By Whitney Demorest, MA
Can tapping on specific meridian points (energy channels) on the body really create positive shifts and relieve emotional distress? More than 1 million people worldwide are now using Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) to do just that. EFT can clear out past and current emotional and physical challenges so that the mind, body, and spirit feel lighter and more balanced.
Where Did It Come From? EFT has its origins more than 5,000 years ago in ancient China, where the subtle energies and meridians that travel throughout the body were first discovered. It is based in the beliefs similar to those of acupuncture—that healing revolves around managing the body’s chi, or energy flow. In the 1970s a psychologist named Rodger Callahan discovered some major breakthroughs with his clients by merging the theories of acupressure, applied kinesiology, and talk therapy to create Thought Field Therapy. Years later, Gary Craig, a student of Callahan’s, whose goal was to make TFT more accessible, created what is now EFT.
How Does It Work? EFT involves tapping on designated meridian points while tuning into and exploring problems, emotional issues, or physical challenges. It is self-administered while following the practitioner’s lead. Its effectiveness is based on the theory that negative emotions create a block in the flow of our energy, or chi, system. Tapping on specific meridian points while tuning into the negative emotions or problem signals the body to clear the blockage. As George J. Pratt, PhD, author of Instant Emotional Healing, says, “Thought fields created by strong negative emotions appear to deliver a shock to the system, causing blockages in the meridians. The energy of that thought field is believed to be trapped, creating an emotional loop that cannot escape or dissipate.” It is these blockages that are the target of Emotional Freedom Technique.
Dr. Dawson Church, author of Genie in Your Genes, has spearheaded much of the current research regarding EFT and other energy tools. MRI brain studies have identified that energy therapies such as EFT can reduce anxiety. Research identified that after 12 sessions of EFT, patients with severe anxiety shifted from dysfunctional brain scans to completely normal frequencies. Dawson also found that EFT could help lower cortisol levels in the body. High cortisol levels have been associated with chronic health issues and heart disease. For more on his research regarding energy medicine, visit soulmedicineinstitute.org.
What Results Can You Expect? The results will be different for everyone depending on what the issue is and how long it has been part of your process. In my experience an EFT session feels like an emotional release, in which neutrality, clarity, and calm are restored around a particle issue. My clients report feeling less attached and reactive to their problem or issue. They often report feeling more clear about the source of the issue, and they feel more centered, grounded, and ready to take positive, conscious action. I have been integrating EFT into my coaching practice for four years and have seen great results by merging this energy tool with personal-success coaching techniques. I have watched clients process through deep emotional turmoil from their past and present in a very efficient, direct way. Using EFT to explore patterns and conditioned thoughts and behaviors helps to unveil deep-rooted beliefs that do not serve us, so that we are free to move forward in our lives, whether in the realm of family, work, or relationships. EFT has been found to be very effective in treating a variety of issues, including:
- Identifying and releasing core limiting beliefs and behaviors regarding relationships conflicts, money issues, and work performance,
- Reducing fears (public speaking), anxiety, physical pain, food cravings, and weight issues.
EFT can also be used with children. They seem to pick it up very rapidly, and they feel empowered when they can walk out of my office with a tool to help themselves. I have treated children ages six and up for sleep issues, anxiety, fears, peer/parent relationship problems, and test/school performance anxiety.
Many leaders in the health and wellness field such as Dr. Joseph Mercola, Candace Pert, PhD, Deepak Chopra, and Bruce Lipton, PhD have endorsed EFT. “Some day the medical profession will wake up and realize that unresolved emotional issues are the main cause of 85% of all illnesses. When they do, EFT will be one of their primary healing tools … as it is for me.”—Eric Robins, MD
For more information visit EFTuniverse.com. This website contains a multitude of articles, manuals, and general information regarding EFT. You can also view a great introductory video can be viewed on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMs0gdF_V60&feature=related
Whitney Demorest, MA, is an EFT practitioner in Chico. Please visit www.thinkwellbewell.com for more information regarding scheduling a session.
“The EFT experience quickly and painlessly helped me work on some issues I had with work anxiety. I felt the apprehension dissipate and I received clarity on the root of my worries in very little time. It was empowering, straightforward, and easy to learn for yourself.”—Past EFT client