Research Project

Dissertation Title:
ACCESS ENERGY TRANSFORMATION MODALITY:
An Evaluation of Verbal Clearing Statements as Measured Using BSI, SUD, and HeartMath

My dissertation research study has been completed and approved by St. Mary's University on April 1, 2004.

The dissertation defense date was on March 4th and it went great. I had a several debriefings with the participants prior to that date, which turned out to be a nice practice run for me. I received some valuable feedback, which I incorporated into the defense and just blew everybody away.

I worked with 60 participants who completed a brief demographic survey, a short evaluation of current issues, and a 50-60 minute treatment session (receiving either energy or traditional counseling) with a qualified facilitator. After the session the participants again completed the self-evaluation, which was used as a before and after comparison tool.

The results are in and have been evaluated. Generally, everybody in the study felt better after their session and the people who received the energy psychology treatment had significantly greater results on two out of the three tests (measurements).

If you are interested in reading parts of the dissertation and the findings, please click on the website link below. The link will take you to my Peer Supervision Circle website, where the document is currently stored.

To get back to this site you will have to use the "back" button on your tool bar. If you have any problems accessing the information, please let me know.

Thank you for your interest. :>) Sonja

Dissertation Summary 2004

DISSERTATION ABSTRACT

Each year new psychotherapeutic approaches and theories unfold, each driven by a passionate belief in its deeper understanding of the human psyche. No longer is traditional therapy the only way to counsel clients; instead, many counselors are discovering alternative methods for treatment and therapy. Many of the newest mental health treatment modalities fall under the umbrella of Energy Psychology. Mental health practitioners are now being offered additional tools; however, efficacy and safety are not necessarily established and assured on these new approaches, and limited professional publications and scientific research exist that provide empirical bases for determining effectiveness.

Access Energy Transformation is considered an Energy Psychology modality that was developed in the late 1980s to early 1990s by its founder, Gary Douglas. Access is an approach that reportedly has the ability to clear away and release limiting beliefs, doubts, fears, insecurities, and social conditioning very rapidly and permanently. It is said to work with the electromagnetic fields of the body and the soul. Access is reported to resolve issues in all areas of life using various techniques and processes.

The purpose of this research study was to evaluate the effectiveness of one alternative treatment modality, Access, by comparing treatment outcome with a Basic Attending Skills treatment. Sixty participants were randomly assigned to two treatment groups, one group using Access verbal question and clearing statements regarding client issues, the other utilizing Basic Attending Skills. The participants were evaluated on diagnostic, self-rated, and physiological differences between groups, using BSI scores, SUD ratings, and HeartMath Freeze-Framer monitoring results. Population comparisons were made using a demographic questionnaire as well as pre-test measurements.

The data clearly indicate that Access, compared to Basic Attending Skills, results in statistically significant improvements based on self-reported SUD ratings and the physiological responses represented by the HeartMath Freeze-Framer heart rate variability (HRV) graph. No statistically significant differences were detected by a MANCOVA with regard to diagnostic findings using BSI scores between the Access treatment group and the Basic Attending Skills group. Overall, all participants (N = 60) improved significantly in all areas measured, including BSI responses.