EMOTIONAL CORE THERAPY AND THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD As you begin the journey to understand the Emotional Core Therapy process please keep in mind the scientific method. The scientific method is a process for creating models of the natural world that can be verified experimentally. The scientific method requires making observations, recording data, and analyzing data in a form that can be duplicated by other scientists. The subject of a scientific experiment has to be observable and reproducible. Observations may be made with the unaided eye or any other apparatus suitable for detecting the desired phenomenon. The apparatus for making a scientific observation has to be comprised of well-known scientific principles. The scientific method requires that theories be testable. If a theory cannot be tested, it cannot be a scientific theory. The scientific method requires and relies on direct evidence. This means evidence that can be directly observed and tested. Scientific experiments are designed to be repeated by other scientists and to demonstrate unequivocally the point they are trying to prove by controlling all the factors that could influence the results. Source (Scientificpsychic.com/Scientific Method) Here are the four steps to the scientific method and the Emotional Core Therapy process. 1). Observation made both visually and with scientific equipment Stress affects both the mind and body. There exists a cause and effect relationship with stress. Oftentimes this stress can be uncomfortable for humans. 2) Formulation of a hypothesis to explain the phenomenon in the form of a causal mechanism/method/approach. Many psychology methods (REBT, CBT, ACT, DBT, etc.), religious approaches (Buddhism, 12 steps, etc.), and educational programs (Smart Recovery) have attempted to fully and completely explain via a model, how this cause and effect relationship with stress occurs. Up until this point in time, we have not had a model in the world that can successfully depict how this stress occurs each and every time. To their credit, many of these methods partially work and have contributed greatly to humanity. See Wiki.com for information on all the psychology methods and techniques mentioned in this book. With the invention/discovery of Emotional Core Therapy (ECT) we now have a psychology method that accurately can depict this causal relationship between stress and humans through my Eight Step Emotional Core Therapy Flowchart. With ECT, we now have a psychology approach that identifies and treats the root cause of psychological stress. The root cause is the temporary arousal of one of the four true emotions (joy, grief, fear, and relief). ECT also shares and borrows many psychological techniques from the aforementioned approaches. 3) Test the hypothesis. I have tested the Eight Step Flowchart thousands of times in many venues including my clinical practice as well as training other professionals. The ECT process works accurately to depict the situational stress affecting humans. Anytime someone experiences psychological stress, aspects of each of the eight steps of the Emotional Core Therapy Flowchart will be utilized and affected. Why does this phenomenon happen when one experiences stress? The Emotional Core Therapy process highlights and identifies the key components of the root cause of stress. Anyone can test the model which is utilized extensively in this book. 4) Establish a theory based on repeated verification of the results. Billions of people suffering relationship stress can be helped by Emotional Core Therapy. Every effort needs to be made to ensure people plagued by stress have access to this model and the accompanying treatment program in this book. Every effort needs to be made to educate the human population on the ECT process as all humans suffer stress from time to time. Because of the inclusiveness of Emotional Core Therapy, many effective psychology techniques can be used with the ECT process.