| QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS INDEX
Should I learn EFT via the EFT Manual, a workshop, the EFT videos...or all of them? Reading the free downloadable EFT Manual : Several thousand people download this manual every month and the rate is clearly growing. Current trends continuing, it will soon qualify as a "best seller" (even though it is free). That's the good side. On the other hand, it is only a "learn to float" entry method that will take you about 15% down the path toward mastery. It is a limited means of teaching because it is confined to the written page...no demonstrations...no live responses...only words and pictures. While it does a good job of giving the mechanics of EFT, it falls well short of complete instruction. How well can one learn to swim by just reading about it? Unfortunately, some people read the EFT Manual and go no further. In a way, that is like graduating from the 3rd grade and concluding, "that's all there is." Nonetheless, the manual provides a good grounding in the basics of EFT and provides a wonderful starting point for future learning; however future learning is best undertaken through the video products. Studying the EFT Training Videos : These videos are necessary for serious students because....
Can EFT be combined with other techniques? Yes! EFT is very flexible. Many people blend EFT with other healing techniques and report enhanced results. Hypnotherapists use EFT while their clients are in trance. EMDR specialists inject EFT into the EMDR process. Massage therapists merge it into their work as do Reike practitioners, MD’s, acupuncturists, chiropractors and healing practitioners of all descriptions. Some people use EFT precisely as explained in the EFT Course. Others prefer to personalize it by adjusting the affirmations, tapping different energy points, using different shortcuts, etc. Some simply touch the points (instead of tapping) while others do the tapping through their intention or through their imagination. Interestingly enough, it all seems to work. The bottom line, though, is that all these versions and innovations have one thing in common. That is, they “tune into” the problem while balancing or unblocking the body’s energy system. To my knowledge, all versions launch off of this idea. Because of EFT’s flexibility, low cost and generic nature it has become the starting place for a growing number of newcomers—a Doorway to the Healing High-Rise, if you will. Let me hasten to add that EFT isn’t just for beginners. It was designed so that beginners could learn it easily but it was also designed with all the elements necessary for true mastery. There have been many spectacular healings using EFT alone. The tape sets are loaded with evidence of this. EFT, as a stand alone procedure, is like a high quality piano. It can be played by beginners and masters alike. The quality of the music depends only upon one’s mastery.
Introduction to this extensive answer: When progress with EFT seems stopped--or it seems like “it doesn’t work”--EFT is usually not the problem. Rather, the reason for the lack of progress can most often be traced to the inexperience of the user. Why do I say this? Because those who master EFT don't miss very often. They not only get their share of “one minute wonders” but, compared to conventional techniques, impressive progress is also made for just about any problem with an emotional cause--including many physical ailments. In those cases where the masters are stumped, however, they don’t point the finger at EFT for “not working.” Rather, the masters ask themselves questions like…. “What’s
in the way here?” However EFT is not a panacea for everything. It won’t paint your toenails, for example, nor will it allow you to drink gasoline. But just about anything that has an emotional cause—including many physical ailments—is a clear candidate for EFT. It often works beautifully, even in the hands of a beginner. But that doesn’t mean we have perfection here. We are still learning and should give thanks for those “tough cases” that challenge us to perfect our skills. Those who want to achieve mastery of EFT will be interested in the following reasons why it sometimes appears that EFT “doesn’t work.” The EFT course was not completed properly. Although it is tempting to skip through all those video tapes and audio tapes to get to "your topics," this may mean that the important basics of missed or misunderstood. Many people do this despite the instructions given on the first page of the EFT Manual. This often results in taking the EFT Course out of order or, even worse, ignoring parts of the course altogether. When this happens, the importance of certain topics (e.g. aspects, psychological reversal, being specific, persistence, etc.) go unappreciated and are ineffectively used. You can learn The Basic Recipe from reading the manual and watching the first EFT videotape. From there, many people go out into the world and apply it to clients, friends & family—often with superb results (including some “one minute wonders”). However, if they don’t study the rest of the EFT Course (in proper order), these practitioners are certain to scratch their heads in some instances and say “it doesn’t work.” Maybe Psychological Reversal needs to be done more emphatically. Maybe the client is actually making progress but is shifting aspects behind the scenes. Maybe the core issue hasn’t been discovered yet. Maybe the problem is being approached too globally. Maybe, maybe, maybe. These topics, as well as many of the other topics in this Question and Answer section, are covered in the EFT Course. he EFT Course not only teaches The Basic Recipe in great detail but it also goes on to display the “art of delivery” with over 80 people in live sessions. You see and hear how people respond. You are taught ways to get at core issues and how to deal with aspects, Psychological Reversal etc. And because it’s all on videotape you can watch it repeatedly to pick up more fine points. The more fine points you pick up the more masterful you will be and the less you will say, “it doesn’t work.” I can’t emphasize this “take-the-EFT-Course-properly” suggestion too strongly. Therein lies the foundational problem beneath almost every “it doesn’t work” claim I’ve ever heard. In the hands of an artist, EFT can restore clients’ lives into the living masterpieces they were meant to be. For a practitioner to fall short of that is to miss the real “juice” in this procedure. The problem is being approached too globally. The EFT Course stresses the value of being specific where you can. Some people tap on generalized anxiety (a VERY global problem) and wonder why their results are either temporary or non-existent. The reason is because global items such as generalized anxiety, self image problems, persistent anger, childhood abuse, etc. are comprised of numerous specific past events. The sum total of ALL of one's specific fears, rejections, traumas, guilt, etc. evolve into such global problems as generalized anxiety and self image problems. Approaching the problem too globally is a fairly common error by newcomers. To illustrate, here’s a letter received along these lines… "…… I cannot successfully treat my own Generalized Anxiety Disorder. I have used EFT and TFT while focusing on "my anxiety problem" or the binge eating, or generalized mental paralysis that sometimes ensues, and I feel slightly better following, but there is no lasting effect." Usually we need to break a global issue down into its specific parts and neutralize each of them independently. This is clearly illustrated on “6 Days at the VA,” a videotape in our EFT Course wherein EFT is applied to our Vietnam Veterans. Rich, the first vet on the tape, had “over 100 war memories that were 10’s.” These contributed to his more general ailment known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). We used EFT with a couple of specific events on film and Rich worked