ARTICLES: COUNSELING / DEPRESSION / ENERGY MEDICINE / FOREGIVENESS THE NEW SCIENCE FOR THE NEXT DIMENSION IN THERAPY BY STEVEN VAZQUEZ, PH.D. Historically, early inventions initially boggle the minds of most people only to give way to greater and more sophisticated developments. Newer ideas often surpass the original ones to such an extent that they no longer even resemble the original. The Wright brothers' airplane barely resembles the Stealth Bomber. The Model T bears little comparison to automobiles of today. The field of psychotherapy has also undergone a similar revolution from Freud's psychoanalysis to the psychiatric medication and "power therapies" of today. The term "power therapy" refers to the new approaches such as Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Thought Field Therapy (TFT), which have a tendency to facilitate unusually rapid changes of psychological symptoms. Many people are not aware that even the power therapies of today have undergone a revolutionary change into at least one new method, Emotional Transformation Therapy (ETT). This new approach has extended and integrated the best of the new power therapies, elements of traditional methods and a few totally new ideas into a new hybrid. This combination offers a new genre of extraordinary psychotherapy. For example, aspects of EEG biofeedback (neurotherapy) are used except that in ETT brainwave patterns for optimal therapeutic benefit are immediately accessed and verbal psychological processing occurs during these ideal states of mind.. Light treatment for S.A.D. (seasonal affective disorder) has now been found to work with a variety of other mood disorders that are non seasonal. Light treatment has been reformulated in ETT so that specific wavelengths of light powerfully alter mood states so quickly that psychiatric medication often becomes obsolete. EMDR is based on an eye movement technique for altering affect. While ETT is not EMDR, it utilizes a similar premise but drastically expands eye movement processes into a multi-dimensional array of eye movements that can be used. with a far greater repertoire of applications for potent rapid emotional change. The neuro linguistic programming eye position hypothesis (3 eye positions) opened the door to the role of eye positions in psychotherapy. ETT radically expands that concept into dozens of eye positions that not only access specific information but can also be used to transform these unwanted emotional states promote insights and alter physical discomfort. Furthermore, most of these techniques can be added to numerous other psychotherapy approaches that one may already use. Is there research to support this method? Yes. Since the method is based on the combination of several elements conducted either simultaneously or in sequence, scientific inquiry would typically reduce the method into its components and measure the effects of each element. Fortunately, this has already been done. There are now hundreds of studies on the effect of light on mood states; (Allen, J. J., Iacono, W. G., Depue, R. A., & Arbisi, P., 1993; Deltito, J. A., Moline, M., Pollak, C., Martin, L. Y., & Maremmani, I., 1991; Fleischhauer, J., Glauser, G., & Hofstetter, P., 1988; Kripke, D. F., 1985; Kripke, D. F., 1998; Kripke, D. F., Mullaney, D. J., Klauber, M. R., Risch, S. C., & Gillin, J. C., 1992; Lam, R. W., Terman, M., & Wirz-Justice, A., 1997b). There are dozens of studies on the effects of flickering light upon the brain (Glicksohn, J., 1986; Nogaway, T., & et al., 1976; Sato, K., & Kitajima, K., 1965; Takigawa, M., 1988; Vogel, W., Broverman, D. M., Klaiber, E., & Kun, K. J., 1969; Walter, V. J., & Walter, W. G., 1949; Walter, W. G., & Shipton, H. W., 1949). This approach is essentially a form of amplified interactive psychotherapy. Even before the addition of the use of light stimulation, eye movements and brainwave entrainment, research supports the superiority of psychotherapy over medications and the effectiveness of psychotherapy in general; (Antonuccio, D. O., Danton, W. G., & De Nelsky, G. Y., 1995; Brody, A.L., Saxena, S., Stoessel, P., Gillies, L.A., Fairbanks, L.A., Alborzian, S., Phelps, M.E., Huang, S., Wu, H., Ho, M.L., Ho, M.K., Au, S.C. Maidment, K. & Baxter. L.R., 2001; Elkin, I., & et al., 1989; Elkin, I., & et al., 1989). There are scientific studies on the impact of eye movement upon the psyche; (De Jongh, A., & ten Broeke, E., 1998; De Jongh, A., ten Broeke, E., & Renssen, M. R., 1999; Faw, T. T., & Nunnally, J. C., 1967; Gross, Y., Franko, R. & Lewin, I., 1978; Rothbaum, B. O., 1977; Scheck, M. M., Schaeffer, J. A., & Gillette, C. S., 1998; Wilson, S. A., Becker, L. A., & Tinker, R. H., 1995). Eye position procedures are different from eye movement processes and have usually been scientifically documented as studies on lateral vision stimulation of the brain. (Hugdahl, K., Franzon, M., Anderson, B. & Walldebo, G., 1983; Schiffer, F., 1977; Schiffer, F., Anderson, CM. & Teicher, MH., 1997; Schiffer, F., Anderson, CM., Renshaw, PF., Mass, LC. & Teicher, MH., 1998; Wittling W. & Roschmann R., 1993; Zaidel, E., 1975). This method is not just a linkage of techniques, but instead it is a smooth, sophisticated synergistic system. Synergy refers to the idea that certain combinations of parts yield an effect greater than what is possible by the separate parts alone. The method as a whole is just beginning to be scientifically documented The effects of this method are currently being measured and preliminary indications appear extremely promising. In addition, to the well-documented