Mandi Freger is a licensed counselor in Pittsburgh. She specializes in help for families of people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) using energy psychology techniques. Her book, From Exhausted to Energized: A Guide for Caregivers of Children and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder, delves into the many ways that energy psychology techniques can make a world of difference to family members of people with autism spectrum disorders.
Help for families of people with autism: The people of energy psychology
Sarah Murphy, LPC, ACP-EFT • September 12, 2024
Help for family members of people with autism
Mandi found her niche and her passion working with people with ASD. She worked in hospital and outpatient settings and became director of autism services in a hospital system affiliated with Cleveland Clinic Autism Development Solutions. Eventually she transitioned to private practice, specializing in ASD.
Early in her career, she joined ACEP-founding-member Greg Nicosia’s practice right out of graduate school. She became an ACEP member in 1999 and went on to chair the education committee and serve on the board of directors. During her years of working and serving with Greg and ACEP, she travelled the country, assisting in energy psychology trainings.
The ASD service cliff + Mandi Freger = solutions, service, and opportunity
People on the autism spectrum age out of services at 21, and then few resources or services are available.
“When I originally went into private practice 8 years ago, the ASD population was very underserved in outpatient settings. Aging out of most services at 21, few services were available,” she says.
“I thought I could condense family behavioral training with individual treatment through outpatient services and that is what I set out to do.”
Finding a need and filling it
Mandi says she had not planned on being a therapist, having grown up in an entrepreneurial family, and she studied business in college. However, the Universe had other plans, and “dropped” her into her job with Greg and her career. Today, service is simply a way of life.
In creating a successful private therapy practice, Mandi combined her clinical skills with business savvy.
“It still blows my mind that one can make a good living from something that seems so easy – counseling and consulting,” she says.
She remains service driven and says she is fortunate to have the tools that match clients’ needs.
Help for families of people with autism
For Mandi, the most consistent gratitude seems to come from families of kids diagnosed with ASD.
“I think they are most appreciative about how I can streamline training and practice for them on the layered complexity of the disorder,” she says.
“Helping, however, is an ongoing conversation. So all of my clients have successes, if goals are appropriate and effective from the start of treatment.”
Mandi is proactive in helping people define goals and measure progress. In her sessions, she focuses on processing the emotions, then moving forward with action. A change in some troublesome action, in turn, contributes to more positive emotions.
Looking forward
Looking to the future of energy psychology and mental health therapy in general, Mandi says we need strong energy psychology mental health practitioners to provide support and coaching to people around the world.
Energy psychology is becoming mainstream, but not necessarily in the hands of people with strong clinical skills and training. We risk diluting the field with pop-culture influence and misinformation.
“The difficult thing is that most are not clinical mental health providers and that can significantly change the lens through which one sees the issues of importance. However, relatively few have mastered the art of using these tools, including practicing good clinical and energetic boundaries and hygiene, and I think that is where the need will remain,” she says.
Feeling inspired?
Want to learn more about the tools and theoretical framework of Emotional Freedom Techniques? Check out ACEP's free master class here. Be sure to check out Mandi’s book here.
Author
Sarah Murphy, LPC, ACP-EFT, is a counselor in private practice and specializes in working with people who have serious illnesses. A student of the Ageless Wisdom, she is dedicated to sharing the Great Invocation.
Photo by Nathan Anderson on Unsplash
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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