with 3 or 4 other specific events on his own. As a result, all 100 of the memories faded and ceased to bother him. You can tap on a global issue, of course, and still make headway. However, the progress will usually seem gradual as the process will tend to chip away at the various aspects of the larger problem. One advantage of working with specific events is that we can usually provide relief for them rather rapidly, thereby allowing the client to recognize the result immediately. Another advantage is that, after knocking down a few of those negative trees in that negative forest, the whole forest tends to fall. It’s as though each of the individual specific trees have items in common with all the rest of the trees. A generalization effect tends to occur and the whole problem becomes cleared. The Setup was not performed completely enough. The Setup is that procedure within The Basic Recipe that corrects for what Dr. Callahan labels Psychological Reversal (PR). When PR is present it blocks the whole process from working. So, if you aren’t getting anywhere, you would be well advised to “start from the top” and perform The Setup more thoroughly. For instance, tap the Karate Chop point harder or rub the Sore Spot more vigorously while emphatically saying (even yelling) the affirmation. On many occasions practitioners have been stuck and, after having the client rub that sore spot with great vigor and literally YELLING the affirmation, they broke through the PR barrier and proceeded to get normal results. One example of this is on the Steps toward becoming The Ultimate Therapist tapes where one participant, Richard, was having difficulty getting EFT to “hold” on a stomach distress that he had suffered from for years. A few moments of an emphatic Setup (including yelling) and the problem lifted. Richard reported that months later his stomach ailment went away and stayed away except for rare occasions when he had unusual emotional stresses. All previous efforts with tapping (of any form) produced only temporary results at best. Also, Dr. Fred Gallo introduced what he calls Criteria Related Reversals. In his experience, people who are stuck in reversal may find it useful to focus the affirmation more specifically. Examples might be… ”Even though
I don’t deserve to get over this _________” The client is switching aspects. Often, the client makes good progress but doesn’t report it because s/he keeps switching to new aspects of the problem. The original aspects are actually relieved but the remaining aspects still cause distress. The client is not at fault here because s/he is often unable to distinguish between the relief already obtained and the stress still remaining. This happens frequently and serves to fool both the client and the EFT practitioner into thinking “it doesn’t work.” Here’s an example. Suppose a client still exhibits trauma symptoms from an auto accident of 20 years ago. When asked what bothers them about the accident the client says, “The headlights!! The headlights!! I can still see them coming at me.” EFT is then applied to the headlight emotion and the client is then asked if the accident still bothers them. The client says, “Yes.” Unless one investigates further here, it would appear that the client is making no progress and that EFT “didn’t work.” If, instead, the client is asked, “Do the headlights still bother you?”, the typical response will be something like, ”No, but I can still hear the screams in the car.” Do you hear another aspect? Sure. Now it is the screams in the car. Once that is relieved you may run into other aspects such as guilt for going too fast, anger at the other driver, etc. Many emotional issues are single-aspected and it only takes one or two rounds of EFT to give them relief. They are among our “one minute wonders.” Others, of course, have many aspects and require more diligence. How do you find these aspects? The process is usually simple. Just ask the client to describe the problem after each round of EFT and notice how their language changes. They may start out, for example, talking about the problem in terms of fear and, after one round of EFT, discuss the problem in terms of guilt. Also, the events they focus on may change (e.g. from headlights to screams). Further, the physical sensations in their body may change from, perhaps, a “tightness in the stomach” to a “constriction in the throat.” The alert student might notice here that this “aspect switching” problem, while appearing to give evidence that EFT “doesn’t work,” actually gives resounding evidence of the opposite. The reason the client switches aspects is because the original aspect was given relief. The headlights are no longer a problem (EFT success) so now the client focuses on the screams (the next aspect in line). A core issue is interfering. This was covered above under the section on The Setup but bears elaboration here. When an important core issue is “hiding” behind a lesser presenting issue, the whole process seems to falter. This is because the real issue is not being addressed. Finding the core issue is what therapists are trained to do, of course. It is the centerpiece of the therapeutic art. One way to find the
core issue is to listen to how the client describes the problem. The keen
ear will pick up the clues leading to “the bottom line.” Another
way is to develop the intuitional ability to hone right in on the real issue.
This is demonstrated in great detail in our Steps toward becoming The Ultimate
Therapist tapes. Sometimes all that’s missing is the human touch. There is something about the "connection" between two people that sometimes allows the process to work more efficiently. Although this is scientifically intangible, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence for it. For instance is it sometimes found that the process will appear not to work UNTIL the practitioner physically taps on the client. Then, almost magically, the problem fades away. This is fairly rare but it DOES happen. Some other procedure (e.g. 9 Gamut, Collarbone Breathing) is called for or some other points need to be tapped. As you recall, a short cut to The Basic Recipe was introduced in the EFT Course wherein (1) only half of the points needed to be tapped and (2) it was suggested that the 9 Gamut and Collarbone Breathing procedures could be put “on the shelf” until needed. So, if you aren't progressing, these previously omitted points and procedures could be reinstated. The need for this is infrequent, however and it is recommended to pursue the above avenues first. Although relatively infrequent, there may be an "energy toxin" involved which is thwarting the process. This phenomenon, although infrequent, occurs especially in cases of depression and hyper kinetic children (Ritalin users). In fact, it appears in some cases that often these latter maladies are CAUSED by the offending food or substance and that the only thing necessary to give relief is the removal of the item(s) from the person's environment. Once that is done, tapping may not be necessary. Energy toxins (if they
REALLY are the problem) can be discovered by muscle testing. However, to
do the job thoroughly, one would have to painstakingly test an imposing
list of things people eat, drink, breathe, wear or otherwise come in contact
with. Another way to go about this is to have the client eat ONLY the following
ORGANIC foods for one week: Fruits, vegetables (except corn), rice, nuts,
seeds and water. NOTHING ELSE!!!. No sugar, bread, pasta, coffee, tea, ice
cream, salad dressing, tobacco, alcohol, etc. This allows the system to
"clean house" as the items included in the above diet are rarely
toxic. In the vast majority of cases, if toxins are indeed a problem, you
will be able to proceed much more easily with the tapping after several
days to a week of this diet. If this doesn't work, proceed to eliminating
perfume, deodorants, soap residues and other items that are in one's environment.
