Where did EFT come from?
EFT was founded in the early 1990s by Stanford-trained engineer Gary Craig, based on the work of psychologist Roger Callahan and others. It is the most well-known modality in the emerging field of “energy psychology.” It is being used worldwide by therapists, physicians, nurses, and coaches, and by millions of individuals. EFT is accepted for continuing education credits by the American Psychology Association, and there is a growing body of documented scientific evidence supporting its effectiveness.
When applied correctly, noticeable shifts and changes typically come quickly with EFT, and results are typically long-lasting or permanent. Complex issues with many “aspects” (pieces or layers) require persistent, step-by-step work, but when EFT is applied skillfully in such cases, noticeable progress, lasting changes, and relief typically occur along the way.
How can EFT help with so many different things?
To newcomers, EFTers can sound over the top with their enthusiasm. That’s because EFT has been successful in helping ease or eliminate the symptoms of a vast and ever-growing list of personal problems. It’s also wonderfully useful for mundane things like pain from stings and bruises, even irritation at being stuck in traffic.
This broad range of success stems from the fact that, like its cousin acupuncture, EFT works (minus the needles) with the underlying energy system that links our body, mind, and emotions . It’s kind of like enjoying the help, at an international meeting, of a moderator who speaks all the languages. No matter where the problem is lodged in one’s system, EFT can “communicate with it.”
It also means that a problem can be approached from different angles: by addressing physical sensations in the body, or feelings about the issue, or beliefs related to the problem.
What about when EFT doesn’t seem to work?
Almost anyone can quickly learn and successfully begin using EFT. This ease of use and beginner success can lead, however, to the misunderstanding that if EFT doesn’t seem to work right away, it’s not able to help. A similar misunderstanding is that if EFT works with a problem or issue that later returns, EFT has failed.
What is likely in either case is that an inexperienced user has not applied EFT with sufficient precision when addressing a complex issue. Another factor is that one can find many different forms of “tapping” that are being labeled as EFT which bear little resemblance to what founder Gary Craig teaches. Perhaps the most common form of this is the combination of tapping with general statements about negative emotion and/or statements of positive affirmation, without attention to the very specific, individual aspects of a given person’s experiences.
If I can do EFT myself, why would I need a practitioner?
One of my favorite things about EFT is that people can quickly and easily learn to do it for themselves. Even so, there are times when, and ways in which, a qualified practitioner can be of valuable help.
If you are new to EFT and learning about it more or less out of curiosity, you may be quite happy with progressing on your own. But if you want to see timely results with a significant problem, or if you are dealing with “a can of worms,” getting help from a skilled practitioner will speed your progress.
You could try EFT on your own, and look for a practitioner when you run into something that blocks your progress. Or, decide to work with a practitioner initially, then use EFT on your own except when you get stuck.
If I work with a practitioner, how many sessions will I need?
Several things affect how many sessions are needed. The main ones are:
#1 The greater or lesser complexity of what is “holding a problem in place.” For example, one person’s fear of riding may be anchored by a single scary fall that involved a rough landing. Another’s fear may be held in place by many bad horse-related experiences, and perhaps seemingly unrelated issues, such as fear of feeling personally not in control.
#2 How specifically focused or how general the main problem is. Even with something as specific-seeming as a fear of riding, the amount of work will vary. With something more general, like “fear of competing,” there may be several related but separate issues involved, such as fear of being in the spotlight, memories of bad experiences in show ring, worry about disappointing a coach, and doubts about the readiness of oneself or one’s horse.
#3-a-b-c The nature of your goals compared to where you currently are with a troubling issue; how much “homework” you are willing to do; and your level of motivation in learning to apply EFT more effectively on your own.
Why does EFT focus on negative stuff?
This is an important question. Resistance to the wording used in EFT can be a barrier to relief for beginners who misunderstand its function. EFT newcomers often ask “why must I say something negative while tapping these powerful points on the body? Aren’t I pounding the negative in?”
No. EFT targets a distress or limitation that already exists, something we want to shift or change. Getting at exactly what that is, as efficiently as possible, is the function of the negative sounding words in the “set up statement” that EFT begins with. The job of the negative sounding “reminder phrase” we use is to keep EFT pointed at that problem through the rest of the process.
It’s a bit like using a hose to get some mud off your driveway – it won’t help much to point the water coming from the hose at the lush garden alongside the drive. The flowers in the garden may benefit from the watering, but the driveway mud will still be there when you’re done.