information

The interesting thing about energy psychology and energy medicine is that they are among the few approaches that explicitly attempt to adjust the flow of energy along with information. Consider Emotional Freedom Techniques or Thought Field Therapy for a moment. We ask our clients to adjust the flow of information by shifting attention to a target problem. Then the client taps on meridian points, adjusting the flow of energy while attuned to that specific information, thus creating an interaction effect or harmonic. The client’s SUDS drops from 8 to 0. Now when the client calls up the memory of the problem, the other information or energy that flows with it is altered. Somehow what emerges out of the system no longer includes heart pounding, fear, self-loathing and so on.
   

Interaction effects

As we move into larger contexts/systems we discover interaction effects. For instance, as part of a couple my energy system and flow interacts with my partner’s and vice versa. My thoughts, words, expectations and actions impact upon my partner’s and vice versa. We can work on gender differences such as described in Men are from Mars Women Are from Venus. We can also work on energy differences between partners. See Eden and Feinstein’s book, The Energies of Love. We can also expand this exploration to the cultural level, but that would require much more space than I have here.

 

What you can say when people ask you what you do

If you want to sound very authoritative when people ask what you do as a an energy psychology practitioner you can say – I help people adjust the flow of information and energy so that their systems are more functional. The result is that they can lead happier, healthier and more productive lives.

 

Learn more

Want to learn more about how energy psychology can help increase the flow of energy and information in your clients? Check out the ACEP training catalogue!


Author

Robert Schwarz, PsyD, DCEP has been a licensed psychologist for over 33 years. He serves as ACEP's executive director. Bob has trained therapists internationally on trauma treatment, panic and anxiety, energy psychology. He has organized over 25 conferences on energy psychology trauma treatment, Ericksonian hypnosis, brief therapy, that trained over 18,000 therapists. He has authored 3 books, including: Tools for Transforming Trauma, PTSD: A Clinician’s Guide and We’re No Fun Anymore: Guiding Couples to a Joy Filled Marriage Through the Power of Play, as well as numerous articles and papers including "Energy psychology as a polyvagal intervention for trauma."

 

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

Mitochondrial Mastery: The Science and Spirit of Cellular Wellness

By Maria Limardo, PhD, CEPH • April 3, 2025
In our quest for optimal health, longevity, and deeper connection, we often overlook the microscopic powerhouses driving every function within our bodies: the mitochondria. These remarkable cellular structures don't just produce energy—they may hold the key to extended lifespan, enhanced consciousness, and perhaps even our spiritual experiences.

Can Energy Healing Be Stored in Physical Materials? And Does it Work?

By Lori Chortkoff Hops, PhD, DCEP • March 26, 2025
Energy healing method is linked to recoveries from cancer in mice. Visualization directed at water or cotton is retrieved later for healing. Silent recordings of energy healing sessions are linked to genetic changes. 
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