Post by Sarah Broughton on Nov 10, 2009 13:26:06 GMT
EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) is an energy psychology that was founded in the mid 1990’s by Gary Craig, a Stanford Engineer, following his studies with Roger Callahan in Thought Field Therapy. As the public demand for alternative medicines is growing we are starting to see and hear more and more about the successes of EFT in the Media, in particular areas of PTSD.
EFT is based on the belief that all negative emotions are a result of an imbalance in the body energy system. Eastern traditions have been aware of the meridians of energy for thousands of years. The meridian network was detailed in the first medical account of acupuncture in The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine, which dates from the Han Dynasty (206 BCE to 220 ACE). One way to describe EFT would be that it is a combination of energy balancing and talk therapy.
An EFT therapist works by percussion tapping (teaching the Client to tap) with the fingertips on certain meridian points, stimulating the blocked energy so that is starts flowing freely again. Whilst tapping, the Client focuses on negative feelings, thoughts and emotions and experiences rapid and often long lasting relief, as the body and mind become calmed and energetically balanced
One of the areas that EFT is most effective in is Trauma. When you experience a traumatic event, it is stored not only in your memory but in your body also. It is not uncommon for sickness and disease to be diagnosed shortly after the experience of trauma. The mind and body operate as one.
The mind is not able to tell the difference between what is happening in the present moment and what is a memory. It can be triggered by anything which it perceives as a threat and the body reacts instinctively in order to protect us. You may experience physical symptoms such as increased heart rate, sweating, shaking, nightmares, insomnia, mood swings, memories of pain or destruction or death, tensions or pain in the body.
For example, if you were the driver who had survived a severe car crash, and before the moment of impact you saw in the rear view mirror a red truck hurtling towards you, then the chances are, in the future (if you ever drive again), when you look into the rearview mirror and see a red truck coming up behind you, you will experience the same rush of physical symptoms that you had just before the original accident.
If you were beaten or abused as a child (or adult) you may be triggered by a smell, a location, a tone of voice or a facial expression and you would immediately feel an emotional intensity.
An EFT Therapist would guide you through these emotional and physical intensities. You would recall the traumatic memory and tap on the meridian points to calm down any anxieties that come up in the process. It is important to work with an experienced Therapist as they will have been trained in techniques such as the Tearless Trauma Technique which allows the client to recall any incident in a safe and pain free environment.
Sometimes relief is experienced almost immediately. The memory is not taken away, instead the negative emotions are neutralized so that you do not have to relive the physical symptoms of the trauma over and over again, as if you were there.
EFT does not replace medical treatments and you should always seek advice from your Doctor before using EFT, this is especially important if you have depression.
This was contributed by Sarah Broughton, EFT Practitioner, who is a Member of AAMET (Association for the Advancement of Meridian Energy Therapies) and GRCCT (General Regulatory Council for Complimentary Therapists). Sarah is also listed as a Member of the NHS Directory of Complimentary and Alternative Practitioners which is available to GPs and members of the public (UK). For more information see www.mindbodyEFT.co.uk or call 0845 0542898 (UK local rate)
EFT is based on the belief that all negative emotions are a result of an imbalance in the body energy system. Eastern traditions have been aware of the meridians of energy for thousands of years. The meridian network was detailed in the first medical account of acupuncture in The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine, which dates from the Han Dynasty (206 BCE to 220 ACE). One way to describe EFT would be that it is a combination of energy balancing and talk therapy.
An EFT therapist works by percussion tapping (teaching the Client to tap) with the fingertips on certain meridian points, stimulating the blocked energy so that is starts flowing freely again. Whilst tapping, the Client focuses on negative feelings, thoughts and emotions and experiences rapid and often long lasting relief, as the body and mind become calmed and energetically balanced
One of the areas that EFT is most effective in is Trauma. When you experience a traumatic event, it is stored not only in your memory but in your body also. It is not uncommon for sickness and disease to be diagnosed shortly after the experience of trauma. The mind and body operate as one.
The mind is not able to tell the difference between what is happening in the present moment and what is a memory. It can be triggered by anything which it perceives as a threat and the body reacts instinctively in order to protect us. You may experience physical symptoms such as increased heart rate, sweating, shaking, nightmares, insomnia, mood swings, memories of pain or destruction or death, tensions or pain in the body.
For example, if you were the driver who had survived a severe car crash, and before the moment of impact you saw in the rear view mirror a red truck hurtling towards you, then the chances are, in the future (if you ever drive again), when you look into the rearview mirror and see a red truck coming up behind you, you will experience the same rush of physical symptoms that you had just before the original accident.
If you were beaten or abused as a child (or adult) you may be triggered by a smell, a location, a tone of voice or a facial expression and you would immediately feel an emotional intensity.
An EFT Therapist would guide you through these emotional and physical intensities. You would recall the traumatic memory and tap on the meridian points to calm down any anxieties that come up in the process. It is important to work with an experienced Therapist as they will have been trained in techniques such as the Tearless Trauma Technique which allows the client to recall any incident in a safe and pain free environment.
Sometimes relief is experienced almost immediately. The memory is not taken away, instead the negative emotions are neutralized so that you do not have to relive the physical symptoms of the trauma over and over again, as if you were there.
EFT does not replace medical treatments and you should always seek advice from your Doctor before using EFT, this is especially important if you have depression.
This was contributed by Sarah Broughton, EFT Practitioner, who is a Member of AAMET (Association for the Advancement of Meridian Energy Therapies) and GRCCT (General Regulatory Council for Complimentary Therapists). Sarah is also listed as a Member of the NHS Directory of Complimentary and Alternative Practitioners which is available to GPs and members of the public (UK). For more information see www.mindbodyEFT.co.uk or call 0845 0542898 (UK local rate)