Emotional Freedom Technique

I'm a hard sell. The "Emotional Freedom Technique," or commonly known as "EFT," has finally won me over.   Any of you who've become familiar with me and my style know how difficult it is for me to believe without proof!  Well, "the proof is in the pudding" and the pudding is real good!

This eft emotional freedom technique, used to alleviate trauma, anxiety, depression, chronic pain and many other ailments, continues to grow in international acclaim.  Discovered over 9 years ago, I first came across it in 1999.  I obtained a manual, read it, looked for the usual controlled clinical trials/studies.  There weren't any so I put it down.  That was too bad, because I lost 4 years of opportunity to use it for the benefit of you, my office clients, family, friends and my own needs.

I believe in the Rule of Three.  If something comes across my path three times I'm supposed to pay attention to it.  Okay, okay... so the emotional freedom technique came to my attention probably 7 or 8 times over the last 5 years.  I can be a bit stubborn at times (grin).

I picked up the manual again over a year ago.  The anecdotal evidence had continued and continues to pour in on the effectiveness of the emotional freedom technique.   So, as I so often do, I began utilizing the technique for my own needs.  I used eft for weight loss and energy - my children became guinea pigs as I used the emotional freedom technique with them too.  At times my son's feelings are hurt or my daughter gets "brain locked" about getting her way.  I reframed eft as a "magic trick" and at least my daughter (5yrs old) seems to like it.  It worked for Sarah, but I knew it was a great novelty and distraction for her so I discounted the results.  But, it worked, and continues to immediately calm my son (7yo), who can become passionately upset at times.  This I was quite impressed with.  Of course he denies that it has anything to do with "that tapping thing."

My wife, who's even more skeptical than I am about new techniques (she's also a veteran psychotherapist), said she'd give the emotional freedom technique a try for lower back pain.  Ever since she gave birth to our first child over seven years ago, she's had pain in her lower back.  It's worse in the mornings with a pain rating of 6-7 out of 10.  I completed two rounds of the emotional freedom technique with her, which took about 2 minutes.  Her pain level was a "1" when I finished.  I tested sustainability with her over the next several weeks.  Funny thing, the first day (three days following our eft session) I asked her to rate her level of pain, she made a perplexed face and said, "Hmmm... I hadn't thought about it."  Then she followed with, "You know what... I barely notice any sensation in my lower back at all.  Probably a "1" or no pain at all."  That was over three months ago and she continues to have relief from the pain.

Now my own experience.  I am a bit afraid to share, only because I don't want to set you up for expectations which may not occur for you.  In the last year, doing the emotional freedom technique at regular intervals, my appetite is substantially reduced.  I don't crave sweets like I use to, my food portion sizes are excellent and I've lost and kept off over 50lbs.   Not bad, eh?  Additionally, my energy is up about 20% more than a year ago, but I'm unsure how much of that is due to eft, increased exercise, better eating habits and/or weight loss.

I've introduced the emotional freedom technique into my therapy practice too.  My clients have had success with depression, anxiety, rage and phobia issues.  Let me share a story from two weeks ago.  I saw a 9 year old child who has a phobia of death.  He had a family member die 10 days prior to our session.  It brought up his terrible fear of death.  I asked him if he would be okay if I tried the emotional freedom technique. I told him that it was possible eft could help the big bad feelings in his tummy not be so bad.  I told him it might not work but that it might be worth a try.  He agreed.  As he recounted a funeral he had been to the previous Friday, he rated his discomfort at an "8" on a scale of 10.  After one round of the emotional freedom technique he was at a "4."  I was three-quarters of the way through the second round of eft when he lifted his hands up and put them flat together.  I asked him what that meant and he said, "All the bad feelings are gone."  I tested him twice before the end of the session by requesting he think about death and see if he had any of those really awful feelings come up.  He couldn't access them at all!  Exactly one week after our session, I was on the phone with his mom scheduling a session and I asked him to get on the phone for a minute.  I tested him again, and once again he said he didn't feel any of those bad feelings, even while thinking and visualizing about being at the funeral home. 

By now your likely saying, "DAVE, what is this blasted emotional freedom technique!!?"  I'll explain it to you in the best way I can.  The emotional freedom technique is a combination of acupressure meridian point tapping, along with a verbal phrase, which is called the "Setup Phrase."  The setup phrase helps you focus specifically on what you're targeting or trying to get rid of.  And the final part of the phrase is an affirmation.  So, first you identify the issue and rate it on a scale of 1-10 in terms of emotional/physical pain.  While tapping the Karate Chop point (see picture below) you might say, "Even though I feel depressed, I completely love and accept myself."  Keep in mind that you do not need to believe in the technique or the affirmation in order for it to work!  Continue tapping the Karate Chop point while repeating the setup phrase three times.

"Even though I [fill in blank] I completely accept myself."





After the Setup Phrase and tapping the Karate Chop point, move on to the 5 tapping points on the face. Do 7 taps on each spot, while repeating just the specific issue you are focusing on. For example, if your Setup Phrase is "Even though I crave chocolate, I completely accept myself." Once you begin tapping the face points, you would say, "crave chocolate" while tapping each of the points. Continue repeating this reminder phrase as you move on to the other tapping areas.

The face tapping points are:

EB - Eyebrow (inner point of brow) either side or both at once.

SE - Side of Eye just on the bone, either side or both at once.

UE - Under eye directly below pupil. Either side or both.

UN - Under nose midway between nose and upper lip.

Ch - Chin in indentation below lower lip.





Next you'll tap the Collar Bone point. To find this point, follow the collar bone down to the breast bone. Once at the breast bone, drop down one inch and over one inch either direction. You should feel an indentation on both sides. Remember to repeat the reminder phrase (crave chocolate)during the 7 taps on this area. You may tap either or both areas.





For the side tap you will reach across the body and tap at an even level with the nipple if you're male, and at the middle area of the bra strap if you're female. I use three fingers when tapping this area to assure I hit the right meridian point.





Always rate the level of pain before and after EACH round of tapping with the emotional freedom technique.  If there is no change, you're likely only targeting a symptom of the real problem.  With complex problems like depression, which involve many symptoms, it's often best to have someone lead you through it.  It's like tree pruning.  You can see good results with trimming the limbs off the tree, but if you want the entire tree gone you have to go to the source; taking the saw to the ground and then grinding up the roots of the tree to reclaim fertile ground.  

Working all these aspects can become confusing, even overwhelming.  The good news is that the emotional freedom technique is easily done by phone, with someone experienced in working eft, as I am. I've now received over 30 hours of training in this technique.   If you would like personal guidance call me at 317-865-1674 and we can set a time to complete an emotional freedom technique session by phone.  My rate is affordable and you may only need a 30 minute consultation.

If you're a go-getter and a skilled self-learner you will want to take a look at Dr. Patricia Carrington's Emotional Freedom Technique  videotape and book on the subject.  It's the best available.  It's affordable and professionally well done. 

Best wishes in using this emotional freedom technique -- a  non-invasive, powerful and natural alternative to life's struggles.