Does it matter whether or not the EFT practitioner is skeptical? Sometimes. Let me explain. In the early 1990’s, when the author of EFT was first getting started with these procedures, just about everyone was skeptical. This included both the practitioners AND the clients. People rolled their eyes, made disparaging comments, talked behind your back, etc. Nonetheless, our results were still remarkable. Headaches went away, trauma vanished, phobias faded and so on. It wasn’t perfect and 100% success was not and still isn’t achieved. But clear progress was made even in the face of open skepticism (some of it hostile). But that doesn’t
mean that the practitioner’s degree of skepticism isn’t a possible
deterrent. Indeed, in challenging cases skepticism can be a real burden.
In the challenging cases, skepticism can allow apparent “failure”
where progress was otherwise possible. However in simpler cases, then no
it probably won’t matter if the practitioner is skeptical. Can I be effective with "just the basics?" Let’s talk about Hand-Me-Down EFT. Hand-Me-Down EFT stands for the bare bones version of EFT that some people learn… ...over coffee from
a friend, There is nothing wrong with sharing EFT and allowing others to experience its uplifting results. However there are some reservations over its success when “under-informed” users of hand-me-down EFT apply the bare bones of the technique. These reservations come from those who apply the bare bones of the technique and then don’t gain the expected results. The standard claim of “It doesn’t work!” It is easy to assume that what one has already learned is “enough,” especially when the process appears to work so well so often. But with EFT there is a never ending list of new things to learn. It could easily be renamed UGEBS (University of Getting Even Better Still). That is why the author of EFT (Gary) is constantly updating the techniques and sharing these updates through new products, emails, newsletters and forums. Blessings to those who are satisfied with Hand-Me-Down EFT. On the other hand, please recognize your responsibilities and know that you are operating at a level somewhat short of mastery. Obviously, you are out of your league if you attempt to use EFT (or any other procedure) in areas where you are simply not qualified. Working with the truly psychotic is an obvious example. Hand-Me-Down EFT has
its limits simply because you are using a technique that you simply have
not had the training to apply it to every situation, circumstance and problem
that comes around. It would be like a painter who has learnt the basic technique
for landscape watercolor to then try and paint master works in oils and
portraits.
Emotional healings are almost always long lasting. This is particularly true if you follow the suggestions in the EFT Course and address the emotional events as specifically as possible. If a given emotional problem does appear to “come back,” however, the experienced practitioner will look for three possible reasons: (note: these are covered in more detail under the question, “When it doesn’t work….????”) 1. What has “come back” is simply a related issue (aspect) that wasn’t addressed in the first place. . The original problem was addressed too globally and thus only partially neutralized. 23. The
cause of the problem is due to a sensitivity to something (an energy toxin)
the client ate, drank, breathed or otherwise came in contact with.
How do I handle the "Big One?" Sometimes a client has an issue that is so overwhelming that, to them, it is beyond help. It's the "Big One" they don't want to touch. It may be a major form of guilt they don't want to face or a trauma they don't want to revisit. Whatever it is, they "don't want to go there" and often won't even mention it to their therapist for fear the therapist will try to drag them through it. Often they learn to dull the pain or sweep it under the rug. But it seethes under the surface anyway influencing their thoughts, their responses and their everyday lives. It represents pain. It's like walking on thorns. They would rather retain their less-than-truly-functional lives than come face to face with this issue. Their lives would be better, they hope, if they just addressed life's minor irritations and left the "Big One" alone. Fortunately, there
is a method with EFT whereby the practitioner can tip toe up to the issue,
circle around it, take the edge off and gradually spiral in closer until
that festering boil is skillfully lanced. All this with minimal pain. The
concept is simple but it may take some practice before the practitioner
can claim mastery. "The Big One" and then have them rank their 0-10 intensity regarding the mere mention of the issue. They will probably give a high number. Ask them to also rank their 0-10 intensity regarding any current physical symptoms (such as a pounding heart, sweating, constricted throat, etc.) Then use EFT in a general way to help take the edge off. "Even though I
have discomfort about this issue....." The details of the issue are ignored for now because the main purpose here is to minimize pain by taking the edge off. We are purposely sneaking up on the problem with gentleness as our goal. Do several rounds of EFT in this more general way until you see signs of relaxation. That tell-tale "sigh" that is pointed out in the videotapes is a good clue. Then ask them to say again.... The Big One" and ask them to re-rank their 0-10 intensities on this statement. Chances are their emotional responses will be lower and their 0-10 ranking of the physical symptoms will likely be down as well. Keep repeating this procedure until it seems appropriate to ask... "Is there any part of this issue that you could talk about comfortably?" When they are able to discuss at least a part of the issue, you have opened the door. From there, it is simply a matter of getting more and more detailed. Take some of the edge off, get more detailed. Take some of the edge off, get more detailed. Take some of the edge off, get more detailed. The client may experience
some emotional discomfort in the process. After all, this IS the "Big
One." But, generally, it is much less than it might have been AND this
is probably the last time they will have any such discomfort (if they have
any at all). Assuming the usual degree of success, they can now walk on
velvet instead of thorns. Are EFT's results due to either placebo effects or distraction? No! Placebo effects require some belief in the process and this is rarely the case for newcomers to EFT. Also, although EFT may appear to be distracting, it will not work if the client is, in fact, distracted. That is why the client continually repeats a reminder phrase which "tunes in" to the problem.
