doi 10.9769/EPJ.2014.6.1.DF

David Feinstein
Ashland, Oregon

Abstract:In “The Current Status of Energy Psychology: Extraordinary Claims with Less than Ordinary Evidence,”Bakker (2013) maintains that energy psychology rests on “an unsupported and implausible theoretical basis” (p. 1). He further asserts that attempts to establish empirical support for the efficacy of energy psychology have not been able to demonstrate an effect beyond nonspecific or placebo effects, or the incorporation of known effective elements (p. 1). This rejoinder will demonstrate that Bakker’s selection and reporting skews his data toward these assertions and that a more balanced review would conclude that a) scientific support for the efficacy of energy psychology is accumulating, b) initial findings suggest, in fact, that the method is surprisingly rapid and effective, and c) plausible mechanisms for the documented positive outcomes are consistent with established psychological principles and have been described in the literature.

Keywords:amygdala, Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), energy psychology, memory reconsolidation, Thought Field Therapy (TFT)

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