Dawson Church

Full Biography & Vitae

Dawson Church is an award-winning science writer and researcher. Throughout his career, he has made significant contributions to the fields of health, psychology, and spirituality. His first best-selling book, The Genie in Your Genes, was the first to trace the links between consciousness, emotions, and gene expression. It was named “Best Health Book” by USA BookNews. It has been updated in several editions and translated into 18 languages.

About Uplife

UpLife is dedicated to sharing ideas, techniques, and science that relieves human suffering and inspires our full potential.

Church’s second best-seller, Mind to Matter reviews the science behind the brain’s remarkable ability to create material reality, and was named “Best Health Book” by the American Book Fest. Church followed this with Bliss Brain, which analyzes the transcendent “flow” states found in meditation and peak performance, and how these rapidly remodel the brain for happiness.

Church has been involved in over 100 scientific studies published in peer-reviewed journals, many as Principal Investigator. He has collaborated with researchers from prestigious institutions including Harvard Medical School, California Pacific Medical Center, Emory, Columbia and Duke. He has edited several special issues for top-ranked journals such as Frontiers in Psychology.

Church spent some 20 years engaging in outcome studies focusing on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety. He founded the peer-reviewed journal Energy Psychology: Theory, Research, and Treatment and after earlier managing Aslan Publishing now serves as the general manager of Energy Psychology Press. To train professionals in evidence-based stress reduction methods such as meditation and Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT acupressure tapping), in 2010 Church established EFT Universe, one of the most-visited alternative medicine sites on the web. He developed the EcoMeditation method to make meditation easy for novices.

Church’s academic journey began during his undergraduate and graduate studies at Baylor University. He became the first-ever graduate of the academically rigorous University Scholar’s program in 1979. He went on to earn his doctorate in Integrative Healthcare at Holos University under the mentorship of the eminent neurosurgeon, Dr. Norman Shealy, MD, PhD, founder of the American Holistic Medical Association, and later a post doctorate in Natural Medicine. With Dr Shealy he co-authored the book Soul Medicine which reviews role of energy in healing throughout history.

In the 1990s, Church served as the president of the Family Connection, a nonprofit dedicated to placing homeless families in long-term housing. It was named as one of only 58 “Points of Light” by President Bill Clinton. Church is also a member of the Transformational Leadership Council, a group of cultural creatives and thought leaders.

To promote research and humanitarian work, in 2007 Church established the National Institute for Integrative Healthcare (NIIH), a nonprofit institution aimed at promoting evidence-based healing modalities. He has worked with over a thousand clients suffering from chronic pain, measuring average symptom reductions of 68% (Church & Brooks, 2010).

In 2008, NIIH initiated the Veterans Stress Solution, a pioneering project that connects veterans with PTSD to energy therapy practitioners. It has since provided free treatment to more than 22,000 veterans and their family members. Twice, Church has been invited to testify before US Congressional committees. His work has been referenced in many media outlets such as USA Today, CNN, BBC, the Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, and Parenting.

Church’s most recent research focuses on self-transcendent experiences, such as those found in deep meditation and “flow” states. fMRI research demonstrates that the EcoMeditation method he developed results in rapid brain remodeling, downregulating regions associated with suffering and increasing activity in brain areas linked to compassion and happiness.

Though Church retired from active business management in 2023, he continues his journey in science and mysticism with blogs, studies, podcasts and books. He splits his time between Nevada, Hawaii and California. He is married to Christine Church, a noted painter, and together they enjoy time with their children and grandchildren.

To start your journey, download the free EFT Mini Manual and then follow along with our free EcoMeditation audio track. Your journey to release your suffering and unlock your full potential starts here. We’re with you all of the way!

