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RESPONSE TO HOOKE'S REVIEW OF TFT
Roger J. Callahan, PhD
RCallahan@compuserve.comI am grateful to the editor for the opportunity to respond to Wayne Hooke's review of Thought Field Therapy (TFT).
The abstract of the article refers to a failure to fully report data and methods. The failure is not completely ours, we have attempted to report information but when peer reviewers reject submissions out of hand this is a shortcoming which it is hoped will show improvement in the future as our peers begin to recognize that TFT is here to stay.
I would like to compliment Mr. Hooke for attempting a surprisingly complete and scholarly job in the review even though I strongly disagree with some of his information as well as most of his conclusions. For someone who has had no training whatsoever in TFT he has attempted to do an interesting job of investigation.
The Power of the TFT Algorithms
I developed what is now called Thought Field Therapy (TFT) bit by bit over a period of two decades. Every aspect or segment of the various treatments used was selected solely on the basis of the power of that segment to effect some degree of a dramatic and immediate reduction in a psychological problem. [This unusual feature of a psychotherapy will be referred to later and will help explain the unusual and perhaps confusing, success rate of any one TFT algorithm for various problems.] I have continually attempted to improve upon the power of these treatments. Only weeks prior to writing this response, a very important additional discovery was made which has still further improved the power of TFT in working with what we call extremely complex cases. Let me say that when I use the term extremely complex cases I mean the unusual cases which do not respond favorably and completely to TFT within minutes.
Information on Energy
Mr. Hooke asked me to recommend readings to him some time ago and it appears that my recommendations were ignored and instead, articles which do not support an energy system were studied instead. There is a vast amount of work unknown to most psychotherapists on the reality and the validity of a body energy system. Just for openers I recommend the following writers (see References below): Robert O. Becker; H. S. Burr; Burr and Northrop; Hameroff and Hyland (editors); Popp at al; Liboff and Rinaldi (Editors); Nordenstrom; Sheldrake; and Basset and Pawluk; and Roger Penrose.
It is now well known that sharks seek their prey on the basis of their energy fields. The duck billed platypus, a curious monotreme in Australia, seeks its prey in muddy waters where its eyes are useless. It finds its prey based upon its ability to detect the energy field of a living organism. It has an organ on its bill that resembles an artichoke which is sensitive to the energy field. An interesting experiment was done using batteries. When a live battery was put in the water, the platypus immediately swam to it. When a dead battery was put in the water it was ignored (Gregory, Edward, 1991,Tuned-in, turned-on Platypus. Natural History, May, pp30-36).
Of general interest is that Professor Kirschvink, Professor of Geobiology at Cal Tech found magnetite throughout the human brain. This surprising and hitherto unknown fact was demonstrated with a sample of human brain and a magnet. Why is magnetite there? We don't know but we do know that frugal nature might have a reason unknown to us at this time.
Levels of TFT
To begin to understand TFT it is important to recognize that there are three major levels of performance in TFT: Algorithms; Standard Diagnosis, and Voice Technology Diagnosis. Mr Hooke appears to be unaware of this crucial fact. Obviously within each level of TFT performance individual differences in understandings and performances prevail, as in all human activities.
Algorithms. As I developed therapy procedures through TFT diagnosis, I found that a good many people could be helped by a specially developed common treatment (algorithm) which thereby allows a large number of people to be helped with no diagnosis necessary. This led to algorithms or common recipes which have a high success rate. The algorithm level allows one to enter the treatment domain of TFT with little or no special training. We have, e.g., a professional package which teaches many of our effective algorithms.
Obviously the better one understands TFT and how to do it, the better the success rate. Most of the research on TFT as well as our public demonstrations has been done using algorithms (except for the Callahan radio study and the replication by Leonoff.
