Thought Field Therapy has been used in clinical settings to to successfully treat a wide variety of psychological problems. Most research has been in the area of first hand clinical observation and the personal reports coming from therapists and clients have been impressive. One formal investigation, conducted in early 1995, by Charles R. Figley, Ph.D. and Joyce Carbonell, Ph.D. of the Psychological Stress Research Program and Clinical Laboratory at Florida State University yielded impressive results in the treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. For this study, four new treatment approaches were selected on the basis of previous merit. These methods were: Traumatic Incident Reduction (TRI) Visual Kinesthetic Dissociation (NLP) Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Thought Field Therapy ( TFT). Figley reports that: TFT stood out from all other approaches of which I am aware because of five reasons:

It is extraordinarily powerful, in that clients receive nearly immediate relief from their suffering and treatment appears to be permanent.

It can be taught to nearly anyone so that clients can not only treat themselves, but treat others affected.

It appears to do no harm.

It does not require the client to talk about their troubles, something that often causes more emotional pain and discourages many from seeking treatment.

It is extremely efficient (fast and long lasting).

In 1996, Dr. Joyce Carbonell of Florida State University did a double blind study (as yet unpublished) using TFT and a placebo treatment to treat fear of heights. Subjects were screened using the Cohen Acrophobia Inventory and randomly assigned to two groups. Both the TFT group and the placebo group received part of the TFT treatment, however, the Placebo group tapped on non - TFT body points and the TFT group tapped on TFT points. Neither the subjects or the therapists knew which was the TFT treatment and which was the placebo treatment. There was a significant difference in improvement in SUD scores and in scores on the Cohen Acrophobia Inventory between the two treatment groups. Those subjects who were treated with TFT had the greater average improvement.

In October 2001 The Journal of Clinical Psychology (Volume 57. No. 10) published a special issue "Thought Field Therapy: Initial Research. "

This special issue contains 5 initial pilot studies using Thought Field Therapy to treat a variety of psychological problems. It also contains reviews of the research methods and a "Response to Critics" by Dr. Roger Callahan. Probably the most important research article published in this issue of The Journal of Clinical Psychology is an article written by Dr. Carl Johnson, et. al. "Soothing the Bad Moments of Kosovo." The author reports that of 249 traumas treated in Kosovo, 247 were treated successfully in a short period of time. After several visits to Kosovo, Dr. Skkelzen Syla, The equivalent to the surgeon general of Kosovo has made TFT the official therapy of Kosovo. To read a copy of Dr. Syla's letter to Dr Roger Callahan thanking him for Thought Field Therapy click here.

My own personal clinical experience using Thought Field Therapy, has been that over 90 percent of my clients are in a very short time, by their own report, cured of one or more of their presenting problems after the use of in- session Thought Field Therapy. In my workshops, I encourage participants to integrate Thought Field Therapy into their own practice in their own unique way. It can be an important tool to be used as a compliment to any of the more traditional therapies.

How Long Do The Results Last ?
Because most clients are, understandably skeptical that tapping on acupuncture spots or energy spots on their own body will be of any help, neither the placebo effect or positive thinking seem to play a part in the results achieved in Thought Field Therapy. In this regard, Dr. Callahan has commented that Thought Field Therapy "probably doesn't get it's fair share of placebo effects" because people ordinarily don't have faith that the procedure will help. The most common questions asked by clients after successful Thought Field Therapy are: "How long will it last?" and "How does it work?" The answer to the first question is that the results appear to be permanent in most cases. In a personal phone conversation with Dr. Figley, he reported that the successful results attained in his study were reported by subjects to have continued in a six months follow up. Dr. Callahan's first patient treated with what he later termed Thought Field Therapy was a patient he refers to as "Mary." "Mary" was treated with Thought Field Therapy over twenty five years ago for a water phobia and remains, by her own self- report "cured."

For more theory, lots of practice using TFT techniques, and lots of fun, please join us at a Suzanne Connolly Thought Field Therapy Training.