How does EFT differ from Thought Field Therapy (TFT)? TFT uses similar principles as EFT but asks the student to learn 10 or 15 different tapping routines (called algorithms), each of which is designed to cover a specific issue such as trauma, phobias, depression, etc . Anything not covered by those individual routines (e.g. insomnia, TMJ, dyslexia, etc.) requires a diagnostic process. EFT, by contrast, uses only one comprehensive tapping routine to cover all issues (not just 10 or 15) and doesn’t require diagnosis.
Are there any negative side effects or abreactions? By comparison to almost any other process, EFT is quite gentle and rarely has any serious side effects. It is often used instead of other procedures, such as EMDR, TIR or "Flooding" because of its gentle nature. In 1997, an informal questionnaire was put out to 250 therapists asking for descriptions of significant abreactions with EFT or TFT. Out of an estimated 10,000 applications of these energy tapping procedures only 20 such cases were reported. This approximates 2/10 of 1%. This informal questionnaire is not put forward as an official study and therefore does not suggest that there is minimal risk involved. Anyone using EFT must assume full responsibility for their results and is advised to mention to clients the possibility of abreaction or other negative effects. Here is an article that was sent to Gary (author of EFT) on this subject. Don't go where you don't belong Hi Everyone, This is an important message and I have spent many hours writing and rewriting it to "get it right". Fortunately, what I have to say here is obvious common sense and 99% of you already understand what I have to say. The bottom line here is that we need to use common sense with EFT and NOT apply it to people with serious issues UNLESS we have the appropriate experience to do so. While our fascination with these procedures gives us much cause for enthusiasm, we must weigh that enthusiasm against some common sense caveats. Let me explore both sides of this issue. First, one of the delightful aspects of EFT (and its many cousins) is that, for the vast majority of people, it can be applied with little or no pain. Its gentle nature has prompted numerous psychologists to write books on the topic so that the lay public will have access to these procedures. And why not? Why deny the public access to tools that are so often transformative on so many issues...and...for most people is gentle and easy to apply? Consider, for example, that.... Therapists are routinely
teaching the process to their clients for use at home. I don't know for sure how many tapping enthusiasts are now using these procedures in behalf of others but I would estimate that it exceeds 100,000 and it has probably been applied over 1 million times worldwide. This wouldn't happen,
of course, unless (1) substantial results were being received and (2) perceived
dangers, or negative side effects, were minimal. Some people have been so badly traumatized and/or abused in their lifetimes that they have developed severe psychological problems.... such as multiple personalities, paranoia, schizophrenia and other serious mental disorders. While EFT has been helpful even in such severe cases, IN THESE INSTANCES IT SHOULD ONLY BE APPLIED BY A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL WITH EXPERIENCE IN THESE DISORDERS. Why? Because some of
these patients experience "abreactions" whereby they go out of
control. During abreactions they can be harmful to themselves and others
and may need to be sedated or hospitalized. This, obviously, is no place
for the novice....no matter how enthusiastic one might be with the tapping
procedures. How often do these abreactions happen? In a psychiatric hospital they are common. In everyday society they are rare. I recently called several proficient tappers that have dealt with a wide variety of emotional problems and learned that less than 1 in 1,000 clients had experienced such a severe abreaction. This minimal percentage is given for perspective only. It is not to suggest that EFT'ers should "play the odds" and "go where they don't belong". On the contrary, a novice EFT'er should use common sense and NOT TRY TO ALLEVIATE AILMENTS THAT ARE BEYOND THEIR CAPACITY OR TRAINING. I am well known for the phrase "Try it on everything!" This phrase appears in the EFT manual, The EFT Course and on our web site. Its purpose, of course, is to open up our minds to EFT's possibilities. It is not meant as a license for irresponsible actions. Fortunately, people interpret this within a reasonable context and do not, for example, use EFT to get someone to fly off the Empire State Building. On some occasions, people undergoing EFT have normal tears or other forms of distress that accompany the recalling of their troublesome memories. On other occasions some physical pains "get worse"--at least temporarily. The proficient and experienced professional will greet these responses as normal and appropriately apply EFT for their resolution. Again, when these responses occur, common sense must prevail. If the EFT'er is in over their head, they should refer the client to someone with more experience. My own approach to clients: I NEVER ASSUME EFT IS TAKING THE PLACE OF MEDICINE OR ANY OTHER FORM OF HEALING PROCEDURE. While I am consistently astonished at some of the results with EFT, I recognize that there is much I don't know. Who am I to even remotely think that I know everything there is to know in the healing field? I may see astonishing results with EFT that are simply not explainable by the medical model, for example, and I may genuinely think that other disciplines should pay attention to what we are doing. But, in no case, does my observation mean the client should ignore other advice. My mental set is that a problem may be relieved by approaching it energetically and I am often right....headaches vanish, nightmares disappear, phobias fade and so on. But it is never done with the thought that the client should discontinue their medications or not seek out the advice of others. That is up to the client and their advisors. My self talk, which usually comes out of my mouth as well, goes something like.... "Let's give this a try and see what happens." My expectation is that we will get good results and my hope is that the client will tell their other advisors about it. In that way, the word spreads even faster. I WANT the other advisors involved. Everyone wins when this happens.
Can we do EFT surrogately or through intention? If so, do we need permission? Many practitioners report impressive successes through applying EFT in this manner. In general experience, the results are not as consistent as physically tapping but the reports are well beyond mere coincidence. The question of needing
permission is an interesting one and not one that can be answered in any
definite sense. It is advised though that getting permission of the person
you intend to apply the technique to is a good idea and thoroughly recommended.
