Why I (usually) start with EFT tapping therapy

When people come to me for a session, we talk about what seems to be the matter. We will probably have discussed this in an initial email or conversation, so we continue.

Two opening questions which guide us both are: “What would you like to have happen?” and “How will you know when things are different?" With some preliminary goals in place, we begin.

Then, I usually start with EFT – Emotional Freedom Techniques. Why? Because through crafting an initial sentence – the Setup Statement, which aims to get to the heart of the matter as accurately as possible – we set the stage for focused, results-oriented work.

What is EFT Tapping Therapy?

EFT was developed over 30 years ago, to alleviate feelings of distress and tension held in mind and body.

The EFT tapping therapy process involves:

• identifying the source of distress or tension (i.e. talking about it in order to name it)

• assessing the level of upset on a scale of 1 to 10 (one being almost none, 10 being a high level of feeling)

• creating a Setup Statement and repeating this statement whilst tapping on the outside, palm-edge of either hand (patients admnister tapping to themselves)

• and then taking a few key words from the Setup Statement to repeat whilst tapping on a sequence of Acupressure points on the upper body.

EFT tapping therapy provides a structure for making peace with issues that plague us or challenges that can be hard to overcome via traditional "talk therapy" methods.

How EFT Helps With Simple or Complex Trauma

A lot is being said these days about how “talking therapies” do not address or relieve deep distress. Much research and reporting in the field of personal growth and mental health are concerned with understanding different levels of trauma, where the impact of an experience may be lodged in memory and also stored in the body. Trauma stored in thoughts and parts of the body, may result in the type of blocks that can be so difficult to overcome. Hearing someone say “I really wish I could overcome this self-destructive habit, but I keep going back to it again and again” may indicate buried, unresolved trauma.

The value of EFT is that it addresses the conceptual parts of an issue through creating the setup statement, and it addresses anxiety held in the body through the tapping sequences.

The Setup Statement in EFT

That said, for me, the elements of EFT tapping therapy that hold most power are the opening and closing phrases of the Setup Statement. We start with the words “Even though” … and end with words such as “… I truly and completely love and accept myself” or “I accept and respect myself” or “I don’t love or accept or respect myself, but hope that maybe one day I might”. EFT involves getting as close to one’s truth as possible. And specifically, what the words “Even though …” imply is acceptance, or if not that, recognition, of what is … “Even though this is the case, I can work with it … or get past it … hopefully”. This part of the EFT method is an acknowledgement of an existing situation or a particular truth, and provides a structure for making peace.

The Range of Depth in EFT

While it's important to acknowledge that EFT can often get to the heart of the matter by addressing an issue specifically, even so, sometimes that is too much. Sometimes things are just too tender or weighty for plain talking. In such cases, EFT can be used with great sensitivity to deal with matters that are simply not tolerable. EFT sequences such as the Movie Technique, or the Tearless Trauma Technique allow us to “tap around” an issue without touching delicate matters too forcefully or intrusively.

Even though EFT cannot heal all injuries or make distress disappear, it can soothe at a deep level.

Let’s begin healing with EFT

If you are curious or ready to try EFT tapping therapy with your therapist, I recommend that you ensure that they are certified and trained in the latest methodologies and in good standing with a reputable group such as EFT International. Reach out if you would like to to discuss or have questions about seeking a therapist who utilizes EFT as part of their therapeutic modalities.