January, 2010 Volume 10, No.

1


Speculations on Two or Three Points for Transformation

Daniel J. Benor, MD, ABIHM

Truth only reveals itself when one gives up all preconceived ideas.
- Shoseki

I am struck by the varieties of newer psychotherapeutic interventions that involve two or three
modality stimulation of the brain and/or mind and/or body as a portion of their methodology. I
speculate here on whether the multiple focus of awareness might be an overlooked mechanism
for change, regardless of the type of focus.

There are numerous variations of this sort, which I broadly categorize here into three clusters.
All of these methods produce releases of stress, pains and distress. Many of the therapies fit
within more than one cluster.


1. Focusing the mind on the body or on a mental image while simultaneously focusing
the mind on an affirmation or inner (mental and/or emotional) process

Mindfulness meditation Conscious focus (on breath; words; gazing at object; mental image)
while noting but not attaching attention on passing thoughts and sensations (Kabat-Zinn, 1994).

For example: Focus on your breath or on an object such as a candle flame, flower, or
mental image. Allow all other awarenesses (physical, mental, emotional) to fade into the
background and dissipate from consciousness.
Alternative:
Hold the intention that you will not attach yourself to anything that crosses your mind.
Watch anything without responding with emotions or associative thoughts, letting it pass
by and dissipate.

Vipassana meditation Focus your attention on specific parts of the body while allowing
passing thoughts, emotions and physical sensations to move through awareness without
attachment and to dissipate.

For example: Focus on the upper lip and nostrils, observing the breath entering and
exiting the nostrils. Allow all other awarenesses (physical, mental, emotional) to fade into
the background and dissipate from consciousness.




Multi-point focus: In meditational releasing for transformation of negativity, one allows
problematic issues (along with any other awarenesses) to pass through consciousness without
attachment to them. This is like running two recorded tracks simultaneously but paying attention
to only one of them. The ignored track fades in intensity and our intention is that is will
disappear from consciousness entirely.

While this is often used for relief from troublesome thoughts and feelings, it also opens into
transpersonal, spiritual realms of awareness.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) alternating right and left body
stimulation (eye movements, auditory, or touch to right and left sides) + conscious focus on a
problem; similar physical procedures + focus on a positive mental focus to install positive
cognitions/ emotions. The negative issues diminish in intensity to the point that they are no
longer perceived as problematic. The positive cognitions/ emotions are strengthened by this
process.

For example: People will hold a negative memory with its associated emotions and
physical sensations in their awareness, such as a car accident or a memory of child
abuse that still raises fears and tensions when they think of it. They alternate stimulating
the right and left sides of the body. The intensity of the negative experiences diminishes
with successive rounds of tapping until it is completely dissipated. Then they focus on a
positive awareness, e.g. "I have had many valuable lessons as a result of this traumatic
experience." Again stimulating the right and left sides of their body, and the positive
awareness and positive feelings associated with it are strengthened.

Caution: EMDR is a very powerful tool for releasing buried issues, and may produce heavy
emotional releases. For this reason, it is recommended that EMDR should be used only in the
therapist's office. A client's second EMDR session is often devoted to stress management
methods that enable a person to de-stress in case they are experiencing distressingly intense
releases between therapy sessions (Shapiro, 1995; www.emdr.com).

Multi-point focus: In EMDR, the first point of awareness is the troublesome issue (which usually
includes thoughts and emotions) and the second is a body awareness of alternating right and
left stimulation. The bilateral stimulation produces very deep releases of negativity, following
which profoundly helpful positive cognitions and emotions can be installed. Because any
alternating right and left sensory stimulation (tactile, visual and auditory) produces similar shifts,
it is speculated that the real mechanism is the alternating right and left brain hemispheric
stimulation that occurs with the sensory stimulation. More on this under WHEE, below.

Thought Field Therapy (TFT) Tapping on prescribed acupressure points (specific to
particular problems) + conscious focus on the problem + positive counteracting affirmations
(may use tapping alone or affirmations alone). The perceived intensity of the problems
diminishes (Callahan, 2002; www.rogercallahan.com).

For example: TFT therapist prescribes a specific series of acupressure points (different
points will be used for a headache, phobia, craving, etc. etc.) on which you tap as you
focus on your negative issue and its associated emotions and physical feelings. With
repeated rounds of tapping the negativity is dissipated.




Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) Tapping on a generic series of acupressure points +
conscious focus on a problem + positive counteracting affirmations. The perceived intensity of
the problems diminishes (Craig, 2008; 2009; www.emofree.com).

As with TFT, but the same generic series of 12 acupressure points is used for all
problems.

Tapas Acupressure Technique (TFT) Touch on front and back of head + conscious focus on
a problem + positive counteracting affirmations that include spiritual components (Fleming, ND;
www.tatlife.com).

Effects similar to those of EFT.

Seemorg Matrix Work: Touching one or more chakras (biological energy centers) on the body
+ conscious focus on a problem + positive counteracting affirmations that include spiritual
components (http://www.seemorgmatrix.org).

Effects similar to those of EFT.

Multi-point focus: With TFT, EFT, TAT and Seemorg Matrix Work, the first point is a conscious
awareness of the problems issues; the second is a counteracting affirmation; and the third is the
activation of body awareness and/or biological energies of the acupuncture points/meridians
(energy lines) and chakras. The involvement of the biological energy system of the body has led
to a collective label of 'Energy Psychology' for these and related therapies.

Wholistic Hybrid derived from EMDR and EFT (WHEE) 1. Alternating right and left body
stimulation (alternating touch on right and left sides of the body) + conscious focus on the
problem being addressed + positive counteracting affirmations; 2. (after #1 is complete) similar
physical procedures + focus on a positive mental focus replacing the negative that was released
+ alternating right and left body stimulation + focus on a positive affirmation to install and
strengthen positive cognitions/ emotions (Benor, 2006; 2009; www.paintap.com).

WHEE has a similar procedure to that used with EMDR, with the addition of a positive
affirmation (similar to EFT), combined with the alternating right and left stimulation. WHEE is
derived from a wholistic perspective, addressing body, emotions, mind, relationships (with other
people and the environment) and spirit. WHEE focuses on roots of problems and on meta-
anxieties and other meta-emotions and thoughts/ beliefs/ disbeliefs.

WHEE is safe for people to use on their own, as it does not produce the intense, heavy
emotional releases seen in EMDR. WHEE is much quicker and more user friendly than EFT,
and can be done with discrete tapping that is not embarrassing to users in front of people who
are unfamiliar with these techniques. Because WHEE is so rapid and easy to use, people
readily go deeper into their issues, coming to know fairly quickly that they are capable of
managing any issues that emerge into their consciousness.

Effects similar to those of EMDR and EFT.

Multi-point focus: As in EMDR, the first point of awareness is the troublesome issue (which
usually includes emotions and their associated thoughts a reverse order to the common focus
in EMDR); the second is a positive awareness (cognitions and feelings); and the third is a body
awareness of alternating right and left stimulation. The bilateral stimulation produces very deep



releases of negativity, following which profoundly helpful positive cognitions and emotions can
be installed. Because any alternating right and left sensory stimulation (tactile, visual and
auditory) produces similar shifts, it is speculated that the real mechanism is the alternating right
and left brain hemispheric stimulation that occurs with the sensory stimulation.

Systematic Desensitization, described below, may also fit here when negative issues are
neutralized by pairing them with muscle relaxation exercises and relaxing imagery (Wolpe,
1958).

In all of the above methods, there is a pairing of a focus on conscious issues that is combined
with a focus on physical sensations. One learns to hold the awareness of the problem with its
associated emotional components while focusing as well on physical sensations.


2. Pairing a conscious focus on a problematic issue with a positive conscious focus
(e.g., permission to change; affirmation; image; memory)

Sedona method Holding the problem issue in conscious focus, asking yourself whether you
can release it now; installing positive cognitions/ emotions in a similar manner. Negative issues
are released rapidly, and positive replacements are installed rapidly (http://www.sedona.com).

For instance, focusing on a negative issue, such as fear of speaking in public, ask
yourself whether you are ready to release it now. Giving yourself the permission to do so
will often diminish the intensity of fear immediately. When the negatives are dissipated
completely, picture to yourself that you are speaking in public with pleasure and
confidence, asking whether you are ready to feel increasingly confident and comfortable
with this mental image. As you give yourself the permission to feel more positive, your
confidence and comfortable feelings increase.

