The following links offer thoughtful opinions, analysis, and research studies that underscore the strong, lasting results of the Hoffman Process.
We believe that scientific study is an important responsibility in accounting for the benefits offered to the public by the Hoffman Process. Research findings also have assisted us in strengthening and extending the value of our approach to helping people change recurrent unwanted patterns in their lifestyles.
The Hoffman Process is a unique, intensive, psycho-emotional education program in which 125,000 people have participated worldwide since 1967. It is currently offered in 10 countries. A review of existing research from 1985 to 2013 shows that participating in the week-long program has a positive and lasting affect on overall psychological adjustment, in particular reducing negative affect while improving positive affect, health, and well-being. The relationship with one’s self and with family members has also been found to benefit from the Process, along with professional performance and emotional competence in the work environment. The Process is in line with recent and mainstream scientific disciplines, and its techniques concur with various evidence-based methods in a structured and practice-oriented manner. Several renowned scientists have provided testimonials on their own experience and appraisals of the Hoffman Process.
Professors Michael R. Levenson and Carolyn M. Aldwin of the University of California at Davis presented the findings of their three-year, grant research* study on the Hoffman Process in the Nov/ Dec 2006 issue of the scientific peer review journal, “EXPLORE, The Journal of Science and Healing.”
This university peer-review research shows that Hoffman Process participants experienced lasting significant reductions in depression, anxiety, and obsessive/compulsive tendencies, coupled with lasting significant increases in emotional intelligence, life satisfaction, compassion, vitality, and forgiveness. A world-wide search of the research literature shows that no other treatments or interventions produce lasting, significant reductions in negative affects, while simultaneously producing such increases in positive affects.
According to Ron Meister, Ph.D. and an administrative research director, “These research findings indicate that the overall changes available to a Hoffman Process participant are, by any standard, quite remarkable.”
*Grant research means that the University owns the data and researchers are expected to publish their findings, whatever the outcome.
A comprehensive scientific research study was conducted by Alex B. Caldwell, Ph.D., and Curtis S. Hileman, Ph.D., on 58 participants of the Process from 1983 to 1985. It should be noted that, at the time of this study, the format of the Process was rather different from what it is today (two 3-hour sessions per week for 13 weeks versus the present week-long, in-person intensive). The content, however, was essentially the same as what is offered today. (Of course, there have been numerous refinements and improvements in the past 30+ years.)
A study involving 31 individuals was conducted by Alison Candate, MFCC. Rather than measuring personal change, Candate’s research study was directed at clients’ self-reported perceptions of change and value. The Candate Study statistically reflects the responses and reactions that people have to participating in the Hoffman Process.
From 1995–1997, the German psychologist Christiane Windhausen engaged in a comparative study of the results of group therapy in a hospital setting with the week-long Hoffman Process. Using a number of psychological tests, it was demonstrated that significant, lasting positive changes of the Process participants were much stronger than the changes in the participants in the 3-month group hospital program.