Energy Psychology Helps Veterans with PTSD

Lori Chortkoff Hops, PhD DCEP • May 27, 2024

Veterans in Crisis

Some veterans face daunting emotional health problems after serving in the armed forces. Not all recover right away. Data from the USA estimate between 20% to 30% of veterans are diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Symptoms wreak havoc on daily life, with riveting flashbacks, frequent insomnia, and chronic depression. Worse, these individuals are at high risk for suicide. The impact of untreated PTSD takes a heavy toll personally and collectively. 

Veteran suicides account for 20% of all identified suicides in the US. This leaves undeniable losses, for family, friends, and communities. Despite their plight, most veterans do not reach out for help. Instead, they avoid feared stigma or perceived harm to their careers from being labeled with emotional troubles. Unfortunately, there is little relief, even after seeking care. Veterans diagnosed with PTSD face long wait times for treatment. One study found 80% of veterans faced barriers to receiving care. That is the bad news. The good news? Help is on the way. One answer is treating veterans with PTSD using energy psychology.

 

Energy Psychology Helps Veterans with PTSD

Thankfully, energy psychology has a strong track record for treating PTSD. It combines self-tapping on acupressure points with trauma informed psychotherapy. Most research on energy psychology rests on two popular approaches, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) and Thought Field Therapy (TFT). Research shows that symptoms of PTSD, depression and anxiety are significantly reduced when using these techniques. More than 175 peer-reviewed studies using energy psychology back these findings. This includes six meta-analyses and over 88 random controlled trails, the gold standard for research designs. One study found 86% of veterans were no longer rated with PTSD after receiving only six sessions of energy psychology treatment. A replication study reported equivalent results.


In the US, the Veteran’s Administration has listed EFT as “generally safe.” Thanks to certification training programs like ACEP’s for EFT, therapists treat veterans’ and families around the world. Lives are being saved. You can find out how EFT saved a life, retold in one interview with a veteran with PTSD. He describes suffering “moral injury” from unspeakable acts during his service. He shares his powerful story of renewal with Robert Schwarz, PhD, ACEP's executive director.

 

Turning the Tide

ACEP leads the charge to treat symptoms of PTSD for veterans. ACEP partners with Lobby It, a US legislative lobbying firm, working to bring energy psychology to the nation. This team advocates for energy psychology practices treating veterans and others. Plans include adding information about energy psychology to the US Department of Veteran Affairs Circle of Health educational listings for Whole Health. Imagine the possibilities when energy psychology information appears alongside current topics like breathing for health, meditation practices, and progressive muscle relaxation.


We can each do our part to care for veterans or civilians with PTSD.

  • Start the journey by getting trained in energy psychology.
  • Donate to ACEP's Highest Need fund to help support ACEP's educational and advocacy efforts.
  • Let others know through conversation or social media that energy psychology works.

We can help turn the tide for veterans with PTSD by using energy psychology.

 

Learn More

Curious about energy psychology research? Visit the ACEP research page. Or download over 176 energy psychology studies with abstracts by condition. Here is a link to a meta-analysis on PTSD research.


For an overview, visit https://veterans.energypsych.org/

 

Author

Lori Chortkoff Hops, PhD, DCEP is a licensed psychologist in Westlake Village, California, USA. She is certified in Comprehensive Energy Psychology and Logosynthesis. Lori is a past ACEP president and Reiki master. Learn more about Lori at www.drlorihops.com. Lori teaches online intuition classes and consultation. Check out her podcast Healing Tips from the Heart: Helpers, Healers and Guides.

 

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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