Reviews of Energy Psychology posted on Amazon.com
Very interesting and informative book, March 22, 2010, By T. Rogers “President, Qigong Institiute” (Los Altos, CA USA) – See all my reviews
This review is from: Energy Psychology: Self-Healing Practices for Bodymind Health
(Paperback)
Energy Psychology is a must read for anyone interested in a career in psychology, psychotherapy,
cognitive science, or in a health-care related field. Although it’s like taking a graduate level course in
energy medicine and energy psychology in terms of the depth and breadth of the information presented,
it’s still approachable even if you are not familiar with the field.
In a society whose medical paradigm is disease oriented and whose medical system gets involved once
disease happens and then only treats symptoms, Mayer’s book presents a timely alternative. He has
been a pioneer in promoting the incorporation of energy medicine into psychology and psychotherapy.
Mayer is bringing the body and the healing power of the energy of life that has been a fundamental part
of virtually every indigenous culture back into a field that has over-emphasized the mind. Mainstream
western medical practitioners are just now beginning to catch up. He describes sacred wisdom traditions
and profound ancient healing and wellness techniques; discusses what is so effective about them; anddescribes how he has successfully integrated them into his psychotherapeutic practice. One major byproduct
of this integration is that he’s figured out a natural way to heal psychological conditions with
fewer drugs, or no drugs. This fact alone should make the western medical community take notice.
Mayer convincingly challenges the accepted modern origins of psychology. He relates energy metaphors
to physiology. These are not new-Age ideas. They are medical fact. The bio-physiology behind energy
medicine is well known and documented. He connects psychology to ancient sacred wisdom traditions
that were based upon energy healing where the emphasis is restoring equilibrium to the entire system
instead of curing disease. Jung provided the basis for this by defining an energy-oriented approach to
symbols (he defined archetypes as “energy potential” where symbols can initiate healing energy). Mayer
explains how energy psychotherapy works for common physical and mental health conditions including
insomnia, addictions, anxiety disorders, through case studies. He also cautions that ‘quick fixes’ of
relaxation modalities may not get to the deeper underlying psychodynamic issues that need to be
addressed.
The human body is not a thing or mechanism. It is overlapping fields of energy that constitute our
substance and consciousness. Our interaction with that information field is what Mayer is able to tap into
and affect through ancient practices married with modern healthcare and Qigong. This is called
Integrative Medicine. If the 20th Century was the era of intervention medicine, then the 21st Century is
the time of integrative medicine. The western medical profession has not been receptive to holistic
healing methods, but that attitude is changing due to the realization that psycho pharmaceuticals are
often not effective over time, pharmaceuticals dis-empower people regarding their own self-healing
capabilities, and medication may relieve systems but not address deeper underlying issues. Integrative
medicine takes a new look at how to heal. As Mayer explains, it treats the cause of disease and not the
symptoms. It looks at the problem energetically, not bio-chemically.
In addition to psychotherapy, Mayer provides a wonderful introduction to a number of topics: Qigong, Tai
Chi, Energy Medicine, Integrative Medicine, and ancient healing and wellness traditions. You can read the
book to get a fundamental understanding of Qigong and self-healing practices and then you can learn
the 20-minute session to actually experience it for yourself. The book can be, Mayer says, “an essential
tool to activate [your] inner process of change”. This process of change has been referred to as spiritual
awareness.
Ultimately, the book’s main message is simple: Self-healing methods from a combination of Qigong,
Western psychology, and ancient wisdom traditions can treat common ailments, chronic conditions, and
transmute long-standing psychological patterns in order to not just live longer, but to live a more vital
life. Energy Psychology is a wonderfully detailed book filled with insights borne of decades of working
with energy in clinical and teaching settings. It takes some time to digest. I can’t say enough good
things about it and thoroughly enjoyed it. I use it as a reference guide and highly recommend it.
Once in a generation book, December 21, 2009. By David Z. Weinstein (Berkeley, CA United States) – See all my reviews
This review is from: Energy Psychology: Self-Healing Practices for Bodymind Health
(Paperback)
A book like this only appears once in a generation. Energy psychology is a self-help book in the highest
sense of the term. If you are interested in fundamental healing from a range of physical ailments,
perhaps even ‘chronic,’ or how to approach psychological issues in an effective and lasting manner, Dr.
