In Managing Depression with Qigong, author Frances Gaik introduces this Eastern healing art as an effective method of helping relieve depression. Gaik is a professional counselor with a doctorate in clinical psychology as well as years of experience working in the health insurance industry. Gaik uses energy therapies and hypnosis along with traditional psychotherapy in her clinical practice and seeks to integrate the concepts behind Qigong with the concepts that are used in Western psychology.

The book begins looking at what depression is, both from the psychiatric diagnostic perspective and from a more holistic perspective that integrates body, mind, and spirit. It uses the concept of an information system to help readers understand the mind-body connection. The author describes what qigong entails and how it can be applied to promote balance and wellness. Toward the end of the main text, the book describes a clinical research study that measured the effects of both qi transmission from a master and subjects' use of qi exercises following instruction in Spring Forest Qigong techniques. A "sham" treatment condition was included as a type of placebo control in this study. Whether or not it is possible to have a true placebo in energy healing experiments is a debatable issue.

After exploring the study and the results and conclusion drawn from that preliminary research, the author proceeds to include an appendix with the actual exercises used in Spring Forest Qigong so that readers can begin to practice these on their own. This appendix section takes up about 30 pages of the book. The book is relatively short, simple to understand, and practical. It offers information about how qi has been measured and how the power of qi transmissions by medical qigong practitioners has been validated via things like kirlian photography and EEG brainwave measurements. The book cites previous research examining qigong's application for mental health concerns, demonstrating how it has already been applied successfully in this area. It also discusses some other relevant topics such as nutrition and cognitive influences on mood, giving some tips about addressing those elements of a holistic approach to healing depression.

One weakness arises when the author summarizes conventional medical ideas about mood disorders and their treatment. For example, suggesting that those with bipolar disorders will need to be treated throughout their lives with pharmaceutical medication is pessimistic and not accurate, as many people have successfully recovered from those patterns and lived a healthy, stable, drug-free life. The author does not offer adequate input about potential dangers of using psychotropic medication. She does acknowledge potential hazards of overdoing qi exercises.

In general, this book is quite informative and offers information and guidance about ways of addressing depression that are not often considered in other sources that examine how people may treat depression. With growing evidence for benefits of mind-body and energetic therapies in treating psychiatric conditions, it is great to see this information shared in books for the public.


Jed Shlackman, LMHC, C.Ht. is a counselor, hypnotherapist, and energy healer in Miami, Florida.
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