EFT - jump leads for life!

Sometimes you might wish you had set of jump leads to help sort out an area of your life. Some people who have experienced EFT (emotional freedom technique) find that it is like this – helping them to kick start new habits, ways of thinking and feeling which have a positive effect on areas of their life. Plus it’s easy to learn to practise at home to keep up your positive progress.

Here are some of the benefits of EFT and how it can help you develop new habits for a new year...

• it can help you stop over eating, stop/reduce eating 'bad' foods, undereating,
• it can help you to develop good habits - eating healthily, drinking water etc
• EFT can help you to cut down/stop drinking alcohol
• it can help you to overcome fears that have been holding you back - job and relationship success, flying or fear of heights.
• it can help you to reduce anxiety and stress - especially for important occasions - exams, wedding, job interviews etc
• it can help you overcome addictions such as nailbiting, smoking, overspending etc
• it can help to motivate you to achieve goals (eg sport, job success, driving tests)
• it can help you reduce/let go of emotional trauma that is holding you back - eg grief
• it can also help reduce physical pain - eg back pain, headaches, inflammation etc

What is EFT?

'I went to Lorraine for an EFT session with no expectations at all and came out completely amazed. I went for control over eating habits and noticed that the few days after treatment - without even tapping myself - I had found that my attitude and habits around food had changed. I didn't have the usual battle I used to have when I am going to eat something I know is not necessary or good for me. It just wasn't an issue - I ate when I was hungry and even left lots on the plate when I was full - which is such a relied to be in control of food rather than it being in control of me. Now I have the tool to keep this at bay I will just keep tapping. Ally, (Edinburgh) - EFT client

EFT (emotional freedom technique) helps many conditions from anxiety and stress to phobias, addictions and pain or to help achieve goals. It is based on Thought Field Therapy developed by an American psychologist in the 1970's. It was developed from this by Gary Craig, the founder of EFT.

Energy points in your system have an influence on how effectively your energy flows. By energy we mean more than just your physical energy, but a life supporting energy that flows through and around everything (what is called Chi in Tai Chi, Ki in Reiki and Prana in Yoga). Energy is seen as having a physical, mental and emotional basis. If there is a 'disturbance' in the flow of energy it can have an effect all 3 levels - emotionally, mentally and physically. EFT can help reduce and remove the disturbance. EFT is sometimes referred to as an 'emotional form of acupuncture - but without the needles'.

How does it work?

First of all you identify a problem or issue and give it a score out of 10. The more specific you are about it the better eg so rather than saying 'the pain in my body' you might say 'the pain in my right upper shoulder'. Sometimes an emotion is identified too and this is brought into the set up statement. It goes something like this... "even though I have this XYZ (eg pain in my upper right shoulder), I completely and deeply accept myself. This is repeated 3 times as your fingers of one hand tap the outer edge of the other hand (like a karate chop). These are important energy points you are tapping. A shorter version of this 'the reminder statement' is repeated as other energy points are tapped too (around the head, chest and under the arm).

When you first try EFT it can feel a bit strange. I remember the first time I tried it I just wanted to giggle - but was quickly amazed at how it seemed to lift the heavy feeling I had been carrying about for months and months.

It can also be used with positive affirmations too. By tapping these energy points as you tune into a positive statement you begin to remove disturbances or energy blockages that have hindered your success. You may be surprised how quickly EFT works! The tapping sequence is a simple relaxation technique too so it can be effective to help reduce anxiety.

"Relaxing, easy and a great alternative to conventional weight loss treatments. Definitely a great personal and tailored treatment." J Brady, EFT client

"I would say it's a very powerful treatment where you talk to the therapist and with their help identify key messages to say whilst you tap energy points. I'd say that I haven't bitten my nails since and although I have no idea how it works, it has for me." L Watts. EFT client

If you want to try EFT for yourself there are some great tips and beginner's advice on Gary Craig's website here.

In 2008 we'll be introducing our 'introduction to EFT' workshops - information coming soon! Or you can visit our 'treatments' section to book a treatment for EFT.