The Lightning Process®

Dr David Doig MD
Hawkes Bay based David Doig has practiced as a GP for 20 years, and in the last five of those, he has referred a dozen patients to The Lightning Process. Of those, most have been diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome – a condition he describes as “devastating in terms of its effect on people. It’s a physical illness that frequently renders patients incapable of doing their normal job, participating in family life, being able to exercise and so on.”

Of those 12, 11 have had positive results. “They have become more confident in managing their illness and, for the majority, participating in The Lightning Process typically marks a turning point for them, from what seems like a progression into loss of life’s enjoyment, to regaining control and starting a recovery process.” The 12th patient, he concedes, “felt it gave them no benefit at all”.

Doig says the controversy around the training comes from it sounding “a bit magic and strange” as well as there being few scientific trials to prove its effectiveness, or otherwise. “It’s impossible to run a randomised control trial vs placebo for a technique like The Lightning Process,” he says. “Individually targeted therapies are very difficult to gather evidence for – participants either know they’re doing it, or know they’re not. And anecdotal evidence doesn’t carry a lot of sway in the medical community.”

But, he says, the proof for him is patients whose lives have improved after completing the training.

“That’s because the brain can, in fact, influence your immune system and hormone systems and potentially you can start to heal problems that have perhaps become ingrained. Your internal and external language can shape the structure and function of the brain. From my perspective as a clinician, if you can afford it and if I know it’s not going to do you any harm, and if it makes your experience of the disease more manageable and more positive, then that is a benefit I would like you to have. I don’t like withholding things that work.”

Article on Stuff:
Click here to read - The Lightning Process: Can this controversial programme cure chronic illness? Fiona Fraser, May 09 2021.

Attendee feedback from Jenny's workshops

"I rated this workshop a 10 out of 10. Jenny was outstanding and I left the workshop feeling uplifted, energised and re-enthused. The whole facilitation including admin aspects were thoroughly thought out and facilitated a really great day. The most enjoyable learning experience I have had for a while and that is amazing considering it was via zoom. THANK YOU. :-) "  Sharon, Counsellor, Grief Support Services.

"This was a great workshop with lots of great ideas and visual tools to help clients "re-wire" their brains to function in healthier, more life-enhancing ways."  Jeff, Psychologist.

"I left this workshop feeling more energised than I have in years. With so many "top take-homes" and new skills learnt, I will be putting into action for both myself and for my clients the 5 steps - for me and encourage my clients to use them too. I will change the things I am saying to my brain and will help clients do the same, and I will create new labels, language patterns and metaphors for myself and help clients do this too". Julie, Manager

"Wow. This was very powerful workshop. Thank you!"  Kim, Counsellor.

"Jenny gave a lively, enthusiastic and informed presentation to the group about her practice, and  discussed how she came to be a coach after 33 years of being a school teacher. Her work is all about Neuroplasticity and the brain/body connection, and re-training the brain to turn off non-energy through using strategies like positive language to reinforce the positive messages our brains hear. We gained an understanding of the brain’s strong pathways and how this in turn influences the body’s physiology – less pain, less headaches, less abdominal pain. As a school nurse, I for one, now implement the new strategies and tools presented into my assessment criteria for students that present to the Health Centre."  Sarah, Registered Nurse.