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Negative Affect Erasing Method (NAEM)
- An excerpt from Energy Psychology: Explorations at the Interface
of Energy, Cognition, Behavior and Health
Around 1995, I developed the Negative
Affect Erasing Method (NAEM), which has been effective in the
treatment of a variety of psychological problems. This method
has been used to effectively treated trauma, phobias, anxiety,
depression, and a number of other affect-based conditions. NAEM
appears deceptively simple, although expert utilization of the
method requires practice and extensive clinical experience.
It entails many of the same features that are common to other
energy therapies. That is, various levels of psychological reversal,
corrections for switching, "brain-balancing" treatments, and
other stress-reduction procedures are included when necessary.
The four NAEM treatment points are as follows:
| TE = |
Third Eye Point, between the eyebrows.
This is the GV 24.5 point on the Governing Vessel. |
| UN = |
Under Nose. This point is also on
the Governing Vessel at GV 26. |
| UL = |
Under Bottom Lip. This point is on
the Central Vessel at CV 24. |
| CH = |
Chest. This point is also on the
Central Vessel in the vicinity of CV 20, which is also
above the thymus gland. |
The essential NAEM protocol follows. However, this protocol
is offered for educational purposes only and is not intended
to serve as a stand-alone treatment that can be effectively
done on a self-help basis. Generally the assistance of
a well-trained practitioner is needed in order to obtain adequate
therapeutic results.
1. The client focuses on issue for which treatment is desired,
such as a trauma, phobia, feeling depressed, etc. A specific
issue with the specific negative emotion is the target of treatment.
2. Obtain a Subjective Units of Distress (SUD) rating, 1 to
10, with 1 representing an absence of negative affect and 10
indicating the highest level feasible to the individual.
3. The client taps repeatedly with two fingers of either hand
between the eyebrows at the TE point, continuing to monitor
the level of distress. Intermittently the therapist requests
a SUD rating. (In some cases, especially with severe trauma,
it is preferable to not have the client continue to think about
the distressing issue while tapping at the treatment points.
Rather, after an initial rating has been obtained, the entire
sequence of treatment points is completed prior to reassessing
the SUD.)
4. When the SUD level decreases by two or more points, the client
taps about 7 times under the nose, the UN point.
5. Next the client taps about 7 times under the bottom lip,
the UL point. 6. Next the client taps 15-20 times at the CH
point on the chest at a frequency of approximately one tap per
second. 7. After this phase of the treatment has been completed,
another SUD rating is obtained. 8. If the SUD rating is significantly
decreased, but not down to "1," the procedure can be repeated
or the 9 Gamut treatments can be provided prior to repeating
the procedure. 9. When the SUD is within the 1-3 range, the
Floor to Ceiling Eye Roll (ER) can be used to reduce SUD further
or to solidify results. In this case the sequence notation is
as follows: TE-->UN-->UL-->CH-->ER.
10. Sometimes a client does not respond to the TE-->UN-->UL-->CH
sequence. In such instances a variation of sequence has been
found effective. The next most common sequence appears to be
UN-->UL-->TE-->CH. In this instance, the UN and UL
points are each tapped about 5-10 times before steadily tapping
at the TE point and taking intermittent ratings. Other sequences
can be explored for effectiveness with the individual subject.
It should be noted, however, that repeating the basic sequence
several times will often produce results, without having to
adjust the sequence.
11. Psychological Reversals and Criteria-Related Reversals,
as well as Switching (i.e., Neurologic Disorganization) can
block progress with NAEM, just as it can with TFT and EFT treatments.
While this is rare, except with the more severe conditions,
in such instances treatments for these facets must be provided
in order to realize results.
12. Similar to any treatment procedure, the NAEM is intended
to alleviate the real life problem. Therefore even though the
negative affect may be neutralized within the treatment session,
performance in the person's everyday life is what counts. In
this respect it is often beneficial, after the SUD levels has
been reduced to "1," to have the subject think about (e.g.,
visualize if possible) various context in which the problem
occurs and to repeat the NAEM, again alleviating elevated SUD
if present. However even if there is no elevated SUD when thinking
about a specific context, a NAEM trial should be provided, since
the affect may be repressed at the time of treatment.
13. It is sometimes beneficial to introduce or instill a positive
belief after the NAEM has reduced the SUD to "1." Often this
occurs automatically, since negative beliefs appear to be affect-driven.
That is, once the affect is discharged, the negative belief
vanishes and is replaced by the opposite. However, in instances
where this does not occur to the satisfaction of both therapist
and client, having the client rehearse an antithesis while doing
the NAEM will help to solidify results. For example, a rape
victim may have "decided" at the time of the trauma that she
was "powerless." After alleviating the distress of the trauma,
it may prove beneficial to have the client create an antithetical
statement of her own choosing, such as "I'm strong and I survived,"
repeating this affirmation in her mind while repeating the NAEM
process.
14. In some instances it is beneficial for the NAEM to be done
in vivo after it has been provided in the clinic setting. This
can be an aspect of treatment that is conducted by the client
between sessions. Many clients experience this self-treatment
aspect quite empowering.
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