Emotional Freedom Technique

Emotional Freedom Technique is also known as tapping or simply EFT. It works by tapping pressure points on the face, head and upper body and is similar to acupressure. The difference is that during a session the client makes affirmations relating to what is bothering them. They voice their concerns and tap on the points to help relieve the pressure.

A session with an EFT practitioner always starts with a chat about what is troubling you. Maybe you are struggling at work, and it is making you feel that you are not right for it. The chat allows for the session to be tailored to the client.

It begins by tapping the side of the hand, known as the karate chop point. Together the client and therapist repeat a set up phrase, such as 'even though I am struggling at work I deeply and completely love and accept myself'.  We make this affirmation because even though we are struggling that doesn't mean that we are wrong or that we are 'less than' because the job isn't going as we expected.

By doing this first action we are affirming to the mind that we are worthy of love and that we can deal with these feelings without beating ourselves up! We repeat the set up phrase 3 times and then move on to voice what is bothering us.

Using the words that we have identified during our chat we tap on the points. Words that may have been used in the chat, like overwhelm, panic, stupid, struggle and frustration are all said out loud to acknowledge our feelings and identify what we are working on. As we tap the points on the head, face and upper body the energy that is lodged in these points start to dissolve.

How do we know if it has worked? The first thing is that we will feel better immediately. We will feel calmer and more positive. I say we because the therapist benefits from the treatments as well because they are tapping along with the client. On a more practical note, there are markers that we put in place at the beginning of the session to gauge whether those feelings have lessened when we have finished the rounds of tapping.

The therapist will ask the client to give a number to the intensity of the feeling. The client may give it a ten. Or, we could give it a shape or colour and identify where in the body the client is feeling it. At the end of the first round the therapist will ask if the number has changed or the shape or colour has altered. The client may be surprised to find that the number has dropped or that the black hole in their tummy has filled with a beautiful colour.

After the session you will have learned a valuable technique that you can use anywhere. If you are feeling overwhelmed at work a quick trip to the bathroom to do some tapping will help instantly. If the children are running around happily splitting your ear drums, finding a corner to do a quick tapping session will help you to cope with the noise. It really is a portable therapy that once you have learned can help you anywhere!