Energy Psychology and Addiction

© 2000 – 1

i as institutefor the application of

the social sciences

Treating Addiction & Habits Treating Addiction & Habits with Meridian-based with Meridian-based Psychotherapies & Psychotherapies &

CounsellingCounselling An IMPC application Seminar

Willem Lammers, TSTA, CTS, TESTdx

© 2000 – 2

i as institutefor the application of

the social sciences

Bahnhofstrasse 2, CH-7304 MaienfeldTelefon +41 81 / 302 77 03 Fax +41 81 / 302 77 04

[email protected] www.iasag.ch

© 2000

These handouts are only for the personal use of the participants of this training seminar and may not be copied or otherwise redistributed

i as institutefor the application of

the social sciences

© 2000 – 3

i as institutefor the application of

the social sciences ProgrammeProgramme• Treatment aspects of addictions and habits

– Stepney– somatic aspects– emotions– developmental work

• Treatment protocols for somatic aspects– EFT– stimulant drugs– depressant drugs

• Treatment protocols for developmental work• Demonstrations• Exercises

© 2000 – 4

i as institutefor the application of

the social sciences Addiction & HabitsAddiction & Habits• Working with addictions and habits

– needs patience– must recognise stages– sometimes only means that one can help the client to reach

the next stage– confronts professionals with their own boundaries and

addictive aspects

Interventions can be helpful in one stage and counterproductive in another one

© 2000 – 5

i as institutefor the application of

the social sciences Addictions & Addictions & HabitsHabits

THRILL-SEEKING

PHARMACOLOGICAL

ORAL-MANIPULATIVE

HOBBIES

FOOD-BASED

SOCIAL

parachutingbungee-jumpingetc.

com-petitivesports

alcoholtobacco

tea &coffee

sweets & chocolatesover eating

sugarsaltsoft

drugs

stamp-collectingetc.

crosswordsgum-chewing'worry' beads

harddrugs

games

gambling delinquency

Stepney (1979)internet work

TV

© 2000 – 6

i as institutefor the application of

the social sciences ContextContext

THRILL-SEEKING

PHARMACOLOGICAL

ORAL-MANIPULATIVE

HOBBIES

FOOD-BASED

SOCIAL

parachutingbungee-jumpingetc.

com-petitivesports

alcoholtobacco

tea &coffee

sweets & chocolatesover eating

sugarsaltsoft

drugs

stamp-collectingetc.

crosswordsgum-chewing'worry' beads

harddrugs

games

gambling delinquency

Healthy ego-functioning

Archaic emotions

Psychosomatic reactions

Addictions & habits

Dissociation

Archaic reaction patterns

© 2000 – 7

i as institutefor the application of

the social sciences

Treatment Aspects for the Treatment Aspects for the Addictive UrgeAddictive Urge•

© 2000 – 8

i as institutefor the application of

the social sciences FunctionsFunctions• The addictive urge has the following functions:

– concentration– sedation– stimulation– reduction of fear

• Treatment must take functions into account• Conditions for success:

– awareness & insight: misery– information– responsibility, decision

© 2000 – 9

i as institutefor the application of

the social sciences Emotions & Emotions & FeelingsFeelings• Intervention

– relief of the addictive urge– finding ways to replace the substance as a means of

fulfilment of functions

• How?– discovering affective functions of addictive behaviour– exploring healthy alternatives for substance abuse – cognitiv/affective treatment– MPC

© 2000 – 10

i as institutefor the application of

the social sciences TreatmentTreatment• The urge, craving response, somatic component

needs to be treated separately from the treatment of the psychological aspects

• The treatment focuses on a conditional bodily experience, without which the person doesn't need to abuse the substance

• Identify the somatic stimulus which invites the client to abuse

– Think of this urge and concentrate on your body and tell me what's going on inside

• Treatment must work very fast to beat the substance– Nicotine reaches the brain 10 seconds after inhaling