TFT Diagnosis.-- Diagnosis in clinical psychology and psychiatry is mainly nosological. In TFT, diagnosis is causal and I shall explain below why I say this. As far as I can determine, most all psychotherapy, apart from TFT, is based upon some algorithms or common recipes which, it is hoped, will help the client. TFT is quite unique since we have what we call a causal diagnostic system. It is not easy to master this diagnosis and though we train people in the fundamentalss it is necessary to actually work with the procedures for years before it is mastered. The success rate with diagnosis is naturally higher than that with algorithms.
Voice Technology.-- Voice Technology (VT) has the highest success rate in TFT. This is our highest and most accurate level of causal diagnosis. This is made clear to our diagnostic trainees who call for help when they encounter extremely difficult cases which do not respond to the ordinarily high success rate diagnostic procedure. For example, I just finished helping a diagnostic trainee whose client has been depressed and on meds for 13 years. He was able to reduce her depression from a 10 to a 5; but could not get it lower. After about 20 minutes (an atypically long time) with the Voice Technology, which revealed numerous perturbations, she finally showed no further perturbations and this correlated, as it almost always does, with her report that she is totally free of depression - for the first time in 13 years. The only unusual aspect of this experience is that it doesn't usually take that long but the VT revealed an extraordinarily large number of perturbations. For those who would like more information, VT is explained and demonstrated on an audio tape available from our office. When we eliminate the p's indicated by causal diagnosis the problem is gone; i.e., the upsetting emotion is gone, the hormonal and chemical aspects of the problem are gone, the amygdala no longer acts up, and the autonomic nervous system is balanced (see the information on Heart Rate Variability (HRV) below).
I found that the voice contains the information as to the perturbations and their precise order as required in successful treatment. If there were no order within a disorder, help would not be possible. The VT is important in diagnostic training and allows the trainee to get rapid help in the trainee's office when a difficult or non-responsive client is encountered and thereby learn more about TFT in the process. I estimate that the success rate with VT is doubtless pushing the ultimate possible success level in psychotherapy (Callahan, 1996).
Those who are "adamant" that order is irrelevant do not understand TFT and/or have not sufficient clinical experience with it. For example, an Italian therapist phoned me and was thrilled with the success she was having with treating addictive urges. However, she said, it did not work on her. I decided to investigate this with the Voice Technology and found that a different order is required. I asked if she had the addictive urge at this moment and she said that she did. I told her to reverse the usual order on the addictive algorithm and to first do under the arm and then under the eyes. She did this and was thrilled because her addictive urge completely disappeared.
Six months later, I received a call from a buyer of our Addiction Treatment Video. She had an intense addiction to illegal pain killers. She tried our algorithm without success. I suggested the Italian version discovered earlier but she did not have the urge right at the moment. She only has the urge in the morning she explained. I asked her to call me back the next morning and let me know how it worked.
The next morning she called me and was ecstatic; after doing the "Italian version" she reported that she did not need or desire the pain killers! This is such a rare exception that an algorithm based upon this was previously not found. However, we have found that spiders, fear of air turbulence, and claustrophobia require a slightly different treatment, than all the other phobias.
Energy and Polarity
When TFT refers to the body's energy system it is important to realize that we are not talking about some mystical form of energy. It is the energy that comes from the sun which is incorporated in plants and animals. Every molecule in the body has a polarity, many of the body's functions are governed by the polarities that exist naturally. If one is familiar with the recent attempts by Roger Penrose and Stuart Hameroff to explain consciousness one can find that the unit of interest in this system is an aspect of the cytoskeleton called dimers. Each dimer has a polarity. This theory is of some interest to TFT since it can accommodate the phenomenon of psychological reversal.
For dramatic support of the polarities residing in all living creatures please see the long forgotten work by the Yale biologist, Harold Saxton Burr. Especially in that same book please note the Appendix by physician Longman who was at New York University and his study of cancer and polarity (also see the Chapter on Psychological Reversal in TFT AND TRAUMA (Callahan and Callahan).
