Significant Application of Thought Field Therapy Diagnostic in Practice

Name of Authors: Yuriko Kawagishi

Contact information: Yuriko Kawagishi
Counseling Room KAKASHI
5-2-3-303 Sasaki Building, Suehiro, Chitose-city, Hokkaido 066-0027, JAPAN
Tel/Fax:+81-0123-22-3331
E-mail:kakashi@maroon.plala.or.jp
Homepage: kakashi.okoshi-yasu.com/

Brief Bio:

Yuriko Kawagishi is a clinical psychologist, a school counselor, and TFT advanced therapist and certified trainer. She runs the Counseling Room KAKASHI as a representative. She is vice-president of Japanese Association for Thought Field Therapy (JATFT). She is also engaged in social public support as an adjunct professor at the graduate school of Hokusho University, a member of a mediation committee at Tomakomai branch of Sapporo family court, council of Chitose Social Welfare, an executive director of the Hokkaido Society of Certified Clinical Psychologists, a member of the raising children committees in Chitose City and Ishikari City. She contributes herself to help the survivors from the Hokkaido iburi eastern earthquake happened in 2018.

Abstract:

Thought Field Therapy is efficient and effective tool to treat all kinds of psychological problems quickly in clinical practice. Especially as I work with clients with lower income, time and cost saving is significant for them. I introduce them TFT algorithm for beginning, and when the improvements are not enough, I add TFT diagnostic with muscle testing. Diagnostic is applicable even when clients do not realize their emotions. In my qualitative investigation of recent 21 clinical cases, I found these cases include shame, embarrassment, and anger or rage that may discourage them from talking how they feel. The diagnostic may be effective when clients have difficulties of telling or being aware of hidden emotions.

Introduction:

Thought Field Therapy (TFT) is non-invasive and non-verbal treatment technique developed by Callahan and eliminates psychological and physical distress in the specific thought field (Callahan and Trubo, 2001). TFT does not require clients talk about their problems that may cause more emotional pain and discourage them from continuing treatment (Morikawa, 2015 rev.) Researches about trauma treatment showed the significant improvements (Johnson et al., 2001; Folks, 2002; Sakai, Connolly, & Oas, 2010; Connolly & Sakai, 2011; Connolly, Roe-Sepowitz, Sakai, & Edwards, 2013; Robson, et al., 2016; Edwards and Vanchu-Orosco, 2017).

The diagnostic is the original form of the TFT treatment technique using muscle testing. The tester pushes the testee’s arm to determine the individualized tapping sequences in the specific order while he or she is tuning into the problem. Therefore even when clients cannot talk about what happened or how they feel, however, muscle testing can show us individualized tapping points with the specific order to treat their problems. TFT algorithms were developed as the tapping orders that yield approximately a 70-90% of success rate with statistical processing through muscle testing. (Morikawa, 2015 rev.).

In my practice as a clinical psychologist, I work mainly for population with low or no income. I make best efforts for efficient interventions to save their cost and time.

Objectives:

I usually use algorithms for beginning in my practice because algorithms have high success rate. However, I use the diagnostic following algorithms because it is more effective and more time efficient. In this study, I will explore qualitative aspects of TFT diagnostic applications in practice.

Methods:

I investigated the clients’ main complaints, main symptoms, backgrounds, first focus, applied algorithms, change in SUDs (subjective unit of distress), tapping sequence by diagnostic, change in SUDs, and comments and reactions in my recent 21 clinical cases.

Results:

All cases involved shame, embarrassment, anger, or rage through review in 23 of 24 cases. According to the client’s complaints, symptoms, or stories, the appropriate algorithms were applied, and the improvements of the SUDs indicated from 8.8 (SD=1.6) to 5.5 (SD=2.1) for 24 problems. Following the algorithms, diagnostic was applied while the clients were thinking about the problems or symptoms. The improvements showed from 6.1 (SD=2.6) to 1.3 (SD=1.5) for 32 focuses. Liver, middle finger, thumb, and PR points are not included in algorithms, but they were shown to be necessary for the treatment through muscle testing. The orders of tapping points were not exactly same as algorithms yet may include multiple algorithms. The average time of sessions is 1.7 times, and the average of diagnostic treatment time is 16 minutes.

It is hypothesized that shame, embarrassment, anger, or rage are emotions that may discourage clients from talking about their emotions or realizing their core problems. The diagnostic technique may be effective to address these emotions without requiring clients to verbalize. Moreover, the diagnostic may address associated issues or hidden emotions or trauma in the limited time of therapy session. The diagnosis gives the right tapping sequence and is more time saving than algorithm that may require to repeat the same patterns after correction of psychological reversals. It is more time and cost efficient technique in practice. These cases may include complex PTSD and low self-esteem, and the further study is necessary.

 

Citations:

Callahan, R. J., and Trubo, R. (2001). Tapping the Healer within: Using thought Field Therapy to Instantly Conquer your Fears, Anxieties, and Emotional Distress. Chicago, IL: Contemporary Books.

Connolly, S. M., & Sakai, C. E. (2011). Brief trauma symptom intervention with Rwandan genocide survivors using Thought Field Therapy. International Journal of Emergency Mental Health, 13(3), 161-172.

Connolly, S. M., Roe-Sepowitz, D., Sakai, C. E., & Edwards, J. (2013). Utilizing community resources to treat PTSD: A randomized controlled study using Thought Field Therapy. African Journal of Traumatic Stress, 3(1), 24-32.

Edwards, J. & Vanchu-Orosco, M. (2017). A Meta-Anaysis of Randomized and Non-Randomized Trials of Thought Field Therapy (TFT) for the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): PRELIMINARY RESULTS, Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology. 2017.

Folkes, C. (2002). Thought Field Therapy and trauma recovery. International Journal of Emergency Mental Health, 4, 99-103.

Johnson, C., Shala, M., Sejdijaj, X., Odell, R., & Dabishevci, K. (2001). Thought Field Therapy: Soothing the bad moments of Kosovo. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 57(10), 1237-1240.

Morikawa, A. (2015 Rev.). Thought Field Therapy Algorithm Training Manual. Tokyo: TFT Center of Japan.

Robson, R. H., Robson, P. M. Ludwig, R., Mitabu C., & Phillips, C. (2016). Effectiveness of Thought Field Therapy provided by newly instructed community workers to a traumatized population in Uganda: A randomized trial. Current Research in Psychology.doi:10.3844/crpsp.201

Sakai, C., Paperny, D., Mathews, M., Tanida, G., Boyd, G., Simons, A., Yamamoto, C., Mau, C., & Nutter, L. (2001). Thought Field Therapy clinical applications: Utilization in an HMO in behavioral medicine and behavioral health services. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 57(10), 1215-1227.

Sakai, C., Connolly, S., & Oas, P. (2010). Treatment of PTSD in Rwanda genocide survivors using Thought Field Therapy. International Journal of Emergency Mental Health, 12(1), 41-49.