We are almost ready to submit an article to a major peer-reviewed journal based on a just-completed independent university study of The Lefkoe Method and it made me realize that I’ve never blogged about our two prior studies.

All three studies are exciting because very few people in the personal growth area have ever submitted their work to independent researchers at a major institution and encouraged them to study their products and services.

We have now done this three times and each time the results proved that The Lefkoe Method (TLM) does make significant changes in people’s lives.

The first study with incarcerated offenders

The first study was conducted in 1995 with incarcerated offenders, both adults and teens, just before they were released. The purpose of the study was: “We propose to examine the efficacy of the Decision Maker® Process

[since renamed the Lefkoe Belief Process] as an intervention to improve self-esteem, enhance an internal locus of control, and to reduce hostility, social alienation and anti-social behavior in eight incarcerated criminals.”

What were the results?  Here is the conclusion drawn by Dr. Lee Sechrest, Professor Emeritus at the University of Arizona and the chief researcher:

“The simplest, and we think fairly compelling conclusion, is that the intervention resulted in generally favorable changes in self-concept in the Experimental group [the group that eliminated beliefs using the Lefkoe Belief process] and that without intervention, self-concepts would likely have deteriorated during confinement….

“All in all, this little experiment has to be regarded as a fairly remarkable success.  Certainly it justifies efforts to carry out further testing to determine whether the changes observed can be dependably produced.  If they can, the DM Process [the Lefkoe Belief Process] could have definite promise in helping young male offenders mend their ways.”

His comments, which were cloaked in academic jargon, don’t come close to revealing the effects of our first research attempt.  Here are a few statements from subjects at the end of the study:

“Last weekend I went home and was with my buddies.  They all carry guns and I felt like going home to get mine.  Normally I would have gone and gotten it.  Instead I just left.  I had gone with them deliberately just to see what I would do.  In the future I don’t plan to hang out with these guys anymore.”

“I no longer ‘rank’ on my little brother when I go home.  Now I feel like I’m getting healthy.  I’m going back to school and getting a high school diploma.  I can get somewhere.  You gave me a boost to get somewhere.  I don’t even think about selling drugs anymore.”

“I’m not straining like I used to.  I’m not self-destructive anymore.  It doesn’t feel like I have to bite the bullet.  My life used to be very strange, scary.  I was afraid life would be a bore.  I needed drugs to keep life from being boring.  Always lived for the moment.  None of this is true anymore.”

“I had thought about a career in drug and alcohol abuse counseling, but I liked easy money so I stayed selling drugs and never pursued it.  I never thought about the possible consequences of selling drugs: getting killed, prison, etc.  Before there was no worry, no fear.  Now I am aware of what I have to lose if I go back to negative ways of thinking and acting.  I used to solve all my problems with ‘F— it!’  Now money is not the greatest issue, happiness is.”

The second study with people who feared public speaking

Our first study was conducted with a few subjects and really was only a pilot.  But the results were impressive enough to get Dr. Sechrest to agree to conduct another study in 2006.  The purpose of this second study was to determine if The Lefkoe Method could totally eliminate the fear of public speaking.

The results of this study were published in a peer-reviewed journal, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy and stated:

“The large, positive changes on all outcome measures subsequent to treatment give strong support to the claim of efficacy of the TLM for reducing fear associated with speaking in public. … The TLM resulted in substantial decreases or complete eliminations of fear, accompanied by positive changes in confidence and reduced negative sensations felt during speaking in public in the experimental group. Overall, the TLM appears to have potential as an effective, quick, and convenient procedure to eliminate the fear of speaking in public.” (Emphasis added.)

Specifically, the mean level of fear for subjects before they used TLM at the start of the study was 7, with 1 being no anxiety at all and 10 being extreme fear.  After eliminating the relevant beliefs and conditionings, the mean level for fear was 1.5.

In a follow up six months later, the fear level was still only 1.9.

The third study is finally complete

The latest study, also conducted at the University of Arizona but by different researchers, is finally complete after over a year’s worth of testing.