Psychological Reversal
Anyone properly trained at the algorithm level will see numerous examples of the robust reality of pr and the power of the pr correction. This discovery prompted Gary Emery (the well known co-author of basic cognitive therapy texts) to proclaim that pr is "one of the most important discoveries in psychology.") The pr correction is applicable to any kind of therapy and will boost the success rate of any kind of therapy, including medical, acupuncture, hypnosis (Pulos) or educational. What used to be called a "mental block" can usually be corrected with the pr therapy.
The discovery of psychological reversal (pr) and its successful treatment was the first discovery I made in TFT. Without going into great detail, it is quite easy to demonstrate that if it were not for the treatment of pr our treatments would be about half as successful as they are. I can say with confidence that acupuncture, which has demonstrable value for the treatment of various health problems, if not for psychological problems, would be measurably more successful if the problem of pr were understood and the correction for pr were used. PR correction has applicability to all applied fields.
On the video, An Introduction to TFT, an interesting demonstration of pr in action may be observed. A television personality with an intense fear of ladders (heights) is given a phobia algorithm; though usually successful, in this instance it does nothing. The simple 15 second treatment for pr is given and then the treatment, which a moment earlier did nothing to help the problem, is repeated and now the very same treatment which a moment earlier did nothing, eliminates the person's fear. This phenomenon with pr is commonplace in TFT.
PR blocks treatments from working. It is easy for anyone who does our simple algorithms to discover the power of pr therapy for themselves. Again, if it were not for the discovery of the pr treatment, our success rate would still be potent and rapid but it would be about 40 to 50% less effective than it is. I would like to repeat, anyone who follows our directions will be able to witness this most interesting fact; however, it is crucial to not do the pr treatment before it is necessary, otherwise one will obscure this fascinating phenomenon from one's view. Many amateurs in TFT use the pr therapy (it only takes 15 seconds!) before beginning a treatment but we do not recommend this for professionals.
Dr. Robert Blaich carried out an interesting research project in the domain of human achievement and of a number of treatments used to improve performance in reading speed and comprehension a group of post-graduate chiropractic physicians, he found the simple 15 second pr therapy the most powerful treatment, by far, of various treatments used to improve the achievements of the subjects (Blaich).
I could write a book on the fascinating subject of pr but I will let this brief exposition suffice. Dr. Blaich also worked with Olympic and other elite athletes and found the pr treatment extremely helpful for improving already great performances.
In the control group study carried out by Professor Joyce Carbonell, although significant results were obtained between the control and experimental groups, the results were reduced by the fact that the correction of pr was given to both groups. It is known from Blaich's study, that pr correction alone can be a potent form of treatment. PR treatment should never be given to both experimental and control groups.
In TFT diagnosis it is quite easy to observe the pr phenomenon. It is most a interesting and robust observation in TFT that when in a state of pr that person will often reverses polar concepts; i.e., says north when south is intended but no east or west. This reversal tendency is sufficiently common as to require a special proof readers mark for common reversals in writings.
Perturbations
Some of the people Mr Hooke has consulted in preparing his review have given him misinformation. This is not the fault of Mr Hooke, of course, but rather the misunderstandings of those who do not understand TFT and whom Mr. Hooke honestly assumed that they knew what they were talking about. Some of the people consulted by Mr. Hooke have no training and others have advanced training but reveal, by their comments, that they do not understand TFT. Because I was able to make some aspects of TFT extremely simple, many people underestimate the intricacy of TFT and do not recognize the necessity for proper study.
For one who understands TFT it is obvious that the thought field (which is, after all the name of my system!) may not be omitted from consideration. For example, Mr Hooke states: "A perturbation is a somewhat obscurely defined disturbance, blockage, or imbalance in the body's energic (sic) system that is the cause of negative emotions." This is not quite precise - but again I do not hold Mr Hooke responsible for the error but his rather his misinformed informants, who do not understand TFT.
