A novel method and device for facilitating that variety of
psychotherapeutic technique best known as energy psychology or tapping,
but also sometimes referred to as EFT, TFT and meridian therapy, is
described. The device is a toy that may take the form of a doll, puppet,
animal, or imaginary character, having at least a torso and head. The
toy's body parts exhibit markings, visual and/or tactile, appearing as
freckles, bumps, dimples, colored fur, warts or the like, that correspond
to known meridian and chakra points on the human body. The novel method
of the instant invention is administered first by a therapist, parent or
other adult teacher knowledgeable in the art of energy psychology or
tapping, and later by the subject suffering from a disturbance or
uncomfortable feeling. The teacher ascertains the nature and intensity of
the subject's disturbance or discomfort, determines the meridian or
chakra points, or groups of points, most effective to relieve the
identified condition, stimulates by tapping the specific meridian and
chakra points, randomly or in a given sequence, and then uses the toy
exhibiting markings to teach the subject to self-administer the tapping
therapy without the teacher's assistance. Through administration of the
tapping therapy upon the subject by the teacher, and later
self-administration by the subject without the teacher's assistance, the
subject's discomfort, and the underlying psychological disturbance that
gave rise to the discomfort, is resolved. The method and device of the
instant invention may be used to address negative feelings such as
insecurity, anxiety, fear, trauma, anger, helplessness, hurt, pain,
sadness, guilt, and shame, and is particularly useful when implementing
tapping therapy with children and teens.