We compared a group of people who purchased our Natural Confidence program (which eliminates 19 of the most common beliefs and 4 of the most common conditionings) with a group of students who used the same program, a group of people who used a Tony Robbins CD program, and with a control group.  We then compared the effects we found with those found in several different studies that used the same measures we did to evaluate the impact of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

The results, which I will not reveal until they have been peer-reviewed by experts in the field (this is standard practice in science), support most of the claims we have been making for TLM and Natural Confidence.  We observed significant improvements in virtually everything we measured, including improvements of almost 50% in one area.

I look forward to sharing specific results as soon as our work has been peer-reviewed and the journal article is published.

We want to conduct more studies

At this point we would like to initiate a number of other studies.

  • I would like to validate our experience that emotional eating can be totally stopped in a matter of hours, despite the fact that nothing else has ever been able to do that.
  • I want to prove that TLM can totally “cure” a number of specific psychological problems, such as social anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and depression.
  • I want to investigate and learn more about the profound results that have been produced during the Occurring Courses.
  • And finally I would like independent evidence to prove that each of our programs does what we claim it to do, such as get rid of the fear of rejection, stop worrying about what people think of you, stop the little voice in your head that is often so critical of you, and end procrastination.

I have several reasons for wanting to get as many studies as we can get.

First, hardly anyone else in the personal growth field is willing to submit their work to independent researchers to see if their claims can be validated.  (The Hoffman Process is a notable exception.) We not only welcome it, we are actively seeking researchers to work with TLM.

Second, the only way to get the licensed psychotherapists to take The Lefkoe Method seriously and start to use it with their clients is to prove its effectiveness in controlled research studies.  We could help additional millions of people if TLM became an acceptable technique for psychotherapists.

And finally, the biggest problem the Lefkoe Institute has in getting people to try its products and services is skepticism: Many people have a hard time believing that beliefs can be permanently eliminated in a matter of minutes and problems that have existed for years can be permanently eliminated in a matter of a few hours.  Studies from independent researchers that prove our claims to be true might help to overcome this skepticism.

Please share below any comments you have on our research studies.

These weekly blog posts also exist as podcasts.  Sign up for the RSS feed or at iTunes to get the podcasts sent to you weekly.

If you haven’t yet eliminated at least one of your limiting self-esteem beliefs using the Lefkoe Belief Process, go to htp://www.recreateyourlife.com/free where you can eliminate one limiting belief free.

To purchase a DVD program that I guarantee to help you significantly improve your confidence and also eliminate the major day-to-day problems that most people face, check out http://recreateyourlife.com/store/natural-confidence.

copyright © 2010 Morty Lefkoe

27 Comments

  1. Anne October 6, 2011 at 1:12 pm - Reply

    What is the status of the third research study? You were waiting for peer review.

    Anne

    • Morty Lefkoe October 6, 2011 at 1:53 pm - Reply

      Hi Anne,

      Still waiting.

      We’ll let everyone know as soon as the article is accepted.

      Thanks for your interest.

      Love,Morty

  2. Della September 21, 2011 at 9:47 pm - Reply

    It’s impertaive that more people make this exact point.

  3. A New Supporter November 1, 2010 at 10:58 am - Reply

    Hi Morty,

    I had a few questions.
    First, seems like some great stuff! Thanks for the work you do.

    1) “Seeing a belief in others” didn’t resonate for me, yet your free video worked for me. (I’ll probably get the full series) I did see destructive beliefs as factual in some form “My mom could kill herself because of me” “My stomache is too big.” “They think I am weak”, but I didn’t exactly see them attached to some other subject as you described people often do. What does resonate is all the rest of the process. Thoughts?

    2) Do you yourself still offer private phone sessions? If so how much is it?

    3) Are there other programs that are related to Loefke Method? I have tried all kinds of stuff for 20 years and have healed a lot of stuff and elminated some beliefs. I suppose it may not be good business etiquette for me to bring them up on your blog, and I see some unique features of your method, very unique, and yet I’d be so curious to know what you think of some methods I’ve explored.

    Can’t wait to do more Morty. I’ve never been one to give up hope that healing can be easier and not some arduous lifelong path with very poor efficacy rates. It’s a good thing people never gave up hope that Polio could be cured or we could fly.

    – Jon

    • Morty Lefkoe November 1, 2010 at 12:50 pm - Reply

      Hi Jon,

      Yes, we have now worked with well over 13,000 people in over 50 countries around the world using phone or Skype.

