Fri July 25/2008
Fri July 25/2008 |
|
 |
|
|
||||||
|
|
Thought Field TherapyOrigins and Methods Invented by Roger Callahan, Thought Field Therapy threatens to take over as the most popular energy therapy, threatening the use of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. Callahan states he accidentally discovered this method of treatment while treating a client who had a severe fear of water. Gaining inspiration from an acupuncture class he was taking at the time, he instructed his client to tap the area under her eye with her fingers, which miraculously removed the client’s phobia. Following this discovery, Callahan then developed the comprehensive set of techniques and theory that is now known as Thought Field Therapy. It is based on the idea that “thought fields” (invisible energy fields) exist within the body. In theory, environmental traumas and inherited predispositions cause blockages or what Callahan refers to as “perturbations” in the flow of energy through these thought fields. He also believes this perturbations cause many of the commonly neurochemical and behavioral and cognitive indicators of disorders such as depression. In other words, the root cause of all psychological disturbances lies in the energy fields. Clients are directed to the Thought Field Therapy therapist who will tap on the body’s energy meridians in specific sequences that are referred to as algorithms in order to correct the perturbations. These sequences vary depending upon the problem that is being treated. Callahan also states that when the thought field is “attuned,” meaning that the person is thinking about the distressing event or image, perturbations can be located and corrected. Theoretical UnderpinningsThere are several different concepts behind the concepts of thought field therapy that have been derived from several different sources with the most important of these being the Chinese philosophy of chi which is believed to be the “life force” or energy that flows throughout the body. There are some who do not support the idea of chi being a science, and as such, its existence it not supported. It has also been noted that though acupuncture, the procedure used to connect chi, has some analgesic benefits, its use for treating illnesses or diseases has not been proven. Other concepts are taken from other processes that are not proven effective, and as a result, this creates numerous problems with the theoretical basis for thought field therapy. Thought field therapy like other energy therapies is based on either misconceptions or distortions regarding the concept of energy and the way scientists use it. In physics, the term is used solely to describe the capacity to do work, but in energy therapy, the term is used to describe a type of universal life force, however, there is no direct data to support the existence of such a force. Extraordinary Claims of SuccessThought field therapy is marketed primarily over the Internet, and in order to attract potential therapists as well as clients, over-exaggerated claims are made on several thought field therapy-related sites. In fact, Callahan’s primary site claims that thought field therapy can cure most cases of negative emotions within minutes. He goes on to claim that thought field therapy effectiveness increases with a higher level of training. Thought field therapy claims to be able to cure all kinds of psychological problems including phobias, posttraumatic stress syndrome, panic, addictions, sexual problems, depression, and many more. On thought field therapist even claimed she cured her dog of a fear of heights using the trauma algorithm. Limited Research FindingsThought field therapy has recently come under review by two Florida State University researchers, but none of their findings has been published in peer-related journals, having chosen stead to publish the results on a self-published Internet journal belonging to one of the researchers. The two researchers tested four controversial treatments for trauma, one of which was thought field therapy. Thirty-nine individuals who had suffered some kind of trauma were given one of the four treatments for up to one week. Though the researchers reported some improvement in self-rated distress and from questionnaire from pre-treatment to six month follow up, the results are uninterpretable with the most critical flaw being lack of control for the passage of time. Without a control group that received no treatment, there is no way to know if any improvement was a function of natural developments such as the natural remission of symptoms over time. Additionally, subjects were not diagnosed with post-traumatic stress syndrome using conventional diagnostic criteria, and as such, it is unclear how much subjects were impaired by their traumatic events. Review of daily diaries and recordings of distress revealed the subjects were unable to distinguish the stress related to their traumatic event from the stress of life’s every day difficulties. It appears from the results of this study that the evidence is inconclusive regarding the use of thought field therapy as a treatment for stress- and trauma-related disorders. Studies that are more conclusive are needed in order to determine the effective qualities of this type of treatment. |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Articles |
||
|
|
|
|
|
| Visit our other sister sites: Coping with depression | Depression Tips | Mental Health Articles | Depression Help |
Depression Home || Contact Us || Glossary || Helpful Depression Resources || Depression Blog © 2004 Depression-Doctor.com. All rights reserved. |
Disclaimer: This site is for educational purposes only. The information provided should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease. If you have, or suspect you have a health problem, you should consult your health care provider.
