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TO ARCHIVE .......................................................1-19-03
One of the most rapid and effective forms of emotional healing that we know of is Thought Field Therapy. Can you imagine a technique that can heal deep-seated emotional pain, fears, phobias, and life long negative habits, in a matter of minutes? Not only does such a technique exist, but also it can be taught to patients, so that they can use it whenever the need arises.
It was psychologist Dr. Roger Callahan, who developed the therapeutic specialty he called Thought Field Therapy (TFT). TFT combines Western psychotherapy approaches with Eastern accupressure techniques. It is based on the premise that energy, thoughts, emotions, and the body are interrelated and operate as an intelligent and fully communicating system. Thoughts can create emotions that get trapped in the energy pathways of the body (called meridians in Eastern medicine). These trapped emotions can appear to take on a ‘life of their own’, and seem to ‘come from no where’ intruding on our consciousness and behaviors. This can leave us feeling vulnerable and out of control. Like cutting a wire between thinking and emotional reaction, TFT works by unblocking emotions trapped in the meridian pathways. This is accomplished by tapping the relevant acupoints to simulate them. By tapping relevant acupoints and simultaneously envisioning one’s emotional problems, the mind/body is able to clear away energy blockages. This allows trapped emotions to flow freely, while restoring physical, emotional and mental balance.
In the course of his work, Dr. Callahan also discovered an important phenomenon he called “psychological reversal.” In some patients an unconscious psychological block prevents their healing. For example, a grief stricken individual might consciously wish to be free of their sorrow, but underneath, there is the conflicting thought that to be free of sadness would be disloyal; this could prevent their relief from occurring. Dr. Callahan learned how to identify and treat such conflicting thoughts. Once accomplished, his success rate rose to 90%.
Psychologists Peter Lambrou and George Pratt have expanded upon Dr. Callahan&'s groundbreaking technology of Thought Field Therapy. In their research and experience with over 6,000 patients achieved a 95% success rate in rapidly relieving acute and chronic psychological problems. This has been documented in their book: Instant Emotional Healing,
Acupressure for the Emotions.
Lambrou and Pratt refined the concept of psychological reversal using an energetic concept: a personal electromagnetic energy flow. Each individual is like a battery with a north/south pole or magnetic field. Stress, shock, and trauma can reverse this polarity and prevent healing. In one study, 80% of breast cancer patients had reversed polarities. Thus, underlying the healing intentions (thoughts) of many patients were attitudes and conflicts that sabotage their improvement. We have found in people that have failed to heal, death wishes or unconscious desires to be punished, for “unforgivable” transgressions. When these hidden conflicts are exposed and resolved, healing can proceed. Following are two cases using TFT to resolve grief and fear. Their names have been changed to protect their anonymity.
CHANGING RANDALL'S THOUGHT FIELD
Randall was a commercial airline pilot, who loved his career. While on vacation with his wife, he suddenly began to experience a sense of dread and foreboding. Unable to understand the cause of his feelings, he became distant and upset. It was then that he received a telephone call informing him that his 15-year-old daughter had been in a very serious auto accident. He and his wife immediately returned to Chicago, arriving at the hospital only to learn that their beloved daughter had died only15 minutes before. The shock and pain of this loss overwhelmed Randall, and his despair was inconsolable. His grief and his mourning lasted far beyond the funeral. He would spontaneously begin to cry at inappropriate times. He sensed that he was losing control, but the extent of his impairment became obvious when he tried to return to work. Randall, upon entering his aircraft, began to panic and feel trapped. He perspired profusely, had heart palpitations, and was unable to remain on board.
A succession of visits to doctors and therapists followed, some that prescribed drugs, or offered counseling, and others considered hospitalization. Neither tranquilizers, antidepressants, nor talk therapy provided relief. Randall’s job was at stake, his marriage strained, and his hold on reality slipping. Somehow he learned how to hold on so that he didn't have to be hospitalized, but he had to be given disability leave from his work.
More than a year after his daughter’s death, Randall sought my help. As hetold me his story, the agony on his face was painful to observe; the lines of suffering were deeply etched in his face. When I asked him to visualize the cause of his grief, his pain seemed unbearable. I then instructed him to tap specific acupoints while continuing to visualize the loss of his daughter. Within 5 minutes, his expression began to change. From the first agonized look of grief, his face became softer and more relaxed, and then he looked bewildered, and then joyful, as his pain seemed to dissolve. This was the first relief from mourning Randall had experienced in over a year! Randall smiled radiantly and said, “ This is bizarre, but I feel great” I replied, “Randall, it does seem bizarre, but what you are likely to find, is that your relief will be permanent. The worst that can happen, is we will need to repeat this protocol. Randall then said, “I know this sounds crazy, but I feel like my daughter is right here with us, laughing happily.” “Relinquishing grief is often a profound gift of love, Randall.” I replied.
When I last heard from Randall, months later he was once again flying high!
