About this Project
This project provides and explores three body based approaches for resolving stress reactions to a recent distressing experience, or to the memory of such an experience.
You can try the techniques and choose to participate in the clinical study.
Study Description
This research is being conducted to investigate 3 body-based interventions for stressful events and/or trauma to adults who voluntarily choose to participate in the trial. The 3 interventions will be offered on a website and you can choose to join the trial and then which technique you would like to start with.
Dr Stapleton is leading the study in her role within the Faculty Society and Design, Bond University with her colleagues Ulf Sandstrom and Gunilla Hamne from the Peaceful Heart Network in Sweden.
What you will be asked to do
Adult participants who self select to the website (because of perhaps a referral or seeing the site through social media posts), will choose whether they want to participate in the research. You can choose the intervention you would like to start with, and after the first one, you will be offered the next 2 in turn. You will then also be offered the opportunity to participate in a 5-day process (this is optional). This means you will receive an email every day for 5 days asking you to complete the intervention once a day.
Before and after the interventions, you will be asked to complete a survey asking emotional health questions – it will be included on the website. All data will be non-identifiable. This will also be sent as an online link 3- and 6-months later. This will take 10-15 minutes to do each time. At the start and end of every intervention session, you will also be asked to rate things like your stress level on a scale of 0 to 10 (10 being the highest).
The 3 interventions being offered
1.The Trauma Tapping Technique (TTT), is a combination of Thought Field Therapy (that involves tapping on acupoints on the body and focusing on specific sequences of acupoints for different emotional problems) and Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT; combines elements of established methods such as exposure and cognitive therapies with somatic stimulation in the form of acupressure), in combination with a breathing exercise that is derived from the tactical breathing or box breathing used in American military and police trainings and breathing techniques from mindfulness and yoga. TTT has been designed specifically to keep spoken interventions at a minimum which makes it different from EFT and simple to remember.
2.The Havening Techniques – As part of its protocol Havening uses the sensory input of human touch to reduce stress – involving a simple touch of the hands, upper arms and face (self-applied).
3.Breathing Techniques – Relaxation techniques are shown to help address the physiological manifestations of prolonged stress.
The interventions will all consist of a 5-10-minute video of each technique, presented by the two assistant investigators. These will all be online and clear instructions will be presented. At the end of the intervention participants will be able to rewind and complete the technique as many times as they like.
The expected benefits of the research
Given many adults say that stress in their lives adversely affects their physical and mental health, this study aims to explore 3 stress management interventions to ascertain their impact in the immediate aftermath of a stressful event. This may also assist in investigating if they have a long lasting and protective effect too.
Risks to you
Some people may become upset or frustrated when completing the questionnaires or watching the videos. However, we do not anticipate any distress engaging in this trial. Further support services are indicated here below.
The conduct of this research involves the collection of some of your personal information (e.g. demographic information). The information collected is non-identifiable and will be issued with a code to match the pre and post measures. Your anonymity will at all times be safeguarded.
The following details are provided in case you need further support after completing the initial questionnaires:
Australia
Crisis Counselling Service on 1300 363 622
Phone 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) for 24 hour assessment, referral, advice, and hospital and community health centre contact details
Qualified Psychologists can be found by visiting https://www.psychology.org.au/FindaPsychologist/
Australian Counselling Association is on 1300 784 333 to find a counsellor
Worldwide
National Alliance on Mental Illness USA – NAMI is a national mental health organization that offers a free hotline with trained specialists who can provide information, resources and referrals to those who need mental health assistance. The organization is committed to returning calls within 48 hours from the time they are received. Hotline: (800) 950-NAMI (6264)
United Way supports 211, a free and confidential service that helps people across North America find the local resources 24 hours a day, seven days a week. These resources include a range of services, including help locating local mental health support, finding food, paying for housing, accessing free child care or other essential services. Hotline: 211
BetterHelp is the world’s largest e‑counseling platform https://www.betterhelp.com/
The Online Counseling Directory is a list of the very best online therapists in the world https://www.onlinecounselling.com/
7 Cups connects you to trained listeners for free emotional support https://www.7cups.com/
Your Confidentiality and Privacy
Confidentiality of your records is assured. All records will be maintained in locked files at Bond University and will be destroyed after 5 years. Data may be used in an non-identifiable capacity to report general results of the program in clinical settings (e.g. presented at a conference or written for a scholarly journal).