      I think The Lefkoe Method is unique, in other words, it is not like anything else I am aware of. I can’t comment on other programs because I don’t know what you’ve done and I haven’t experienced many others myself.

      We do get clients who have tried almost everything else who tell us that The Lefkoe Method is the first thing that eliminated their negative beliefs permanently.

      You can find out more about our Natural Confidence program at http://recreateyourlife.com/naturalconfidence. You can find out more about private sessions at (415) 506-4472.

      I’m not sure what you are asking in your first question.

      Love, Morty

      • jon roberts November 1, 2010 at 1:10 pm - Reply

        Thanks Morty,
        Yeah. Its the permanence, and quick part of your method that I like so much. So looking forward to it!
        To simplify my first question:
        At the beginning of your free video, you point out the powerful meaning we falsely describe to events using the word “see”.
        Well, I didn’t “see” a belief like I’m not good enough attached to my mom being angry with me. Maybe its because Im an artist and marketer, the word “see” means see. So, even though I didn’t see a neon sign on her chest, I let the answer come from within me. I asked myself “can honestly answer yes to this early question of Morty, is it like Im seeing Im not good enough attached to the event?”. So then I was able to answer yes.
        Then I was able to go through the dispute and come to a new place.
        Do you have other verbs that resonate for people other than “see” or another way of describing it? Synonyms? As I am using your process on other beliefs, this is the part that takes the longest for me to get.

        • Morty Lefkoe November 1, 2010 at 2:31 pm - Reply

          Hi Jon,

          Visual people have a sense that they can “see” the belief as inherent in the events. People who are more emotionally kinesthetic don’t see the belief, they “feel” the belief following the events.

          Love, Morty

  4. Lauren October 2, 2010 at 10:14 am - Reply

    Niceguy,
    I appreciate that you got something from my comments, but I am not a professional facilitator. If you need help with a personal problem, there are people more qualified than I am to help you with it. Find a good compassionate therapist and share your fears with him or her. Later on, when you’re more financially able, you can use Morty’s services and products.
    Love and Light,
    Lauren

    • niceguy October 2, 2010 at 4:26 pm - Reply

      thanks for your reply. i appreciate your efforts for my help. i try to do it myself. thanks again for showing so much interest in my problem and try to solve them.

      nice guy

    • Morty Lefkoe October 3, 2010 at 6:17 pm - Reply

      Hi Lauren,

      Thanks for spending so much time trying to help someone else who needed help.

      I’m glad I have been able to make a difference in your life.

      Love, Morty

  5. Lauren October 1, 2010 at 9:00 pm - Reply

    Nice Guy,
    Perhaps you have conditionings that go beyond the scope of the Nat. Conf. program. I would contact Morty at the Lefkoe Institute and see if he or one of his facilitators can help you eliminate this belief/conditioning. All I can say is that “unsafe” is a belief and/or a conditioning and is not in the world, it’s in your mind.
    Love and Light,
    Lauren

    • niceguy October 2, 2010 at 6:09 am - Reply

      thanks for your reply Lauren. it is really nice to hear and i really appreciate your efforts that you would contact Morty for this conditioning. but actually i fear that i cannot afford Morty at this present level. that is why i am not able to contact with him.

      and also thanks for understanding my question and you are right that i am feeling unsafe in the present circumstances. and there is one personal question i wanted to ask but not here because it is personal and also it seems unethical to me to use this site for my benefits without giving any thing return to Morty. can i contact you at your mail address. my email address is reachniceguyy@gmail.com. can i expect mail from you.

      your help in this regard is highly appreciated.

      niceguy

  6. Anne October 1, 2010 at 12:09 pm - Reply

    As someone who had decades of conventional and alternative therapy, costing thousands over the years, which made me feel good in the short term but worse in the long term (i.e. “Why do I keep doing the same stupid things?”), I found the Lefkoe Method. It was an earlier version that just eliminated beliefs but boy did I have quick results. I had been told that depression was genetic but I am the happiest, most even tempered of my siblings. They just pop anti-depressants and walk around like zombies.

    • Morty Lefkoe October 3, 2010 at 6:14 pm - Reply

      Hi Anne,
      I am so happy we were able to help you with your depression.

      That’s why we do what we do: to help people live the way you describe your life now.