Perturbations (p's )are generated in the body when a perturbed thought field (tf) is attuned. If the tf is not attuned the p's are not there. This is a most interesting and fundamental feature of TFT. The perturbation, which contains the active information (Callahan and Callahan, 1996) are localized in a specific thought field. When a thought field containing perturbations is attuned there can be observed a most fascinating dynamic isomorphic relationship between these perturbations in the thought field and certain points on the body. This isomorphic relationship allows the diagnostically trained TFT therapist to immediately perceive the causal relation between the perturbations in the thought field and what we call the perturbation points on the body. This isomorphic relationship is functional only when a specific thought field is either attuned or a situation is perceived (perceptual field) which generates the specific field. [When working with very young children or animals a perceptual field is required since they do not possess the option of attuning a specific thought field.] For one who understands what is happening this can be one of the most exciting experiences in psychotherapy since one can clearly see the isomorphic relationship between the p's in the tf and the points on the body. The perturbations collapse with successful treatment and the problem is then gone.
Our book TFT AND TRAUMA (page 121) contains a chapter on perturbations, as well as a Glossary, and anyone who reads the Glossary alone will see that we do make a very serious attempt to provide careful and specific definitions for all our concepts in TFT. Further, we can demonstrate that these concepts are founded in reality. Here, e.g., is what is said about the PERTURBATION (P):
"A perturbation, is a proposed isolable entity in the thought field. The p is viewed as the fundamental and basic cause of all negative emotions. A perturbation is the unit of fundamental causation of a negative emotion and in a wonderful blessing of nature, correlates with specific points on the body. Successful therapy subsumes or reduces the impact of p's in the thought field. A p is a subtle, but clearly isolable aspect of a thought field which is responsible for triggering all negative emotions. No p, no negative emotion. The p is the generating structure which determines the chemical, hormonal, nervous system, cognitive and brain activity commonly associated with, and an intrinsic and necessary part (but not the fundamental cause) of the negative emotions. The perturbation contains the active information which triggers all negative emotions. Theoretical physicists Bohm and Hiley describe their pivotal concept in quantum physics:
"... we have introduced a concept that is new in the context of physics - a concept that we shall call active information. The basic idea of active information is that a form having very little energy enters into and directs a much greater energy. The activity of the latter is in this way given a form similar to that of the smaller energy." (Bohm and Hiley, p 35).The process described here for quantum theory appears to fit the notions of numerous investigators into the bio-energy realm as the process by which biological control systems operate. One may understand the relevance of the TFT usage of "active information" in that the microstate of the perturbations generate the macrostate that the person feels when depressed, angry, anxious, etc. Successful psychotherapy is the transformation (or subsumption) of this active informational microstate (perturbation) which results in the commonly observed and successfully predicted elimination of the negative emotions in TFT. A perturbation (p) is the isolable fundamental and easily modifiable trigger containing specific active information which sets off, guides and controls the physiological, neurological, hormonal, chemical and cognitive events which result in the experience of specific negative emotions."
In a recent biography of David Bohm, theoretical physicist, F. David Peat states (p297):
"That information and its activity have an objective nature is a powerful new idea; and "Information must be placed alongside energy and matter as one of those factors underlying the process of the universe."Please note that in our view, the p is the fundamental cause of a disturbing emotion; we do not say that it is the only cause. There is an hierarchy and the p contains the active information which governs and controls the neurological, brain, hormonal, chemical reactions, and cognitive responses, in that hierarchy, which generate emotion. This is quite easy to demonstrate in any TFT treatment. By addressing the perturbation in the tf we are reaching what is demonstrably the most fundamental level in the hierarchic chain of events which we call "disturbed emotion."
