Thought Field Therapy (TFT) is a cutting-edge psychotherapy treatment. But Therapists call it as power therapy for the twenty-first century. According to the developer, it provides a code to natural healing.
The basis of TFT is the idea that the body consists of energy fields. Imbalances in these fields cause physical and emotional problems. However, finger tapping can correct these imbalances and restore health.
Firstly, energy medicine practitioners apply tapping for various mental health issues. Anxiety, depression, phobias, addictions, and trauma are some examples. So, medical practitioners apply the procedure for a variety of physical concerns.
Therapy Background
Roger Callahan, an American psychotherapist, developed TFT. His procedure combines modern psychotherapy with traditional Eastern medicine. It draws on ancient Chinese practices like acupuncture and acupressure.
TFT emphasizes the presence of an energy system in the body called chi. The idea is that energy flows through a network of pathways, and blockages, as a result, cause illness. Moreover, each pathway, or meridian, involves a set of internal organs and ends at a specific point on the skin.
Stimulating these end points can remove blockages and then restores energy flow. This, in turn, restores health. It is also very effective for reducing stress and calming emotions.
On the other hand, moving chi energy involves tapping emotional pressure points on the skin. The treatment may include humming, counting, eye movement, and self-affirmation. These activities stimulate the brain so treatment can work.
Therapy Development
Callahan was a pioneer in cognitive therapy. He began to veer from traditional methods after studying applied kinesiology. His mentor, George Goodheart, concluded that thoughts and emotions influenced muscle strength. Callahan theorized a link between muscles and meridians.
The inspiration for TFT came when Callahan used finger tapping to treat a patient’s phobia. He noticed that tapping was effective for reducing stress and calming emotions. He developed and refined his technique over the next two decades.
Therapy Concepts
The idea of a thought field is the main concept in Thought Field Therapy. Other core concepts include perturbations, algorithms, casual diagnosis, and psychological reversal.
TFT sees thought as energy in a system called a thought field. It links different thought patterns to different thought fields. Blocked energy paths cause energy buildups or perturbations. Callahan described perturbations as the main cause of negative emotions.
Perturbations correspond to certain meridian points. Callahan claimed to resolve issues by tapping emotional pressure points in specific sequences. He called these sequences “algorithms.” Some therapists use existing algorithms to treat patients. Others devise individual treatments through casual diagnosis.
Psychological reversal prevents someone from responding to an otherwise effective treatment. Negative thinking and self-sabotage are characteristic of this state. Since it is a treatment barrier, Callahan developed specific techniques to circumvent it.