Reverse therapy

Reverse therapy is a psychological intervention for CFS/ME developed by Dr John Eaton in 2002.

Theory
Reverse therapy posits that non-specific illnesses originate from a breakdown between "Bodymind" (the limbic system or the "emotional" mind) and the "Critical mind" (the frontal lobes or the "judgemental" mind). This breakdown leads to uncleared emotions, stress, and a loss of fulfilment which in turn "leads to changes in signals from the Limbic system in the brain, leading to overwork of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (the HPA axis), to overload of the adrenal glands and alterations in the muscles, gut, circulation, immune system, sleep cycle and elsewhere."

Reverse therapy uses techniques to help the patient listen to their "Bodymind", and to become more assertive, positive, and mindful. Once the patient is more in tune with their "Bodymind" and leading a more balanced life, in theory the non-specific illness should resolve itself.

Evidence
No studies have been done on reverse therapy.

Online presence

 * Website
 * John Eaton's blog

Learn more

 * M.E., Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia - The Reverse Therapy Approach