If you cannot obtain permission because of circumstances or you feel that
they would benefit from the procedure despite their reluctance, then it
is up to your own judgement. Although there are no reported cases of negative
reactions from surrogate EFT, this does not mean that there are none. Are there any problems using EFT for pregnancy? Although inquiries and
thoughts have been received about certain tapping points being no-no's (contraindicated)
for pregnant women, there are no (known) concrete example where someone
has done any of the energy techniques and linked a miscarriage or any other
pregnancy problem with tapping on some specific point. Gary spoke with Tapas
Fleming, one of the premiere presenters in this field and a licensed acupuncturist,
about this and learned that the "inner ankle point" might be contraindicated
for pregnancy. The inner ankle point was introduced on our advanced tapes,
along with other alternative points, by acupuncturist Michael Gandy. It
can be addressed by slapping with the hand across the inside of the leg
about four finger widths up from the ankle bone. "According to
traditional Chinese medicine, the inner ankle point is contraindicated for
pregnancy. The rest of the points used by the EFT or TAT (Tapas Acupressure
Technique) procedures present no danger for use during pregnancy. Even regarding
the ankle point, there is a difference of opinion among practitioners of
traditional oriental medicine as to whether or not it is truly harmful.
But to be conservative, you might want to eliminate it when treating pregnant
women." FROM JIM STRICKLER Dear Gary, FROM ANGELICA CHAVEZ Dear Gary:
Can EFT cause a client to "feel worse"? Note: This question is best answered by examining an actual case. Accordingly, I submit the following case that appeared on our EFT email support list.
Hi Everyone, Glenn Turner writes of a case where a client appears to make quality progress but, later on, reports "feeling worse." This doesn't happen very often but, when it does, it is often misunderstood. It appears to be a problem whereas, in reality, it offers an opportunity for client and healing practitioner alike. Read on. Hugs, Gary P.S. While this "feeling worse" discussion centers around emotional issues, the same concepts apply for physical discomforts as well. Hi Gary, Just had an experience with an old time family friend that I would appreciate some feedback on. This person came to me last week suffering from extreme anxiety about many things too numerous for him to even begin with. GC RESPONSE: There's your first clue as to why your friend eventually "felt worse." He came to you with "extreme anxiety about many things too numerous for him to even begin with." He walks in your door with a whole forest full of negative trees. Typically these trees have serious roots and many, many specific fears and traumas and guilts behind them. You are not likely to resolve them all in one session. It is quite probable, however, that you will resolve some surface problems thereby allowing more important issues to bubble up to the top. GLENN CONTINUES: I did some very general tappings, one in particular for "this heavy, heavy weight" and he left feeling very much better. Ate that night for the first time in a while. Was eating, but not very much due to anxiety and associated gut feelings. He thought it was a miracle and frankly so did I. GC RESPONSE: This often happens with generalized anxiety. A few rounds of EFT and the immediate issues subside. It often seems like a miracle. Someone comes in quite upset and, in short order, they are calm and go about their business. If the upset reappears (very likely with generalized anxiety) it's not because EFT "didn't work" or was responsible for them "feeling worse." Rather, it's because EFT removed some surface issues thereby allowing the more foundational issues to come out from hiding. The real villain (which was always there) is now front and center. This is NOT A PROBLEM. It's an OPPORTUNITY!!! Finally, the real issue is showing up and begging for EFT. At this point it is easy to back off and misinterpret what's going on. A seasoned EFT'er, however, will do a little "yippee" inside because the "big one" is now out in the open. GLENN CONTINUES: However, several days later he calls me very agitated and needs to see me again. I see him, and he seemed to be much worse. And the tapping seemed to make him worse. I am speculating but what I feel was that he was suppressing the very real (highly likely) event that would see him lose everything in financial terms that he had worked so hard for. And I don't think he saw that as a reality until some of his other trees were lopped. He was very upset when this hit him and I tapped for it for quite a while. GC RESPONSE: Since you were speculating, we don't really know where his thoughts were going. However, your thought that he didn't see the larger issue until other trees were lopped is very consistent with this kind of case. The "truth" remains hidden under all forms of protective issues and various rationalizations. By EFT'ing these covering issues we can finally deal with a core issue that has been negatively affecting his life. Your example doesn't bring up just what this issue is, but a little artistry and some detective work ought to expose it pretty quickly. I'm reminded of a client who came to me a few years ago upset about an argument he had just had with his girl friend. It was a simple argument, the anger for which was typically resolvable with one or two rounds of EFT. However, the client's immediate anger didn't budge and he reported "feeling worse." Why? Because we eventually discovered that he was tuning in to times when his mother belittled him through yelling. The real issue was his mother, not his girl friend. The argument with the girl friend simply triggered the real issue and he "felt worse" until we resolved the mother issue (a several session effort, by the way, because there were many aspects). GLENN CONTINUES: I left it, with him feeling still upset but with him half smiling saying maybe its all for the best. GC RESPONSE: Perhaps you exposed a core issue here and resolved it. You won't know, of course, until you see the client again and assess his anxiety. If he does come back reporting anxiety the chances are very high that he will NOT point to issues you have already tapped for as the cause. He will bring up new issues (aspects). This is very typical of cases like this and, of course, glowing evidence that EFT is working nicely. Often, however, the client will not recognize their progress if they still feel anxious. To them, the problem is anxiety and not the individual parts of it. I suggest that practitioners make it a routine with these types of issues to consistently remind the client of the long string of resolved events that have occurred along the way to taking care of the anxiety. This helps immeasurably with client cooperation. GLENN CONTINUES: Took me a while to get here but my question is, for anxiety about things in the