Past life research consists of practice and evidence based approaches. With practice based past life research the results come from pre and post therapy questionnaires using large numbers of clients over a range of problems. Evidence based past life research works with a specific type of client problem using smaller numbers and a control group to demonstrate its effectiveness. There are merits and disadvantages with both methods. Many past life practitioners have limited resources for research so tend to use practice based past life research to monitor their client’s improvements.
In practice based past life research , Hazel Denning studied the results by eight Regression Therapists with nearly 1000 clients between 1985 and 1992. Results were measured just after the therapy, after six months, one year, two years and five years. Of the 450 clients who could still be tracked after 5 years; 24% reported the symptoms had completely gone, 23% reported considerable or dramatic improvement, 17% reported noticeable improvement and 36% reported no improvement (TanDam, 1990). Dr. Heather Rivera (2012) worked with 180 clients from a wide range of religious backgrounds and showed that apart from the therapeutic benefits 74% found their life was more meaningful and 80% found death no longer held any fear.
In evidence based past life research, significant work has been done by Ron Van der Maesen (1999). This was conducted using fifty-four clients who had reoccurring disturbing voices or thoughts. The Dutch Association of Reincarnation Therapists supplied the Past Life Therapists for the research. At a six month follow up after the therapy by an external Psychiatrist, the disturbing voices had disappeared in 25%, and a further 32% could now cope. Overall 80% had a positive subjective experience and would recommend this therapy for reoccurring problems like these in others.
Ron Van der Maesen (1998) also conducted past life research with Tourettes’s syndrome. This is a disorder characterised with involuntary repetitive behaviours. The current view has been that this is usually a lifelong condition. The work was conducted by 10 members of the Dutch Association of Reincarnation Therapists initially with 22 clients over the age range of 9 to 52 years old. Of the ten subjects who completed all the therapy and responded to the one-year follow-up questionnaire, 50% reported that their motor tics had for the most part largely disappeared or been greatly reduced in frequency. The same also applied to their vocal tics. Five also reported that they were free of medication, in sharp contrast to the pre-study period.
Returning to practice based past life research, Wambach (Snow,1986) conducted the largest study using 26 regression therapists who had worked with a total of 17,350 clients. Of these 63% reported an improved in a physical symptom, and 40% reported an improved their interpersonal relationships. In phobias Freeman (1995) has published interesting work on the effectiveness of Regression Therapy with anxiety and phobias.
Freeman T. B. (1997) Past life and interlife reports of phobic people: Patterns and outcome The Journal of Regression Therapy, Volume XI (1), International Association for Regression Research and Therapies
Snow, C. (1986) Past Life therapy: The experiences of twenty six Therapists The Journal of Regression Therapy, Volume I (2)
Denning, H.(1987) The Restoration of Health Through Hypnosis, Journal of Regression Therapy 2:1 , pp. 524.
Rivera, H. (2012) in The Journal of Regression Therapy, Measuring the Therapeutic Effects of Past Life Regression, International Association for Regression Research and Therapies also see www.plrinstitute.org
Van der Maesen, R. (1998) in The Journal of Regression Therapy, Volume XII (1), Past Life Therapy for Giles De La Tourettes’s Syndrome, International Association for Regression Research and Therapies
Van der Maesen, R. (1999) in The Journal of Regression Therapy, Volume XIII (1), Past Life Therapy for People who Hallucinate Voices, International Association for Regression Research and Therapies