© 2000 – 11

i as institutefor the application of

the social sciences

Working at the rootsWorking at the roots

© 2000 – 12

i as institutefor the application of

the social sciences Roots in LifeRoots in Life

• Working at the roots– Addicts have pre-addictive, addictive and post-addictive

personality states– Each state has an identity, an access channel, a life style

and a social network– In the beginning of treatment there is a dual governing state– Later in the career there is a congruent addict personality– Treatment means a restructuring of the personality of the

client(Zoran Milivojevic)

© 2000 – 13

i as institutefor the application of

the social sciences Roots in LifeRoots in Life

• Intervention– Work with emptiness, despair, anxiety and trauma

• How?– tapping on timelines

» Inner Child» Inner Parent work

© 2000 – 14

i as institutefor the application of

the social sciences

Meridian-based Meridian-based Psychotherapies & Psychotherapies &

CounsellingCounsellingMPCMPC

The cause of all negative emotions is a disruption in the body's energy system(Gary Craig)

© 2000 – 15

i as institutefor the application of

the social sciences MPCMPC• Roger Callahan discovered emotions, physical symptoms and

traumatic memories can change by tapping on acupuncture meridian points

• He called his method Thought Field Therapy - TFT• Others have developed similar methods in recent years:

– Emotional Freedom Techniques, Be Set Free Fast, Tapas Acupressure Technique

• We use the general term Meridian-based Psychotherapy & Counselling MPC

• MPC offers fast, noninvasive procedures that relieve psychological disturbances by eliminating perturbations in the energy field of the body and changing the body’s energy system

© 2000 – 16

i as institutefor the application of

the social sciences AssumptionsAssumptions• There is a subtle, partly scientifically validated

energy circulatory system in the human body, whose paths are called meridians in Traditional Chinese Medicine

• This energy field has great influence over, and many times is responsible for, the person’s physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual well-being

• In emotionally disturbing circumstances, the energy system may lose coherence, intentionality and capacity to relate

© 2000 – 17

i as institutefor the application of

the social sciences TreatmentTreatment• The energy system can be (re)balanced by

tapping with the fingertips on acupuncture points at the beginning or at the end of the meridians

• Once treated, memories can be normally accessed, but the emotional charge is gone

– The client does not get upset about the circumstance• This result is lasting for the aspect treated• In counselling and psychotherapy, stages similar

to normal processing can be observed

© 2000 – 18

i as institutefor the application of

the social sciences TreatmentTreatment• Indications are trauma, phobias, guilt, grief and

addictive cravings • After trauma treatment, there is a visible and

obvious cognition change that shows up in the way clients talk about previously troublesome incidents

• Intense emotions -abreactions- are not necessarily part of the treatment process, as in other treatment systems

• Treatment sequences take only minutes • Effects on emotions are often immediate and thus

unbelievable

© 2000 – 19

i as institutefor the application of

the social sciences EFT: Gary CraigEFT: Gary Craig

• Emotional Freedom Techniques - EFT:– the easiest to learn MPC method– an emotional healing technique– a tool for altering limiting beliefs– also capable of dramatically relieving many physical

symptoms– directly derived from Thought Field Therapy (TFT) by Gary

Craig, a Stanford-trained engineer, businessman, and professional performance coach

• Craig trained with Dr. Roger Callahan, the originator of TFT

© 2000 – 20

i as institutefor the application of

the social sciencesEFT: The Basic RecipeEFT: The Basic Recipe• The Basic Recipe cycle lies at the heart of every EFT

treatment• Procedure:

1. Rate the disturbance (SUD scale 0-10)2. Do the Set-Up3. Do the Sequence4. Do the 9-Gamut5. Repeat the Sequence6. Rate the Distress again

• Repeat the Basic Recipe for every new aspect • If the subjective level of disturbance is down to 1 or 0:

– Floor-to-Ceiling Eye Roll

© 2000 – 21

i as institutefor the application of

the social sciences EFT's Basic Recipe IEFT's Basic Recipe IAll tapping is done with two fingers, firmly but gently, on any side of the body• Rate the distress:

– In order to measure progress, rate the level of distress on a SUD scale, from 0 to 10

