Alternative Forms of Therapy

Well, that is a major problem with clinical psychology isn't it. It is a very diverse field, with dozens of theoretical approaches, each of which vary in their ability to produce specific effects during intervention. Most types of therapies have common factors, such as building rapport, problem solving, self reflection, positive regard for the client etc, which help to promote positive change. Therapies and approaches vary however in their ability to go beyond those common effects and treat the specific symtoms associated with a specific presentation. For instance, behavioral psychologists and psychoanalysts might both develop a validating, warm relationship with their client, but in treating a specific anxiety symptom, behaviorists would likely use a form of exposure therapy, while a psychoanalyst might be more concerned with interpreting your dream and the relationship you had with your mom. Those specific differences in how you treat clients are important, because one actually addresses the problem and has empirical support/evidence for being effective, while the other does not.

Point being, there are many 'accepted' therapies within the field of psychology that are probably as wrong headed as reiki. This is then complicated by the practitioners skill. Effective therapies can be carried out poorly, and have no real effect. People using bad techniques can still be highly skilled at promoting those common factors that promote change, and be effective. This is then further complicated by the clients specific presentation, personality, and context, all of which can effect treatment in positive or negative ways.

This stuff is complicated, and I'm certainly no expert, but the take home message I think is that you shouldn't dismiss all of psychology and turn to improbable therapies based upon poor past outcomes or experience. If accepted therapies have not worked for you, it does not make alternative therapies more or less valid, those are seperate issues. The field is diverse, and it will take some effort on the clients part to be selective about what kind psychologist they see, and be knowledgable and skeptical about what they're buying.

All the best

My only comment here is..you have clearly investigated the information available on this topic and have reached this conclusion. It works for you. However as a educated health care professional you should realize that calling a practioner, that offers a treatment that you yourself acknowledge COULD be benefifical, guilty of fraud is not appropriate. I think you need to have a discussion with your EBM professor. In the practice model there are two other equally important components of EBM (the clinican's skills and the PATIENT). It is not just about the research.

You're right. I should qualify the statement as personal opinion, because it is. I stand by it though. When I say that Reiki could be beneficial, it's because I'm thinking in terms of probability, and I acknowledge that there is always some error enherent in our evaluations and conclusions (science is theoretically humble, so physics, despite its fields internal and external consistency, could theoretically be totally wrong). That said, I would equate Reiki's potential for benefiting it's clients in the way that it claims to (manipulating energy fields), as roughly equivalent to the likelihood that thinking about bending the spoon will actually make it bend. It's possible, but since it contradicts the laws of physics and pretty much everything else we observe in the natural world and our daily lives, we have to assume it implausable until some form of quality evidence forces us to reevaluate that position.

At what point do things become fraudulent? If someone claims something, sells things based upon that claim, and their claim is false beyond any sort of reasonble doubt, then its fraudulent. Am I wrong?

I'm also not sure I follow as to why you then point out clinician skills and the patient are also important components of EBM. I don't disagree, but I'm not sure how its relevant here. Reiki either manipulates energy fields to boost "general health and well being" or it doesn't. Could you flesh that out?

Thanks

The question was, in the begining of this thread, whether anyone had tried reiki and what if any were the interpretations of that experience.

The answer to this is not necessarily one of validity/research/fidelity and what have you. It is one of what one can do in ADDITION TO the therapy that one chooses to engage in.

So while, the final coda, you are making good points about psychotherapy and the efficacy of certain therapeutic techniques used in a session you are not actually addressing the actual essence of the question. In fact, what you are doing is invalidating the experience of others. These others are people who actively participate already in a psychotherapy experience. These people are also people who, for whatever reason, are seeking to have additional support in a way they choose, aside from and in addition to, the therapy that they engage in.

One of these people is myself. And what I choose to do with my free time (and with my own spending money, not my 401k) and to support myself outside of my therapy experience is my business. It does not make me frivolous nor irresponsible. It does not make me stupid to do something that does not have probability backing it. Yet, it seems as if this is what you are implying by adding such judgmental statements to this thread. An implication that I take great offense to, as you know nothing about me, my story, my experience in therapy, what I have been through and what I will continue to go through. And even, very simply, what would prompt me to choose reiki over any other alternative or the thought I put into that decision.

So while, the final coda, you do make good points regarding validity, the therapist’s ability to be able to carry out a therapy effectively, what can and cannot be measured in addition to questioning evidence regarding energy therapies and their efficacy, it is hard to hear what you are actually getting at under all of the condescension by which you are delivering it. However, what is clear, is that you fully ascribe to the “fact” that if one cannot see, feel, touch , hear and empirically validate something then it must be BS.

The final coda- I challenge you to add what your personal experience of engaging in energy work and/or alternative healing therapies has been. Or, if you have them, anecdotal evidence of the experience of those you have done treatment with. Because that, even if the experience was poor, is what the thread starter was interested in knowing.