We can quite easily demonstrate, e.g., that the current work on the brain and the amygdala, though interesting, will not lead to a solution to the problem of anxiety or other psychological disorders (as LeDoux promises, 1994). The role of the amygdala, e.g., is not only not fundamental in generating disturbing emotions, it is not even in the right ball park. To deeply understand psychological problems and their cause one must obtain a firm grasp on the concept of the perturbation (in a thought field) for this is the fundamental, the deepest cause, of any disturbing emotion. The information in the p is subtle just as the information in a radio or television wave is subtle but when this subtle information is received into a powered system the output of the information is greatly enhanced and augmented. The TFT position is that although the brain, nervous system, hormones and chemistry are relevant in the causal chain; they are not fundamental in causation. Even cognitive beliefs are not fundamental, as I once believed; they are tertiary and bring up the rear in the whole causal chain and process of negative or disturbing emotions.
Face Validity
Hooke observes that TFT lacks face validity. This is a serious understatement. Not only does TFT lack face validity but when one unfamiliar with the power of TFT sees what is done, one is likely to think that the therapist has gone mad. This is relevant when considering the role of placebo and the so called demand characteristics when treating in public. No mention was made in this review of the very important and robust apex problem which is commonplace in TFT (Callahan and Callahan, 1996). The apex problem, briefly, is when a client reports a dramatic improvement as the therapy is administered but then fails to give credit to the therapy. The therapy simply appears to be too absurd to be able to effect such dramatic changes. Some clients forget, after successful treatment, that they ever had a problem. This is serious, no kidding! One moment they are suffering terribly from a problem that no other treatment could help; and the next moment they appear to forget that they ever had a problem.
Meridian Therapy (Acupuncture)
I have had no training in acupuncture. I have trained some psychotherapists in TFT who have been trained in acupuncture and of course a large number of psychologists and psychiatrists have been trained in acupuncture.
As far as I can determine no major psychotherapeutic advances have been made through conventional approaches of acupuncture. It is my conviction that if I had been trained in acupuncture I would not have made the discoveries leading to what I call TFT. I am most grateful to the Asian genius who first discovered the body meridians - I don't know how it was done but I think that it is one of the great discoveries of all time for the benefit of humanity. There would be no TFT without this discovery.
The Role of Placebo in TFT (HRV)
Mr Hooke believes that placebo plays a significant role in the reported success of TFT as it does in all therapies. I vigorously dispute this and as a matter of fact, I believe that due to the utter strangeness of TFT we do not even get our fair share of placebo cures - think of all those "refusals" to which Mr H refers. Our procedures invite militant skepticism but interestingly, this does not depress our actual success rate but it does lead to what we call the apex problem.
Since I have been doing psychotherapy since 1950 and would use placebo, suggestion, or anything else in the attempt to help a client with a problem, I have thoroughly pursued the placebo possibilities and found them very limited indeed. Therefore, I understand through vast experience, the extremely limited role of placebo in helping a palpable tangible psychological problem. If you haven't much clinical experience with placebo try it out - it just doesn't do much for an actual problem. The concept of placebo in accounting for TFT's results may be nothing more than a placebo for those who are unable to grasp a clinical breakthrough when presented with evidence.
TFT AND HEART RATE VARIABILITY (HRV)
Recently there has been some evidence bearing on the placebo issue from an objective medical diagnostic instrument and technology called Heart Rate Variability (HRV). Among other things, HRV yields information as to the balance of the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system (sympathetic and parasympathetic).
In July, 1997, I received a phone call from the director of a medical clinic in Las Vegas; Fuller Royal, MD. He had heard of TFT while lecturing at a college in California. His interest peaked and he obtained our professional package. He learned the algorithm for phobias and started doing HRV tests before and after administering the algorithm to each of his patients, regardless of their presenting complaint.
He discovered what is now a milestone in TFT history. He found that TFT corrected the imbalance of the autonomic nervous system. He pointed out, and the literature supports this, that the autonomic nervous system does not respond to placebo. The HRV may be the only medical diagnostic instrument that is not responsive to placebo. As Dr. Royal put it, "You can't fool the autonomic nervous system." In addition to these reported unprecedented responses concerning the balance of the autonomic nervous system, most all of his clients reported a complete elimination of their complaining symptoms as a result of the simple TFT algorithm.
