EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) has proven to be an effective method of providing relief for thousands of people suffering from emotional trauma and physical pain, often where traditional healing modalities have failed. Simple to learn and easy to self-administer, EFT is gaining recognition and acceptance as research and case studies consistently provide data supporting the claims of its practitioners — that EFT produces tangible, long-term results of emotional and physical healing, frequently in as few as one or two sessions.
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Unique in its approach, EFT combines elements of Traditional Chinese Medicine (acupressure and acupuncture) and contemporary psychology. Its premise is based on the theory of the founder of Tapping Therapy, Dr. Roger Callahan: "The cause of all negative emotions is a disruption in the body's energy system." According to Callahan, a disruption in the natural flow of the body's energy system (which travels along bio-electric passages known in Traditional Chinese Medicine as "meridians") happens when an event or thought doesn't pass through our consciousness, but gets lodged energetically at the subconscious level and blocks the free flow of energy within the body. Stimulating specific points along the meridians sends pulses that break up the blockages, which allows the energy to flow smoothly once again. This meridian tapping, along with selective wording using the principles of contemporary psychological modalities such as hypnosis, NLP, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, is what provides the therapeutic benefits of EFT.

These energy disruptions are known in the Gyana yoga tradition, here explained by Anandmurti Gurumaa as "deep impressions which remain as residue in our subconscious." Why would certain events or thoughts not make it through to our consciousness where they can be rationally processed? Well, when our sense of self is threatened or disturbed by real or imagined circumstances, we protect those parts of ourselves that we feel are vulnerable or weak by erecting psychological barriers. We instinctively close ourselves off to others to prevent the intrusion of outside energies that frighten us. However, this closing off can produce the effect of trapping the fear within our energetic meridians — and as energy has to stay in motion, we experience it as a repetitious emotional or physical pattern that endlessly loops until it's released. Experiencing these loops wouldn't be such a big deal, except that they invariably manifest as behaviors and ailments that sabotage our happiness: compulsions, addictions, phobias, low self-esteem, underachievement, and physical challenges.

The good news is that EFT therapy is establishing itself as one of the quickest and easiest methods for releasing these blocked energies, clearing the way for behaviors and thought processes that serve our sense of well-being.

Four Tips to Get the Most Out of Your EFT Practice

1. Work on only one issue at a time. Don't try to fix your entire life in two twenty-minute sessions! Determine what it is you want to work on and focus on that; give it your full attention, make a commitment to work on this, and this alone for a determined time. Set your daily schedule to include your practice sessions and try to do them at the same time each day. Once you get into a rhythm with your tapping, you'll find that you look forward to your daily practice sessions.

2. Use 2 or more fingers for tapping. By using two or more fingers, you cover a larger area and will more easily find the "sweet spots" along the meridians — usually felt as a slight tenderness or sensitivity when tapped. And don't worry about missing the mark, they're easy to find.

3. Write your own "scripts." After you get the hang of the EFT procedure, take the time to tailor your own scripts to address your specific issues. Generic scripts that you find online are great for giving you a taste of what can be achieved with EFT, but to get the best results for your situation you'll need to be as specific as possible in designing the wording to suit your goals. The closer you get to the root of your core issues, the greater the relief will be.

4. Enjoy the process! Your mind-body has innate intelligence that knows how to heal itself, so stop interfering with thoughts of anxiety, fear and doubt! That's what got you into this mess; now it's time to put your skepticism on hold and trust yourself. Relax, have fun and feel good about looking after YOU!