components of this approach, it includes some innovative new concepts. These concepts have been studied scientifically, but are typically not given value because they are associated with the arts. For example, the use of color to evoke moods has long been used effectively in stage lighting. However, most people tend to see color as only aesthetic or "enriching" but it is seldom considered powerful. It is the capacity of the use of color as a swift and powerful catalyst for psychological and physical change that usually surprises professionals who see its optimal application for the first time. The discovery of the "radiant biosynthesis effect" is one example of harnessing the power of light. This "effect" involves the appropriate matching of certain wavelengths (colors) of light with specific states of awareness of the subject. It tends to yield a profound shift in mood states and consequently change in cognition, behavior, physiology and sometimes, spiritual awareness. At the center of this method is the means to directly access and readily transform emotional states themselves. This is highly important because the vast majority of conditions described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV are primarily characterized by symptoms of affect (labile mood, flat affect, rage, etc.). ETT consistently facilitates contact with emotional states, and when appropriate, an accelerated progression through emotional states occurs. This allows the client to feel like an active participant by virtue of rapidly facing and overcoming these feelings, which typically culminates in an experience of feeling empowered and wiser. Cognition and behavior usually become easy to change when emotions transform. Spontaneous spiritual events commonly occur during this process or after it. Therefore, this approach goes beyond simply changing unwanted emotions, but also promotes states of well being. One of the unique aspects of this method is its profound impact on physiological conditions. The first premise by which this works is that unresolved emotions play a major role in illness, injury recovery and physical pain and resolution of these emotions strongly affects the physical body. In addition to this premise, the brain stimulation caused by specific types of light stimulation into the eyes has some unusually powerful effects on the physical body. This stimulation is harnessed to target physiological changes very consistently and precisely in ETT. Since medical claims are not to be made without substantial "scientific" evidence to support it, it can be said that it has been observed that an unusual number of people "appear" to leave these sessions with reduction of physical pain, improved bodily functioning and rapid recovery from injuries. Specifically, neurologically based disorders, stress related conditions like cancer, heart disease, migraine headaches, etc. have been responsive to ETT. ETT focuses upon activating a person's own resources for healing instead of using invasive substances or techniques. This means that the light stimulation of the brain operates as a catalyst. The stimulation is precisely channeled into optimal directions through evoking proper brainwaves and steering the interactive process. This can result in the intensification of emotions or reduction of intensity, as it is appropriate at any given time. The proliferation of new insights, kinesthetic awareness and progress through fixated emotional states is standard activity in the method. There are engineers who develop all types of self-help devices and technology in hopes that machines alone can facilitate therapeutic change. On the other hand people in the helping professions call for the power of human compassion and touch in the healing arts. ETT is a unique marriage of both high technology and personal human compassion that yields an outcome which surpasses either approach alone. Is it a panacea? No. It is simply the next advancement in psychotherapy. There are a few subjects who cannot tolerate the light stimulation and there are people who have little or no response to it. However, observations are that some 90% of subjects appear to respond in therapy far more in-depth and quicker than would otherwise be the case. New challenges arise for therapists when such depth changes are facilitated so quickly. Cognitive dissonance and disorientation may occur in the recipient even if the change is "good" and family members often feel ill at ease when the person they have known so long becomes different. Therefore, the ETT training program includes ways to help the client adjust to dramatic improvements and ways to help therapists get used to the speed of powerful changes. There are seven weekend courses in the full training plus practicums and annual conferences for practitioners. Certification in this method is limited to licensed mental health professionals, medical professionals and licensed clergy. The Model T of psychotherapy has evolved but the next revolution in therapy is now here. Earlier innovations of power therapies contributed to the "brief therapies," but depth psychotherapy was often forfeited. The emergence of ETT now provides both in-depth and brief therapy as the next dimension in therapy. References: Allen, J. J., Iacono, W. G., Depue, R. A., & Arbisi, P. (1993). Regional Electroencephalographic Asymmetries in Bipolar Seasonal Affective Disorder Before And After Exposure To Bright Light. Biol Psychiatry, 33, 642-6. Antonuccio, D. O., Danton, W. G., & De Nelsky, G. 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