You arrive at the airline boarding gate to leave on your vacation. Looking around at other passengers, you notice a woman vigorously tapping on her face and torso. This behavior—although it may appear bizarre—is one of the safest, drug-free methods for treating fears, nervousness, discomfort and tension, including the fear of flying. Called Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), this simple, easy to learn, self-administered treatment can be used by people of all ages on a wide variety of issues. It also is especially effective used in private counseling/coaching sessions.

How Does it Work?

Based on the ancient principles of acupuncture, EFT addresses the possibility that unpleasant experiences can be blocking the body’s energy system. These blocks can involve disturbing memories—fears, stressful situations, grief, depression, guilt, shame or worry. EFT involves lightly tapping on specific acupuncture points on the face, torso and hands to gently realign the body’s meridian-energy system. EFT users agree that tapping makes them feel significantly better in a short period of time.

Medical technology now can quantify what the ancient Chinese knew more than 5,000 years ago. Our bodies and minds have complex energetic pathways. Electroencephalography (EEG), or brain scan measuring electrical activity, indicates that tapping decreases mental activity in the central and front portions of the brain, allowing the fight or flight response to release and calm to return. According to Ronald A. Ruden, M.D., Ph.D. in his book Why Tapping Works: Speculations from the Observable Brain, brain chemistry also may be part of the process because stimulation of acupressure points may enhance the production of neurotransmitters and endorphins, chemicals that contribute to a sense of wellbeing and stress relief. Recent studies have indicated that brief periods of tapping are significantly more effective for lowering the stress hormone cortisol in saliva when compared with control groups taking stress management classes or napping for an hour.

EFT combines three powerful forms of energy—intentional focus, spoken words and kinesthetic energy. Focusing on a specific issue activates intention or “exposure to specific memory”. The voice is added in the form of a simple “reminder phrase” spoken as the specific treatment points are activated by tapping, which brings energy into the meridian system, engaging the energy pathways related to that specific problem. Beginners are encouraged not to worry too much about the words chosen for statements. Newcomers are cautioned that scripts you find online may not be specific enough to address your particular problem. While you are encouraged to trust your intuition when developing reminder phrases, you also must make them specific. You can find treatment statement examples on the Gold Standard EFT website www.emofree.com or you can work with a practitioner to learn how to develop statements for your personal needs.

Eastern medicine has suggested that distinct emotions are involved with each energy meridian pathway. For example, the stomach meridian (acupoint under the eye) is often associated with blocks connected to memories involving of worry and trust/mistrust, while the lung meridian may be connected to feelings of grief. There is no need to get caught up in with these theories because when EFT is administered using the basic recipe, relief happens even without knowing which emotions or meridians are involved. You simply tap all of the points, even though all of them may not all be needed for successful treatment. There is no harm in doing so; it’s fast to accomplish and the body balances the energy naturally, releasing what is no longer needed.

Research

The body of research on EFT has grown substantially in recent years. Over 50 studies, including 23 randomized controlled trials and 17 within-subjects studies with EFT have been published in peer-reviewed journals. EFT now meets the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Division 12 Criteria for “evidence-based” practice, which means psychologists, social workers, nurses and a variety of licensed professionals can now obtain continuing education credits, as well as professional certification for courses on EFT. Additional research studies are ongoing through the Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology (ACEP). The most recent summaries can be found online at www.energypsych.org.

Joseph Mercola, DO, a physician and the founder of the world’s most popular natural-health newsletter (see www.mercola.com), shares, “We implemented EFT…to help our patients comply to the eating plan and it was absolutely phenomenal. I was very impressed with EFT’s effectiveness and rapidly adopted it for a variety of other issues…EFT seems to work well over 85 percent of the time in our clinic…and it is quite clear to me that EFT-type therapies are absolutely critical to nearly all health-optimizing strategies.” Other people providing testimonials include a woman who utilizes EFT to calm herself before giving a public presentation and a man who used it to get over his aversion to making business calls.

Learning EFT

You will find many methods and forms of EFT on the Internet. Check credentials, experience and certifications to be sure you have landed on a reputable source. There are also many terms that apply to treatments similar to EFT, such as tapping, acupressure, meridian therapy and more. Online tutorials from the founder of EFT, Gary Craig’s Gold Standard EFT program at www.emofree.com provide an impressive body of cases, articles and videos, newsletter, as well as a professional certification program affiliated with The Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology. Certifications are also available through AMET and EFTUniverse, although these protocols depart from founder Gary Craig’s procedure.