Dawson Church

UpLife Founder and author of The Genie in Your Genes

Papers Published in Peer-Reviewed Journals

Church, D., Kip, K., Stapleton, P., Toussaint, L., Footman, J., Ballantyne, P., & O’Keefe, T. (2023) Emotional freedom techniques for treating post-traumatic stress disorder: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1-36. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1195286. Click to Download Church, D., Stapleton, P., & Raynor, D. (2022). Skinny Genes’ six-week, online, Clinical Emotional Freedom Techniques program: Durable weight loss and improved psychological symptoms. Advances in Mind-body Medicine, 36(1), 13-21. Click to Download Church, D., Stapleton, P., Vasudevan, A., & O’Keefe, T. (2022). Clinical EFT as an evidence-based practice for the treatment of psychological and physiological conditions: A systematic Review. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 1-40. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.951451 Click to Download Church, D., Yang, A., Fannin, J., & Blickheuser, K. (2022). The biological dimensions of transcendent states: A randomized controlled trial. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 1-9. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.928123 Click to Download Hoss, R. J., Hoss, L. M., Church, D. (2022) Integrating the complementary therapies of Energy Psychology and Dreamwork – the Dream to Freedom Method. OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine, 7(3), 27. doi:10.21926/obm.icm.2203024 Click to Download Stapleton, P., Church, D., Baumann, O., & Sabot, D. (2022). EcoMeditation modifies brain resting state network activity. Innovations in Clinical Neuroscience, 19(7), 11-20. Click to Download Church, D., Stapleton, P., & Sabot, D. (2020). Brief EcoMeditation associated with psychological improvements: A preliminary study. Global Advances in Health and Medicine, 9. doi:10.1177/2164956120984142 Click to Download Bach, D., Groesbeck, G., Stapleton, P., Sims, R., Blickheuser, K., & Church, D. (2019). Clinical EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) improves multiple physiological markers of health. Journal of Evidence-based Integrative Medicine, 24, 2515690X18823691. Click to Download Church, D., & Clond, M. (2019). Is online treatment as effective as in-person treatment? Psychological change in two relationship skills groups. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 207(5), 315-319. Click to View Church, D., & David, I. (2019) Borrowing Benefits: Clinical EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) as an immediate stress reduction skill in the workplace. Psychology, 10, 941-952. Click to Download Church, D., Stapleton, P. & Sabot, D. (2019). App-based delivery of Clinical EFT: Cross-sectional study of app user self-ratings. JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 8(10), e18545. Click to Download Yount, G., Church, D., Rachlin, K., Blickheuser, K., & Cardonna, I. (2019). Do noncoding RNAs mediate the efficacy of Energy Psychology? Global Advances in Health and Medicine, 8 , 2164956119832500. Click to Download Church, D., & House, D. (2018). Borrowing benefits: Group treatment with Clinical EFT is associated with simultaneous reductions in posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression symptoms. Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine, 23, 2156587218756510. Click to Download Church, D., Stapleton, P., Sheppard, L., & Carter, B. (2018). Naturally Thin You: Weight loss and psychological symptoms after a six-week online clinical EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) course. Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing, 14(2), 131-136. Click to View Church, D., Stapleton, P., Yang, A., & Gallo, F. (2018). Is tapping on acupuncture points an active ingredient in Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT)? A systematic review and meta-analysis of comparative studies. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 206(10), 783-793. doi:10.1097/NMD.0000000000000878 Click to View Groesbeck, G., Bach, D., Stapleton, P., Blickheuser, K., Church, D., & Sims, R. (2018). The interrelated physiological and psychological effects of EcoMeditation. Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine, 23, 2515690X18759626 Click to Download Church, D., & Feinstein, D. (2017). The manual stimulation of acupuncture points in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder: A review of Clinical Emotional Freedom Techniques. Medical Acupuncture, 29(4), 1-12. doi:10.1089/acu.2017.1213 Click to Download Church, D., Stern, S., Boath, E., Stewart, A., Feinstein, D., & Clond, M. (2017). Emotional Freedom Techniques to treat posttraumatic stress disorder in veterans: Review of the evidence, survey of practitioners, and proposed clinical guidelines. Permanente Journal, 21(2), 16-23. doi:10.7812/TPP/16-100 Click to Download Church, D., & Nelms, J. (2016). Pain, range of motion, and psychological symptoms in a population with frozen shoulder: A randomized controlled dismantling study of clinical EFT (emotional freedom techniques). Archives of Scientific Psychology, 4(1), 38-48. doi:10.1037/arc0000028 Click to Download Church, D., Yount, G., Rachlin, K., Fox, L., & Nelms, J. (2016). Epigenetic effects of PTSD remediation in veterans using clinical EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques): A randomized controlled pilot study. American Journal of Health Promotion, 1-11. doi:10.1177/0890117116661154 Click to Download Church, D., Sparks, T., & Clond, M. (2015). EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) and resiliency in veterans at risk for PTSD: A randomized controlled trial. Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing, 12(5), 355-365. doi:10.1016/j.explore.2016.06.012 Click to Download Church, D. (2014). Clinical EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) as single session therapy: Cases, research, indications, and cautions. In M. Hoyt & M. Talmon (Eds.), Capture the moment: Single session therapy and walk-in service. Bethel, CT: Crown House. Click to View Church, D. (2014). Reductions in pain, depression, and anxiety symptoms after PTSD remediation in veterans. Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing, 10(3), 162-169. Click to View Church, D., & Brooks, A. J. (2014). CAM and energy psychology techniques remediate PTSD symptoms in veterans and spouses. Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing, 10(1), 24-33. doi:10.1016/j.explore.2013.10.006 Click to Download Church, D., Feinstein, D., Palmer-Hoffman, J., Stein, P. K., & Tranguch, A. (2014). Empirically supported psychological treatments: The challenge of evaluating clinical innovations. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 202(10), 699-709. doi:10.1097/NMD.0000000000000188 Click to Download Church, D., & Palmer-Hoffman, J. (2014). TBI symptoms improve after PTSD remediation with Emotional Freedom Techniques. Traumatology, 20(3), 172-181. Click to Download Church, D. (2013). Clinical EFT as an evidence-based practice for the treatment of psychological and physiological conditions. Psychology, 4(8), 645-654. doi:10.4236/psych.2013.48092 Click to Download Church, D., & Brooks, A. J. (2013). The effect of EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) on psychological symptoms in addiction treatment: A pilot study. Journal of Scientific Research and Reports, 2(1), 315-323. doi:10.9734/JSRR/2013/3500 Click to Download Church, D, & Feinstein, D. (2013). Energy psychology in the treatment of PTSD: Psychobiology and clinical principles. In T. Van Leeuwen & M. Brouwer (Eds.), Psychology of trauma (pp. 211-224). Hauppauge, NY: Nova Science. Click to Download Church, D., Hawk, C., Brooks, A. J., Toukolehto, O., Wren, M., Dinter, I., & Stein, P. (2013). Psychological trauma symptom improvement in veterans using EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques): A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 201(2), 153-160. doi:10.1097/NMD.0b013e31827f6351 Click to Download Stapleton, P., Church, D., Sheldon, T., Porter, B., & Carlopio, C. (2013). Depression symptoms improve after successful weight loss with EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques): A randomized controlled trial. ISRN Psychiatry, 2013, 573532. doi:10.1155/2013/573532 Click to Download Church, D., De Asis, M., & Brooks, A. J. (2012). Brief group intervention using EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) for depression in college students: A randomized controlled trial. Depression Research and Treatment, 2012, 1-7. doi:10.1155/2012/257172 Click to Download Church, D., & Downs, D. (2012). Sports confidence and critical incident intensity after a brief application of Emotional Freedom Techniques: A pilot study. Sport Journal, 15(1). Click to View Church, D., Piña, O., Reategui, C., & Brooks, A. J. (2012). Single session reduction of the intensity of traumatic memories in abused adolescents: A randomized controlled trial. Traumatology,18(3), 73-79. doi:10.1177/1534765611426788 Click to Download Church, D., Yount, G., & Brooks, A. J. (2012). The effect of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) on stress biochemistry: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 200(10), 891-896. doi:10.1097/NMD.0b013e31826b9fc1 Click to Download Gurret, J-M., Caufour, C., Palmer-Hoffman, J., & Church, D. (2012). Post-earthquake rehabilitation of clinical PTSD in Haitian seminarians. Energy Psychology: Theory, Research, and Treatment, 4(2), 33-40. doi:10.9769/EPJ.2012.4.2.JPH Click to Download Church, D. (2010). The treatment of combat trauma in veterans using EFT: A pilot protocol. Traumatology, 16(1), 45-55. doi:10.1177/1534765609347549 Click to Download Church, D. (2010). Your DNA is not your destiny: Behavioral epigenetics and the role of emotions in health. In R. Klatz & R. Goldman (Eds.), Anti-aging therapeutics (Vol. 13, pp. 35-42). Chicago, IL: A4m American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine. Click to Download Church, D., & Brooks, A. J. (2010). Application of Emotional Freedom Techniques. Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal, 9(4), 46-48. Click to View Church, D., & Brooks, A. J. (2010). The effect of a brief EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) self-intervention on anxiety, depression, pain and cravings in healthcare workers. Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal, 9(5), 40-44. Click to Download Feinstein, D., & Church, D. (2010). Modulating gene expression through psychotherapy: The contribution of non-invasive somatic interventions. Review of General Psychology, 14(4), 283-295. doi:10.1037/a0021252 Click to View Church, D. (2009). The effect of EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) on athletic performance: A randomized controlled blind trial. Open Sports Sciences, 2, 94-99. doi:10.2174/1875399X00902010094 Click to Download Church, D., Geronilla, L., & Dinter, I. (2009). Psychological symptom change in veterans after six sessions of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT): An observational study. International Journal of Healing and Caring, 9(1). Click to Download

Dawson Church

Full Biography & Vitae

About Uplife

UpLife is dedicated to sharing ideas, techniques, and science that relieves human suffering and inspires our full potential.

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