Malcolm Campbell

Sandree, Please keep trying. Neurofeedback and EFT have very high success rates with OCD, which means interventions really can work. I think NLP and Timeline Therapy would both work, and both are techniques that would not (as far as I can imagine) sponsor repetitive pattern behavior. Web search for your area; you'll find several to choose from.

Hi, Sandy, Check out Ode Magazine, Mar 2009 issue for good info on neurofeedback, which might well offer a good strategy. I haven't heard of anyone assuming EFT tapping into OCD behaviors. More important, I think, is how your daughter thinks about it. I myself don't do neurofeedback (yes, it's essentially the same as biofeedback), but it's where I would look next given what you described. ALSO: If you can't easily find an Ode magazine, google Martin Wuttke for a lot of reliable info. God luck! Malcolm Aargh!!! Sorry about that google suggestion. It seems there is a historical Martin Wuttke, who is not our guy. Martin Wuttke and neurofeedback will get you to the right place. Malcolm

Hi, Sandy, Check out Ode Magazine, Mar 2009 issue for good info on neurofeedback, which might well offer a good strategy. I haven't heard of anyone assuming EFT tapping into OCD behaviors. More important, I think, is how your daughter thinks about it. I myself don't do neurofeedback (yes, it's essentially the same as biofeedback), but it's where I would look next given what you described. ALSO: If you can't easily find an Ode magazine, google Martin Wuttke for a lot of reliable info. God luck! Malcolm

Hi, Sheila. Thanks for your response. I'd be happy to write a short piece on these therapy models. I have to admit I haven't seen the Latitudes publication, though, so I would appreciate seeing a copy of it first. Glad you're familiar with EFT. It's interestiing to me that it's the newest of the models I mentioned (it's only 5 or 6 years old), but may be the most familiar. Its communications have been superbly managed. Briefly, OCD is addressed as a behavioral patterning issue and these therapies all offer ways of interupting and/or changing the patterns. I have limited time tonight but will be glad to write a little more about it soon. Yes, I'm in Marin County, CA Best wishes, Malcolm

Research is validating more and more "Alternative" therapies and it's clear that some of the big winners will be those having to deal with anxiety disorders, including OCD. I'm a relatively new member, have read dozens of postings, and am dumbfounded that there are no references to Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP), Eye Movement Desensitization and Retraining (EMDR), Thought Field Therapy, Timeline Therapy, or Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT). All of these models have shown positive results in dealing with “anxiety disordersâ€. Can it be that I’m the first to bring them to this forum’s attention? Recently, I read Oliver Sacks marvelous book, “An Anthropologist on Mars†about Tourette syndrome and I wanted more information about it. I found ANC Forums and Latitudes, and began reading through the postings (several hours worth), wanting a better sense of how people deal with these debilitating experiences. (I wrote a couple of postings to “Munazzaâ€.) I’ve been an “alternative psychotherapist†for nearly twenty years (I use all but one of the above models in my practice) and have never had a client with Tourette’s, although I have known two or three people who probably had it. I have, however, had quite a few clients who have been diagnosed with OCD and any number of phobia clients. Of the models mentioned, the easiest to learn about is EFT. There are a rapidly growing number of therapists (both certified and/or licensed and not certified and/or licensed; there are good arguments for both) breaking new ground with – and validating -- EFT every day, all over the world. Their work is being communicated with each other through the website http://www.emofree.com and in that way, a host of us are teaching, and learning from, each other in this single, new therapeutic model. It’s worth noting that although there are twenty or so advisory board members who are MDs or PhDs, (their names are on the home page) the guts of the work is still very outside the purview of any board approvals. In other words it’s all wayyyy outside of the box. And it probably will remain so for a while. I invite any interested patient or parent to explore the results being experienced with EFT. (Again, EFT isn’t the only energy therapy or energy psychology out there; it’s just the easiest to find and has the clearest web management.) An example of OCD success is available at: http://www.emofree.com/addictions/compulsi...ers-bulimia.htm Spend some time in the domain and you’ll find many related cases, discussed by the practitioners and sometimes the clients. Within the website are listed many practitioners in different parts of the country, indeed different parts of the world. I hope many of you will visit the website (It isn’t mine and I’m not even listed on it.) Maybe it won’t provide exactly what you’re needing, but it’s possible that it could end your search for answers. I’d be glad to deal with discussion, questions or comments, either here in the forum or at my e-mail address. Malcolm Campbell Director of Counseling, Stress Management Center of Marin Certified Master Practitioner in NLP and Timeline Therapy e-mail: Malcolm_yom@yahoo.com

Hi again, Munnazza, RE: your concerns about CBT and interest in EFT CBT helps the client (patient in UK?) become conscious of the mental tracks in the thought and cognitive processes. Once understood as options or choices, different thoughts or cognitions may be chosen. And different choices can lead to different experiences, etc. It is perhaps impossible that increased self-awareness leaves one in a worse position than the problem state which caused one to seek help in the first place. To call CBT benign is to suggest it's less dynamically effective than it often is; it's probably the single most effective of the models used in conventionally recognized practices. Great stuff, really!!! EFT enters things from an entirelly different perspective. It is derivative, taking a lot from a large, cumbersome model called Thought Field Therapy (developed by Roger Callahan at Berkeley) and refining it while making it much more "user friendly". EFT (and TFT) also borrow from NLP (see last post). EFT approaches all negative feelings (emotional or physical) as imbalances in the body's energy system and provides a quick and painless way for balancing that. With the Chinese map of the meridians (used in acupuncture), EFT facilitates that balancing in a matter of just minutes. The pattern itself can be learned in about half an hour (13 acupuncture points) and is easy to do on one's self. Skilled practitoners offer the added value of being able to help clients find the stuff (mental and physical) that sets off the imbalance. Again, I'm tempted to call the process benign, because it seems that way while doing it. But it is also laser sharp, prtofoundly powerful andfast in clearing stuff, old, recent, traumatic, whatever. OCD seems to have a very identifiable neurological component. Maybe that's how (or why?) EFT has done so well with it. (All neurology is electrochemical and somehow the Chinese, about 3,00 years ago, figured that out and came up with a healing model that is still in use today.) Best wishes for your healing and success. (And who knows? Maybe that dissertation will get written yet...) Malcolm

Hi desperate; There are several newer models of therapy that are doing great things with two categories of problems. One category is physical stuff related to auto-immune problems (may include some neurological problems), the other is psychological and psychoneurological stuff. Your post didn't specify the area of you doctoral work; it may be you're already ahead of this message in finding these models) John Grinder and Richard Bandler' in the mid-1970s at Univ of Cal in Santa Cruz, developed Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). Out of that came several other related models: Eye Movement Desensitization and Retraining (EMDR), Thought Field Therapy (TFT), Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) and a number of others. I know of six and there are probably more as the genie is now out of the bottle. Fastest growing at present is EFT, which is showing astonishing results when offered by a competent practitioner. OCD seems made for this therapy model. There's a website: http://www.emofree.com. A number of UK practitioners are listed (under "Find a Practitioner") who's specialties include OCD. Unfortunately, the "mainstream" of psychotherapy in the US is not particularly friendly toward EFT. People almost always get their desired results in very short order, after only a few hours of work with a practitioner. Means one must have a lot more clients to maintain a practice over time. Success rates are unimaginable in conventional circles. Note of interest: Since you've expressed interest in Cognitive thereapy, you might find it interestiung that NLP (and to a lesser extent, EFT) is really a combination of Cognitive and Behavioral txs with a dash of Ericksonian hypnosis I encourage you to talk to one or more of them and find one you with whom you can feel some sense of rapport. Please post your expeerience if you do pursue this. Wishyouluck! Malcolm