Multi-point focus: 1. First point of focusing is a negative issue; second focus is on whether
people are willing to grant themselves permission to release some or all of their negativity.
2. Similar to EMDR. First point of focusing is a positive replacement for the negative that has
been released; second focus is on whether people are willing to grant themselves permission to
strengthen the positive.

Behavior modification Positive behaviors + positive reinforcement/ rewards (words of praise;
food; tokens that can be exchanged for material rewards) lead to repeats of these behaviors;
Negative behaviors + ignoring/ negative reinforcements/ punishments lead to changes in
behavior. This is the basis for much of our learning. We do something and decide through the
effects we achieve and responses we receive from others (or not) whether it is worthwhile to
repeat our behaviors (Wolpe, 1958).

For instance, a child pees in the potty and is praised, learning that peeing in the potty is
a positive thing to do. A child reaches a hand towards a hot toaster. Either through the
"No!" of a parent, or through the unpleasant feedback of painful fingers (which would fit
in category 1) the child learns to avoid touching a hot toaster. These principles can be
applied systematically in therapy.

Systematic desensitization Conscious focus + picturing yourself in a calm, pleasant
situation/ recalling a specific time when you were enjoying yourself (may use muscle relaxation
or breathing to relax which would place this in the first category); Conscious focus on a



problem issue + conscious focus/ imagery of a positive focus. The positive neutralizes the
negative. This is usually done in small, gentle increments (Wolpe, 1990).

Your fear of dogs (spiders, mice, snakes, exams or whatever) is elaborated into a list of
all aspects of this phobia, with the most intense items towards the top of the list. You
rate the intensity of each item on the list.
e.g. Seeing a large, barking dog on a leash right next to you. = 10/10 intensity
Seeing a medium sized dog not on a leash walking towards you. 9/10
Seeing a large dog on a leash coming towards you from the other end of the block =
8/10
Seeing a small dog behind a fence in a yard barking = 4/10
Seeing a small dog on a leash walking towards you = 2/10
You hold the conscious image of the least intense item in your awareness, along with
the associated feelings and any traumatic memories. You practice connecting your
awareness with positive memories (alternatively, may use deep breathing and/or other
forms of relaxation). You pause after a few minutes to note how much the intensity of the
negative item has decreased. Repeat until it is zero. Then proceed to neutralize the next
least intense item. Proceed until the entire list is neutralized. Then practice with a dog
present, perhaps working your way up through a series of small to larger dogs.

Flooding As with Systematic Desensitization, but with focus on the most intensely negative
aspects of the problem. The positive feelings of conscious focus on a positive memory
neutralize the negative thoughts and emotions. This is usually done in powerfully confrontive
therapy sessions (Sundel and Stone-Sundel, 2005).

You start with the mental image of a large, barking dog on a leash right near you. Using
the same methods as in Systematic Desensitization, you reduce the intensity of your
reactions until they are completely dissipated. The rest of the list is usually neutralized
as well with this procedure.

Multi-point focus with Systematic Desensitization, Behavior Modification, and Flooding: First
point of focus is a negative cognition and/or emotion; second point of focus is a counteracting
positive cognition and/or emotion. The positives diminish the intensity of the negatives.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Incorporates varieties of Behavioral Modification
approaches (Cormier, Nurius and Osborn, 2008).

For example: A person with a panic disorder is asked to consider whether they have
ever come to any harm whatsoever due to the things they think about during their panic
attacks. They are taught relaxation techniques for diminishing the intensity of their fears
during panic attacks. They may practice systematic desensitization in the therapy room
for issues that arise during panic attacks. Gradually, they learn that whatever comes up
during a panic attack can be neutralized through the techniques they learn, and are able
to control and then to abort and eliminate their panic attacks.

Multi-point focus: As in Systematic Desensitization, Behavior Modification, and Flooding; plus
logical reasoning about the irrationality of the symptoms.

TFT, EFT, WHEE, TAT All of these include pairings of conscious focus on a problem +
counteracting affirmation




General 2- and 3-point approaches
Simultaneously holding awareness in the present while connecting with traumatic memories -
This is a subtle 2-points of reference element that is present in most therapies.

