What is Emotional Freedom Therapy? EFT

Emotional Freedom Therapy or EFT is what most people know as "Tapping."  I have to admit that the first time that I heard of a therapist using this, I was quite skeptical.  Now I understand that there is actually a physiological reason that it works.

EFT is like Acupuncture without the needles.  It is tapping on the meridians in your body where an acupuncturist would put the needles.  The great thing about EFT is that anyone can do it anytime and any place.  (although you may get some strange looks if done in public.  lol)  You don't need to be a therapist or medical clinician to do it and you don't need to be in the presence of a clinician while doing it.  And the best news, besides its efficacy, is that it is free.  Doesn't cost a cent.  Once you learn it, there is no way to mess it up or endanger yourself.  Anyone can do it; even children!

In my last blog we talked a little about the amygdala and how it effects how we feel and behave. According to Nick Ortner, author of "The Tapping Solution,"  'The limbic system is the source of emotions and long-term memory, and it’s where negative experiences are encoded. The amygdala has been called the body’s smoke detector. “Uh-oh, here comes trouble,” says the amygdala. “Something is threatening our safety.” It signals the brain to mobilize the body in the fight-or-flight response. Tapping on the meridian endpoints helps to deactivate the amygdala’s alarm and sends a calming response to the body, and the amygdala recognizes that it’s safe.'  Whether your safety is truly being threatened or not, it would be good to know how to calm yourself in the face of danger or the unwarranted fear of it.

I recommend visiting www.thetappingsolution.com to watch an instructional video; this is how that website describes tapping:  'The basic technique requires you to focus on the negative emotion at hand: a fear or anxiety, a bad memory, or any other aspect around an unresolved problem, or anything that’s bothering you. While maintaining your mental focus on this issue, use your fingertips to tap 5-7 times each on 12 of the body’s meridian points. Tapping on these meridian points – while concentrating on accepting and resolving the negative emotion – will access your body’s energy, restoring it to a balanced state.' 

My clients that have been open to trying EFT have reported significant improvement, progress and relief from anxiety, pain and unease.  There are many books and videos to learn more about tapping and some therapists like myself who incorporate it into their mental health practice.

Happy Tapping!

Lisa