What is tapping?

EFT: EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUE

motional Freedom Technique (or tapping) is a form of therapy that is very effective in helping to resolve physical and psycho-emotional issues. It combines western techniques of talking therapies with eastern ideas of energy pathways and points, called meridians and acupressure points in Chinese Medicine.

Painful memories and experiences, accidents, intense shock and prolonged stress can leave us with physical and psycho-emotional symptoms that affect our present behaviour and health, and thus the quality of our lives. Such trauma become lodged in our systems largely because these experiences did not have the opportunity to complete or to find coherence within our psyche. EFT offers us the opportunity to do just that.

The total human experience is complex and non-linear. EFT seems to work where the more linear healthcare modalities lack in effectiveness. EFT is effective both within a therapeutic setting with a practitioner and as a self-help tool.

What is EFT effective for?

• Reduce or eliminate anxiety, including phobias
• Reduce or eliminate physical pain
• Clear emotional stress and trauma
• Implement positive goals

How does EFT work?

As yet, there is no scientifically proven model that explains the effectiveness of EFT. It is believed, however, that life energy or vital energy, often referred to as Prana, Ki, or Chi, is always flowing through our bodies. It does so using pathways (meridians) which connect with each other at specific points. If the flow of energy is smooth, we feel well. However, if the flow is disturbed and gets stuck we experience distress, which can be expressed as physical pain, anger, stress, or any other uncomfortable sensation. Therefore, the idea of EFT is to get our energy to flow again. Some think of EFT as a kind of energetic or psychological Acupuncture.

The points where we tap on the body, which includes the face, the upper body and the hands, are locations where the major meridians in the body connect and these are places where energy can easily get stuck or stagnant. The practitioner guides the process by helping the client identify the parts of an experience that still have a hold on their psycho-emotional state and then taps with the client, with the client repeating some relevant words or phrases.

Physical symptoms tend to decrease in intensity, and sometimes even disappear altogether, from a few rounds of tapping. More complex issues require a longer process. The general sensation that most people have from the work is a sense of closure or distance from experiences that once had a negative or stressful effect on them.