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Articles
First published in International Therapists (Issue 76, May 2007), the membership magazine of the Federation of Holistic Therapists"
Emotional Freedom Technique - EFT by Sally Canning
With it’s roots in Applied Kinesiology and Thought Field Therapy, EFT is a simple, non invasive meridian based technique for releasing the underlying energy that causes negative emotions. Often the first introduction to a family of Meridian Energy Therapies which work with the subtle energies that circulate within the body. The originator Gary Craig developed this remarkable technique based on the principle that an upsetting experience or problem is associated with a disturbance in the body’s energy system”.
Gary Craig’s Discovery Statement:
“The cause of all negative emotions is a disruption in the body’s energy system”
EFT is a form of psychological acupressure, working with the same energy meridians, however, where acupuncture uses needles to stimulate and unblock the channels EFT uses a system of tapping with the fingers on 13 specific meridian points on the face, hands and upper body whilst using statements relating to and directly focussing on the issue being addressed. For example, thinking the thought that created the emotion, or focusing on the limiting belief. The process enables clients to work rapidly through layers of emotions, beliefs and memories to locate the root cause of their issues.
EFT has gained a well deserved reputation for giving rapid, long lasting relief from anxiety, stress, trauma of all descriptions, fears of flying, spiders, heights, addictions, lack of self esteem/confidence, and a whole host of other human conditions including from my own experience, the control and removal of physical pain, asthma, Meniers disease. It will often work where all else has failed and many therapists, counsellors, trainers and health professionals, claim that it has transformed the way they work.
Meridian Therapies are without doubt changing the face of “talking” therapies today, not necessarily as a replacement but a really effective complimentary treatment that often “leapfrogs” people through their process. For others who come to Meridian Therapies as a first resort the effects are often staggeringly effective, removing fears, phobias, and disabling beliefs in a short space of time. It is not unusual to hear clients talk of life changing experiences in a single session.
 I give an abbreviated explanation of how EFT may be utilised with clients who are willing and able to express their feelings and emotions. However, the beauty of this process is that it may also be used in total confidentiality. It is not strictly necessary for the person to share anything with the therapist. The whole process may be conducted inside the client’s own mind whilst following the protocol, or by substituting key words for the painful memories/incidents. The results are self evident in the physiological responses and signals when a session is at a close, by which time the client is usually relived and relaxed, even when more sessions are required.
EFT does not profess to perform miracles in the way of eradicating negative memories and issues. What it does is to remove the debilitating feelings of anguish, guilt, sorrow, anger, fear, resentment etc which may have been engulfing a person for years, thus allowing them to view the original incident with a calm, detached attitude of, “It happened, it’s over and I’m ok”, enabling them to move on, to experience life from a different, improved, liberating perspective.
During the first session clients are taught the technique for self empowerment, enabling each individual to take charge of their own ongoing well being. This is EFT in its simplest form - identifying the issue, deciding on a suitable “Set up statement”, which is said out loud three times whilst rubbing “the sore spot”, and then tapping with two or three fingers on specific meridian points.
For the beginner EFT is as simple as that. There’s no need to worry about getting it wrong. Any tapping stimulates the meridians, is relaxing and claming and makes you feel better.
EFT with a qualified Practitioner involves more involved preparation. This includes mapping the aspects of the problem, which are then given ratings on a scale of 0-10 to ascertain where to start in the process. The highest numbers indicate the greatest disturbance in the energy system.
Practitioners will then often muscle test a series of statements for psychological reversal, or what we might call self sabotage, as, even though we may think we are ready to let go of a certain issue, we may, in fact have unconscious reasons for holding onto it. Therefore, muscle testing on “I want to get rid of this problem”, may test positive, however, “I want to get rid of this problem now” may elicit a different response which would in itself give a new avenue for exploration.
To direct the tapping to the required area, we focus the mind on the problem by using a statement: for example, “I am scared stiff of spiders”, or in the case of physical ailments and pain: “My back is killing me.”
This “Set Up” Statement must be meaningful to the client, using their own phraseology and words, and is spoken whilst rubbing the “sore spot” on the chest, and phrased as, “Even though I’m scared stiff of spiders, I love and accept myself”, (or words to that effect).
This is repeated three times whilst rubbing the Sore Spot continuously.
Following the Set Up all the points are tapped 7-9 times whilst the client repeats a shortened version of the statement; the reminder phrase, “I’m scared of spiders”.
The next step, the 9 gamut, often raises a smile and furrowed brow when a sequence of eye movements and humming is introduced. This involves looking up, down, down to the right, down to the left, circling the eyes all the way around like a clock, one way and then again in the opposite direction. The client is then asked to hum one bar of a familiar tune, for eg Happy Birthday to you, say one, two, three, four, five, quickly and then hum the tune again.
The thinking behind this process comes from both Kinesiology and N.L.P. that state where you place the eye will influence which part of the brain is in use. Eg, when looking down to the right, we access the lower left portion of the brain, (the kinaesthetic area where we feel emotions). The humming-counting-humming manoeuvre is to switch between hemispheres quite quickly. The humming sequence engages right brain activity, and counting, left brain action. Overall this procedure is a very useful brain balancing exercise.
Tapping on each of the points is then repeated.
This process which actually only takes about two minutes is called the EFT Round.
At the end of the round the client is again asked how they feel on a scale of 0-10. Usually the number will have reduced. If it has not then it may be that the set up statement was not precise enough and may need to be reconsidered. However, where the number is lower another round may be conducted with the thought held in mind of how the feelings are in the moment until the scale has reduced, ideally to zero.
When the issue is resolved the client is left with the memory without the associated feelings. At this stage we refer back to the aspects to re evaluate the remaining issues. Often previously high scores have reduced and in some cases, disappeared altogether, highlighting areas that require further consideration.
The important thing is to continue testing. “So, what happens if the spider is still? Now, what happens when the spider moves, or runs across the floor? How do you react to the thought of lots of tiny spiders? or the idea of a big one in the corner of the room?” The aim is to remove the irrational fear and resulting associated behaviour.
I worked with a friend for about half an hour on her life long fear of wasps. After the treatment she bemoaned the fact that although she was no longer panic stricken about the sight or sound of them she still wouldn’t like one to get too close. “Who would?” was my response. However, six months later she assisted her partner in removing a wasps’ nest from under a tiled roof with all due caution but absolutely no histrionics!
From a personal perspective, combining Meridian Therapies with other modalities has transformed my Practice. I feel privileged to offer techniques that empower and enable individuals to be the best they can.
Sally Canning is passionate about enabling people to attain their personal potential through energy work and Meridian Therapies.
 She is an Advanced Practitioner of EFT and EmoTrance, and Trainers’ Trainer for the Association of Meridian Therapies. Sally holds a diploma in Gentle Touch Reflexology, is a Reiki Master/Teacher and is also a Practitioner of Australian Bush Flower Essences.
For more information please contact 
www.innersolutions-uk.com
innersolutions@hotmail.co.uk
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