Emotional Freedom Technique is a simple, yet effective technique also known as EFT or Tapping.
Emotional Freedom Technique was developed in the 1990’s by Gary Craig and is sometimes referred to as Energy Psychology.
Basically, EFT works by tapping on specific acupressure meridians or points just beneath the skin to release blockages. When released, the feeling attached to the blockage is also released, enabling it to move through and out of the body. This gentle tapping is combined with words and phrases aimed to focus attention on the issue. You are welcome to download my Tapping Guide.
Emotional Freedom Technique can help to:
Firstly, you will be asked to share what your challenges are. Tapping commences on various acupuncture points around the face, upper body, or hands whilst the difficulties are discussed. This gentle touch combined with mindful vocal attention to thoughts and feelings, changes the original experience. Thus, releasing and clearing the blockage.
EFT is a crossover between counselling skills and complementary therapy as it works with the mind and trapped emotions stored in the body.
Emotional Freedom Technique works well for chronic pain relief. Although physical pain is very real, mindset can magnify the problem. Chronic pain is often tied to unresolved emotional issues and can affect emotional health. Consequently, any anxiety, stress, or irritability can make physical pain worse.
I highly recommend seeking help to begin with, particularly if there is an established issue to be dealt with. While EFT is a great self-help tool and simple to learn, it’s a powerful therapeutic intervention.
There are no known side effects to Emotional Freedom technique, making it safe for almost anyone to explore.
Dr David Feinstein published a paper in May 2019 in the Energy Psychology journal where he surveyed the published data and concluded:
Protocols that utilise acupoint tapping have been shown to be effective with a wide range of conditions and to be significantly more effective than otherwise identical protocols that substitute acupoint tapping with an alternative such as diaphragmatic breathing or tapping on ‘sham’ points (Church, Stapleton, Young & Gallo -2018).
In short tapping itself has been shown to be a potent therapeutic component of the approach.
Much research is now being done on the effectiveness of EFT and you can see here in graphic form a summary of some of the findings and a video showing how the brain waves change during tapping thanks to Dr Pete Stapleton of Bond University, Australia
Dr Stapleton has also used MRI scans to show the difference in brain activity relating to food cravings.
If you want any more evidence you can check out EFT Universe and ACEP.
Matrix Reimprinting was created by Karl Dawson (with whom I trained) and uses EFT in a specific way where we can work with our younger selves. Used skilfully this can resolve trauma and find those deep seated beliefs that we usually create in childhood and often don’t serve us very well as adults.
Sharon King took the technique and now teaches how to use it specifically to deal with pregnancy and birth. Using Matrix Birth Reimprinting, birth traumas can be resolved and amazingly the relationship between mothers and their adult children can be affected to.
Your relationship with you own mother can be healed by reimprinting your own birth though I would not recommend doing this until you have healed any current issues you have with your Mum!
I came to see Sue with Complex PTSD and a massive dollup of anxiety. These problems were well entrenched and having been to several other therapists I was cynical as to the results we would achieve. I had also developed a dislike of therapy and probably therapists!
Sue put me at my ease totally and accepted who I was and where I was in my headspace. My anxiety reduced and we did some meaningful work together to get me to a better place and give me the skills to cope better in my future life. I felt totally supported by Sue and she understood more about where I was and how we could do this (I was quite a mess).
She did this with amazing work and in a way that was geared to my benefit and no judgement on her behalf. I was given homework and this I engaged with which helped me beyond my own expectations.
In these difficult times I am grateful for the work we did as it is helping me with lockdown and the new restrictions in life. I am very grateful for the new skills and a more positive outlook I now own!