WHEN Andy Meller heard he was flying to Singapore for a two-day educational visit, he was worried jet lag would ruin his trip.

"I had heard from friends who'd done long haul flights and they warned me I could be wiped out for two days," said educational trainer Andy.

"I was worried if I couldn't function properly because of jet lag then the entire trip would be a waste of time."

Fortunately for Andy he knew therapist Rita New, who had the ideal solution – Thought Field Therapy. It involves tapping on the body's meridian points to resolve emotional problems and works similarly to acupuncture.

"Rita told me where to tap and to repeat this every hour that I was awake during the flight," said Andy, 47, a former head teacher who lives in Cheltenham. "She also gave me some extra exercises which included humming and reciting numbers and I was amazed at its success.

"When I got to Singapore I felt absolutely fine and as fresh as a daisy. I slept when I was supposed to and functioned perfectly normally during the day.

"On the flight back I did the same routine and it worked again. My flight landed in the morning and by the afternoon I was back at work."

Though Field Therapy – or TFT – was originally developed as a treatment for phobias and traumatic stress by American doctor Roger Callahan in 1980, for a patient who had a severe water phobia. The fear started in her stomach and he knew the stomach meridian started under the eyes so he tried finger tapping under the patient's eye and the phobia promptly vanished.

The therapy has since been used to treat soldiers suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, survivors of the Rwandan genocide and victims of the Japanese tsunami.

Rita took it up after attending an introduction to the therapy by Dr Callahan and subsequently completing diagnostic training in it.

"My husband and I flew to Australia after Dr Callahan's course and we tried the therapy and it worked, so I decided to train in it," she said.

Since then Rita has treated clients for such conditions like claustrophobia, fear of flying, driving anxieties and travelling in lifts.

Mal Quigley from Winchcombe suddenly developed claustrophobia when travelling in aeroplanes after undergoing a brain scan.

"I had previously flown around 13 times a year but on a flight to Dubai I suddenly became very claustrophobic and was even worried I wouldn't be able to fly home," said Mal, who said the feeling started after she'd had to undergo a brain scan. She had one session of TFT from Rita and is able to fly again.

"I flew to Ireland recently and had no problems either before or during the flights. I am delighted because I love travelling and am pleased I can do it again without tranquillizers or anxiety."

Rita treats anxiety and stress, phobias, addictions and traumas.

"I'm currently treating professional golfer Russ Berry to deal with the emotional anxiety of competing," she said. Problems usually disappear after just one session and normal sessions last between 30 and 90 minutes.

■ Contact Rita on 01242 820871 or 07811 531334 or visit www.ritanew.co.uk for information or to book a treatment.