EFT stands for Emotional Freedom Technique and is a self-administered form of psychological acupressure based on the same energy points used in acupuncture. But instead of needles simple tapping with fingertips is used.
EFT tapping techniques can be used to help with smoking or food cravings, reducing pain and stress, and coping with most negative emotions.
The basic technique of EFT involves thinking of the negative emotion while using the fingers to tap on a series of 12 points on the body. The premise is that the energy flow of the negative emotion is disturbed and thereby becomes ineffective.
Some proponents of EFT use a modified technique that involves speaking an affirmation out loud in place of merely thinking about the emotion. This may or may not be inconvenient in public places, especially if you’re among friends or co-workers.
This is a new field of therapeutic study and like many techniques not based on medical science has received a fair amount of scoffing and derogatory remarks from the traditional medical profession.
The fact remains the use of EFT does translate into a distraction for an individual that is feeling a negative emotion, as it becomes difficult to focus on it. And this alone “short circuits” the damaging thought process. In many respects the outcome is much more important than the theory behind how and why it works.
Emotional barriers stand in our way of achieving our goals be it to stop smoking or losing weight. If we feel a desire to smoke or have a cookie those thoughts overtake us and we become tuned in to those emotions. At these times the use of EFT can stem the craving or desire and help us through the specific emotional challenge.
EFT tapping is a technique I’ve introduced into my hypnosis practice but I don’t teach affirmations. Instead I get clients to focus on the negative thought itself, such as a cigarette or that piece of chocolate cake you want but know you shouldn’t.
There is not enough room today to highlight and go over the twelve body points for tapping but they’re mostly around the head and shoulder, under the arms and on the wrist. The tapping is performed with the middle and index fingers.
My post today is introducing you to the basics of EFT tapping and what it is all about and how it can be used.
While EFT by itself may in some circumstances be all that is needed to eliminate pain or stress or cravings such as food and smoking, I use it as a supporting technique to hypnosis sessions. Hypnosis still performs the core therapy to tackle the systemic issues, with EFT providing another technique I can provide my clients to combat the challenges of the real world once they leave my office.
Stay tuned for more on this subject.
Hansen
Alternative Health for Today 