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Tapping the Healer Within: Using Thought-Field Therapy to Instantly Conquer Your Fears, Anxieties, and Emotional Distress
In Tapping the Healer Within, Dr. Roger Callahan shows you how to harness the healing power of Thought Field Therapy on your own, to overcome phobias, anxieties, addictions, and other common psychological problems.
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 11, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
August 9, 2018
A friend told me about something called "EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique)" sometime in 2011. At that point, I'd not heard of anything like it before, nor had I heard of what Callahan calls "TFT (Thought Field Therapy)". After reading this book, I learned that apparently EFT is a spin-off of TFT, and TFT came first, with Callahan being the "pioneer", if you will, of this method of treatment.
The book describes what TFT entails, how to do it yourself, as well as the science behind it, with Callahan providing many anecdotal examples of the people he's "cured" using TFT.
I found that it's still very much easier to go to Youtube and watch a video of someone demonstrating how to do TFT (or EFT), than read the text descriptions in the book of how to do it.
The reason I picked up this book is because:
1) I tried EFT on myself in 2011 to help deal with severe stress & physical pain I was experiencing at that time;
2) I was curious to learn more about EFT and how grounded (if at all) in science it was;
3) I wanted to see if EFT could be used to deal with non-psychological ailments (e.g. diabetes, dementia, pneumonia, etc).
The book provides a decent overview of TFT, although the bulk of the content focuses on the treatment aspect, and as such much of the book is about various tapping "algorithms" - as Callahan calls them - derived by him to help curb specific problems such as addiction, smoking, anxiety, fear, etc.
The explanation of how TFT works is rather sketchy, with Callahan focusing on why the treatment purportedly works, rather than how. A huge part of the success of TFT is pinned to HRV (Heart Rate Variability), which Callahan goes into great detail to describe and explain. To summarise, TFT is seen as successful if your HRV was "bad" before treatment, and after treatment it is now "good". Why would TFT influence HRV? This part is less satisfactorily explained, and probably also accounts for why TFT fails to work for some people. Obviously, we're still not getting to the root of the problem in those cases. Callahan explains that these are "more complex" examples that may involve several problem "layers".
The science part of TFT is explained via meridian points - yes, the same ones involved in acupuncture - that have been proven to exist in the human body. TFT basically revolves around manipulating energy flow in the body by tapping in a certain order at certain points so as to release blocked energy or smoothen the flow of energy.
Despite the title ("fears, anxieties, and emotional distress"), the book suggests that TFT may also help resolve actual physical pain - Callahan mentions several examples of patients' body pain disappearing after TFT is administered. However there is no word on whether TFT may be applied in "curing" actual diseases or conditions such as diabetes, strokes, etc. I get the impression that TFT is more of an antidote for the mind rather than body. Which makes me wonder if the disappearance of pain is actually due to the perception of pain being blocked , rather than the actual pain being dispelled. We would then have to question if the pain is psychological but manifesting as physical symptom, or whether the pain is indeed physical and occurring as a result of something "not right" in the body. In the latter case, would TFT still work? And if TFT worked, would that be a bad thing, since the body would no longer know that something "isn't right" (going by the theory that pain is there to warn you of something)?
To sum things up:
1) TFT might work for you and there is definitely no harm at all in trying it because it has no side effects - it's merely you tapping certain parts of your own body with your fingers.
2) TFT works by manipulating energy flow through meridian points in the body.
3) TFT has a high possibility of reducing perceived emotional distress (e.g. sadness, stress, fear, anger, etc).
4) TFT may help with the alleviation of actual physical pain (e.g. back pain, neck aches, headaches, etc).
5) The results of TFT are scientifically measurable, using HRV.
Does TFT really solve the underlying problem, or is it just a "mask" that mutes the symptoms? What actually is the "root" of the problem each time? How and why does the flow of energy influence our thoughts and perception? Still no answers...
The book describes what TFT entails, how to do it yourself, as well as the science behind it, with Callahan providing many anecdotal examples of the people he's "cured" using TFT.
I found that it's still very much easier to go to Youtube and watch a video of someone demonstrating how to do TFT (or EFT), than read the text descriptions in the book of how to do it.