You have a conflict or traumatic experience that has eluded emotional release. You may
be plagued with negative memories and feelings, and with more severe post traumatic
stress you may also flashbacks, nightmares, eruptions of intense feelings and panic
attacks. Whether your trauma has been mild, moderate or severe, the process of
therapy is to bring the memories and feelings to the surface through discussions with the
therapist who usually has a calm, soothing presence. Pairing the memories of negative
past experiences with the calming therapist presence becomes a form of desensitization.

Multi-point focus: First point of focus (often without conscious awareness) is being in the safe
environment of a therapist's treatment room; second point is the negative issue(s) being
addressed. As with Systematic Desensitization, Behavior Modification, and Flooding, the
positive neutralizes the negative.

3. Touching two (or more) parts of the body + conscious focus

Brain Gym (also WHEE and EMDR) Alternating stimulating the right and left side of the
body (which simultaneously stimulates the left- and right-brain hemispheres) while holding a
conscious focus on a physical problem (such as poor muscular coordination). Tapping on one
side of the body stimulates the opposite brain hemisphere. Brain Gym procedures usually
include crossed-midline stimulation with the hands, so that a dual, simultaneous stimulation of
right- and left-hemispheres is achieved. That is, the right hand taps on the left side of the body.
In this process the stimulus to the left body side will activate the right hemisphere,
simultaneously activating the left hemisphere as the right hand experiences the sensations of
doing the tapping (Dennison and Dennison, 1989). The parallel but opposite side stimulation
occurs with the left hand stimulation of the right side of the body. This is a common denominator
in WHEE and EMDR when the 'butterfly hug' is used, in which each hand pats the biceps
muscles of the opposite arm.

The classic Brain Gym exercise is the 'cross-crawl,' in which, in a standing or sitting
position, a person alternates back and forth tapping with each hand on the opposite
knee. Brain Gym has been used successfully in enhancing poor coordination, especially
in children born with such disabilities.

The cross-crawl and other Brain Gym routines are used in Energy Psychology when there is an
'energy reversal,' in which case blocks to change may occur, hindering muscle testing for
intuited information and stopping releases of negative issues. The Brain Gym exercises clear
these reversals. Though the mechanism is unclear, it is postulated that these right-left
stimulations harmonize biological energies.

Multi-point focus: There is a dual, alternating simultaneous stimulation of right-plus-left brain
hemispheres with hands plus another part of the body (arms, knees, eyes). This has been
assumed to be a re-training of the neuromuscular system, perhaps correcting failure to learn to
'cross crawl' i.e. to coordinate hands and knees in crawling. However, a recent report of a
remarkable recovery using EFT to relieve poor motor coordination in a 22 year old man with
cerebral palsy (Look and Larson, 2009) and another on EFT for relieving residual motor
incoordination in a 58 year-old woman, six years following severe traumatic brain injuries (Craig,
Bach, Groesbeck, and Benor 2009) open a question mark about this presumed mechanism




NeuroLinguistic Programming (NLP) Touching a part of the body while focused consciously
on a problematic issue; touching a second part of the body while focused consciously on a
positive memory/ feeling; then touching both together ('collapsing anchors') leads to
neutralization of the negative by the positive (Bandler and Grinder, 1979).

For example: Diminishing the intensity of a negative memory or eliminating it entirely is
amazingly rapid and easy with this method. Hold in your mind the events and residual
emotions from a negative experience. Simultaneously, press with one finger on your
thigh, 'anchoring' the memory in that spot on your thigh. After about half a minute
release your pressure but sure to keep your hand still so that you will be able to touch
exactly the same spot again. Clear your awareness of the negative issues and then
focus your attention on a strongly positive memory with its associated feelings.
Simultaneously, press with a finger of your opposite hand on your opposite thigh. After
about half a minute release your pressure but sure also to keep your second hand still
so that you will be able to touch exactly the same spot again. Then, press both spots
simultaneously and hold for about half a minute and then release. Return to focus on the
negative experience. Most people note that the negative intensity has significantly
decreased or even disappeared.

The same effects can be achieved by imagining that the positive issue is in a bubble in your
right hand; the negative one in a bubble in your left hand. Bringing your hands together and
visualizing that the two bubbles merge achieves the same effect as the tactile anchoring
exercise. The bubble exercise might fit best in cluster (2).

