TFT is a method of treating psychological and related disorders based on the belief that imbalances in a person's vital energy (or Qi in traditional Chinese medicine) can cause adverse physical or emotional distress. Chinese medicine is about the flow of energy (Qi) believing that the body is nourished by, cleansed by, and dependent on its flow. 

Developed in 1981 by California clinical psychologist Dr. Roger Callahan, TFT is now used to treat a range of conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), phobias, anxiety, depression, addictive urges, arthritis pain, and insomnia. A research paper published in the October, 2001 Journal of Clinical Psychology reports a correlation between successful TFT treatment and improved heart rate variability (HRV), a measurement of cardiovascular health. HRV refers to the degree of fluctuation in the length of intervals between heart beats. Several studies have illustrated a direct relationship between low HRV and psychological problems such as phobias, panic and anxiety disorders.

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How Does It Work?
During a TFT session, patients are asked to think about an upsetting situation and then rate the distress they feel at the thought. Depending on the emotions experienced, and the meridian(s) affected, the therapist will prescribe which specific points to address. Performing the required algorithm while focusing on the problem at hand is believed to clear the emotional blockage, allowing energy to flow freely through the affected meridian(s), thus eliminating distress. Results are generally seen almost immediately, at which time the patient is "cured" of the problem in relation to that thought field.

What You Can Expect
After taking a medical history, the therapist will begin your session by asking you to concentrate on the problem that is causing you distress. You are then asked to rate the severity of your distress on a scale of one to ten. Based on the distress rating, the therapist will direct you to use either two or three fingers to tap firmly from five to ten times on specific meridian points, according to the algorithm prescribed for you.

Once this prescribed sequence of tapping is completed, you will again be asked to rate your level of distress. A further sequence, which consists of tapping a specific meridian point on the back of your non-dominant hand in combination with a series of eye movements, is then performed. After completing this sequence, you again rate your distress level. The original sequence is then repeated, and after completion you rate your distress level a final time. The level of distress should decrease steadily throughout the session, and by the end, if treatment is successful, you should report no distress at all.

Successful treatment may also be hindered by what Callahan terms "psychological reversal," a state in which the polarity of the electrical energy coursing through a person's meridians is temporarily reversed. The result is a subsequent reversal of an individual's beliefs and behaviours, accompanied by a negative, self-destructive attitude. Psychological reversal can be treated using a tapping sequence on the side of the hand. Once this is done, the patient should then respond to another round of basic TFT treatment. A TFT treatment session typically lasts about 10 minutes, and if it is successful, only one session is needed.

Though TFT remains controversial, even among alternative practitioners, an increasing number of studies and a wealth of anecdotal evidence have found TFT to be effective for, amongst other things, phobias, panic attacks, depression (including loss and grief), stress, performance anxiety, and travel anxiety. It may also be helpful in alleviating addictive urges, insomnia and headaches.