I’m excited to talk to you about a new treatment option I’m learning, but I’m also hesitant because I’m new to it and it’s still in its infancy.  As a Ph.D. therapist, trained in the scientist-practitioner model, which holds high standards for scientific validity in treatment options, yet still acknowledges that what works in the lab doesn’t always work in the real world, I’m constantly searching for new tools for my therapy “toolbox.” Because of this training, I was initially skeptical about this technique until I tried it on myself and my clients. People who know me well know that I'm not prone to hyperbole or exaggeration when it comes to most things, so when I say, "wow!" that's unusual.  This earns a Wow! 

Basically, I’m a pragmatist as a therapist, looking for whatever works to help a particular client with their unique needs and concerns.  Consequently, I’ve been on a search all my life for healing techniques.  That search has taken me from traditional training in psychology to the exploration of the mind/body connection and various healing modalities used throughout time and in different cultures.  Where possible, I try out a new technique on myself first –to learn it from the client’s perspective, and then be able to speak firsthand about its effects or benefits. 

For example, I’ve explored a variety of body/energy therapies, such as yoga, massage, Reiki, dance, acupuncture, cranio-sacral therapy, and holotropic breathwork.  I’ve tried chanting, drumming, affirmations, shamanic journeying, meditation, dreamwork, labyrinths, and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing).  I’ve been in encounter groups in the 1970’s and support groups in the 1990’s.  In short,  if I think something might help myself or my clients, I give it a try.

This technique is what I’d refer to as an energy therapy that blends East and West and mind/body techniques.  It’s called Emotional Freedom Technique or EFT, for short.  It’s like acupuncture without needles.  While gently tapping on various points, called meridian points, around your body and saying a setup affirmation aloud, intense emotional states can be reduced dramatically and quickly, sometimes in a matter of minutes.

EFT has been around roughly 10-15 years and has many case studies by individual practitioners claiming its benefits on many issues and concerns. (See www.emofree.com to learn more about it.)  Lest this is starting to sound like “snake oil,” some controlled experiments are being published in reputable journals comparing the effects of this treatment to others. Of course, much more needs to be done.  Still, all new discoveries start out this way, with anecdotal evidence and case studies, then science catches on and does more  rigorous experimental studies.  

The general idea underlying acupuncture, acupressure and EFT is that health is due to an unobstructed flow of energy throughout the body. Any blockage of that flow or deficiency or stagnation in the quality of that energy is believed to produce illness.  Each of these modalities is a way to unblock that flow of energy so healthy functioning can return.  Further, EFT asserts that thoughts, including memories of past painful or traumatic situations, can cause a disruption of the body’s energy system, thus producing emotional pain, and contributing at times to physical pain and illnesses.  By focusing on the distressing thought or memory while tapping on the meridian points, the energy system can be realigned, thus restoring a more integrated, natural state of ease and health. Furthermore, the benefits appear to be lasting.  An oversimplified description of EFT is that it’s like an eraser for emotional pain.  Of course, most of the concerns that bring people to therapy are complex and have many aspects to them, so this is no “magic wand,” but it appears to be able to help someone address their issues and concerns with a minimum of emotional pain. 

For example, on the training videos, I watched a 54 y/o man with an intense fear of water overcome his lifelong fear in about 20 minutes using this technique.  Not only did he agree after some tapping to get into a swimming pool, but with a few more rounds of tapping he was soon joyfully bobbing and dunking himself underwater and eyeing the deep end of the pool with curiosity, wondering what it would be like to go into water where he couldn’t touch the bottom.  Even the trainers were amazed.

I have used EFT with clients to reduce the intensity of anger, panic, grief, worry, self-judgment, food cravings, writer’s block, and suicidal thoughts.  I have stopped panic attacks dead in their tracks and gone from the onset of a panic attack to dancing and singing with joy in fewer than 10 minutes! I’m also going to be using this technique with sales teams for Peak Performance issues.  Do I want to learn more about this? You bet!  I’m off to Albuquerque, NM for 5 days of intense training at the beginning of February. See you when I get back.