• The Setup:– Before beginning treatment, rub the NLR point (sore spot) while

repeating three times the affirmation:I deeply and completely accept myself with all my problems and limitations

– At the beginning of each round of treatment, tap the karate chop point while repeating three times the affirmation:Even though I (name problem) I deeply and completely accept myself

• The Sequence:– Inside eye brow, outside of eye, under eye, under nose, under lower

lip, collarbone point, under arm (thumb, index finger, middle finger, little finger, karate chop point)

© 2000 – 22

i as institutefor the application of

the social sciences

Treatment PointsTreatment Points

© 2000 – 23

i as institutefor the application of

the social sciences EFT Basic Recipe IIEFT Basic Recipe II• The 9-Gamut

– While continually tapping on the gamut spot: on back of hand (repeat reminder phrase when you begin)

1. Close your eyes2. Open your eyes3. Look down toward one corner4. Look down toward the other corner5. Roll your eyes in a circle6. Roll your eyes in a circle in the other direction7. Hum a few notes of any tune8. Count to seven9. Hum a few notes again

• Tap the Sequence again• Rate the disturbance again

© 2000 – 24

i as institutefor the application of

the social sciences Floor-to-Ceiling Eye Floor-to-Ceiling Eye RollRoll

• When the SUD score is reduced to 1 or 2, do the Floor-to-Ceiling Eye Roll (er):

• While continuously tapping on the gamut point:– close eyes– open eyes, look straight ahead– move eyes down to the floor and then roll slowly up to the

ceiling– stop tapping, close eyelids and inhale breath – lower eyes while exhaling

• This will usually lower the score to 0 and seems to consolidate treatment once the SUDs has reached 0

© 2000 – 25

i as institutefor the application of

the social sciences EFT ProtocolEFT Protocol• Contact problem and develop reminder phrase• Establish SUD score• Treat NLR point with general affirmation• Treat KC with specific affirmation• Sequence (with reminder phrase), 9g, Sequence• Check SUD score

– if >2, treat kc with modified affirmation, then Sq, 9g, Sq using modified reminder phrase

– if <2, ER– if down only 1 point at a time, CBB– if no change, “How is this 7 different from the earlier 7”

(switched aspects) or other corrections for energy imbalances

© 2000 – 26

i as institutefor the application of

the social sciences Starting exerciseStarting exercise• Most people have some constriction in their breathing which is rather

easily corrected with EFT--"Even though I have this constricted breathing....".

• Have your client take a deep breath and ask them to assess how that breath compares to what they consider to be their potential (10). Most people come up with a lower SUD score, such as 7 or 8. A round or two of EFT usually brings them up to a 10.

• It is advisable to take a deep breath or two before doing the initial SUDs assessment. This should take care of any "stretching effect" the lungs may need to go through so that the initial SUDs is more likely to be valid.

• People's emotional issues often show up in constricted breathing. Just dealing with the breathing reduces the intensity of the emotional issue. This can be a relatively painless way to "take the edge off" of the emotional problem before working with it directly.

© 2000 – 27

i as institutefor the application of

the social sciences

Treating the UrgeTreating the Urge

© 2000 – 28

i as institutefor the application of

the social sciences Preparation ProcessPreparation Process

• Contact & Contract• Take history• Explain procedures and dynamics of addiction• Monitor addictive behaviour for 2-3 weeks

– Client makes notes on time, quantity, trigger stimuli (visual, auditory, kinesthetic, olfactory, gustatory)

© 2000 – 29

i as institutefor the application of

the social sciences Treating the UrgeTreating the Urge• Identify triggers for the craving symptom

– External: visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory, gustatory• Identify the craving symptom

– kinesthetic, not visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory– Identify submodalities: warm/cold, hard/soft, tense/relaxed, size, shape,

location, frequency, duration, tingling, trembling• Take SUDs for the urge to use the substance, on a scale from

0 to 10• Apply EFT, TFT or the algorithm for the specific type of

substance• Take SUDs again• Repeat treatment if necessary and give homework assignment