Multi-point focus: First pair of points are a dual focus on a negative issue combined with
touching a part of the body with one finger (it does not appear to make a difference if the right
hand finger touches the right or left side of the body in this exercise); second pair of points are a
dual focus on a positive issue combined with touching a part of the body with a second finger.
The positive always counteracts the negative and neutralizes it to some extent. Repeating the
process can completely eliminate the negative issues.

Matrix Energetics Touching one part of the body that is intuited to be relevant to a
problematic issue, followed by touching the body at a second intuited point. The intensities of
the negative issue memories and associated emotions are weakened (Bartlett, 2009).

This is very similar to the NLP procedures, although the second point in Matrix
Energetics is chosen intuitively rather than consciously and is not specifically associated
with positive cognitions.

Multi-point focus: The first point is chosen intuitively to connect with the trauma; the second
point is chosen as a counteracting point. While no cognitions are needed with the second point,
the expectation is that it will counteract the issues in the problem focus. This may simply be
another variation on NLP.

The Meta-Medicine

approach clarifies when and where in people's lives they were

traumatized and how those traumas imprinted themselves in their bodymind to cause
psychological and physical symptoms and diseases (Flook, 2009). Such shocks include the
following elements: they are unexpected, dramatic and isolating, and the person has no strategy
for dealing with them. Right- or left-brain hemisphere functions may be affected by stressors.
When a person experiences a major stress, this may block functions in one side or the other.



When both sides are affected, symptoms are more likely to manifest. Making it a point to identify
and clear symptoms related to each side of the brain and clearing both leads to rapid releases
of the symptoms and illnesses. Once having identified these crucial traumatizing issues, a
person may use any of a variety of techniques to release them, such as NLP, WHEE, EFT, etc.

When people come to Richard Flook for treatment, Richard will explore their traumas in
the 12-24 months prior to the appearance of symptoms. He looks specifically for right
brain, emotional-types of trauma, and for separate, left-brain cognitive types of trauma.
He then uses any of a variety of therapies such as WHEE and EFT to clear the traumas.
He reports successes in clearing PTSD, manic-depressive disorders and more.

Multi-point focus: Meta-Medicine identifies issues that have been registered and/or stored
separately in the right-brain (first point) and left-brain (second-point) hemispheres. When both
are cleared, symptoms are alleviated.

EMDR, TFT, EFT, WHEE, TAT tapping on several parts of the body + pairings of conscious
focus on a problem + counteracting affirmation


Discussion

The universe is simple; it's the explanation that's complex.
- Mark Russell.

How can we explain the effectiveness of the many therapies detailed above (along with many
more, similar ones that have not been listed here)? What is it about stimulating several points
on the body or about holding several awarenesses in the mind simultaneously that is so
effective in bringing about the observed changes?

Each of the above methods involves multiple stimulation of the brain/ mind and body. Could it
be that it is this multiple stimulation that produces change rather than the specific
methodologies? If so, the next question is: How might this be an effective dissipator of
negativity?

I believe that we often sell ourselves short by holding on to the impaired self-image we created
when we were children. Having hobbled ourselves by carrying burdens of buried memories and
feelings, we limp through life with constricted expressions of our full potentials. We hold back
from expressing our full feelings, creativity and personhood because we have limiting beliefs
that are locked in because we continue to run away from our issues and are afraid to release
them from their file drawers and hidden caves, buried in our unconscious.

There is the dual nature of self: The incomplete self and the complete self... As humans,
we are seeing from the perspective of the incomplete self. This incomplete self is
undoubtedly very important. But if we attach to this incomplete self, although this
incomplete self is important, then we'll never be able to experience the complete self.
- Joshu Sasaki Roshi

Staying present with a negative issue
It is a common experience that people get into ruts of thinking/ believing, feeling and behaving
in habitual ways. These habitual patterns are commonly developed in childhood, but may be
created at any time during one's lifetime. An occurrence that is experienced as stressful or



traumatic elicits a negative emotional and/or behavioral response. This subsequently creates a
reflexive, similar response when people experience similar stimuli. In the example noted above,
a person who is bitten by a dog may become avoidant of any dog following the initial trauma,
and anxious even when near a dog that is small and clearly friendly and harmless.

