A child in need

Kristin saw a complex case of a ten-year-old boy. When angry, he threw himself through windows and attacked caregivers with sharp objects. He also showed attacks of rage towards his peers. People feared him. No school would allow him to attend. He definitely was not up for adoption.

When he was not angry, he was a friendly kid. His multiple medications and therapies did not help much to change his violent behavior.

Energy psychology can help heal trauma.

During the first session, Kristin taught his primary caregivers a simple energy psychology technique. They tapped simultaneously on the side of hand and the gamut spot while saying some specific sentences whenever the boy became upset.

Releasing the rage

Kristin saw the boy and his primary caregiver and psychologist six weeks later for a follow up consultation. The boy hadn’t gone to full rage in those six weeks. Still, he would get angry, screaming and slamming doors. Nonetheless, there was improvement – he had not attacked anyone since the first session.

Exploring the anger with the boy, he said he would get angry “every time someone complains about me to Auntie.” (Auntie is the name given to the caregivers.)

Kristin immediately understood. The boy felt enraged anytime someone jeopardized the only family-like relationship this boy had left in the whole wide world.

They did one round of TTT (Trauma Tapping Technique), where Kristin gently tapped on the face, chest, and fingers of the boy, while saying a few words about the issue. After one round of TTT his anger about his peers’ taunts subsided completely.

Uncovering and clearing deep sadness

After the anger cleared, the boy felt a deep sadness. He said, “My mom gave me away like I was a piece of garbage and never came back nor asked for me.”

They did one more round of TTT, focusing on the deep sadness, while Kristin said some gentle words about his sadness about his mom giving him away.

“It is not your fault that your mom couldn’t take care of you, she was too young, you are a good boy, none of this is your fault,” she said to him.

Then the boy looked happy and said, “Well, Auntie Maria loves me very much.”

Even when focusing on the separation with his mom, he could not feel sadness anymore.

Somehow, he re-signified his relationship with his mother to the possibilities offered in the present with caregivers with whom he had a good relationship.

Back to school and a new family

After this second session, he was never triggered in the same way again. He was able to get off all his medication, go back to school, and about a year later he was successfully adopted.

The whole therapy process lasted two sessions of 30 minutes each. Wow.

Looking forward

Can you imagine what a difference we could make if social service agencies and hospitals around the world used energy psychology techniques like these? What a difference for children in hospital settings, so vulnerable and scared, having tools like these to calm down and feel less afraid. And providers like Kristin soothing children who are parentless, recognizing that much of the anger they may display is a scrambled reaction to the thread and need for connection.

Thanks to Kristin Holthuis for sharing her story, and more importantly, for doing her work. Many ACEP members have stories of hope and healing. Let’s share them! When we tell our stories, we can help turn the tide toward away from a “crime and punishment” model toward powerful, healing, loving methods grounded in energy psychology.

One for all for one!

Are you a teacher or school employee? Get trained to bring powerful energy psychology techniques to your school – enroll in ACEP’s free Mind Body Tools for Children training. If you are a clinician or stakeholder wanting to bring 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.

If you have a story of how energy psychology can help heal trauma, send it to us! 

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 serious illnesses.

Photo by Chris Benson on Unsplash