The reason I picked up this book is because:
1) I tried EFT on myself in 2011 to help deal with severe stress & physical pain I was experiencing at that time;
2) I was curious to learn more about EFT and how grounded (if at all) in science it was;
3) I wanted to see if EFT could be used to deal with non-psychological ailments (e.g. diabetes, dementia, pneumonia, etc).
The book provides a decent overview of TFT, although the bulk of the content focuses on the treatment aspect, and as such much of the book is about various tapping "algorithms" - as Callahan calls them - derived by him to help curb specific problems such as addiction, smoking, anxiety, fear, etc.
The explanation of how TFT works is rather sketchy, with Callahan focusing on why the treatment purportedly works, rather than how. A huge part of the success of TFT is pinned to HRV (Heart Rate Variability), which Callahan goes into great detail to describe and explain. To summarise, TFT is seen as successful if your HRV was "bad" before treatment, and after treatment it is now "good". Why would TFT influence HRV? This part is less satisfactorily explained, and probably also accounts for why TFT fails to work for some people. Obviously, we're still not getting to the root of the problem in those cases. Callahan explains that these are "more complex" examples that may involve several problem "layers".
The science part of TFT is explained via meridian points - yes, the same ones involved in acupuncture - that have been proven to exist in the human body. TFT basically revolves around manipulating energy flow in the body by tapping in a certain order at certain points so as to release blocked energy or smoothen the flow of energy.
Despite the title ("fears, anxieties, and emotional distress"), the book suggests that TFT may also help resolve actual physical pain - Callahan mentions several examples of patients' body pain disappearing after TFT is administered. However there is no word on whether TFT may be applied in "curing" actual diseases or conditions such as diabetes, strokes, etc. I get the impression that TFT is more of an antidote for the mind rather than body. Which makes me wonder if the disappearance of pain is actually due to the perception of pain being blocked , rather than the actual pain being dispelled. We would then have to question if the pain is psychological but manifesting as physical symptom, or whether the pain is indeed physical and occurring as a result of something "not right" in the body. In the latter case, would TFT still work? And if TFT worked, would that be a bad thing, since the body would no longer know that something "isn't right" (going by the theory that pain is there to warn you of something)?
To sum things up:
1) TFT might work for you and there is definitely no harm at all in trying it because it has no side effects - it's merely you tapping certain parts of your own body with your fingers.
2) TFT works by manipulating energy flow through meridian points in the body.
3) TFT has a high possibility of reducing perceived emotional distress (e.g. sadness, stress, fear, anger, etc).
4) TFT may help with the alleviation of actual physical pain (e.g. back pain, neck aches, headaches, etc).
5) The results of TFT are scientifically measurable, using HRV.
Does TFT really solve the underlying problem, or is it just a "mask" that mutes the symptoms? What actually is the "root" of the problem each time? How and why does the flow of energy influence our thoughts and perception? Still no answers...
November 4, 2018
i wish i knewn this long time back 💜
January 3, 2024
This is a revisit to a book I read a few years ago about thought field therapy -- tapping points along certain meridians in the body (while *tuning* the thought field by thinking about the aggravating cause) to treat anxiety, chronic pain, etc. We're dealing with anxiety in our house (not mine, but my child's, which is hard) and I myself have relapsed into severe illness with an autoimmune disease, so… I'm reeducating myself to see if tapping can help. I'm also waiting for The Tapping Solution from the library to get another take on it. I've had tremendous success with tapping in the past. God has created our bodies with the power to heal, and the complexity of that creation blows my mind.
January 27, 2008
I read this book after attending Callahan's TFT DX training. It is a good foundational book and a recommendation for those learning about TFT or meridian therapies in general.
About the Author and his work
After 20+ years of being a psychologist and working in a system that didn't seem to have answers. Callahan stumbled on a treatment while working with a phobia patient and utilizing some thing he had picked up while studying some alternative concepts. That with a little 'luck' or 'inspiration' (whatever you wish to call it) he began to see how tapping particular points had a particular effect on emotional states. Using kinesthetic testing he learned how to develop patters to help individuals with each specific need.
