ABSTRACT
Practitioners of energy psychology methods know, from their experience that they usually work well, rapidly, gently, with minimum distress, are non-invasive, and mostly have no adverse side-effects. They are the treatment of choice in many cases. However, their effectiveness and their seemingly innovative nature, present new ethical and professional practice considerations. The realm of transference, and its associated distortions in the perception of the therapeutic relationship, deserves particular consideration. The practice of conventional psychotherapy is difficult. It requires a discipline of relationship with the client, such that professional boundaries are maintained whilst being maximally open emotionally to his or her communications of need, desire, hope and fear. Boundary violations in psychotherapy tend to be regarded as expressions of inadequate discipline, awareness, training, or ethical standards in the therapist. Idealisation of the originator of a method can stifle innovation since any deviation from the founder’s own style or protocol may be viewed as heresy or betrayal, provoking denouncement or even ‘ex-communication’.