When I visited Dr. Royal's office in Las Vegas, I observed him do the TFT algorithm on each patient ranging in age from 8 years to the 60's. In each case, the complaining symptom disappeared. In a few cases, the progress stopped but when Dr. Royal administered the pr therapy and then repeated the algorithm the progress continued - [this is a robust effect with pr therapy in TFT.]. Although this result is a prediction of TFT, the clients and patients who receive this do not know anything at all about pr and what it is supposed to do. Nevertheless the prediction of continued progress after pr therapy is borne out.
TFT, it seems is addressing a deep aspect of the body's healing system. Dr. Royal has now taken the TFT diagnostic training.
Odds and Ends Needing Correction
Hooke states that an algorithm is repeated at least four times. I don't know where this came from but it is incorrect. When a treatment that doesn't work (therefore, an ineffective treatment) is repeated it still is not likely to work. When an algorithm doesn't work it is important to try another algorithm or else use TFT diagnosis to discover why (Callahan, VT audio tape). An ethical algorithm trained therapist will refer to a diagnostically trained therapist when unable to help a client.
Public Demonstrations
I have been doing psychotherapy since 1950. I was used to hearing extravagant claims made for various psychotherapies which could never be checked since they were always performed in secret. I was first trained in Rogers' Non-Directive, later called, Client-Centered therapy. I admired Carl Rogers very much. At a time when therapy was carried out in sacrosanct secrecy, Rogers did therapy which one could observe in taped recordings or through in-person observation. Albert Ellis, who was the real pioneer of cognitive psychotherapy also allowed students and others to actually see what was done in therapy. I also admired Ellis very much for this reason.
Most therapists are afraid to put their skills to the test in a pubic situation. One can fail and then the world knows of the failure. It is harder to perpetuate positive distortions about efficacy in treatment if the treatments are tested in public situations.
When I discovered the power of TFT, it was immediately obvious that no trained person would believe my claims. Therefore, I began to do what I admired in Rogers and Ellis, I treated skeptical strangers in public. Unless one is intimately familiar with TFT and its power, it is perfectly appropriate for a stranger to be skeptical.
I treated several hundred individuals with phobias on various television shows which were arranged by my publisher. Fortunately, the success rate ranged around 90%. On a book tour for my addiction treatment (Callahan, 1991). I treated 35 food addicts on a number of television shows without a failure. We only treated those who were lusting for their favorite foods at the time(see video, Why Do I Eat When I'm Not Hungry?).
On Affirmations
Those who are current in TFT know that in 1996 all affirmations were dropped from TFT. They have never been necessary and like the breath (see below) introduced by accident into TFT, have unfortunately led to unnecessary confusion as to what is taking place in the therapy. It is no fault of Mr H's that he is unaware of this but I would like to set the record straight: We no longer use affirmations in TFT.
Taking a Breath Before Treatment - Not TFT
The taking of a breath before TFT treatment, of which Mr H seems fond, is definitely not a part of TFT. It is believed that all of our clients are breathing regularly and should not need to be reminded of this requirement for life. We find, if the breathing is abnormal due to stress, that the breath will become normal with successful treatment and not the other way around.
The Apex Problem: The Inability to See What Does Not Correspond to One's Beliefs
Mr. Hooke provides clear evidence on the inability to see what is before his eyes. Consider his report on the Leeza show. Before the Leeza show I informed Mr. Hooke that I would be doing some TFT algorithms on the show.
The first Leeza show (I did two - the other on fears of animals) had as the theme, Fears in Young Children. The famous pediatrician, Dr. Brazleton was the star of the show and he discussed fears and recommended long term psychotherapy for most of the kids who presented problems on the show. He did not attempt to help the children, much to the chagrin of the parents who witnessed what TFT could do for children's fears.
I stuck my professional neck out and attempted to actually help the fearful kids on the show. Mr Hooke makes the mistaken observation that there was a 50% refusal rate among the four disturbed children. He compares this refusal rate to a group of rural clients who refused TFT algorithms from one who obviously did not know how to present the treatment to these rural people - I have done TFT with not only U.S. rural people but also in a third world country rural people with no refusal rate. It's all in the presentation.