The habit of avoiding dogs may persist for years, even when there is absolutely no danger of
being bitten. Just the conscious thought of a dog often arouses anxieties. Simply thinking and
reasoning about the fear is not likely to change it.

We do the same thing with many unpleasant experiences. We do our best to run away from
them and avoid thinking about them. Avoiding whatever disturbs us externally or within our
thoughts and feelings is one of the more common strategies for protecting ourselves from
painful, unpleasant experiences and memories.

Some of the effectiveness of multi-point focus may derive from our not running away from our
unpleasant experiences. That is, we focus our awareness on a problem, including cognitions
and emotions that we previously did our best to exclude from our awareness. The various
tapping, multiple touching rituals and conscious pairings of positives with negatives may simply
enable us to remain present with our negative issues instead of avoiding them.

Right and left brain hemispheres as two points of awareness
In childhood, when we experience severe pain, stress or distress we have few options. As
children, we cannot alter our traumatizing and painful circumstances; we have limited coping
strategies; and we cannot leave our uncomfortable situations. Rather than suffer, we do our
best to avoid thinking about and feeling our uncomfortable issues. Very often, the best coping
strategy when we are children and suffering is to bury our more painful awareness as deeply as
possible outside of our conscious awareness.

The good news is that this is a successful strategy that prevents suffering. In fact, this works so
well to protect us from pain and distress that we persist in burying our discomforts right on into
adulthood, just as we did earlier in our lives despite the fact that as adults we have many more
sophisticated and healthier options.

The bad news is that when we bury painful materials, they remain locked into our
consciousness. A major depot for buried feelings appears to be in unconscious memory files of
the right-brain hemisphere. The right hemisphere is involved with patterns and feelings, to a
great extent as unconscious processes; the left hemisphere with conscious, linear thinking.
What appears to happen is that the right hemisphere says to the left hemisphere, "You don't
want to know about these painful feelings and memories I've locked away, do you?" And the
conscious, left brain hemisphere says, "Naahh! I'd rather not know!" So our brain helps us not to
be upset by not being aware of the uncomfortable, buried feelings.

It appears to me possible that the right and left stimulation of the body in WHEE, EMDR and
Brain Gym may serve to bring the right and left hemispheres to simultaneous awareness of the
buried issues and feelings related to our conscious focus as we use these methods. For
instance, a person with a phobia for heights will hold this fear in her awareness while tapping
alternately on the right and left sides of her body. This may then allow the right and left
hemispheres to stop pretending to each other that the previously buried problem is not there,
and to release the memories with their attached feelings.




While this may be the mechanism for releases with WHEE, EMDR and Brain Gym, I have been
cogitating on whether there may be a more general principle at work in addition to or instead
of the right-left stimulation of the body and brain.

Body and mind as two points of awareness; or body, emotions and mind as three points
While conventional medicine and psychology teach that our traumatic memories are stored in
neurochemical and bioelectrical configurations within our brain, there is considerable evidence
that memories are stored in other parts of our bodies as well.

There are fascinating reports of cellular and/or tissue and/or organ memories which accompany
organ transplants. A typical example is that of a woman who received a heart transplant from a
young man who was a motorcycle person. She experienced a totally uncharacteristic craving for
beer following her surgery. Others have acquired experiential memories along with their new
organ, such as a familiarity with a geographic location (Pearsall, 1999). No one has been able to
demonstrate a clear mechanism for the transfer of such memories.

Pairing positive and negative cognitions and/or feelings as two points of awareness
Numerous therapies detailed above utilize the pairing of positives and negatives, in which the
positives neutralize the negatives. This may be a key underlying mechanism for releasing
negativity common to almost all therapies. It has been commonly noted that the presence of a
warm, sympathetic person (e.g., a caregiver of any sort) has a calming effect on careseekers.

The healing begins when the doctor arrives.
Anonymous

Thus, the supportive presence of a caregiver may introduce an additional point of awareness
that facilitates releases of buried issues and promotes healing. With many therapies, there are
also deliberate pairings of positive cognitions and feelings with the negative issues, which
dissipates the negatives. This has been methodically explored as an effective mechanism in
behavioral therapies.

In addition to the positive-negative pairings, again I would ask whether the two-point focus might
be contributing as well.

