ThetaHealing (also Theta Healing) is the registered trademark for a method of meditation created by Vianna Stibal in 1995.[1][2] ThetaHealing claims to change a practitioner's brain wave pattern to the theta pattern, allowing them to explore how "emotional energy" affects their health, and develop "natural intuition".[3][4]
ThetaHealing is a pseudoscientific practice and is therefore criticized for its esoteric approach to meditation.[1][5][6] ThetaHealing has made false and unsubstantiated health claims about curing cancer.[1][7]
Meditation Process
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ThetaHealing is usually administered in the form of individual sessions in which the practitioner sits directly opposite the person, and initially attends to the person by listening and using probing questions. They may conduct a session long-distance through telephone or over the internet via webcam and voice.[8][9] The ThetaHealing technique is based on the idea that the beliefs in a person's conscious and unconscious mind directly impact their emotional well-being, which may impact their physical health.[10][11][12]
Philosophy
editThetaHealing's philosophy is what Vianna Stibal, an American naturopath, calls "the seven planes of existence". According to her, these levels of existence build a framework to show the importance of the "Creator of all that is” (whose upper level is also described as the "Place of perfect love"). In addition, practitioners and instructors of the technique are open to everyone, regardless of the person's origin or religion.[13][14]
The Theta Healing technique, according to founder Vianna Stibal, is always taught to be used in conjunction with conventional medicine.[15]
Criticism
editThe philosophy of ThetaHealing has been criticized due to its esoteric and faith-based nature as well as an overwhelming lack of evidence of the effectiveness of the methods.[16] The ThetaHealing method has also been criticized as "criminal" and "not supported by any kind of evidence" by Edzard Ernst.[7] The McGill University Office for Science and Society pointed out that ThetaHealing did not increase theta wave activity, but that "It did the exact opposite. Theta activity overall went down".[1]
ThetaHealing often employs the method of applied kinesiology, after putting patients into a deep meditation. Even the practice of applied kinesiology has been highly criticized and studies have shown that it lacks clinical value.[17] ThetaHealing also has been widely criticized, notably by Jonathan Jarry at the Office for Science and Society, as being motivated by money rather than wellness. In order to enroll in a ThetaHealing course that teaches how "money is an illusion", you must pay a total of seven hundred and fifty dollars. Other ThetaHealing courses include classes which teach how to "activate the 12 strands of DNA within each participant", despite the fact that DNA is not separated into 12 strands.[18]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d Jarry, Jonathan (2019-08-01). "ThetaHealing®: The Money You'll Spend Never Existed". Office for Science and Society, McGill University. Archived from the original on 2019-12-29.
- ^ Stibal, Vianna (2016). Seven Planes of Existence: The Philosophy Behind the ThetaHealing® Technique. Hay House, Inc. ISBN 978-1781805763.
- ^ Do-it-yourself healing, Samantha Dobson, Gulf News, 1 October 2010, accessed on 3 June 2018
- ^ Heard about Theta healing?, Daily News and Analysis, 15 December 2010, accessed on 3 June 2018
- ^ Garrett, Bernie; Murphy, Sue; Jamal, Shahin; MacPhee, Maura; Reardon, Jillian; Cheung, Winson; Mallia, Emilie; Jackson, Cathryn (2019). "Internet health scams – Developing a taxonomy and risk-of-deception assessment tool". Health & Social Care in the Community. 27 (1): 226–240. doi:10.1111/hsc.12643. ISSN 1365-2524. PMID 30187977.
- ^ Garrett, Bernie; Mallia, Emilie; Anthony, Joseph (2019). "Public perceptions of Internet-based health scams, and factors that promote engagement with them". Health & Social Care in the Community. 27 (5): e672–e686. doi:10.1111/hsc.12772. ISSN 1365-2524. PMID 31194273. S2CID 189816187.
- ^ a b The faith healers who claim they can cure cancer, BBC News, 22 June 2011, accessed on 5 June.2018
- ^ Tanz-Yoga und Soja-Keks – macht das glücklich?, German, Carola Ferstl, Die Welt, 27 March 2013, accessed on 5 June 2018
- ^ Does it work: Energy healing, Louisa Wilkins, Gulf News, August 2, 2012, accessed 3 June 2018
- ^ The art of healing through thinking and gongs, BusinessWorld Online, 1 September 2017, accessed on 5 June 2018
- ^ Theta healing: Latest in alternative therapy clan, Times of India, 1 August 2009, viewed on 3 June 2018
- ^ Mystik zwischen Humbug und Lebenshilfe, German, Susanne Jelinek, News, 12 December 2014, viewed on 3 June 2018
- ^ One with the above, Anuj Kumar, The Hindu, 26 November 2010, accessed on 2 June 2018
- ^ "ThetaHealing: técnica holística e alternativa promete cura energética". Vogue (in Brazilian Portuguese). Vogue. 30 July 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
- ^ Stibal 2016, p. 3
- ^ The Mind Body Soul Experience: a celebration of good posture, human credulousness and the placebo effect, Tim Dowling, The Guardian, accessed on 5 June.2018
- ^ Schwartz, S., Utts, J., Spottiswoode, S., Shade, C., Tully, L., Morris, W., & Nachman, G. (2014). A Double-Blind, Randomized Study to Assess the Validity of Applied Kinesiology (AK) as a Diagnostic Tool and as a Nonlocal Proximity Effect. Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing, 10(2), 99-108.
- ^ Jarry, Jonathan (2020-03-22). "ThetaHealing®: The Money You'll Spend Never Existed". Office for Science and Society, McGill University. Archived from the original on 2019-12-29.