But that aside, there were assigned to me, four young disturbed fearful children who had to wait around a cold uncomfortable studio for several hours before our part of the show started - this is a difficult task for any child and an especially difficult situation for young disturbed children who knew that their fears were going to be confronted. But as anyone who sees this show can testify there were four children and one outright refused treatment. Another one was partially treated (the one with the intense fear of noises) and he showed a 50% reduction in his problem according to his mother. So in effect, we had one refusal and one partial refusal. The partially treated child responded appropriately with a partial response to the treatment. A 50% improvement for one partially treated is not quite the same as a total failure. So Mr Hooke reports incorrectly.
He does not mention that we are using only our algorithms (TFT's lowest level of success) on the show but he may not be aware of these important distinctions in TFT levels of accomplishment, for which we do not hold him responsible.
But of greater interest is that Mr. Hooke shockingly does not believe it is worthy to mention our rather startling successes on this show. He completely passes over the two very dramatic improvements (and denies the reported partial improvement). A just barely three year old child who was hysterical about getting his hair cut prior to TFT treatment seemed to enjoy the experience for the first time in his brief life after the two minute TFT treatment. If one has ever worked with children or enjoys seeing young children free of upsetting fears one cannot forget the look on this child's face after TFT treatment. The omission of this result of treatment is a serious omission of a presumably objective reporter. One concerned with human suffering should not ignore something like this!
Another child whose mother brought him all the way from New York to Los Angeles because his therapist was not able to help him, demonstrated a dramatic elimination of his phobia of lobsters. There was also a sensitive appreciation given by this child's older brother in a brief statement, which is not easy to forget. No mention of these dramatic successes was made by Mr. Hooke. Is Mr Hooke attempting to sabotage TFT with a presumably objective but inaccurate report? I don't think so. Mr. Hooke is really no different than the majority of people who are confronted with the astonishing procedures known as TFT. They can't seem to observe what they don't already believe in. As the old saying goes, "they will see it when they believe it." If Mr H let himself see these astonishing successes (which took but minutes to accomplish) he might have to radically alter his current belief system.
Incidentally, treating very young children with success is a good test for a placebo. We also have treated infants and animals - a further acid test for placebo.
Nevertheless, this is a serious limitation of presumably scientific reporting and I do not believe that this lapse is intentional or purposeful. This kind of thing is predominant among most therapists! If they don't believe it they can't seem to see it. Somebody has to shake these people up so they may see what is presented before their very eyes!
Such therapists remind me of the story of the young psychiatrist working in a mental hospital. He encountered a patient who believed that he was dead. The psychiatrist got a brilliant idea. He asked the patient if dead men bleed. The patient replied, "Don't be absurd, of course dead men do not bleed!" The psychiatrist thought he had him - he took out a needle and pricked the patient's thumb. The patient looked at the bleeding thumb and exclaimed "My God! Dead men do bleed!"
Here is what Gregory Bateson had to say about the ubiquitous phenomena we in TFT call the Apex problem:
"Dr. Laing noted that the obvious can be very difficult for people to see. That is because people are self-corrective systems. They are self-corrective against disturbance, and if the obvious is not of the kind that they can easily assimilate without internal disturbance, their self-corrective mechanisms work to sidetrack it, to hide it, even to the extent of shutting the eyes if necessary, or shutting off various parts of the process of perception. Disturbing information can be framed like a pearl, so that it doesn't make a nuisance of itself; and this will be done, according to the understanding of the system itself of what would be a nuisance. This too - the premise of what would cause disturbance - is something which is learned and then becomes perpetuated or conserved."-Gregory BatesonAnd Winston Churchill observed:
Most men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most pick themselves up and continue on as if nothing happened.Quantum Leaps During TFT Treatment
When Mr Hooke informed me that he was going to experiment with the TFT trauma algorithm I suggested that he not just take a SUD before and after the treatment but to take it during the treatment before and after the administration of the 9 gamut procedures.. I pointed out that this would enable him to observe a most interesting aspect of TFT treatment and this refers to what we can call the quantum leaps which take place during treatment. It is typical that a person with a problem say at a SUD of 10 will report a 7 after the first phase of treatment (requiring a matter of seconds); after the 9 gamut is administered the classical response is 4 (or thereabouts) then (barring a psychological or mini-psychological reversal) the person will report a 1 - despite their skepticism!.
