In Loving Memory of
Larry Phillip Nims, Ph.D.
September 11, 1934 – December 20, 2024
Celebration of Life
February 5, 2025
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Larry Phillip Nims, Ph.D. Obituary
Dr. Larry Phillip Nims, Ph.D., beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and esteemed clinical psychologist and trainer, passed away peacefully on December 20, 2024 at the age of 90.
Born on September 11, 1934 in Maquoketa, Iowa, Larry’s life was marked by a deep passion for learning and a tireless commitment to helping others. He earned his Doctorate in Psychology and devoted his career to helping people resolve personal distresses and problems so that they could live more fully. The pinnacle of his career that exceeded more than fifty years was the initiation and development of a self-help technique that enables people to rapidly eliminate uncomfortable feelings, limiting beliefs, and problematic subconscious programming. It is based on the theory that your subconscious mind is a faithful servant and will do whatever you tell it. This method – BE SET FREE FAST™ or BSFF™ — has left an indelible mark on his profession and in people’s lives throughout the world.
Larry’s intellectual pursuits were matched only by his kind heart and unwavering support for those around him. He was a mentor to many, offering wisdom, counsel and encouragement to anyone who sought his guidance. Beyond his academic and professional achievements, Larry was known for his love of music through singing in choirs and concerts, his passion for playing an array of seventeen harmonicas, his competitive spirit in bocce, his delight in hiking with his buddies, his joy of travel, and his dry and witty sense of humor which brought joy to his family and friends.
Larry is survived by his devoted wife, Sari, his children, Heather Rich and Eric Nims, his grandchildren Max Rich and Mackenzie Nims, his sister, Betty Cornish and his brother Jack Nims. He is also remembered by numerous friends, colleagues, and students whose lives he touched.
A private celebration of Larry’s life will be held in February where family and close friends who loved him will gather, share memories, and honor his legacy. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the CLL Society at www.cllsociety.org. This organization served as a great resource throughout his years of treatment for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Larry’s brilliance, compassion, and humor will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing him.
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Thank you for sending me this updated version. It was wonderful to hear Alfred’s contribution. I couldn’t hear that at all on the day and wasn’t sure whether it was him or not. It was a beautiful celebration of our beloved Larry who was such a remarkable man.
Kindest regards
Jenni
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Gayla met Larry Nims, in 2000, at an Energy Psychology Conference, where she had a chance to chat with him at length. She came home so excited, she could hardly wait to tell me all about it, and introduce me to Larry’s Be Set Free Fast, with his revolutionary Instructions To The Subconscious Mind.
I immediately got his book, and luckily, his phone number was in the book, so I set up an appointment for a private session. In that one session, Larry helped me clear a long-time issue in a very short time. It was hard to believe that something so deep could change so quickly. But a few days later, I noticed that I was teaching with a new level of self confidence, like I’d never felt before: After just one session with Larry! That realization led me to dive deeply into BSFF. Larry’s contribution to Energy Psychology was immeasurable. He developed simple, accessible techniques that are so brilliant, and helping so many people, we sincerely believe he should have received a Nobel Prize.
When Larry and Sari were living near Phoenix, we were just two hours away, so we had many occasions to share lunches and dinners together. We cherished our times with them. Their relationship expressed so much devotion and joy, it was always fun and inspiring to be with them.
It was a sad day for us, although a good move for them, when they moved to California. But lucky for us, Sari is a consummate correspondent, so she kept us abreast of their news, which was typically optimistic, even during challenging times. We knew Larry had extreme health challenges, but Sari and Larry were a formidable team and they both fought valiantly for the best outcome, no matter the prognosis.
Death has a way of stopping those of us left behind in our tracks. It is so final. No matter how big the health challenges, it always feels too soon. Our hearts go out to Sari. There are no words to express our deepest sympathy. The loss of her life-long soulmate is tragic beyond measure. We know she is a survivor, and her love for Larry is forevermore.
Larry will always live in our hearts, too. And his revolutionary contributions to Energy Psychology will continue to heal subconscious problems for the multitudes, for aeons to come.
WE LOVE YOU LARRY! —& SARI!
Barry & Gayla Gordon
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Were saying good by to a very good friend who we dearly loved.
Love Rita & Gene
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Dr. Larry Nims had a huge influence on my life, both personally and professionally. I was first introduced to his amazingly simple but powerful work, Be Set Free Fast, when I was a student in graduate school. I met Larry and learned BSFF at my first Energy Psychology conference back in 1999. I immediately began applying the tool to all areas of my life which had been affected by a long battle with Lyme Disease and chronic fatigue syndrome. BSFF was instrumental in helping me to heal the traumas and limiting beliefs that were keeping me ill.
I was so inspired by my own progress with the technique that I began to use it with clients in my budding career as a psychologist. I decided that I really wanted to take a deeper dive into this work and asked Larry if he would support me in writing my doctoral dissertation on BSFF. He was so patient and supportive with me in designing my study and offering to officially sit on my dissertation committee, a rather significant involvement of his time and energy. What a generous man!
I have been using BSFF ever since. It has profoundly changed my life and the lives of thousands with whom I have worked. I teach all the clients in my private practice BSFF, as well as the clients and staff at Avery Lane, the drug and alcohol rehab center where I am the Clinical Director.
I am fully committed to carrying the torch of Larry’s work and getting it out there in the hands of more people who are struggling in these challenging times.
I will be eternally grateful for Larry’s contributions to my life and career. He will be greatly missed.
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I am very grateful that I met Larry in 2002 at an Energy Psychology Conference in the UK. Because I had seen Larry in a video series of Gary Craig, I was eager to learn about BSFF and the power of the Subconscious, our faithful servant, as Larry calls it. I signed up for a post conference workhop and was thrilled and amazed at the results of this powerful, gentle yet simple healing method. Thank you Larry, for your gift to humanity. I will never forget you.
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“I was at the first Gary Craig EFT major conference. Some greats were there, sharing how they used EFT and tapping into endless new ways. Toward the end of the conference, a very understated, simple, yet confident man was being interviewed by Gary. He spoke with clarity; the technique did not need tapping. It’s just a cue word. We sat, and I thought, “Talk is cheap.”
Then, the man demonstrated his use of cue work to relieve the emotional, cognitive, and energetic grip that the nervous system could experience. The crowd was silently startled. Something new had been demonstrated instead of another way to tap on a point. No tap. “Just a cue word.” That was Larry.
Afterward, I worked my way through the crowd, shook Larry’s hand, and said, “We have to talk.” He gave me the Larry hug and said, “Yes, let’s do it.”
This began a long and warm professional and personal relationship with Larry and Sari. We went on to do workshops together, with Larry in the lead, and an 8-hour DVD that includes the above demonstration and much more. The simple but powerful principles of BSFF that Larry developed are integrated not only into my professional work but also into my life. Thank you, Larry and Sari.
The most potent part of Larry’s work was not the revolutionary cue word of BSFF: Be Set Free Fast, nor his psychologist training and teaching. It was this: Larry was a deeply good man. Generous. Kind. Vulnerable. Determined. Loyal. I purposely put the tagline on the BSFF DVD: The lifetime work of Larry Hims, Ph.D., because his legacy goes beyond his contribution to the world of healing arts. His legacy was his lifetime of striving to bless every person he encountered. If Larry read what I wrote, he would say, “Don, that is a bit much, don’t you think?” And I would say, “No, Larry, my aching heart begs to differ.“
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I was only lucky enough to meet Larry several years ago when my Mom and Sister and I took a trip to Arizona. Sari graciously hosted a birthday dinner in their lovely home for our Mom, for her birthday. The hospitality that Sari and Larry provided was full of compassion, love, and fun not to mention the lively conversation! Larry had us participate in some psychological exercises that proved to be fun and challenging! Larry will me missed by us very much and I’m so thankful Sari and Larry had such a charmed, fulfilling, adventurous life together.. .. an amazing and true loving partnership! All our love, Jeri and Dave.
charmed life that they had together
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I couldn’t help but remember when Larry took me and the boys on a hike through a park in Arizona. None of us could keep up with him! Matt and Nick were sweating so much they took their shirts off! Larry was an amazing person. He helped so many people. The world has lost a great one for sure.
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It was our joy to share a friendship with Sari and Larry in PebbleCreek. Larry’s was a deeply religious man and with his passing has brought him closer to God.
We shared many wonderful times with Larry playing bocce, Shalom Club activities, Eat Your Heart group meals, playing cards, and hiking the trails.
On the hikes Larry would find a pretty ASU student or alumni and play the Alma mater on his harmonica for them.
Larry will be sorely missed……..Gloria and Alan
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I knew Larry through his loving and devoted wife Sari. They were a very special couple. Larry loved life, he loved travel and was so dedicated to his profession. My husband and I so enjoyed going out to dinner with Larry and Sari. I’m sure Larry would love for us to toast him with a glass of champagne from Reims. Here’s to a long life well lived! May you rest in peace.
With loving sympathy to Sari and the Nims family,
Janice Histon
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I would like to share a few heartfelt words about Dr. Larry Nims, who was the most precious mentor I ever had. He guided me through a profound journey of forgiveness with a family member, helping me heal a significant part of my life and truly setting me free. I will always remember his wisdom and joy—despite losing most of his vision, he saw and felt through his heart.
His genuine kindness and caring nature shone through everything he did, and he left us with the remarkable legacy of Be Set Free Fast. I loved how he always reminded us that being happy and living freely is our birthright. He understood the true meaning of forgiveness and had a unique ability to guide people to open their hearts to unbounded love—often when they least expected it.
Dr. Nims was, without question, an Ambassador of Love. I feel incredibly fortunate to have been his student and friend, and his teachings will continue to inspire me for the rest of my life. I loved his smile…
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Thank you so much for your amazing discovery and dedication for BSFF. I’m grateful I got to work with you directly in training.
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His powerful work has changed my life and even though it was a brief time we had together, I will always remember his kind spirit.
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Larry was a highly respected Therapist, who worked tirelessly to offer the best for clients all over the world. For me he was also a highly valued friend, full of love and care whom I loved dearly. Both he and Sari were each other’s ‘love of their lives’. But always the gentleman, he knew when it was time to bow out. My deepest love is sent to Sari and his family in coming to terms with his loss.
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I only met Larry through my working relationship and friendship with his wife, Sari, for many decades. He was a kind, intelligent, and gracious man who was adored by his wife. It breaks my heart that her’s is broken. My wish is that all the beautiful memories that they have shared together heals her heart.
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A beautiful, brave and brilliant spirit.
Bless you Larry.