© 2000 – 30

i as institutefor the application of

the social sciences TFT for Addictive TFT for Addictive UrgesUrges

• ue, ua, c, 9G, Seq, ER• ue, ua, c, lf, c, 9G, Seq, ER• ue, c, ua, 9G, Seq, ER• ue, c, ua, c, ue, 9G, Seq, ER• ue, ua, c, ua, ue, c, 9G, Seq, ER

• Abbreviations:– ue: under eye 9G: 9 Gamut– ua: under armSeq: Sequence – c: collarbone ER: Eye roll– lf: little finger

© 2000 – 31

i as institutefor the application of

the social sciences Treating the UrgeTreating the Urge• Algorithm:

– Sequence, brain balancing, repeat sequence• Brain balancing:

– 9 Gamut– Move eyes from the left to the right during 10 seconds – Tap or TAB (Touch-And-Breathe) acupoints

• Use TAB when clients are traumatised or have a history of violence against themselves

© 2000 – 32

i as institutefor the application of

the social sciences Willem’s AlgorithmsWillem’s Algorithms• Sequence to interrupt craving for sedating drugs

(heroin, benzodiazepines):– CV-17 (between nipples), K-27 (collarbone point), Li-14

(upper edge of 8th rib inferior to nipple), SI-3 (karate chop), TW-3 (Gamut point), CV-17

• Sequence to interrupt craving for stimulant drugs and for addictive non-substance behaviour:

– St-1 (under eye), Bl-2 (end of eyebrow), Sp-21 (under arm), Ex. 1 (third eye), GV 20 (top of the head)

• If tapping GV 20 feels threatening, client needs much support

© 2000 – 33

i as institutefor the application of

the social sciences PointsPointsCV-17 K-27

Li-14

Ex-1

GV-20

© 2000 – 34

i as institutefor the application of

the social sciences Treating the UrgeTreating the Urge• Work through all triggers which invoke addictive

urge– after a meal– while driving– on the telephone– after ...

• If you have clearly identified the craving response, you can bring it down

• Craving hides historical incidents which usually are outside awareness

© 2000 – 35

i as institutefor the application of

the social sciences

Working on the Working on the RootsRoots

• Timelines• Inner Child• Inner Parent

© 2000 – 36

i as institutefor the application of

the social sciences Working on the RootsWorking on the Roots• Withdrawal history

– Clients have negative experiences trying to stop substance abuse

– They expect the same in the future– These experiences must be treated

• Developmental arrest, script issues– Substance abuse is the best way the client has to prevent re-

experiencing traumatic events– The craving response is the original body response in a

traumatic situation– Clients are generally not aware of this, they connect the

craving response to the absence of the substance– Traumatic experiences can also be treated with MPC

© 2000 – 37

i as institutefor the application of

the social sciences Timeline WorkTimeline Work• Identify the craving response

– What do you feel in your body when you feel this urge?• Take SUDs

– On a scale from 0 to 10, how strong is this urge now?• Let the client imagine to go back on a time line, led

by the physical sensations of the craving response– Find earlier occasions where you had this feeling in your

body• Find 3 or 4 occasions when these sensations were

present– Make notes on a timeline

© 2000 – 38

i as institutefor the application of

the social sciences Working with the Working with the Inner ChildInner Child

• Find the very first occasion on which this symptom was present

– The symptom is not known before this situation in the life of the client

– Usually this is a traumatic incident at an early age, even during pregnancy

• You can use the affect bridge to reach this situation• The Inner Child at the time of the incident can be

treated with MPC techniques• Treat all emotions and feelings of the child in the

scene, so that the person doesn’t have any emotional or physical reactions remembering it

