Integrative Energy Healing for Eating Disorders: A Gentle, Collaborative Approach

In February, advocacy groups work diligently to raise awareness of eating disorders for National Eating Disorder Awareness Week (February 1 to 7). The National Eating Disorder Association reports that 20 million women and 10 million men will have an eating disorder at some point in their life. Current eating disorder statistics reveal that anyone can develop an eating disorder regardless of gender, age, race, ethnicity, culture, socio-economic status, or sexual orientation. Types of eating disorders include anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, food restriction and avoidance, other specified feeding or eating disorder, and pica and rumination. Eating disorders can co-occur, meaning someone can struggle with aspects of different disorders at the same time (such as both bulimia and food restriction). Further, recovery from one eating disorder can push someone into an active stage of another eating disorder. For example, someone who is recovering from anorexia may feel they need to restrict their food intake or over-exercise.

Since 2012, Advanced Integrative Energy Healing™ (AIEH) has played a meaningful role in supporting clients living with eating disorders. That year, the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority’s Eating Disorder Recovery Program reached out to Langara College’s Holistic Health Studies Department, inviting Advanced Integrative Energy Healing student wellness clinics to offer AIEH treatments to their patients. A project was initiated collaboratively by the program director, myself, and two other colleagues, with the intention of exploring how the AIEH modality could support individuals in recovery. What followed was a thoughtful, multi-month initiative to gather insight through the lived experiences of clients participating in supervised AIEH sessions, allowing the program to examine emerging patterns and client feedback over time

A Holistic Evaluation Process

The evaluation involved apprentice practitioners from Langara’s Advanced Integrative Energy Healing Program and was conducted in two supervised clinical settings during Fall 2012 and Spring 2013. Together, these settings documented and analyzed 131 AIEH sessions, (including Intake, Focus, and Feedback charts) delivered to 21 clients referred by the Eating Disorder Recovery Program. Each client received seven sessions over a nine-week period highlighting the growing recognition of the benefits of integrative energy healing in this specific area showcasing the commitment of Advanced Integrative Energy Healing to providing consistent and ongoing support to individuals seeking recovery from eating disorders.

The clients were also working closely with their eating disorder recovery counsellors throughout the process, which allowed for a more comprehensive and collaborative support model. This project created a unique opportunity to observe how integrative energy healing could complement existing therapeutic frameworks.

What Clients Experienced

Client feedback at the end of the nine-week period reflected a significant shift in emotional, mental, and physical well-being. Many reported experiencing:

• A marked reduction in anxiety

• Increased calm, stillness, and clarity

• Fewer racing thoughts and obsessive worry

• Better sleep and more balanced moods

• Decreased urges for binge eating or purging

Clients also shared that they felt more connected to themselves and more empowered in their healing. As they began to recognize, feel, and name their emotions with greater clarity, their capacity for self-regulation and body awareness increased. These insights translated into better coping mechanisms, increased self-care, and greater emotional resilience.

A Foundation for Future Collaboration

This project’s outcomes helped open the door to further collaboration between AIEH practitioners and eating disorder clinics across Vancouver. Through the use of Advanced Integrative Energy Healing Somatic Techniques for Healing, developed and refined during this time, practitioners were able to facilitate meaningful change in clients navigating complex emotional and physiological challenges.

???Moreover, the clients expressed their ability to cultivate a sense of inner peace and tranquility, enabling them to feel more relaxed and centered in their daily lives. The improvement in sleep quality further contributed to their overall well-being, resulting in better days and an enhanced sense of vitality. 

Our analysis of these two clinical AIEH treatment session series highlighted a remarkable enhancement in the clients' stress and anxiety levels. By fostering a deeper connection with their emotions, they were able to identify and acknowledge their feelings, leading to a heightened sense of body-awareness and self-understanding. 

Furthermore, the clients felt self-empowered through the practice of new self-care techniques. The positive outcomes of this study led to the recognition of the effectiveness of Advanced Integrative Energy Healing, resulting in invitations to collaborate with various eating disorder clinics in the Vancouver area. 

Through the utilization of Integrative Energy Healing-Somatic Techniques for Healing, as outlined by Hagglund in 2014, these practitioners were able to facilitate profound transformations in the lives of their clients, paving the way for a brighter and more balanced future.

Why AIEH Can Be Supportive for Eating Disorder Recovery

Eating disorders are multifaceted, often involving emotional trauma, anxiety, perfectionism, and deep-rooted patterns of disconnection from the body. For many, conventional treatment methods—while essential—may benefit from additional integrative support.

Advanced Integrative Energy Healing offers a gentle, trauma-informed approach to rebalancing the nervous system, releasing emotional holding patterns, and reconnecting with the body's innate intelligence. It combines somatic approaches, awareness dialogue, biofield therapies, and integral yogic psychology to support the whole person.

Practitioners work with the body’s electromagnetic field (biofield), the chakra system, and the autonomic nervous system. Techniques may involve gentle touch, on or off-body work, breath, and client-centered dialogue. Sessions are designed to help restore internal balance, enhance self-awareness, and foster a sense of grounded presence.

A Complementary Path to Healing

While AIEH is not a replacement for psychological or medical care, it can be a valuable complement to conventional eating disorder treatment. Integrative energy healing supports emotional release, fosters clarity, and builds resilience—essential aspects of long-term recovery.

If you or someone you care about is exploring options for recovery, Advanced Integrative Energy Healing may be a meaningful part of your journey.

🌿 To learn more or schedule a consultation, visit the Contact page

For more resources, please visit NEDIC - National Eating Disorder Information Centre at https://nedic.ca/. Learn more about EDAW 2022, find out how to get involved, and access campaign materials created in collaboration with eating disorders organizations across Canada. 

Tagged: anorexia, BED, body image, body-mind, bulimia, diet, eating disorders, eating disorders in Canada, EDAW, EDNOS, mental health, energy healing, self esteem, self-care, #EDAW2022, advanced integrative energy healing.

Author reference:

Mara Hagglund, CAIEHP is faculty of the Holistic Health Studies at Langara College. She is an instructor and clinical supervisor. Mara is an accredited and certified Advanced Integrative Energy Healing™️practitioner with a speciality in Integrative Energy Healing in somatic and trauma healing.

References:

Poster Presentation: Using Integrative Energy Healing-Somatic Techniques for Healing, Hagglund, 2014

What is CAIEHP? - https//caiehp.ca/