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Terrified of Dating?
EVER suffered from a pounding heart, stomach cramps, shortness of breath or clammy hands at the idea of asking someone out for a date? Fear of rejection can stop many people from taking the plunge and asking someone out, according to counsellor and Thought Field Therapy (TFT) trainer Eugene Piccinotti.
"Opening their hearts to others can be a painful experience for many people - they can be anxious about rejection, terrified of the expectations of another person, or afraid they may find themselves caught up in a relationship they're not emotionally ready for."
Mr Piccinotti and his wife Karen, a family relationship counsellor, hold regular workshops to teach people to use TFT to eliminate the emotional and physical pain that can be associated with these fears.
TFT is an emotional healing therapy developed 18 years ago by Dr Roger Callahan, an American clinical research psychologist. Dr Callahan took the principle of meridians or energy pathways - best known in the west through acupuncture - and developed a systematic set of techniques for the treatment of emotional problems.
According to Mr Piccinotti, the system eliminates a range of problems including fears, phobias, stress, jealousy, anger, obsession and grief.
"Singles come to our workshops for a range of reasons relating to anxiety. It may be that they have been hurt by a past relationship and are afraid they will end up in another painful relationship or are frightened that they will never have a loving, healthy relationship with another person," says Mr Piccinotti, who is one of only a handful of people in Australia accredited as TFT therapist.
"I worked as a counsellor for 10 years, however it wasn't until I came across TFT that I felt I had something really worthwhile to pass on to my clients."
These days Mr Piccinotti teaches and trains doctors, psychologists, social workers, corporate trainers and members of the general public in TFT therapy.
"Through TFT, we help people to overcome their fears and enjoy life to the fullest," he says. ``There is little or no reliving of a painful past experience involved and once people complete the workshop they can practise the therapy on themselves, if faced with any situation that leaves them anxious."
* For information about upcoming workshops, phone 97070022 or visit the website: www.anxiety.com.au
Our email: singlesfile@theage.fairfax.com.au