      Love, Morty

  7. Kim September 30, 2010 at 6:55 am - Reply

    Awesome, so glad to see that you are getting the credibility that you so richly deserve for the difference that you make in the world, in the lives of people and thier possibilities for being.

    Thank you Morty for all that you are.

    • Morty Lefkoe October 3, 2010 at 6:15 pm - Reply

      Hi Kim,

      Thanks for taking the time to post a note.

      Love, Morty

  8. niceguy September 29, 2010 at 6:04 am - Reply

    wow ! congratulation for this study. at last you are able to prove that your products and technique not only the unique but also very effective. and to be honest you are the only person i know whose product was confirmed by the independent researchers.

    and i am waiting for the occurring course in DVD sets because i am not able to pay for the teleseminar.

    nice guy

    • Mike September 29, 2010 at 7:37 am - Reply

      Ditto, I’m “sold” on the occurring course also, but cannot afford it. Would love to have it in DVD form for a lower cost.

      • Morty Lefkoe October 3, 2010 at 6:13 pm - Reply

        Hi Mike,

        Still not able to figure out how to put the Occurring course into DVDs. Maybe someday.

        Love, Morty

  9. Jen September 29, 2010 at 5:31 am - Reply

    Hi Morty,

    I’m excited to read the results of these studies – especially the third one because I am hoping it pertains to my own situation…

    I bought your complete Natural Confidence program some time ago and didn’t get to use it because I had a few crisis situations going on in my life at that time so I had to put it away for later.

    Because of the crises I ended up going to see a Psychologist.

    Several months down the track and I’m feeling somewhat better and the crises have passed, but now the Psychologist has just told me I have ‘Borderline Personality Disorder’ which some therapists (including mine) believe is manageable by doing Cognitive Behavior Therapy and related treatments, but not ‘curable’ per se.

    I have done some research online and believe that this condition is likely caused by parental neglect and/or abandonment and/or abuse that happens before a child is two or three years old. (this is my understanding of it, and is only a simplified version of what I have found written online about BPD).

    As I understand it, therapy seems to involve working through those childhood traumas and to look at the beliefs formed, as a result, so early in life such as “I am defective” and/or “There is something wrong with me” and resulting feelings of shame; as well as having to go back and find my inner child and re-parent myself, and then trying to change my behavior/beliefs through CBT etc. etc.

    I was just reading some of your blog posts today and am thinking perhaps if I was to work through The Lefkoe Method Natural Confidence program, I may be able to cut through years of therapy and help to get myself better.

    So, I have a few questions, if you don’t mind:

    I was wondering if you have any experience with anyone else using The Lefkoe Method who has been diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder and/or if you think it could help me.

    Another question is… if you do think that The Lefkoe Method will/could help me… I read in someone’s comment that being a “feeling” person rather than a “thinking” person I could have some difficulty with the process, is that true/accurate? And if so, is there a way to get around that?

    And, as I understand it, we can eliminate beliefs with The Lefkoe Method that are formed when we are children but what if the beliefs were formed before we can even remember what happened to cause them e.g. before the age of say 2 years old? Will The Lefkoe Method still work if that’s when the ‘damage’ occurred (or the belief was formed)?

    Also – seeing I have the full Natural Confidence system already – is there a ‘good’ number of beliefs to work through in any one session? for example… should I just work through one each day or a few at a time? Should I do a few a week? Is there an optimal way to go through the entire system?

    That’s a lot of questions, I know, but I’m just trying to muddle my way through and any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated! :)

    Thanks,
    Jen

    • Lauren September 29, 2010 at 9:40 am - Reply

      I finished the 2nd Occurring Course and it is life-changing. My whole attitude about myself and how I relate to the world has changed, naturally, with Morty’s guidance and the tools he provides. I used to be worried about what other people thought of me and worried what I thought about myself. Neither of these is a problem for me any more. I am looking forward to seeing more validation of Morty’s work because this has the potential for each person “to be the change they want to see in the world.” Love and Light

      • nice guy September 30, 2010 at 1:19 am - Reply

        thanks Lauren for providing me the assurance that this Occurring Course work. but i have a little problem. i am now working in a broker firm and i also play with the stock.