Adding a third point of awareness
My personal experience has been that when treatments involving mind and emotions are
supplemented with interventions involving body awareness, the results are more deeply and
rapidly effective. Examples include WHEE, EFT (and other Energy Psychology interventions),
EMDR, bioenergetics (Lowen, 1975), yoga, breathing meditation, Vipassana meditation, and
therapeutic massage.

Elaborate cognitive exercises as in CBT may slowly diminish and eliminate negativity. While
CBT is considered the gold standard for therapy by the conventional psychology community, it
is a relatively slow and laborious process compared to the newer techniques listed above. The
newer techniques may achieve in one or two sessions psychological benefits that CBT requires
six to twelve sessions to achieve (Benor, 2009). This suggests that these methods may be
tapping into innate mind-body approaches that are more core to whatever stimulates changes in
habits.

Explanations for the enhancements provided by the addition of body stimulation may include:
Releases of tissue memories and emotions associated with the trauma;



Releases of tissue memory meta-anxieties around repressed issues, which had served
to block awareness and to block release of the buried memories and emotions (i.e.,
easing fears of releasing the memories);
Adding a third point of focus for awareness, helping thereby to loosen the habitual
defensive patterns of the traumatized person.
Relaxation of the body that provides a counteracting positive point of reference and
influence that neutralizes negative cognitions and feelings.

Our cells are constantly eavesdropping on our thoughts and being changed by them. A
bout of depression can wreak havoc with the immune system; falling in love can boost it.
Despair and helplessness raise the risk of heart attacks and cancer, thereby shortening
life. Joy and fulfillment keep us healthy and extend life. This means that the line between
biology and psychology can't really be drawn with any certainty. A remembered stress,
which is only a wisp of thought, releases the same flood of destructive hormones as the
stress itself.
- Deepak Chopra

Bioenergies as another point of awareness
It is commonly assumed that biological energies are involved in body memories. This
hypothesis is supported in Einstein's theory that matter and energy are two sides of the same
coin. The biological energy field that is addressed by healers is said to be a template for the
physical body, while simultaneously reflecting the ongoing states of the physical body. Healers
often note that there are bioenergy irregularities (heat, stickiness, prickliness, etc.) as they pass
their hands around the body, or alterations in the aura they perceive visually. In many cases,
addressing the bioenergy abnormalities alone is sufficient to release the physical problems with
which the energetic perturbations are associated (Benor, 2001a; b). In my experience, however,
combining the energetic with cognitive and emotional awarenesses often produces more potent,
wider-ranging and longer-lasting effects. While these may be cases of multi-layer interventions
being more effective, there may also be a more general two-or three-point element to such
interventions.

John E. Upledger, a teacher of craniosacral therapy, theorizes that physical and/ or emotional
trauma can create an energy cyst within the body. He hypothesizes that ordinarily a blow to the
body produces heat that is dissipated by the body. (This is similar to the heat produced by a
hammer pounding nails.) If the body is unable to dissipate the heat, it may be encapsulated as a
localized concentration of energy. This energy cyst can obstruct normal body energy flows (of
bioelectricity and acupuncture Qi); produce or exacerbate abnormal energy flows; compromise
mobility of tissues, especially fascia layers; and produce energy interference waves. Energy
cysts can create dysfunction or pain, and drain the bodys energy. Upledger can palpate a
fullness on the upstream side of acupuncture meridians where they are blocked by a cyst,
and an emptiness beyond the block. Working with acupuncturists, he also found that pulse
diagnosis abnormalities were restored to normal after treatments that released the cysts.

Infections or gross physiological malfunctions, such as heart attacks, can also leave energy
cysts in the body. Upledger believes that several factors may determine whether or not a cyst is
formed in response to a traumatizing energy. The trauma may be of such magnitude as to
overwhelm the bodys ability to dissipate it; previous trauma may compromise the ability of that
part of the body to dissipate it; and intensely negative emotional states may hinder its
dissipation. Upledger believes that local bioenergy regions of the body (as well as energy cysts)
may function autonomously, with associated memory, intelligence and emotion (Upledger and
Vrederoogd; Upledger, 1986).