Over time as people learned about this technique they developed their own ideas of how to use it. Some like EFT use a 'shortened' version of it which can be helpful in many ways. TFT is a bit more advanced and I would recommend it to those who are serious about using meridian therapy for a therapy. Regardless of a seemingly egocentric attitude the work Callahan did for this field is remarkable and the detail that a TFT DX training offers is well worth the very little extra time it takes to learn.
For more extensive use of meridian therapies I would recommend to look into NEI which is still new to the US but was developed several years ago in Europe after someone combined the the knowledge they gained from Callahan with other holistic skills.
About the Author and his work
After 20+ years of being a psychologist and working in a system that didn't seem to have answers. Callahan stumbled on a treatment while working with a phobia patient and utilizing some thing he had picked up while studying some alternative concepts. That with a little 'luck' or 'inspiration' (whatever you wish to call it) he began to see how tapping particular points had a particular effect on emotional states. Using kinesthetic testing he learned how to develop patters to help individuals with each specific need.
Over time as people learned about this technique they developed their own ideas of how to use it. Some like EFT use a 'shortened' version of it which can be helpful in many ways. TFT is a bit more advanced and I would recommend it to those who are serious about using meridian therapy for a therapy. Regardless of a seemingly egocentric attitude the work Callahan did for this field is remarkable and the detail that a TFT DX training offers is well worth the very little extra time it takes to learn.
For more extensive use of meridian therapies I would recommend to look into NEI which is still new to the US but was developed several years ago in Europe after someone combined the the knowledge they gained from Callahan with other holistic skills.
December 7, 2023
I was curious about TFT (and its offshoot, EFT) and this is a thorough introduction, although most of the books are case studies instead of instructional. In fact, you don't get the procedural details until about 3/4 through the book. It does list the various "recipes" but they could have been better organized and would have been better formatted into charts instead of running on page-to-page.
Still, it included what I needed to try it. the instant, one-and-done procedure for most issues promised a lot. Can't hurt to try, and he generously included everything you need to do to perform it on yourself or others. If you're really interested, see Callahan's site. He passed, but his wife or someone still does training and there are reasonably priced online materials/training.
Still, it included what I needed to try it. the instant, one-and-done procedure for most issues promised a lot. Can't hurt to try, and he generously included everything you need to do to perform it on yourself or others. If you're really interested, see Callahan's site. He passed, but his wife or someone still does training and there are reasonably priced online materials/training.
July 29, 2020
This book has been the basis of my therapy practice every since I came across TFT in 2005. I have had the privilege to be trained by Dr Callahan himself and his wife Joanne at his last live training course in London in 2008 to DX Level and have further studied into TFT /PTFT & more.
The book itself is not that easy, almost reads like trying to proof TFT works. One would be better off doing the basic Algorithm course on TFT.
TFT is THE tapping technique, all (stolen) spin-offs incl EFT can be compared with a shotgun (you probably hit something) whereas TFT is a lasergun to the emotion. Gone.
The book itself is not that easy, almost reads like trying to proof TFT works. One would be better off doing the basic Algorithm course on TFT.
TFT is THE tapping technique, all (stolen) spin-offs incl EFT can be compared with a shotgun (you probably hit something) whereas TFT is a lasergun to the emotion. Gone.
July 2, 2023
قبل ٣ سنوات جربت تقنيه ال TFT
كان بيها تأثير حقيقي للخوف اللي كنت اعاني منه، اني شخصيا اؤمن بأن الانسان قادر على أن يتحكم بكل شي بحياته
كل شيء بالداخل ، الكتاب كان نصيحه من احد الحسابات اللي اتابعها شكرا اله من القلب
الكتاب واضح للي يحب الاختصار وعنده ثقه وخلفيه عن هذي التقنيه يمكن تجاوز الفصول الأولى
ونصيحه دفتر ملاحظات صغير وسجلوا التقنيات الخاصه لكل حاله قد تعاني منها بيوم ما ،انت او احد احبابك
كان بيها تأثير حقيقي للخوف اللي كنت اعاني منه، اني شخصيا اؤمن بأن الانسان قادر على أن يتحكم بكل شي بحياته
كل شيء بالداخل ، الكتاب كان نصيحه من احد الحسابات اللي اتابعها شكرا اله من القلب
الكتاب واضح للي يحب الاختصار وعنده ثقه وخلفيه عن هذي التقنيه يمكن تجاوز الفصول الأولى
ونصيحه دفتر ملاحظات صغير وسجلوا التقنيات الخاصه لكل حاله قد تعاني منها بيوم ما ،انت او احد احبابك
August 30, 2018
This book was very well written and, unlike a lot of health-changing books I’ve read, easy to comprehend. It is definitely a new concept of healing, and I must admit it had me a little skeptical. However, it costs absolutely nothing to try, so why not? An interesting read, for sure. If you’re struggling with emotional problems, or even physical ones, it might be something you want to check out.