In addition to online resources, certified practitioners can help you to learn and use EFT. Live sessions with an experienced EFT practitioner offer the opportunity for privacy, to see the technique in action, have questions answered and learn troubleshooting tips. An experienced EFT practitioner also knows how to ask specific questions to uncover the core emotional issues, as well as experience and training to help you find the greatest success in the shortest time. Certified EFT practitioners practice under ethical guidelines and will provide outside referral for complicated or difficult cases.

You can experience many wonderful transformations by using EFT in your own life. In fact, you do not even need to have problems to benefit from tapping. Try a morning routine tapping the EFT treatment points as you speak positive affirmations of acceptance and self-love to get every day off to a positive start.

The Basic EFT Procedure (Short Form)

EFT in short form uses only head and torso points. The full EFT protocol also includes taps on finger points, as well as eye movements, humming and counting.

1. Choose a specific event, issue or “problem” for work. Rate the intensity, or subjective units of distress “SUDs” on a scale of 0-10

2. The Setup and reminder phrase

Feel for a “sore spot” or neurolymphatic point on the upper breast, usually near the shoulder and along the side the underarm. Soreness indicates lymphatic congestion, but the point need not be sore to use it for treatment. As treatment begins, the sore spot is massaged in a circular motion while speaking the set-up statements. An optional set-up method is to tap with two fingers on the “pinkie side” of the opposite hand, the fleshy “karate chop area.” Both methods work; select your favorite.

Say “Even though I have this ____________, I completely love and accept myself” Say this affirmation out loud 3 times while rubbing the sore spot or tapping on the Karate Chop point.

3. The EFT Tapping Sequence — Tap about 7-10 times on each of the following points while repeating a reminder phrase at each point

Inside Edge of Eyebrow

Outside corners of eye

Under eye on ridge of bone

Center Above upper lip

Center Below lower lip

Collarbone

Under Arm

Stop and Evaluate on a 0-10 Scale (if >0, repeat sequence)

4. Repeat the sequence, if needed, while repeating the reminder phrase or adjust phrase to reflect the fact that you are addressing the remaining problem.

As you tap, you may feel a pleasant tingling sensation accompanied by a state of calm alert. Often, tears will stop flowing and the throat will loosen. An energy release in the form of a deep sigh, a yawn or muscle release also may occur as you tap. Physical discomfort often decreases and stress melts away. Each person’s experience is unique and depends upon the intentional focus of the EFT session.

EFT is a gift that you easily can learn and share. A person need not even believe EFT will work in order to get amazing results. Why not give EFT a try? It is a natural way to live life in the flow of greater comfort, peace and connection.

Betsy B. Muller, MBA, ACAP – EFT, CEHP, CEC is a Certified Advanced Practitioner of EFT and Certified Energy Health Practitioner by the Association of Comprehensive Energy Psychology. She is a creative business leader who specializes in helping others transform chaos into clarity. Betsy is also an NSA professional speaker, holistic business coach and best-selling author of Energy Makeover. She offers private EFT coaching sessions by Skype, phone or in person, group coaching, women’s breakfast networking & events, training in energy coaching techniques, mentoring for holistic service businesses, travel opportunities and inspiring presentations for sales meetings and organizational events.

Betsy Muller, MBA, CAP-EFT, CEHP

Betsy Muller is a coach, speaker, author who has assisted thousands of people in discovering their full potential through conscious self-care. In addition to an MBA and over 30 years of diverse business management experience, Ms. Muller is a noted authority and popular radio and TV guest on work/life balance and using energy self-care as a vehicle for personal success. Betsy is a Certified Soul Detective, a non-denominational minister and one of only 7 ACEP- Certified Advanced Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) Practitioners in the world.

A native of Northeast Ohio, Ms. Muller holds a BA in Chemistry from the College of Wooster and a MBA in Systems Management from Baldwin Wallace University. She is a professional member of the National Speakers Association and a member of the National Association of Women Business Owners. Betsy is the author of four books, including Amazon best-seller Energy Makeover – A Conscious Way to Stay Young, Have Fun and Get More Done.

Betsy lives in Strongsville, OH with her husband George, golden retriever Gracie and fluffy cat Sig. She has two adult children and is a nature, travel and fitness enthusiast.