Callahan’s thought field therapy in the management of emotions associated with stress

Taking into account that Thought Field therapy (TFT) is a non-invasive technique for managing emotions, and that it is characterized by being safe and fast, it was applied in a group of 14 people from the workforce of the Center of Childhood Integration and Connivance "Del Bosque", Texcoco, Mexico, who voluntarily expressed some feelings associated with stress before an initial interview, in order to evaluate their effectiveness. 36% of the participants reported presenting anxiety; 29% fear; 21% obsession, and 14% rejection. Once the TFT was completed, these emotions, in all the participants, went from a maximum rating of 10 Units of Discomfort Sensation (UDS) to a minimum of 0 UDS, so it could be established that the TFT technique was effective in managing stressful situations that were to be eradicated, with written opinions that expressed satisfaction on the part of the participants, who had no adverse reactions when the technique was applied to them.

Words to tap by: The use of language in Energy Psychology protocols

Most Energy Psychology protocols include a component in which the client is guided in the use of personally tailored wording related to a target problem or goal. These phrases are stated simultaneously with the stimulation of selected acupuncture points (acupoints) via tapping. Thought Field Therapy (TFT) and its popular derivative, Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), are the most well-known variations of the acupoint tapping approaches. These therapies have been validated for their efficacy and unusual speed in resolving psychological and physical conditions in more than 100 clinical trials and several meta-analyses. Clinicians and life coaches wanting to incorporate acupoint tapping into their practices can readily learn the basic protocols but are often unsure about how to formulate the most effective wording to accompany the client’s self-tapping. This paper presents a qualitative analysis of videotaped statements that were judged to move the treatment forward in relationship to three process outcomes: (a) the statement resulted in the practitioner becoming better attuned to the client’s intentions for and experience with the therapy, (b) it explored the issues relevant to the client’s needs and goals in order to deepen both the client’s and the practitioner’s understanding of them, and/or (c) it led the client toward more effective ways of addressing pertinent issues. These three categories—attune, explore, lead—were derived from the 62 therapeutic functions of language that were identified as the videotaped wording was being coded. The list is only an initial formulation, based on one clinician’s sessions as analyzed by that clinician. It is intended as a first step toward a more comprehensive investigation of the use of language in Energy Psychology sessions, its impact on client outcomes, and its implications for practitioner training.

Mindful Energy Psychology: History, Theory, Research, and Practice

The dialectic between acceptance and the desire for change reflects a core paradox within psychology. Two clinical methodologies that at first glance appear to be diametrically opposed have been incorporated into an approach that harnesses a reciprocal synergy, seamlessly integrating a focus on acceptance with a focus on change. Mindfulness practices, which involve purposeful, nonjudgmental awareness and acceptance of the present moment, have been shown to promote general well-being as well as to alleviate many psychological and stress-related symptoms. Energy psychology, which utilizes both somatic and cognitive interventions, is believed to rapidly and with precision change the energetic and neurological underpinnings of a range of psychological disorders. Combining the two approaches into a “mindful energy psychology” resolves the acceptance/change paradox with an interplay that yields immediate, potent therapeutic benefits. This paper examines each approach and shows how they may be integrated into clinical practice. Keywords: mindful, mindfulness, mindfulnessbased therapies, energy psychology, mindful energy psychology, tapping, energy tapping, meridian tapping, Thought Field Therapy, TFT, Emotional Freedom Techniques, EFT, Midline Energy Technique, MET, Tonglen, trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder, PTSD

A Survey of Energy Psychology Practitioners: Who They Are, What They Do, Who They Help

An online survey of the members of the Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology (ACEP) was completed by 294 of the organization’s 1,220 members (24%) in March 2016. The majority of respondents reported using acupoint tapping protocols as a core component in the successful treatment of generalized anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), phobias, and depression. All 106 of the respondents who had applied acupoint tapping for facilitating “peak performance” in contexts such as business, education, and sports reported the approach to have been “of great value” (68%) or “moderate value” (32%) for this objective, with none of the respondents having reported it to be of “little value.” The survey also asked participants to estimate the number of sessions that are typically required to achieve each of seven “process outcomes” that are shared among various clinical approaches. For instance, the elimination of an unwanted physiological/emotional reaction to a specified trigger could typically be achieved in three or fewer acupoint tapping sessions according to 94% of the respondents, and within a single session according to 71% of the respondents. Two thirds of the licensed mental health professionals who reported that they use acupoint tapping protocols said they integrate them into existing therapeutic frameworks rather than use acupoint tapping as an independent modality. This finding suggests that the approach is portable and is being applied within the context of established therapeutic systems with the intention of more rapidly facilitating targeted neurological, emotional, and cognitive changes. In brief, the practitioner reports generated in the survey corroborate clinical trials and meta-analyses that suggest acupoint tapping protocols are rapid and effective with a range of conditions. Keywords: acupoint tapping, biofield, chakra, Emotional Freedom Techniques, EFT, energy psychology, meridian, survey, Thought Field Therapy