James Hyman: Shamanic Healer Or Shamanic Hype?

Mr. Hyman claims to be a DD (Doctor Of Divinity) however no such designation has been bestowed nor awarded him. He has not attended any accredited institution, which would allow him such a title. Here is the actual James Hyman in March 2011:

He promotes a variation of Deepak Chopra's "quantum healing" which he thinks he has cleverly named "integrated quantum theta healing. “

“Integrated quantum theta healing” is simply what Mr. Hyman thinks is a "cool" sounding term co-opted from quantum mechanics.

“Integrated quantum theta healing” has nothing whatsoever to do with the theories postulated in quantum physics or quantum mechanics.

In actuality, this so called “integrative quantum theta healing” ” is taken from the description for a phenomenon where many irrational beliefs are justified by an obfuscatory reference to quantum physics or quantum mechanics.

In this case the focus is on some sort of “quantum theta energy field” that magically turns thoughts into something tangible that can directly affect the universe.

This is Hyman's attempt to piggy-back on the success and legitimacy of science by claiming his quack ideas are rooted in accepted concepts in physics combined with utter misunderstanding of these concepts and a sense of wonder at the amazing magic these misunderstandings would imply if true. When an idea seems too crazy to believe, the proponent (Hyman) often makes an appeal to quantum physics as the explanation. “Integrative quantum theta healing” is an obfuscation of theorems and postulates of theoretical physicists. The true founders of quantum mechanics and quantum physics such as Erwin Schrodinger and Albert Einstein would be appalled at such a bastardization of their work.

Respected theoretical and mathematical physicists such as Michio Kaku and Yuri Manin have laughingly referred to what Mr. Hyman does as one of several nonsensical "unnaturalistic methods."

Dr. Stephen Barrett, a respected psychiatrist, known debunker of health fraud, and the editor of the science based health care fraud web site quackwatch goes one step further calling it "quackery":

The bottom line; “Integrated quantum theta healing” or “deep emotional release ‘bodywork’ or attunements" have no substantiated health value and lacks a scientifically plausible rationale. Science-based healthcare settings should not tolerate its use, and scarce government research dollars should not be used to study it at all. The fact is that none of these views has any significant support in the scientific communities of medicine, psychology, psychiatry, chemistry, biochemistry, or physiology, nor are they even considered worthy of debate.

The only places you are likely to see these views advocated are in Mr. Hyman’s literature (or on Mr. Hyman’s web sites), which are intended to promote the sale of these products to consumers in the notoriously credulous "alternative" health and "dietary supplement" market.