        my question is this that when i have some loss in the stock than what should i do. how can i convert meaning of this incident. for example i say to myself that whatever happens to me is happen for the best for me. i also say to myself that with the little loss i am able to learn something about investment. and many more things. but inside i feel that i have loss and i am stupid who trade in this stock.

        what would you do on that moment when you internally wanted to change the meaning from i am a fool to i learn something useful. what steps you actually take which helps you to change the meaning in instant.

        because i am always fighting with myself to change the meaning of the incident. your bit helps seems lot to me. and thanks to you specially morty and i am really eagerly looking forward to your DVD sets of occurring process.

        niceguy

        • Lauren September 30, 2010 at 12:03 pm - Reply

          Nice Guy,
          Have you gone through the Natural Confidence DVD? Morty required each of the O.P. participants to have eliminated the beliefs and conditionings in that in order to participate. Also we listened to the Who Am I Really? recording at least 1o times. In the Nat. Conf. there is a specific belief, “I am stupid,” that deals with this. And being able to do it “instantly” took practice with the Occurring process.
          The reality is that you lost money. That’s it. Your occurring is that” You’re a fool because you lost money.” An interpretation could be “I’m just learning to do this so I can see this as a learning experience.” But it’s still just an interpretation, one truth amongst many. But it’s just part of the LOP. I hope this helps. And save up the money for the Occurring Course or ask for a payment plan. That’s how I was able to participate.
          Love and Light from an Eternal Learner,
          Lauren

          • niceguy October 1, 2010 at 5:36 pm

            thanks Lauren for your reply. you really help me to understand my problem with LOP. you have clear many doubts and you are right that it takes practice with LOP to instantly change the meaning of the reality. in the previous i am thinking that i cannot change the meaning of reality means that i am not doing in good way. but your answer assure me that it take practice to change the meaning of the events. i find that i am doing lot of thinking and talking to myself about this incident and i find that this is a good thing and i feel good and compelled to see the reality in an empowering way. but still inside me i really feel that i have loss and i am feeling pain that i have loss of money in my life and i am feeling sad that i have loss. now i am not saying to myself or feel that i am stupid but i am feeling pain that i lost good amount of money. what do you suggest to see this incident in different way. i am seeing it as an learning experience and i am happy about it. but this is also true that inside i am feeling pain that i am having loss. what you do if you are in my place. what type of thinking you do and what interpretation you are going to make that you really and truly feel inside that this is a learning experience. hope you understand my question properly. and thanks in advance for your reply.

            i have lot of questions to ask. for example if someone done bad to me and i am seeing this incident as a learning experience and also seeing it as an opportunity to learn to love other unconditionally but my mind still says that they harm me. and i am not able to see them through the eye of unconditional love. i still feel inside that it is unsafe to be with them and i does not talk with them.

            and thanks Lauren for you reply. i know that i asked a lot of question but i am really curious .

            and thanks to you Morty for making such a beautiful and effective course.

            nice guy

    • Morty Lefkoe October 3, 2010 at 6:12 pm - Reply

      Hi Jen,

      Let me try to answer all your questions.

      There is no optimal way to use the Natural Confidence program. People have done one belief a day until they are done, and others have complete the entire program in two days.

      You don’t have to “remember” events before the age of six. My memory doesn’t go back before the age of 6. As long as you have a good sense of how your parents treated you in the first few years of life (how they treated you at four is the same way they treated you at two).

      The process works as well with kinesthetic people as with visual people. The only difference is that beliefs sometimes come back with kinesthetic people and they might have to get rid of them a second and sometimes a third time before they stay gone.

      I’ve never worked with someone diagnosed with Borderline, but I think our work could help such a person.

      Let me know if you have additional questions.

      Love, Morty

      • Jen October 12, 2010 at 5:01 am - Reply

        Hi Morty,

        I just want to say how much I appreciate you coming here and answering all my many questions. You answered them all really well and I’m going to (finally) get started with the Natural Confidence program right away.

        It means a lot to me that you answered me personally – thank you again!

        Jen

        • Morty Lefkoe October 12, 2010 at 5:16 pm - Reply

          Hi Jen,

          I can’t always answer them, but I do my best to answer as many as possible.

          Let me know what results you get with Natural Confidence.

          Love, Morty

Leave A Comment