Mayer gives you the keys in this accessible, well-written book based on the most up-to-date research as
well as several decades as a practitioner of psychology and the ancient art of qigong. Energy Psychology
is a treasure trove for those seeking to understand the nature of health and healing as the author clearly
explains how the new paradigm of energy medicine, the medicine of the 21st century in the West,
meets, like two rivers becoming one, the perennial healing traditions of the East, most notably Taoist
Qigong. From this confluence of ancient wisdom traditions and cutting-edge science, a wide range of
traditional psychology, energy psychology, Gendlin’s focusing, Dr. Mayer has fashioned Bodymind
Healing Psychotherapy and Qigong that addresses the healing and transformation of the body, mind,
psyche and spirit in a way I believe is unique in its depth and comprehensiveness in all the current
literature available on the market today.
If you are a healthcare practitioner, a psychotherapist or simply looking to find a path to health and
healing, I believe this book is not only indispensable, it will be a pleasure to read and dip into for as long
it is on your bookshelf. If you are simply looking for a twenty-minute Qigong daily routine for balance
and vitality or looking to find and anchor your life stance and to activate your primordial self to deal with
and transform core life issues, this book it for you. If you are looking for non-invasive, natural healing
from issues such as joint problems, fibromyalgia, diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome or psychological
issues such as depression, poor self esteem, anxiety or panic disorder by activating your own inner
healing energy and potential, this book is for you. If you are looking for a holistic, integrative healing
method that not only is a rich tool-kit for self care but is simultaneously a path to greater awareness,
growth and transformation as a human being, this book is for you.
David Z. Weinstein, MA, counseling psychology – co-author of the film, “Big Trouble in Little China.”
A Watershed Work on Body Mind Healing, June 20, 2009, By Linda Hedquist (Iowa, USA) – See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What’s this?)
This review is from: Energy Psychology: Self-Healing Practices for Bodymind Health
(Paperback)
Energy Psychology: Self-Healing Practices for Bodymind Health is a watershed of a work on integrative
natural self healing methods which would be valuable for anyone interested in healing themselves or
working with others as a healing professional. The wealth of material it explores and integrates is
thrilling and Michael’s engaging writing style makes for enjoyable reading and easy comprehension.
As a long time qigong practitioner and a Focusing Trainer, I was thrilled to discover this book, which
creates such a straight-forward and user-friendly synthesis of Focusing, qigong practices, breathing
awareness, visualization, and other foundational approaches to healing and self awareness. Focusing
practitioners, meditators, and qigong enthusiasts in particular will find much in this book to enrich and
expand both their understanding of the healing process and their practices. At the same time,
newcomers to natural healing will find an excellent introduction to and thorough explanation of many
simple yet profoundly effective self-healing technologies.
By Kathleen M. Hooper “Pieter Kilkens” (San Francisco, CA) June 2, 2009- See all my reviews
This review is from: Energy Psychology: Self-Healing Practices for Bodymind Health
(Paperback)
Dr. Mayer’s book Energy Psychology is not only a must read for the traditional psychologist, but is also a
clear insight for the martial artist giving both a balance and wholeness of body-mind integration. Using
the ancient wisdom arts of Tai Chi and Chi Kung along with modern Western psychology, Dr. Mayer gives
the reader a direct path to healing both body and mind. As a practicing martial artist since age fifteen,
this book and The Secret to Living Younger and Longer are a gift to those who want to be whole in the
physical and mental arts; and gives one a direct recognition of being a human being that is in harmony
with all that is.
Seems Much More Legit Than Any of the Other So-Called Energy Psychology Schools, April 21, 2010
By David M. Bell – See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase. This review is from: Energy Psychology: Self-Healing Practices for Bodymind Health (Paperback)
I have just recieved this book and have read a chapter and skimmed several. So I will edit this when I finish it. But so far this author knows what he is talking about. His version of Energy Psychology seems much more grounded than the other books I look into on the subject. And I’m frankly put off by the other books on Energy Psychology.
I also love his use of the Taoist energy arts, being as I have a history with using qigong with martial arts. I have ventured into the energy practices of yoga, but always seem to feel at home with the Chinese systems.
I’m always looking for future reference material for when I become a therapist, and am always on the look out for quack methods. Dr. Mayer’s does not appear to be one of them