The concept of an energy cyst is not new. Upledger cites an observation from Elmer Green, one
of the grandfathers of biofeedback, that the energy cyst was presaged many centuries ago. In
the yoga sutras of' Patanjali we find the concept of samskaras or scars in the energy body that
may impede proper body energy flows and physiological functions.

So working on the physical and/or bioenergy body may release buried traumas directly, or may
shift the body into a positive state that serves to counteract the negativity of the buried traumas.

Another possibility is that the focus on bioenergies adds another point of awareness that serves
to promote releases through the multi-point process of facilitating changes.

Spiritual awareness as another point of reference
Many find that incorporating components from transcendent awarenesses will markedly
enhance the effects of healing and self-healing interventions. It is through experiential learning
that people come best to appreciate these healing elements.

For instance, I teach a self-healing method for pain, stress and distress called WHEE
(Benor, 2009a). By adding various elements of bioenergy (which for many is a doorway
into spiritual connections) and cognitive/ sensed spiritual awareness incrementally, many
people who are learning WHEE experience distinct enhancements in their healing
responses. Having used an affirmation such as "I love and accept myself, wholly and
completely" to reduce their pains somewhat, people report definite enhancements in
pain reduction with the addition of "and [God/ Christ/ Mary/ Allah/ other transcendent
agent] loves and accepts me, wholly, completely and unconditionally."

The above might be viewed as a 'reframing' of the context for our problems. Our problems
shrink when viewed in the context of a greater, vaster, spiritual reality.

And again, it may be that adding another point of focus, as we concentrate on our problems,
serves to release the negative thoughts and feelings attached to the problems. This might put a
different light on a quote from Matthew 18:20, "For where two or three come together in my
name, there am I with them."

Centering oneself may be facilitated by multi-point awareness
How could multi-focus be beneficial in healing? Finding, developing and holding a centered
place of quietness and relaxation is a demonstrated approach for releasing negativity.
Meditation, yoga, t'ai chi, and qigong exercises all help us find this healing, spiritual space.

Our language may incline us towards poor coping with difficult situations. We tend to identify
with our stresses and problems and with our negative reactions to them. We say, "I am angry,
frustrated, depressed or upset." If "I" am "angry" then I've defined my situation as a more fixed
and difficult to change problem than if "I feel angry," in which case I can choose or learn to
change my feelings. Altering my emotional state looms as a less difficult task than altering
myself as a person. However, having the common perception with negative emotions that "I am"
the emotions, the focus on more than one locus of beingness may help us to release the
perceived links between the negative feelings and our true self, which IS and does not have to
be reactive to negativity by taking on the negativity and clinging to it.




'Centering', however, may be a simplistic concept. The term is derived from the
turning of clay on the potters wheel. If the clay is centered on the spinning slab
of stone, it can be shaped into vessels of many sorts. If it is off center, it goes
flying in all directions. For the most part, the term centering has been applied to
mental awareness. However, there are several different types of awareness,
which I summarize here through the parsing of the question: What constitutes
intelligence?

Jane Evenson observes:


Howard Gardner [1985], whose theory of multiple intelligences has been highly influential,
includes "bodily-kinesthetic intelligence" on a list of seven "intelligences" - along with
verbal-linguistic, logical-mathematical, musical, visual-spatial, interpersonal (self
awareness) and intrapersonal (social skill). Recently, he has added an eighth and ninth
intelligence to the list: "naturalist intelligence," the ability of an individual to relate to nature,
and "existential intelligence," the ability to think in terms of larger issues that might be
termed religious or spiritual.

'Centering,' therefore, might occur in any aspect of our ways of experiencing our consciousness.
Alternatively, it may be that multipoint focus disengages us from any of the discrete, physical
world-focus modalities and facilitates our connecting with a transcendent focus.


In summary

A multi-point focus may help us loosen up our habitual defenses against releasing current and
long-buried hurts, and our limiting self-concepts. This could then open doorways for us to seek a
more centered place of beingness within ourselves, which also enables us to connect with the
All, of which we are a part, and which puts us into an even more positive state.










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Daniel J. Benor, MD, Editor in Chief, IJHC

Dr. Benor is author of Seven Minutes to Pain Relief and
of Healing Research, Volumes I-III and many articles on
wholistic healing.

Contact:
IJHC www.ijhc.org
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Email - [email protected]

















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