The Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)
The Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is an integrative treatment approach that combines various schools of thought such as energy psychology, cognitive therapy, gestalt therapy, and exposure therapy.
The premise of EFT is that people’s problems are caused by a disturbance in the flow of energy in the human energy body. To correct the flow of energy, EFT uses light tapping on a specific sequence of acupressure points as you make self-statements aloud about the various aspects of an issue you’re intentionally choosing to face. Because of the light tapping on acupressure points, EFT is also commonly known as “tapping”.
EFT can be used for in-depth work to heal and resolve your specific problems. It is used to treat depression, anxiety, trauma, addiction, phobias, procrastination, physical pain, and much more. It can be modified based on your needs and issues, such as in the case of trauma where issues may require a more gentle approach. In-depth work is where the presence of a practitioner can be extremely helpful.
EFT can also be used for lighter work in the moment when you encounter daily stressors and worries. It is a coping technique, relaxation technique, and form of stress reduction. It lowers heart rate, blood pressure, stress hormones, and high frequency brain waves associated with stress.
Once learned, EFT is a skill that you have for life that you can use anywhere and anytime to help yourself!
What An EFT Session May Look Like:
- To begin an EFT session you select a personal issue on which you want to work.
- We explore your personal issue to determine the core events and formative experiences in your life that are at the root of the issue.
- We determine the aspects of these core events and formative experiences that need to be tapped on. Aspects of events and experiences connected to an issue include thoughts, feelings, physical sensations, images, memories, sounds, smells, and so on.
- We compose your setup and self-statements that you will say aloud as you tap.
- As you tap on your own acupressure points as you make statements aloud, I also tap on my own acupressure points and make the same statements. At times I may introduce new statements for you to say aloud as you tap.
- After each round of tapping I will ask you what came up for you during it. Some examples of things that may arise for you are feelings, thoughts, physical sensations, images, and memories. After you share, I will ask you to notice or focus on an aspect of what you shared for the next round of tapping. What came up for you becomes the new statement you say aloud during the next round.
- At times I may lead you through different tapping sequences that involve eye movements. The eye movements are important because they stimulate the brain and how the issue is stored within, and help the processing of the issue.
- Examples of what you may experience during a tapping session include emotional and physical release, cognitive shifts, insight, understanding, and a feeling of unburdening.
- Throughout the tapping process we assess how distressing each aspect is in order to track progress and change.
- We tap on as many aspects until there is a generalizing effect where you feel less to little to no distress about an issue as a whole.
- My role during tapping is to help lead, facilitate, and adjust the flow of your EFT session based on what comes up for while you tap. My role is also to provide a safe and supportive place for you to fully let go into your experience.