future that are potentially life changing "ending" and that are almost certain to happen, is it better to "keep the lid on" these problems rather than have them run smack bang into something that they are not prepared for (and quite frankly that I was not prepared for). Part of me feels that it's better to know what you're up against and tackle those feelings that arise from this awareness. Another part, after this episode, is now wondering. Sorry for rambling, but as always any help would be very gratefully received. GC RESPONSE: I suppose there are some situations where we should "leave well enough alone" and let the clients bury their heads in the sand and not face the truth. I will leave that judgment to the individuals involved. However, I haven't run into any situations where I'm willing to back off or look the other way. As stated before, I see this type of case as a major opportunity (1) for clients to finally rid themselves of major limits and (2) for practitioners to expand their skills and go where they haven't gone before. The truth is the truth. It will have its effect whether we want it to or not. Night time comes even if we don't want it to. So does the rain, wind, death and taxes. These are all forms of reality--the truth, if you will. Trying to postpone them or ignore them will not change them. GLENN CONTINUES: Hope you are well. Glenn Turner How do you help a "non-feeling" client? Here's a useful idea for clients who have so protected themselves from their traumatic past that they have "no feelings" about any of their yesterdays. They can remember the events, of course, sometimes in great detail. But they just sit there in session with no intensity whatsoever and routinely spill out the words. They are on automatic. No feelings. In cases like these there appears to be no bench mark against which to measure one's progress with EFT. If they start with a glassy eyed zero and end with a glassy eyed zero, how do you know if you've made any headway? Do you try to assess their "glass eyed-ness?" Perhaps. But there's another way. EFT doesn't require the client to have a measurable intensity up front. It can still do its job even under such placid circumstances. Remember, the underlying idea is that the client be "tuned in" to the problem while addressing an imbalanced or disrupted energy system. "Tuning in" doesn't require emotional intensity. It only requires awareness. So try this.... Ask the client, "What memory would you rather not have?" Although the client will no have no intensity about the memory, they will almost invariably be able to pick out a disagreeable one. Then isolate that specific memory and tap all over it. Dig up every aspect you can find and then use your intuition to find some more. Do many rounds. Do the entire Basic Recipe instead of the short cut. Throw in the 9 gamut and collarbone breathing. Stomp all over it. This will take you all of 15 or 20 minutes to do it thoroughly. The client may give you clues during this process that progress is being made. Principle among them will be their propensity to change the subject to some other memory. This is evidence that you have helped resolve the original memory. The real proof, however,
will be when they come back to see you. Ask them again, "What memory
would you rather not have?" and listen to their response. I'll bet
you a week in Paris that THEY WILL BRING UP A DIFFERENT MEMORY--evidence
indeed that you have weakened, or decimated, the first one. Then thoroughly
tap on the new memory and ask them the same question the next time they
come back. Tap on new memories as they come up and the odds are very high
that you will be collapsing, one by one, the reasons for their self protection.
Gradually, you will relieve their emotional burdens so they will begin to
have some feelings and behave more normally. What's a good way for newcomers to apply EFT to themselves? As you know, your EFT Course is loaded with live examples (80) which illustrate the "art of delivery" across a wide variety of emotional and physical issues. The first of these is a delightful session with Dave and his 50 year old intense fear of water. This is an ideal example of EFT at work because Dave has so many aspects that must be addressed before he is free of his fear of water. After thoroughly EFT'ing with Dave at poolside for every water issue we could think of, he is able to get in the pool and wade in up to his chest with zero intensity. Previously this would have been a 10 and he would have panicked with the fear of dying. Despite this pleasant result, he still couldn't put his head under water because various aspects arose. We spent thorough time on each of those aspects until, for the first time in his life, he was able to completely immerse himself (including his head) under water. He spent the rest of the session completely enjoying the water and later went on to take swimming lessons. Rachel, a customer of EFT products, found an ingenious way to apply EFT to herself when she was learning. While watching this session she chose one of her own issues and tapped right along with Dave on tape AS THOUGH SHE WAS THE CLIENT. She substituted her own issue for the fear of water and addressed her own aspects instead of Dave's. The beauty of this
is that a newcomer can be guided through the whole procedure in a thorough
way and, even if they aren't familiar yet with aspects, the context provides
automatic ways to get in touch with them. It is thought that much higher
"first attempt results" will be achieved for newcomers if everyone
did this. Professionals can loan this tape to their clients for homework
between sessions with the likelihood that major between-session-results
will occur. I'm used to affirmations being stated in the positive. Why does the EFT Setup language focus on the negative? Affirmations, in the classical sense, are designed to take you in positive directions. Thus their wording is always of an uplifting, "go for it, you can do anything" nature. [For a unique discussion on affirmations see The Palace of Possibilities series on this web site]. EFT, on the other hand, is NOT designed to take you in positive directions. Instead, it's purpose is to eliminate the negative and thus pave the way for the positive. That is a MUCH different goal. One of the critical elements in EFT's effectiveness is that one must "tune in" to the problem. Otherwise, the energy balancing effect of the tapping for that problem will be of little use. It would be of limited value, for example, to try to alleviate a war memory with EFT while the client focuses on Disneyland, sex or the inner workings of a computer. The energy disruptions wouldn't be there and so the problem could not be addressed. The EFT Setup language (called affirmations--poor choice) necessarily focuses on what is wrong. This "Sets up" the problem like it was a bowling pin so that the EFT bowling ball (the rest of the process) can knock it over. Interestingly, some
practitioners have reported good results by stating The Setup in the positive.