David Sackett defined EBM as the "integration of best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values." My only point here was if we only limit ourselves to just the treatments that have "Level 1" evidence then our treatment options will contain very few options. There are a lot of compilmentary and alternative therapies out there that "may" be "benefical" but just haven't been studied very well. In my own clinical decision making (physical interventions, not in the psychology area) there have been times when you design the perfect intervention, has great "evidence" of efficacy, as the clinician you are highly skilled in using it, but the treatment fails or is not likely to provide the expected "optimal" benefit because the uniqueness of the patient wasn't considered. There have also been times in my 20+ years of clinical experience where there was NO DOUBT in my mind that the treatment that the patient engaged in SHOULD NOT HAVE WORKED, was complete QUACKERY....but it worked for that patient??? Science/reason cannot explain it but the patient was MEASURABLY better. This tells me...human's haven't figure everything out yet.

As an EB Practioner, does that mean that I now recommend that treatment approach to other patients, NO! But if a patient asks me about it or if the want to try it, I don't tell them NO that will never help you. I might say...I'm very skeptical about that treatment approach. I do not believe that what they calm to be doing with "energy" fields is accurate. I tell them what I know about the treatment, maybe even that I wouldn't recommend spending $60 to try it out, maybe suggest other treatments. To me saying "There is not enough evidence available for me to support the use of that treatment." Is a lot different than saying, "That treatment is worthless and should never be considered."

Hey everyone,

I can tell my point of view, or at least the way I'm expressing it seems to be upsetting. This really was not my intention at all. The original thread asked broadly:

"I was considering Reiki in conjunction with therapy. Does anyone have any experience with this???"

My experience with reiki stems from being interested in it and other alternative therapies, and having, what I thought, might be a useful alternative point of view to express than had previously been explored on the post. That seems within the bounds of the posts intent. I don't think people who opt for it are wrong, stupid, or immoral, and I am genuinely sorry if that is how you are reading my posts. Discussions of validity etc. developed from subsequent responses, again it seemed to be within the spirit of the discussion to go down that path.

Searchingmysoul, you're correct, I don't know you, your motivations, your story or anything about you for that matter, well, besides knowing that unfortunatly, I've upset you. I wouldn't presume to tell you what to do or not to do, and giving my opinion on the topic is not about telling you to do one thing or another or presuming to know you or whats best for you. I was really just trying to explain my viewpoint as adequately as possible. It conflicts with yours, and I think I'm probably right, and you think your probably right. No big deal. Isn't this to be expected during a discussion about one of the most controversial topics within health care?

Anyways, I hope you can read my posts as attempts at informing rather than condecension, that is certainly how they were written. My take home point was simply to be skeptical, and explain a bit about why I think its appropriate to be skeptical of reiki specifically. I'll try to be more cognizant of how I express my views in the future. But know that I was just trying to be helpful.

[/quote]"As an EB Practioner, does that mean that I now recommend that treatment approach to other patients, NO! But if a patient asks me about it or if the want to try it, I don't tell them NO that will never help you. I might say...I'm very skeptical about that treatment approach. I do not believe that what they calm to be doing with "energy" fields is accurate. I tell them what I know about the treatment, maybe even that I wouldn't recommend spending $60 to try it out, maybe suggest other treatments. To me saying "There is not enough evidence available for me to support the use of that treatment." Is a lot different than saying, "That treatment is worthless and should never be considered."[/quote]

Yeah, I aggree with all of that. I would say however that there is not just evidence lacking in its effectiveness, but there is evidence against its potential as a intervention. Thats how I make sense of the more hardcore line. But you are right, your aproach is better for discussing things with clients.

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for all of your thoughtful input everything has been taken into consideration.

I suppose my title of the thread was a little misleading. Perhaps I should have choosen a different one or maybe I should have stated what I was looking for as far as responses....I wasn't necessarily looking for facts based on research. I was more so looking for people's experiences.

As I stated earlier, I am not looking for anything miraculous to happen should I choose to give Reiki a shot. I am not looking for Reiki to heal me of my "wounds". I am not looking for it to give me the skills i need to cope---that is what my T is for. I really just want something that is for me. Something that will help me to relax, something that will make me feel good.

To each is own.

Thanks Earthmama for sharing your experience. And thank you Searching for sharing yours.

Thanks Chaotic for your input, it was much appreciated. I will take your advice and do something for ME...whether it's Reiki or something else like and art class.

Thank you Pachy...your responses where short but to the pointoh and thanks for helping me figure out how to quote posts and pieces of quotes...phew

Rhapsody--thanks for the book suggestion. i will definitely check it out

Sitting, thank you for your interest in the experience of others with Reiki and your support.

Kindergirl--thank you for sharing your experience and for your support

The final Coda, thank you for your input. It was taken into consideration

I hope I didnt miss anyone

Oh should I decide to try Reiki on for size, I will come back and share my experience. Perhaps in a new thread

Life, I hope you do take time this week and do something for yourself. Even if it is something simple like....buy yourself some flowers or some Mr. Bubble and just find 30 mins to chill and breathe.

My 30 min self-time consisted of picking out neat Trollie beads. Didn't actually buy any, just created a cool cyberbraclet online that was totally me.