February 24, 2025
Read this book for no other reason than to try and keep an open mind which is a very rare thing in this day and age. 224 pages of absolute nonsense. You can turn to this crap, power crystals, voodoo dolls and astrologists where you have a problem, I'll stick to my doctor or a therapist.
October 3, 2018
Didn't work for me
Want to read
September 19, 2020Hiiiiiii
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
April 3, 2021Finished reading. Now need to self administer TFT when I have the time to memorize an algorithm.
Want to read
July 31, 2021How can i read this book???
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 31, 2021
Great book and great reference for tapping and TFT knowledge.
April 11, 2022
كتاب جميل وسلس
يشرح لك فكرة العلاج بحقل الفكرة مع ذكر الاثباتات لها
ويوفر لك دليل للجيب لعلاج أغلب الحالات التي تواجهنا في الحياة بهذه الطريقة الفعالة
يشرح لك فكرة العلاج بحقل الفكرة مع ذكر الاثباتات لها
ويوفر لك دليل للجيب لعلاج أغلب الحالات التي تواجهنا في الحياة بهذه الطريقة الفعالة
January 21, 2024
الكتاب يعطيك أجنحه لتحلق في السماء عاليا
June 25, 2018
After studying and using EFT for several years for many things. A friend passed on this book to me just at the right time. I was looking for assistance with Jet Lag which seemed to paralyze me. Trust me it did help. As I lay awake in the jet lag period I started to administer the technique and very quickly fell asleep afterwards. TFT is a shorter version of EFT which targets specific points for faster relief. Love it. It also is particular useful in coping with anxiety, grief, anger and physical pain. The best part about this technique.... You don't have to believe if it will work or not, it just does ! Try it, you will be amazed at the relief you feel.
April 21, 2011
Pretty much the same thing as EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique); But, apparently I guess this guy came first. His stuff is way too expensive on the website - unless you enjoy spending lots of money on stuff. Just go read "The Energy Cure" and find out a much easier and precise method of healing yourself that does not involve all the hyped-up commercialization of techniques and healing modalities.
Read
July 13, 2008I read this book on the way to Italy. It is a self-help book that encourages a positive way of healing the inner emotions that create fear in individuals. Very interesting! Supported and backed up acupuncture medicine.
January 21, 2014
Very detailed about how to use acupunture points to release negative thoughts or emotions. There are other authors who have also explored this subject. This author claims to have discovered the technique.
May 12, 2008
Another good help to conquer emotions. If you watched, "I Can Make You Thin", with Paul McKenna on TLC, he uses some of these methods.
June 12, 2009
Good intro the TFT. Written decently well; easy to figure out. A little too "I know this is crazy, but trust me, it works" in tone for me, but not enough to put me off reading it through.
September 14, 2012
سبحان الله
ما ادري اش اقول
لك احتاج اقرا اكثر عن هذا الموضوع
ما ادري اش اقول
لك احتاج اقرا اكثر عن هذا الموضوع
February 5, 2013
An interesting book on thought field therapy by the man who pioneered it. Also a primer on tapping with how to's.
August 6, 2013
Interesting concept which I believe works. However I was unable to have luck with it.
November 7, 2013
it a very nice i read it in arabic
Want to read
May 7, 2015كيف أحصل على هذا الكتاب ؟
May 21, 2020
لم احب ترجمة الكتاب كثيرا ,, تمنيت لو انه ترجم بطريقة أفضل، و بالنسبه لي ايضا فلا احب القصص والكلام الكثير
Read
July 14, 2011Very good book. I'm going to try this method to quit smoking. I believe it'll work
June 28, 2013
again very intersting
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews