The Tapping Evidence Base
PTSD & Trauma · Trauma (other)

Thought Field Therapy and trauma recovery

Folkes, C. · International Journal of Emergency Mental Health · 2002

Outcome study👥 31 participantsPreliminary✓ Source-checked📍 Unknown
In plain English. Thirty-one refugees and immigrants, ages 5 to 48, who rarely seek traditional therapy for cultural and financial reasons, were treated with Thought Field Therapy and tested 30 days later. Every symptom category of PTSD dropped significantly. It's an uncontrolled study, but notable for reaching a population that typically goes untreated.

What they found

31
people took part

In 31 refugee/immigrant clients aged 5-48, pre-test to post-test (30 days later) scores showed a significant drop in all symptom subgroupings of PTSD criteria after Thought Field Therapy.

How the study worked

Who took partrefugees and immigrants (aged 5-48) repeatedly exposed to traumatic events (n=31)
What they didParticipants received tapping and were measured before and after, without a separate comparison group.
Measured withPTSD symptom criteria total scores

💡 Where this could help

If findings like these hold up in larger trials, the promise is simple: a low-cost, self-administered tool that could reach people struggling with PTSD & trauma who can't easily access traditional care — at home, between appointments, or where there aren't enough clinicians to go around.

🔬 What to study next

The natural next step: a head-to-head trial against an established treatment like CBT, and a larger sample to confirm the effect.

The full record

DesignOutcome study
Participants31 people
Populationrefugees and immigrants (aged 5-48) repeatedly exposed to traumatic events
Outcome measuresPTSD symptom criteria total scores
JournalInternational Journal of Emergency Mental Health
Year2002
CountryUnknown
LanguageEnglish
MethodThought Field Therapy (related tapping method)
Publication typeStudy / trial
Verification✓ Confirmed against the primary source

Read the original study →

Cite this study

APA

Folkes, C. (2002). Thought Field Therapy and trauma recovery. International Journal of Emergency Mental Health.

This record is part of the Tapping Evidence Base — an openly-sourced, fully-referenced directory of the research on EFT/tapping. Explore more studies on PTSD & Trauma · Trauma (other)

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THE TAPPING EVIDENCE BASE PTSD & Trauma 31 participants WHAT THEY FOUND In 31 refugee/immigrant clients aged 5-48,pre-test to post-test (30 days later) scoresshowed a significant drop in… Outcome study · 31 participants Folkes · 2002 · evidence.thetappingsolution.com