They might have the spider phobic say something like, "Even though
I love spiders....." However, even though the language is positively
stated, someone with a true spider phobia is likely to have self talk that
focuses on those "nasty, crawly things." In this case, the client
is STILL focusing on the problem, despite their language to the contrary. EFT is obvious! So why wasn't it discovered many decades ago? Note: This article may be useful for those wishing to explain the "strangeness" of EFT to others. It is a good bridge for reaching resistant belief systems. EFT should have been discovered 50 years ago and should be as common today as aspirin. Yet, despite its unmistakable clinical results, it still meets with resistance from certain "scientists" and from others who cling to conventional methods. I don't know about you but I learned in my high school chemistry class in 1958 that the building blocks of ALL matter (including human bodies) are ATOMS. This was hardly new....even at the time. No one disputes this fact. Nor does anyone dispute that atoms are made of ENERGY (in the form of positive and negative electrical charges). Einstein further emphasized this point with his Theory of Relativity wherein he developed the famous formula.... Energy = Mass times the speed of light squared In simple terms this means that physical matter (including the human body) is MADE OF ENERGY. Thus, even though the human body may appear to be solid, its foundation is made of energy. This simple fact is one of the most universally agreed upon findings in the scientific world. To my knowledge, not one scientist anywhere disagrees with it. It's acceptability ranks right up there with the laws of gravity. However, for reasons known only to the cosmos, the Western healing sciences have.... ignored it. How short-sighted! Instead, they continue to regard the human body as a physical entity and thus walk right by its energy roots. They treat the body as a.... bag filled with body parts and chemicals. Thus their methods involve the repair and replacement of body parts (surgery) and the "correction" of body chemistry by other chemicals (drugs). Many useful things have come from this conventional approach so I'm not knocking it. In fact, I'm very glad it is around and I respect those diligent scientists and healing practitioners that have used this approach. If I had a burst appendix, for example, I would enthusiastically volunteer myself for the surgeon's table. However, for the Western healing sciences to ignore the well established fact that the body, at its core, is made of energy is like wearing glasses that only permit vision up to 10 feet. EFT'ers are offering these conventional folks a pair of longer range glasses and, gradually, the skeptics are trying them on. Those among them that have "seen" cannot unsee and thus are adding to the snowball of education that is bringing these procedures to the public. Anyone who has been around the competent use of EFT for even a few weeks has surely seen many instances where dramatic progress has been made on both the physical and emotional levels WITHOUT ANY CONVENTIONAL METHODS BEING USED. Many of these results completely violate the beliefs inherent in the Western healing sciences. For example, how is it possible, under conventional Western definitions.... For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder to fade completely without psychiatric drugs? For many lifelong phobias to vanish in what we call "one minute wonders? For addictive cravings to be quenched in moments? For Carpal Tunnel Syndrome to disappear without the normally prescribed surgery? For Lactose Intolerance to vanish even though the patient is not supposed to have the enzymes necessary to digest milk products? For migraine headaches to fade (often permanently and often in moments) without any form of drugs whatsoever?
Yet EFT'ers perform these "miracles" daily....as well as hundreds more. Our web site is full of such evidence. Western healing practitioners are hard pressed to explain these results except to use a "placebo" or a "spontaneous remission" or a "mind over matter" explanation. They cannot be explained through the current paradigm. Accordingly, what is needed is another way to look at the human body...another paradigm. The conventional explanations obviously need help. And what more logical choice is there than to follow Albert Einstein and the most fundamental scientific findings of the last century. Why don't scientists view the body as an energy configuration and see where that leads? EFT'ers have been doing this for years and the clinical evidence is mountainous. It is pointing to the obvious and the results are often jaw dropping....even when performed by lay citizens. I do not mean by this article to forsake the many conventional findings that have brought us unmistakable healing benefits. Rather, I'm suggesting that we unlock the doors to the obvious and blend EFT with the best of our other healing achievements. The results should take healing to an entirely new (and affordable) level. So I ask the scientific community and the conventional doubters out there to investigate the obvious. We are not perfect here in EFT Land and I'm sure someday our theories will be revised. That is how science progresses. But, for now, we are performing daily miracles that are destroying the conventional lists of "can's" and "cannot's." EFT is obvious and someday, with your help in spreading the word, it will be so commonplace that what we are now calling miracles will simply be routine results.
How do I handle Hand-Me-Down EFT? This one is best answered with one of Gary's Email Support List messages..... Hi Everyone, In today's message, Dr. Alexander Lees from Canada shows us how to effectively apply EFT to someone who has already "learned EFT" and claims that "it doesn't work." As you know, I have purposely promoted EFT with an "open hand" policy (no restrictions on its use, inexpensive training CDs , etc.) As a result, it is proliferating very quickly. That's the good side. On the other hand, some of this "word spreading" passes through many hands and loses some accuracy with each passage. The result is a watered down version that I call "Hand-Me-Down EFT". Some folks, for example, have never even heard of our CD video courses and "learned EFT" from someone who showed it to them over lunch on the back of a napkin. Then they wonder why "EFT doesn't work." Sigh! I'm not really going to change the "open hand" policy because I think the rapid spread is too important for handcuffs. The accuracy part will come around in time. In the meantime, we must deal creatively with those whose limited education on this vital subject leaves them with only "Hand-Me-Down EFT." Fortunately, Dr. Alexander Lees provides us with a useful example of how to handle clients and friends whose EFT education needs a little help. As Alex says in his conversation with his client ("Sue").... "What you are doing is perhaps using an old recipe. The technique has evolved somewhat, over time. Give me an issue, and I'll show you the refined version." Alex also demonstrates getting to his client's core issue. Read on... Hugs, Gary ____________________ By Dr. Alexander Lees "I've been using EFT for a problem, and it doesn't work for me," was the presented concern. "Sue" is twenty-eight, seemed in good health, successfully self employed as a bookkeeper for small businesses, and very disappointed with "This tapping business." "Well, there's a couple of avenues to explore here," I said, "Let's start with you telling me what issue you are working on." "My friend taught it to me," Sue