THE DESPERATE CEO
It is said that God works in mysterious ways; the following story is one of those examples. I had treated Patricia for her fear of riding in dune buggies; she had been completely healed in one session, becoming a great advocate of Thought Field Therapy. One evening Patricia was leaving a party at a hotel. When her elevator reached the lobby, she encountered a well-dressed man trying to push an inebriated woman into the elevator. The woman was resisting by literally pressing her heels into the floor and had a white knuckled hold on to the side of the elevator entrance. She was screaming “No, No!” My patient demanded to know what was going on.
The embarrassed, but desperate man gave up the struggle and shared the following story. The gentleman was an executive of a well-known international corporation. He had been promoted to CEO of a factory to be opened in Singapore. His problem was that he could not get his claustrophobic wife to get on a plane to go to his destination. Each time he tried, she bolted from her seat and he, along with their two teenaged children, had to leave with her. Since she was also unwilling to ride elevators, he thought he could get her drunk enough to ride one and perhaps free her from her fears. That, he thought, might lead to her getting on and remaining in the plane for the trip to Singapore. My patient suggested that Mr. “Desperate” give me a call since I had completely relieved her of her phobia.
The four of them, Mr. Desperate, his wife “Karen”, and their two kids appeared at my office at the appointed time. After telling me of his dilemma, Mr. D offered to pay me to accompany them to Singapore. He was willing to do anything at that point to get her to go to his new destination. I told him I didn’t think that would be necessary, and I asked to see Karen alone.Karen informed me she was from a rural southern part of the country. She said that there had been no specific incidents that had occurred to make her so fearful of being enclosed and trapped. She was also afraid of heights. Never had she been on an elevator, an airplane, nor would she climb to any heights. “OK!” I thought. Let’s go!
I explained to a skeptical and most reluctant Karen what we would be doing and why. She politely listened but her eyes appeared a bit glazed. “OK!” I thought. While her husband and kids waited in the reception area, I began the process of TFT extinguishing Karen’s life long fear of being enclosed and trapped. After about 15 minutes, I emerged with Karen, walked through the waiting room, and out the door. Karen’s family looked quizzically at us and mechanically followed.
My office was on the second floor of an office building overlooking a courtyard. We walked to the elevator and pushed the button to call it. Karen waited patiently, but the air of tension around us was thick with curiosity. Remember that Karen had never been on an elevator before. She had climbed the stairs to get to my office and walked hugging the walls to get to me fearing being too close to the railing overlooking the courtyard.
The elevator door opened, Karen walked in and I followed without having to push her. Her family stood stunned too shocked to move. I asked Karen to press floor 3 and off we went. For the next 10 minutes, Karen ands I rode the elevator. Then, I got off and left her on her own. She rode up and down for another 5 minutes. Finally, I got back on and we went to the third floor. There, I had Karen lean over the rail, so she could look straight down. She saw her still immobile family on the floor below and she waved and smiled. They just continued to stare open mouthed.
When I returned with Karen to my office, Mr. Desperate pulled me aside to ask “ Did you use drugs; hypnosis?” I said “no- just tapping.” “Tapping?” “Yes, tapping.” Once again, Mr. D scheduled a flight to Singapore through Tokyo. All was in readiness. At the last minute before the door of the plane was closed, guess what? Karen bolted from the plane. I received a call from a very disappointed man telling me of the event. I said bring her back.
I spent one more session with Karen investigating what had gone wrong. I learned that her polarity had reversed; there was another fear underlying her fear of flying and being enclosed. I soon discovered that it was simply the fear of being out of control. Once identified, we used an appropriate protocol to release that fear as well. Once again Karen left the office and another flight was scheduled.
Once more I received a phone call from Mr. D. This time it was from Tokyo. "It went perfectly", he said, "She actually loved the flight!" Next step was Singapore. The last call I received from Mr. D was from his destination. All was well. "How can I thank you, Dr. Wolf?" I replied, "You already did."
Dr. Sid Wolf is nationally known as an author, researcher, psychotherapist, educator, body worker and healer. He received his Bachelor's Degree from the University of Baltimore, his Master's Degree from American University, in Washington D.C. and his Ph.D. from Catholic University in Washington D.C. Renowned for his extensive research into the effects of psychotherapy, he has been invited to keynote, teach and train throughout the US, Canada, and Mexico. Dr. Wolf is Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, and is a licensed
Holistic Health Practitioner.
Dr. Amber Leigh Wolf is a Certified Cranial Sacral Therapist, Certified Somatic Therapist, and licensed minister, as well as a member in good standing of the American CranioSacral Therapy Association, the International Association of Healthcare Practitioners and the International Society of Science and Subtle Energy Medicine (ISSSEM).
Dr. Sid and Amber Wolf direct the Phoenix Center for Healing, Fitness and Education in Longmont, CO. The Wolf’s have dedicated their lives and their careers to transformational healing and have helped people from all walks of life heal and renew. You can reach the Wolfs at :
303-774-9525 or by email at phoenixhealingcenter@msn.com.Get more from the Web.