The Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is a well-known acupressure technique that integrates intention while meridian points are being tapped. EFT has been applied with good success in reducing anxiety, addictions, sensitivities to foods or allergens, traumas, and even delusions. It has been accepted by the American Psychological Association as a viable intervention and has been successfully used at VA hospitals for the relief of PTSD.
Some aspects of this technique to keep in mind:
1) be specific with describing the problem.
2) repeat the process and address the problem from different angles, to improve outcome.
3) applying EFT to early childhood traumas amplifies the healing benefits.
During a session, I would usually do this technique with the patient twice for the same problem, because repetition is helpful. I would often ask my patients to repeat the EFT that I had created for the patient over the course of the week, such as doing it once per day for the following week.
My first experience, in the use of this technique, was in the healing of a six-year-old boy who had a phobia for two years. It resolved, through this technique, and the process took about half an hour. Later this same little boy overcame his fear of swimming in the adult side of the swimming pool, with its greater depth of water, by using this tapping technique.
Over the years, I have seen this technique resolve paranoid delusions. One patient thought her mother and I wanted to poison her through her nutritional supplements. In the middle of tapping on this problem, she became amused at her ridiculous belief and was able to let it go. Another patient reported that her hot flashes, occurring several times per day, resolved after four rounds of tapping.
The EFT Power Tapping approach that I share today is one way of doing EFT, in my practice. It has an additional acupressure point that I have included. I like this approach because it uses alternating tapping, using both hands, which is similar to the alternating tapping approach learned in EMDR, another Thought Field Therapy technique for addressing traumas. So, this Power Tapping approach integrates some aspects of EMDR and EFT into a single technique.
The template below provides step-by-step instructions for the technique. Simply fill in the blanks with the appropriate words, for whatever problem is being addressed. I hope this technique will be helpful to you.
Begin with three energy breaths (this easy meditative approach is recorded and available on my website - click here for easy access.).
Next, rub the area over the left side of the chest (like doing the pledge of allegiance sign), in a clockwise circle, with the palms flat against the chest. While rubbing in a circle, say the following three times:
Even though I’m feeling/ have a problem with __.
I deeply and completely love, accept, and forgive myself and all others.
I forgive myself for __.
I forgive others for __.
And I choose to __.
While tapping the following points, repeat just “the problem”: Feeling/Having a problem with __.
Use both hands to tap in an alternating pattern on top of your head.
Use both hands to tap in an alternating pattern at the beginning of your eyebrows.
Use both hands to tap in an alternating pattern on the side of your head, right by your eyes, in the area of the temples.
Use both hands to tap in an alternating pattern under the eyes.
Use one hand to tap under your nose.
Use one hand to tap under your lips.
Use both hands to tap in an alternating pattern right below the mid-point of your collar bones.
Use a flat fist and tap over the thymus located over chest area, in the middle of the sternum.
Use both hands to tap in an alternating pattern below the nipple point. For women it is at the bottom of the bra, at the mid-point of the ribs.
Use both hands to tap in an alternating pattern at your sides, about 5 inches below the underarms. If you can’t do both sides at once, then do one side at a time.
Tap the inside of the wrists together.
End by tapping the top of the head with both hands in an alternating pattern.
Finish with three energy breaths (once again, this easy meditative approach is recorded and available on my website - click here for easy access).