Your participation is voluntary
Your participation is voluntary. You are also free to withdraw from the study at any time without jeopardising your ability to be involved in any other study or treatment associated with Bond University or the investigating officers.
Questions or further information
Further information about the study can be obtained from the Chief Investigating Officer Dr Peta Stapleton on (+617) 55952 515 during working hours.
The ethical conduct of this research
Bond University conducts research in accordance with the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Research Involving Humans. If you have any concerns or complaints about the ethical conduct of the research project please contact the Bond University Human Research Ethics Committee, c/o Bond University Office of Research Services, Bond University, Gold Coast, 4229, Tel: +61 7 5595 4194 Fax: +61 7 5595 1120 Email: buhrec@bond.edu.au.
Feedback to you
The results of the treatment will be analysed and presented in article form at the cessation of the study. A lay summary of the overall results of the study will be made available to all participants at the end of the analysis period (likely to be December 2022).
We thank you for taking the time to assist us with this research.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Peta Stapleton,
Chief Investigator,
School of Psychology
Faculty of Society and Design
Bond University,
Gold Coast, QLD. Australia 4229
CONSENT FORM
I acknowledge that I have received, have read, and understand the information provided to me here. I hereby provide my informed consent to have data collected by this website used anonymously for research purposes. I understand that if my data is used it will be done so anonymously, that any information personal to me will be removed before data analysis, and that I cannot be identified in any way through the data. I agree to take part in this study and confirm that I am 18 years of age or older. I have had a chance to ask questions about being in this study and have had those questions answered to my satisfaction. I understand that research studies are designed to gain scientific knowledge that may help other people in the future, that no promises have been made to me as to the results of the use of this website or participation in this study, that there is no guarantee that any of my current symptoms will be improved by participation, that I may not receive any benefit from being part of the study, and that recalling emotional memories can result in emotional or physical sensations of discomfort. I agree that my clicking “I agree” to this form is the legal equivalent of signing it by hand. By electronically agreeing to this consent form I am not giving up any legal rights to which I am entitled.
By signing below, I confirm that I have read and understood the information package and in particular have noted that:
• I understand that my involvement in this research will include participation in pre and post trial questionnaires 3 intervention videos for trauma, and an optional 5 day program, and follow-up at several follow-up points (3-month, 6-month)
• I have had any questions answered to my satisfaction;
• I understand the risks involved;
• I understand that my participation in this research is voluntary;
• I understand the results of this study MAY be presented at an international conference, however no identifying information relating to myself will be presented;
• I understand that if I have any additional questions I can contact the research team;
• I understand that I am free to withdraw at any time, without comment or penalty;
• I understand if I becomes distressed during the course of completing the questionnaires or during the interviews, they will be offered access to local counselling support services
• I understand that I can contact the Bond University Human Research Ethics Committee, c/o Bond University Office of Research Services, Bond University, Gold Coast, 4229, Tel: +61 7 5595 4194 Fax: +61 7 5595 1120 Email: buhrec@bond.edu.au, if I have any concerns about the ethical conduct of the project; and
• I agree to participating in the project
Trauma Tapping Technique, TTT
A technique that combines exposure and cognitive therapies with somatic stimulation in the form of acupressure, and a breathing exercise from mindfulness and yoga. It is designed to keep spoken interventions at a minimum to avoid re-traumatization by verbally revisiting traumatizing memories, which occurs in many traditional exposure approaches. TTT is derived from Thought Field Therapy, TFT, and Emotional Freedom Techniques, EFT.
Try Technique
The Self-Havening Technique
A technique developed by Dr Ronald Ruden together with Steve Ruden and built on research of Havening. The neurobiological model is that of depotentiation as described in the book “When The Past Is Always Present” by Dr Ruden. Havening uses the sensory input of human touch to reduce stress -involving a simple stroking of the hands and upper arms in a rhythm that enhances the Delta brainwaves that are associated with calm and depotentiation.
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Calming Breathing Technique
Breathing as a means of intuitive relaxation, has been traditionally part of different yoga traditions. It is now incorporated in many relaxation programs including self-regulation for first responders. Relaxation techniques are shown to help address the physiological manifestations of prolonged stress, including PTSD (Scotland-Coogan, & Davis, 2016). This breathing exercise is combined with Japanese DoIn – Energy massage, for releasing stress tensions.
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