Mr. Hooke evidently did not follow my suggestion. He insisted, however, on retaining the irrelevant breathing aspect which was introduced into the algorithm by accident. Breathing, as therapy evidently made sense to Mr H while the legitimate TFT evidently did not. Therefore, he misinterpreted the favorable results of TFT as being due to the irrelevant breathing.
I certainly recommend this method of observation to anyone who uses the TFT procedures. A certain pattern of movement during successful therapy will be observed; e.g. the client who starts at a SUD of 10 will predictably jump to a 7 then a 4 and then a 1 as each phase of the treatment is administered. This is a robust feature in TFT and of course the client, who is typically skeptical of the strange appearing procedure certainly does not expect this to happen, but almost all report it, in the predicted fashion, despite their negative expectations.
We have other checks on the SUD report accuracy as well. We have learned that if a person starts at a 10 and after the first phase of treatment is administered, reports a 9, we are suspicious of this since the first move, as mentioned, is usually a much larger decrease in the SUD. We will correct psychological reversal (pr) and then repeat the treatment and then the overly cooperative person who reported inaccurately, will usually report the larger expected jump to at least a 7. Clients who are unfamiliar with TFT not only do not expect such changes they can hardly believe that they are taking place! Typically, the apex problem will set in and the person, who reported accurately, will sometimes "forget" that they ever had the problem which had just been eliminated.
Re Control Groups
Control groups are especially important if one is testing a therapy whose clinical effect is not obvious. When statistical tests are required to tease out a possible difference between a control and an experimental group we are talking about minimal clinical effects. If one is a psychotherapist one may consider every client they ever failed with as a relevant control group. Then compare the results with TFT - even when using only the simple algorithms!
As Karl Lashley once wisely observed:
"If you teach an Airedale to play the violin you do not need a string quartet to prove it."Yankee Farmers and Rocks From the Sky
Benjamin Franklin was told that two Yankee farmers reported that rocks fell out of the sky. His response was quite reasonable: "I would sooner believe that two Yankee farmers lied before I would be willing to believe that rocks fell from the sky." Of course, much to everyone's surprise, it was found that rocks indeed fell from the sky - they are now called meteorites.
If anyone would care to investigate the accuracy of my reports, we can make it quite possible for them to determine that we in TFT are not lying. After all, we make it absurdly simple by providing TFT algorithms which anyone can test for themselves.
In 1981 I published in an Applied Kinesiology publication, a simple algorithm for treating phobia. Years later, I was asked to speak at the 20th anniversary of the International College of Applied Kinesiology. There were over 300 chiropractic physicians in the audience. I took the opportunity of taking a poll. I asked how many have tried my phobia treatment on their clients. Over 250 chiropractors in the audience raised their hands. How many have found it to be generally successful? I next asked. The same hands went up again. It seems a shame that the people in my own profession of psychotherapy are so slow and reluctant to try the astonishing discoveries I was able to make.
References
Basset, C,. And Pauluk, R., Pila, A. (1974) Acceleration of fracture repair by electromagnetic fields: A surgically non-invasive method. New York Academy of Science, 242-261
Becker, Robert O. and Selden, G. (1987) The Body Electric: Electromagnetism and the Foundation of Life. Morrow, NY.
Blaich, Robert (1988) Applied Kinesiology and Human Performance. Collected Papers of the International College of Applied Kinesiology.
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