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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.
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
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