Access Bars

Access Bars (or Access Consciousness Bars) were created in 1990 by Gary Douglas, founder of the Access Consciousness movement in the United States. It is one of the most commercially disseminated energy modalities of the 2010s — with both significant popularity and strong criticism from scientific observers and skeptics.

According to Access Consciousness, 32 points ("bars") on the skull store thoughts, beliefs, judgments and limiting emotions accumulated throughout life. The very light touch of these points during a session "discharges" these blockages. The system presents itself as "simple, gentle, and transformative". Training is commercialized by the Access Consciousness network.

A session lasts 60 to 90 minutes. Lying clothed on a massage table. The practitioner very gently touches the 32 points on the skull and some others (eyes, jaw) successively, staying a few seconds to several minutes per point. Reported sensations: very deep relaxation, sometimes emotional releases, sometimes sleep.

Stress, anxiety, emotional blockages, "thoughts that loop", search for deep relaxation. As support only, never as treatment.

Independent scientific research is extremely limited. A single pilot study (Heider, 2017) published by practitioners of the system suggests an anxiolytic effect, but its methodology is weak. Scientific and skeptical authorities consider that the specific effectiveness of Access Bars is not demonstrated — the felt benefits could come from placebo effect, relaxing touch, and quality of attention.

Particular vigilance: this is a very commercial area with sometimes network dynamics (training sold at high prices, encouragement to recruit other practitioners). Typical fees: $70 to $130 per session. Beware of practitioners who push you toward expensive trainings or derivative products.