responded. "She says it worked for her business partner, but didn't seem to do much for her, but she thought I would have better luck." "Using it for...?" I asked, determined to keep on track. "My friend's partner was having marital problems, and he feels EFT helped him to deal with the situation, but it doesn't work for other things." Changing directions slightly, I decided that if we were to go anywhere with this, I better listen to my own advice, and pace the conversation a little more. "So, your friend's partner learned EFT..." "No, it was used on him, a demonstration of some kind," Sue interjected. I started again. "So your friend's business partner volunteered a problem, for purposes of someone else demonstrating EFT, and your friend's business partner reported good results from that experience, is that correct?" "That's right," Sue said brightly, "Then he showed my friend how to do it, and she showed me." "And when she showed you how to do it, you tried it on...?" "Well, I'm not really sure of myself." This seemed a perfectly good time to use my favorite bail out: "Would you like some tea?" I asked. Having received a "yes please," I exited for the kitchen, tapping as I went. I don't know if it was the tea or the tapping, but certainly the value of the combination should be mentioned in Gary's EFT Manual. Either way, I was feeling much more resourceful when we picked up the conversation again. "Now, then," I began, "Your friend's business partner experienced EFT. He liked the results. He shared his knowledge with your friend, his business partner. Her experience wasn't that great. She then taught it to you, and your experience was disappointing. How's your tea?" "Wonderful!" said Sue, "Just the way I like it." "And I bet you would like to be able to say the same about EFT, wouldn't you?" I asked. "It seems so simple," Sue offered, "Why doesn't it work for me?" I changed chairs. "Okay. You like the tea. Good tea follows a recipe. It's a simple recipe, but a recipe, none-the-less. In the same way as good tea is made, EFT follows a recipe. Why don't you demonstrate your recipe -- teach me how you do it." Sue started with a finger, tapping about an inch above the eyebrow. Then on her right temple. With each change to a new point, her eyes followed the movement of her finger. My first inclination was to explain that she was doing it wrong, that whoever was doing the teaching wasn't very good, or that her friend's business partner hadn't paid attention, or her friend hadn't absorbed the information well enough to pass it on in a useful manner. Since blame and fault is never a useful teaching strategy, I offered the following: "My goodness!" I interjected (which is one of those advanced psychological phrases I like to use). "What you are doing is perhaps using an old recipe. The technique has evolved somewhat, over time. Give me an issue, and I'll show you the refined version." "It's difficult to put into words," Sue responded. "Great! That's a good one to start with," I said. Gently taking her left hand, I tapped the P.R. point and asked her to repeat: "Even though it's difficult to put into words, I completely and deeply accept myself." After two more rounds, I tapped the new points, using the reminder phrase, "This difficulty." "Well?" said I, sipping my tea. "I feel kind of settled inside," Sue offered. "And now that you feel kind of settled inside, would you share with me what issues you were hoping EFT could help you with." "Sometimes I make decisions, then contradict myself. It's like I don't trust my own judgment, especially if the decision occurs to me quickly." "Is this true for all decisions?" "Well, saying the right thing to a client, mostly," Sue said. I asked, "Would you say some of your clients, or all of them?" She answered, "Male clients." I took Sue's left hand again, and tapped the P.R. point using the phrase, "Even though I am somewhat unsure of myself in talking with my male clients...and it's probably something I learned years ago...just writings on my wall...that should have been erased but somehow stayed...and even though I am successful with male clients..." At this point, Sue interrupted with, "I'm not successful with my male clients." "You lost them all?" "No, I still have them. I even have some new ones, referrals." "By male clients?" "Well, yes, but..." My turn to interrupt. I resumed tapping the P.R. point and asked her to repeat: "Even though some of my male clients refer new clients to me, I know I'm not very good, nor am I comfortable, with male clients, and wish they would all go away and be replaced with females." On the second repeat, Sue began to laugh. "Hey, this is supposed to be a serious problem" I said lightly. "I just remembered a boyfriend I had when I was seventeen. He questioned everything I said. He was very sure of himself, and I began to think I wasn't bright enough for him." "Let's tap on..." "No," she interjected, "I see it now. Trying to please him really messed me up. Let me tap on something." As Sue began, I made sure she contacted the correct points, and that she used a reminder phrase. For this round we selected, "This intimidating experience." "So, that's how it works," she said with a smile, when we were done. "I really think the refined version is so much better. Who did that?" I made reference to a guy in California, who because of his background, re-engineered it. "I guess it takes someone like that to do so," Sue replied. Sue then left, complete with a diagram of the points, and written instructions for the recipe. I spent a little time reviewing my decision to reframe Sue's learning EFT into "now replaced with a more refined version." To begin with, Sue did not have the points clearly defined, nor was she aware of the need to focus on an issue while tapping (thus the reminder phrase), and a host of other niggly issues that, had we gone that route, would just have created disharmony between Sue and her friend. Sue phoned a few days later and wanted to share how much better the refined version was "on a variety of things." She had also shared her more successful version with her friend. "But 'George,' my friend's business partner, said he learned it from an expert. How can that be?" Sue wanted to know. Now, I'm really getting too old to think on my feet, but the few grey cells I have left shook off the dust, rallied, and out of my mouth came: "Well, learning from an expert doesn't make the student an expert over night, necessarily, does it?" "That's true," was the welcomed response from Sue. "My friend and I are really interested in this, and we are going to learn more about it." Dr. Alexander
R. Lees When EFT relieves pain, does it merely mask the pain and thus thwart the ability for pain to signal danger? It is doubtful...but no one knows the answer to this for sure. However, EFT has been applied by practitioners many thousands of times and there has never been any cases of anyone whose pain was "inappropriately blocked". Many people have reduced or eliminated their pains with EFT and some have witnessed swelling disappear before their eyes. But, no one has complained that the pain was "merely masked". This concern is a valid
one. However, its genesis comes from the use of medications which, indeed,
often mask symptoms. By contrast, EFT is not a medication and does not enter
an artificial substance into the bloodstream. In general experience, if
EFT doesn't solve the problem by eliminating the cause, then the physical
discomfort will re-appear. This then calls for more rounds of EFT on other
aspects and/or referral to a specialist.
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