Do I need to see an EFT practitioner?
In all situations where you are looking at psychological concerns, working with a qualified professional is helpful. Emotional Freedom Technique can be self-applied, and indeed this is what draws many people to it. Being able to take your healing into your own hands can be empowering and allows you to work consistently on yourself.
Having said this, learning the techniques from a professional initially is highly recommended. This is because they can talk to you about your personal circumstances and your specific concerns. Knowing this, they can recommend a tapping routine that will work best for you.
When addressing psychological concerns you may need to think about situations that worry you. Doing this in the presence of a professional offers a safe environment. Having a greater understanding of psychology allows EFT practitioners to guide you through the process.
Of course, once you feel you understand how to use the therapy on yourself (and your practitioner is happy for you to) you can continue your work alone.
As tapping requires no equipment, it can be done anywhere at any time. This turns it into a tool for you to use as and when you feel you need it.
Is it safe?
Emotional Freedom Technique has no known negative side effects and is considered very safe. There are certain situations that a qualified EFT therapist will be better equipped to handle however, such as:
- situations where emotions are heightened
- situations where problem appears to get worse
- knowing points to avoid when pregnant.
If you are unsure, be sure to speak to a professional EFT practitioner and inform your doctor of any new therapies you are trying.
Tapping
This therapy uses tapping techniques to stimulate energy within the body. The tapping itself is done by your fingertips. There are thought to be many meridian points on your fingertips themselves. Therefore, using them during tapping allows you to target multiple meridian points at once.
The number of fingers you use when tapping depends on the type of EFT you are carrying out (some traditional types require you to use specific fingers). Generally however you are encouraged to use more fingers when tapping larger areas, and less on smaller, more delicate areas.
The tap should be solid, but not hard enough to hurt or bruise you. You can use one or two hands, as long as you cover all meridian points. Some EFT practitioners recommend using both hands, but alternating the taps slightly. This is thought to act in a similar way to eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy.
Typically, you will be asked to tap each point between five and seven times – ideally the same length of time as it takes you to complete one full breath.
In most cases, the order of points you tap is not essential as long as you hit each point. Most practitioners will advise you to go from top to bottom, purely because this helps you to remember to tap every point.
What are the tapping points?
The tapping points within EFT are located in the upper part of the body. To ensure you are hitting the right points, be sure to consult with a professional. The locations are as follows:
- top of the head
- eyebrow
- side of the eye
- under the eye
- under the nose
- chin
- collarbone
- under the arm
- ‘karate chop’ (the outer edge of your hand).
When you are tapping these points, try to keep the following in mind:
Be specific – The language you use during EFT is important. It is the combination of language and the kinetic energy raised that makes Emotional Freedom Technique effective. The more specific you can be with your language, the better.
Stay focused – Sometimes carrying out EFT brings up difficult thoughts and feelings. You may feel an urge to recoil or distance yourself from this, but being tuned in and focused is key. If you are finding it too difficult, tell your EFT practitioner.
Notice any changes – After each round of tapping, come back to your thoughts and note your thoughts and feelings. Has anything changed?
Stay hydrated – Emotional Freedom Technique is thought to access electrical energy, and as water conducts electricity it is considered helpful to be well hydrated when tapping. Drinking enough water is generally beneficial to our health anyway, so ensure you are getting the recommended amount of water each day.