© 2000 – 39

i as institutefor the application of

the social sciences Working with the Inner Working with the Inner ParentParent

• Traumatised parental figures in this scene may be treated in the same way

– Identify the parental figure in the scene who had the greatest impact– Ask the client to be this parent at the time of the incident– Ask the client in the role of the parent to look at the child at that early age – Let her describe how she/he sees her child at that time– Interview the parent and diagnose the main issue of the parent figure at

the time of the incident» trauma, fear, anxiety, addiction

– Treat the parent for the identified issue with the help of MPC– Let the parent renew contact with the child– Let the client be child again and reframe the event on the basis of the new

knowledge– Let the child grow up slowly

© 2000 – 40

i as institutefor the application of

the social sciences StepsSteps• After the SUDs have gone down to 1 or 0, the person

goes forward in time to the next scene on the timeline• Take SUDs for this scene and treat the memory as

needed• Continue with the other scenes on the time-line and

treat the memories as needed• Return to the here-and-now and let the person

explore her craving response• Then future-pace:

– relationships, work, hobbies, pastimes– Treat relapse fantasies the same way, on the basis of the

craving response

© 2000 – 41

i as institutefor the application of

the social sciences ClosureClosure• While tapping on Central Vessel, Ren-17:

Forgive others: I forgive you, X, you didn’t have a choice– Do this for all significant others

the client has negative experienceswith

• Forgive self:I forgive myself, I did the best I could

© 2000 – 42

i as institutefor the application of

the social sciences RelapseRelapse• Relapse = reversal

– Before treatment, find out what they’re reversed on– Before any treatment, treat reversal– Teach clients how to treat reversal– For recurring reversal test client between second & third

rib– Check for neurological disorganisation

• Procedure of treatment is very simple– Tap on the side of the hand, while saying:

I deeply and completely accept myself, even if...• You can muscle test or just assume that there is a

reversal

© 2000 – 43

i as institutefor the application of

the social sciences Larry Nims’ Failsafe Larry Nims’ Failsafe SystemSystem

Test and treat each in the following sequence:1) I want to get over (be free of) this problem2) I am willing to get over (be free of) this problem3) I am willing to get over (be free of) this problem now (from now on)4) I give myself permission to be free of this problem from now on5) It’s OK for me to be free of this problem from now on6) I deserve to be permanently free of this problem7) I will do everything necessary to see to it that I am free, and remain free

of this problemSometimes the following statements will test negative:

8) There is still a problem that will make me keep or take back this problem9) There is still something in me that will make me keep or take back this

problem

© 2000 – 44

i as institutefor the application of

the social sciences Substance Substance ManagementManagement

• Drugs and alcohol can cause reversal and relapse, due to situation-dependent learning and to toxines

– The additives in wine may contain toxines – Most commercial beers contain many additives– White wine contains sulphites

• Test before and during each glass– You might test fine for the first glass but not for the

second– Quantity is important

© 2000 – 45

i as institutefor the application of

the social sciences Food AddictionFood Addiction• Food addiction is more difficult than drugs or

tobacco, because you need food to live• The vicious five disturb signals from the appetite

regulation centre in the brain, the diencephalon: – Smoking– Coffee– Alcohol– Sugar– animal proteins

• Clients need education to change their way of living

© 2000 – 46

i as institutefor the application of

the social sciences Self-Image & Self-Image & Self-Confidence IndicatorsSelf-Confidence Indicators

• T&T for self-image and self-confidence statements– Do it in the first session, unless the client has a pressing issue

which overrides this• T&T each statement individually• T&T each group of statements collectively after treatment

– I'm strong in all of these areas now• Treat by continuously tapping on the karate chop point,

while saying three times:I deeply and completely accept myself even if ....(statement)

(T&T: Test & Treat as needed)

© 2000 – 47

i as institutefor the application of

the social sciences Self-ImageSelf-Image• Self-image statements (being):

– I like myself– I am a good person– I do have personal value and worth– I do deserve good things in life– I do deserve to be loved– I do deserve God‘s love– I do have a good mind– I do have a good body

• Embracing life: – I do want to live– I do want to be happy– I do love myself

© 2000 – 48

i as institutefor the application of

the social sciences Self-ConfidenceSelf-Confidence• Self-confidence statements (doing):

– I am good at things– I am a capable person– I can learn to do what I want and do it well– I have good talents, skills and abilities– I have a skillful mind– I have a skillful body– I run my life well