EFT

I’ve started playing with EFT, an energy technique that, to me, seems related to Zone Therapy / Reflexology, Accupressure, NAET, A.K., and the other energy things I’ve worked with.

EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) is a bit odd for my tastes with its focus on emotions. The author, who positions EFT still in its infancy and open to experimentation, acknowledges that while they began their work with EFT all in the emotional space, they’ve found that it also helps physical ailments, either indirectly (while working on emotional things) or directly (focused entirely on the physical).

Because it was “born” in the emotional space, there is, in my opinion, a lot of unnecessary psycho-babble involved (even garbage around “law of attraction”), not only in the technique itself (but I’m learning to alter that a bit) but also in the literature, the newsletter, etc. I’m figuring out how to adopt parts of that which seem congruent to to my beliefs, and to ignore or alter those that seem to be elevated nearly to a surrogate religion. I do think that hidden amidst the barrage of garbage psychology and surrogate religious ideas that abound in such circles, there are also some truths in there to be harvested.

In the end, it seems to me that EFT is simply another technique for fixing problems in the body’s meridians, which can cause or result from both emotional and physical problems. In that vein, I think I can use it successfully. And because its author and the community use EFT and coach EFT as a self-help technique, it is more helpful than most.

So far, I have only used the manual and the variety of short instructional videos available on YouTube and Google Video. The most helpful video I’ve seen so far was this one by John Bennette. There are many others, too, some that are helpful, and some that really strange. Later on, I may still spring for the DVDs available from the vendor, if I think I want some more examples.

I’ve only been playing with the technique for a week or so. I used it on Carter two days ago when he was WAY stressed out about a school talent show audition; on Elijah who was wiggly and whiny during a school program yesterday, and again when he couldn’t stop wiggling to go to sleep last night; and on Ben who complained last night about trouble going to sleep. I’m trying it on my various health issues. We’ll see if it can work over time.

Resources:

• Visit the EFT site and download the free ebook: EFT home page