I was saddened to learn last week that Roger Callahan, who discovered the tapping process and the breakthrough combination of physical tapping and modern psychology, passed away at the age of 88.
Roger Callahan at a glance
| Born | 1925 |
| Died | November 2013, age 88 |
| Education | Clinical psychology, Syracuse University |
| Breakthrough | A session with his client Mary, whose water phobia cleared after tapping under her eye |
| Created | Thought Field Therapy (TFT), using different tapping sequences for different problems |
| Trained | Gary Craig, who later simplified TFT into EFT |
| Legacy | The TFT Foundation carries on his work today |
A Roger Callahan timeline
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1925 | Born |
| Around 1980 | The breakthrough session with his client Mary; her water phobia clears after tapping under her eye |
| 1980s | Formalizes his method as Thought Field Therapy (TFT) |
| Early 1990s | Trains a number of students, including Gary Craig |
| 2013 | Dies at 88 |
Roger, over thirty years ago, had the breakthrough session with his client Mary, who had a water phobia that cleared through tapping and he developed TFT (Thought Field Therapy).
You might remember the story in more detail from the first chapter of my book (if you don't have my book and want to read that story in more detail you can read the first two chapters for free here: www.thetappingsolution.com/free-ts-ebook-thankyou.php)
Gary Craig, one of Roger's students, modified his process and developed EFT, which is the form of tapping I was introduced to over a decade ago.
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Join the free summitThe story of Mary
The story Roger told over and over, the one that started it all, involves a client he called Mary. Mary had a severe, longstanding phobia of water, so severe she couldn't even bathe her own children. Roger had tried the standard tools of clinical psychology with her for over a year, with little progress.
In one session, Mary described a knot of fear in her stomach every time she thought about water. Roger, who had also been studying the body's meridian points, had her tap just under her eye, on a point connected to the stomach meridian in that system.
The fear in her stomach lifted, on the spot. Mary went to a nearby pool that same day and, for the first time in her life, felt no fear near water. That one session sent Roger looking for a way to explain and repeat what had just happened, and Thought Field Therapy was born.
Gary Craig, one of Roger's own students, would later take what Roger discovered with Mary and simplify it into the single sequence known today as EFT. Read our tribute to Gary Craig, the man who gave tapping to the world, for that half of the story.
TFT vs. EFT, side by side
| TFT (Callahan) | EFT (Craig) | |
|---|---|---|
| Approach | Different tapping algorithms for different problems | One universal sequence, used for anything |
| Getting started | Requires a trained practitioner to diagnose which algorithm to use | Anyone can learn the sequence and use it on their own |
| Access | Formal certification courses, paid training | Free EFT Manual, no certification required to use it |
| Roots | Acupressure points on the body's meridian system | Acupressure points on the body's meridian system |
If you want the fuller history, from Roger's discovery to Gary Craig's EFT to where tapping stands today, see our full history of who invented EFT tapping.
While I never had the opportunity to meet Roger, I've always been grateful for his incredible discovery and what it has done to change my life, the lives of those I love, and the world at large. I know that the amazing work I get to do today is due in large part to Roger's brilliant work and insights and feel humbled to play my part in continuing this transformative work.
In honor of Roger and his legacy, my brother, sister, father and I (it's a family business after all!) are making a $10,000 donation today to the TFT Foundation, which has similar aims to the Tapping Solution Foundation's work, in spreading this powerful tool around the world.
Thank you Roger for your enormous contribution to my life and to the world.
Roger Callahan: frequently asked questions
Who was Roger Callahan?
Roger Callahan was a clinical psychologist who, in a breakthrough session with a client he called Mary, discovered that tapping on specific points on the body could ease psychological distress quickly. He developed that discovery into Thought Field Therapy (TFT).
What is Thought Field Therapy?
Thought Field Therapy (TFT) is the tapping-based approach Roger Callahan developed in the 1980s. It uses different tapping sequences, called algorithms, for different problems, diagnosed by a trained TFT practitioner.
TFT vs. EFT: what's the difference?
TFT uses different tapping algorithms for different issues and requires a trained practitioner to diagnose the right one. EFT, developed later by Roger's student Gary Craig, replaced all of that with one universal sequence that anyone can learn and use for any issue, no diagnosis required.
Is TFT still used today?
Yes. TFT is still taught and practiced today, including through the TFT Foundation, which carries on Roger Callahan's work and shares aims with the Tapping Solution Foundation.
Who trained with Roger Callahan?
Gary Craig, who later developed EFT, trained under Roger Callahan before simplifying TFT into the single sequence used in EFT today.
Did Roger Callahan invent tapping?
Roger Callahan discovered that tapping on specific meridian points could relieve psychological distress and developed that discovery into Thought Field Therapy, the direct predecessor to EFT. Acupressure itself is much older, but Callahan was the first to combine it with modern psychology in this way.
Nick Ortner
P.S. - Here are two more pictures of Roger with his wife Joanne.
