Cognitive Therapy = emotions are created by beliefs - thoughts. Catharsis based psychology = negatively charged emotional memories and their

Robert Elias Najemy - 143 - Remove Pain – Physical and Emotional Chapter 30 A Unifying Theory Thought Field Therapy Emotional Freedom Techniques Psychoanalysis, Cognitive Psychology, Healing the Inner Child, Catharsis and EMDR I am writing this more for myself than for anyone else as I seek to develop a basic model which will formulate a unified understanding of how the above mentioned various psychological disciplines work. I have found them all useful and have employed them on myself in addition to sharing them with around 150,000 others through lectures, seminars, books and cassettes throughout the last 35 years. The Apparent Conflict TFT Thought Field Therapy by Dr. Roger Callahan and its offshoots such as EFT Emotional Freedom Techniques by Callahan’s student Gary Craig seem to apparently conflict with the premises of Cognitive Therapy concerning whether our emotions are caused by our beliefs or a disturbed energy field created when we think of the stimulus. The word apparently is in quotation marks because what is apparent is often not true. We have a similar apparent conflict with cathartic psychological approaches, which heal by bringing hidden pain, anger or guilt to the surface so that it can be released through some form of catharsis. After its release, we can install a new alternative, more objective and positive perception of ourselves and reality. Without catharsis, psychotherapy or cognitive therapy can be like trying to record new music or information beliefs on a prerecorded cassette, which we have not yet erased. We will hear two recordings - two simultaneous belief systems - subconscious and conscious. No matter how much we strengthen our affirmations or new positive beliefs, if the old ones are still there, they will overpower our new intellectually based perceptions. Intellectual conscious understanding and spiritual beliefs are usually weaker than automatic unconscious experience-based emotional reactions. TFT and EFT, on the other hand, demonstrate daily that most often neither analysis nor catharsis is necessary in order to eliminate not suppress unwanted emotions. New Discoveries Often Encompass Previous Conceptions Science often evolves in ways so that new discoveries do not actually reject previous perceptions but often encompass them while describing greater realties, which include and also transcend our previous conceptions. An example is that of Einstein’s law of relativity which does not negate Newton’s laws of motion but simply explains that for objects with sufficient mass larger than atoms moving considerably slower than the speed of light, Newton’s and Einstein’s laws give essentially the same results. So now with Thought Field Therapy, in my opinion, we are moving on to an understanding that includes, validates and also transcends the hypotheses of:

1. Cognitive Therapy = emotions are created by beliefs - thoughts.

2. Catharsis based psychology = negatively charged emotional memories and their

consequent beliefs need to be corrected often, but not necessarily, released and transformed in order to manifest a significant and lasting change. Obviously these perceptions are at least relatively true. If we do not think about the disturbing issue, then we do not get the emotion. And, until now pre-TFT, most cases would not heal if we did not experientially release the emotional charge associated with related traumatic experiences. Robert Elias Najemy - 144 - Remove Pain – Physical and Emotional The Miracle of TFT On the other hand, now we see that by simply tapping on certain acupuncture points while focusing on the disturbing thought-field and without making any attempt to change our beliefs, we are freed from long lasting extremely intense emotions such a phobias and the pain of the loss of loved ones. As the freedom from the emotion takes place immediately, simply by tapping on certain acupuncture points, we are forced to conclude that, the energy field related to this emotion which is affected by the tapping on these points must be the direct or at least intervening cause of the emotional reaction. I chose the word intervening cause here, because without the original thought, there would be no disturbance. In some cases, without actually being consciously aware of the thought-field, we may experience a continual subconscious disturbance in the body’s energy field, which often leads to psychosomatic or even psychological illness. A Unifying Theory In order to explain my perception of these basic systems of psychotherapy I would like to make a number of hypotheses, which you are free to accept or reject. I welcome comments for and against my evolving perception of what is happening. Basic Premises The basic premises presented here are not discussed and explained in full. If you are interested in a more detailed analysis you can contact me.

1. As human beings we are basically c o n s c i o u s n e s s that is comprised of ever