The Lightning Process: What is it, and can it help Long Covid Patients?

The training programme aims to help those suffering from the likes of chronic fatigue, but has faced criticism from health organisations.

In the aftermath of the Covid pandemic that affected the lives of everyone around the world, there are still some who are feeling the hurt caused by the disease.  

Long Covid is something you may have heard about as an umbrella term used to describe a range of different problems in different people, but they all come from a time when the person was diagnosed with the virus.  

It is a growing problem, with an increasing number of people reporting that they are suffering the long-term effects of Covid, and there is no official way to test or treat the condition.  

A grim picture, to say the least.  

With nothing being offered for people with the condition, many have looked around for other means of treating their pain.  

Some decided to take on a programme called the Lightning Process. 

This is a training programme created by Dr Phil Parker, an osteopath.  

In his experience, he found that most people’s issues were a combination of what was happening in their lives and what was going on in their bodies, so he chose to additionally train to look at the psychology of people.  

Specifically, he looked at what he calls the mind-body connection, where the body is affected by how we use our brain.  

But what exactly is the Lightning Process?  

It is a question Dr Parker himself admits is difficult to give a concise answer to as it is taught over three days, but tried his best to summarise.     

“Fundamentally, it is looking at this fascinating field of psycho neuro immunology, psychology, how your brain affects – the way you use your brain affects your neurology, which affects your immune system, which is our body’s kind of defence network,” he said.  

“The lightning process looks at that, and it asks the question – what are we currently doing with our nervous system? 

“We point you in a direction that encourages good physical health, or causing not very good physical health, and to monitor that ongoingly so we can start to steer it in a new direction.  

“It is all based on the research that says there are extraordinary effects of using your brain.”  

The programme aims to provide mindfulness tools that involve gentle movements, meditation-like techniques, and mental exercises.  

They say this can help with chronic fatigue, something which people with Long Covid or ME can suffer from.  

It tries to teach your brain these techniques to rewire and change your immune system.  

As mentioned, it is taught over three days to make sure people understand the exercises and to determine if the programme is for them – with Dr Parker admitting it is not something for everyone.   

The programme is also approaching its 25th anniversary, occurring in early June.  

This has led Phil to reflect on how much it has grown over time, “It is quite amazing to think that an idea that I had 25 years ago has made that much difference in every continent apart from Antarctica, people have made change, you know, it is extraordinary.  

“There are so many people whose lives are transformed; it is amazing to have that.”  

He was certainly proud of the work he and his team have done over the years with the Lightning Process, but I also wanted to hear from those who have been on the programme. 

Caroline Rawlings, suffering from Long Covid, had high praise for the LP, feeling that it had been delivered in a way that resonated with her and made sense.  

“It was invaluable to be guided through the new tools and skill sets we were being taught, to understand how to use them daily to make change, in a way that applied to each of us individually,” she said. 

“I am amazed how much I have been able to do since starting it in March.   

“I’m still learning and therefore, I am happily expecting more improvements to come, so I can get back to living a full, happy life!” 

However, another attendee, who wished to remain anonymous, was more critical of the process. 

“For me, the results I experienced during the workshop were unfortunately temporary,” they said.  

“Nonetheless I gave it my best shot and tried to get on board with what I was taught about using our minds to rewire our physical health. 

“Since then, applying the Lighting Process to everyday life outside of the workshop has not worked for me. 

“It became exhausting to go through the physical steps of the process.”  

This leads me to one organisation that was highly critical of the approach, the ME Association.  

Ewan Dale, a spokesperson for the Association, detailed their issues with the process.   

“We are aware of the possibilities of illness behaviour and the power of positive thinking, but unfortunately, we continue to see that those who prefer such aspects of approaches to so many of the unknowns and uncertainties in medical practice tend to fail to start addressing investigating the possibilities in a medically balanced and incisive manner,” he said. 

In response to the critiques levied against the process, Dr Parker said, “When we start saying that we have helped people get well, and used an approach that does not use drugs, some think that sounds like we are saying, it is all in the mind.   

“We do not think it is in the mind, we think it is in the body, but the approach we use involves the brain.  

“Another thing some say is it is secretive, but I have told you about it, there are books on it, protocols are published online, and we encourage people to talk about it.  

“Also, some say that we tell them it is their fault for being ill. No, we do not, that would be a ridiculous thing to say!” 

While there are still few options for those suffering from Long Covid, looking more into the Lightning Process is something they could consider – and weigh the various arguments surrounding it to see if it right for them.