Energy, Spring, and Post-Isolation: an Energy Psychology Approach

ACEP • April 22, 2021

(by Aviva Chansky Guttmann, LMSW) With spring’s arrival this year, we may experience an array of contradictory emotions about the immediate future. Global hopes about the efficacy of COVID vaccines bring the tentative yet welcome promise of more freedom to gather with loved ones and celebrate life. Under non-pandemic reality, spring is associated with the colloquial “spring fever.” We are suddenly ebullient from the long-awaited contrast to winter, basking in the sunshine on our faces and relishing warm days where we can take off those extra layers of clothing and smell the scent of blossoming flowers. 


In our new post-COVID-social-isolation world, spring fever could actually feel risky and dangerous, as we are understandably tentative and confused about our reality and surroundings. We may struggle with mixed emotions and our energy system may be equally confused as it constantly scans our environment for safety. When signs of safety are ambiguous, we second-guess ourselves. A virus and its ability to affect us are invisible and so much of how we determine safety now requires a leap of faith and trust in the information we receive from our leadership and scientific communities. Our senses are not necessarily finding the reassurance we need. Our energy is not finding its alignment.


Energy is the foundational component of life. The Law of Conservation states that energy can be converted in form, but not created or destroyed. Energy moves continually from one form to another and much of it is intangible and invisible. We see the results of energy transmission in our electronics and machinery that depend on it, but in many situations we must imagine, envision, and trust that the ever-constant exchange from one energetic state to another exists. 


When we discuss EFT/ tapping, for example, we are asked to imagine a blockage in the energy pathways obstructing freely flowing Chi (life force) and understand the intention of EFT is to unblock these obstructions through administering tapping sequences along the meridian points (energy center pathways) exiting our bodies. 


We can think of emotions, also invisible, as energy in motion. Just as energy transmutes, so do emotions ― and they often do so without our conscious intention. Within minutes, we can experience joy or delight, fear or aversion, sadness or grief, and any other nuanced shades of feeling along the continuum. As we envision our post-isolation lives, we struggle for energetic alignment as our senses are not necessarily finding the reassurance we need.


As practitioners of energy psychology, we can approach this lack of clarity through practicing mindfulness and keeping our intention for healing and wholeness in awareness. “Where intention goes energy flows,” as author James Redfield states. Similarly, if using EFT, we may consider a setup statement akin to  “Even though I am confused and anxious about the new reality and the safety of venturing out post-COVID, and although I’ve had my vaccines, I deeply and completely accept myself and hope to feel more secure in the safety of the world.” How would we rate the SUDS on this? We can start wherever we are and work with our energy systems to address ambiguity. 


Feeling uncertain in uncertain times is normal and adaptive. The world continues to go through rapid and overwhelming changes. Emerging from enforced social isolation and safety precautions and the emotional adjustments of doing so has been a strain. We must restore and refresh ourselves at whatever pace we can manage. Fortunately, we have many energy psychology tools available to us. 


Want to expand your toolkit with some simple, self-help videos that you and your clients can use to create calm and resilience? Visit ACEP’s free Resources for Resilience


Author


Aviva Chansky Guttmann, LMSW, is an advanced Certified Imago Relationship Therapist with over 25 years experience counseling couples, individuals and families who experience challenges ranging from marital conflict, sexual and emotional intimacy, chronic and terminal illness, caregiver stress, special needs, parenting concerns, adoptees’ identity concerns, and other areas of suffering and difficulty. Aviva has trained in Emotional Freedom Techniques and Comprehensive Energy Psychology with ACEP. An ACEP member, she is based in the Hudson Valley in New York State.


www.avivachanskyguttmann.com


Photo by kiyomi shiomura on Unsplash

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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