EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) is a remarkable technique, which uses tapping with your fingers on acupressure points while being tuned in to a particular emotional state or problem. Unlike conventional counselling, EFT works from the heart – on a naked emotion, without an attempt to over-rationalize our behaviour or feelings. As such it often produces a quick and powerful release of the blocked energy, which brings about healing of an emotional and sometimes also physical pain.
While being a unique tool in one to one therapy, EFT is also very powerful when used in a group. How does it work?
When practised in a large group, usually several volunteers are chosen to work on a specific issue. The rest of the participants tap along, repeating the same setup statements and the reminder phrases. Before the process begins all participants are asked to think of an issue that bothers them and evaluate its intensity on the subjective scale from 0 to 10. What often happens is that after having worked on somebody else’s problem, most of the participants notice a reduction in the intensity of their own emotional or physical discomfort. This phenomenon is known as “borrowing benefits.”
Thus in the recent workshop I held in Cambridge after 30 minutes of working with two volunteers, some of the participants said that they could no longer connect with their own issues, and others too experienced noticeable relief.
One of the participants comments: “I was surprised how powerful it was doing the tapping in a group and even when tapping on someone else’s negative emotion, it had a minimising effect on my own state.”
During the same workshop we also did a session on cravings. A spread of “tempting” items (chocolates, biscuits, coffee, crisps) was laid out before the group. I asked each participant to assess their level of craving for a particular food. It varied between 6 and 10. After three rounds of group tapping it was hard to persuade any of them to take a chocolate or a crisp! What is even more impressive is that this short session had a long-lasting effect. A week after the workshop I have received an email from a participant, who wrote: “I have noticed that my craving for chocolate and my craving levels or desires have reduced overall. Possibly this is about control and self-control and that feels great in itself.”
Group tapping can also maximise the emotional release experienced by the volunteers working on specific problems. It is about compassion and the power of intention. Going out before a group of strangers and speaking about personal emotional issues is a daunting task for most of us and requires a great courage. I found that at tapping groups and workshops an atmosphere of warm compassion and empathy quickly establishes from the start. Everybody’s heart is tuned in and eager to help so that the individuals stepping out feel supported and fully accepted, which allows them to feel safe to let down their barriers and experience emotional release leading to healing.
To experience for yourself the power of EFT and learn how to
- Release stress and anxiety
- Raise your energy levels
- Overcome cravings
- and more!
please come to my special Christmas Workshop on 11 December 2010, 3 – 5 pm (Salus Wellness Clinic, 47 Norfolk Street; Cambridge CB1 2LD). Fee is £ 16.
Places are limited! Book your place now by calling 0780 777 12 91 or emailing connect@soultap.co.uk.
As a special Christmas offer, all participants will receive 50% off a therapy session at Soultap Therapy.
Look forward to seeing you!
Ludmila Gin
I had been told that tapping could be used with children to clear negative thought patterns. When my daughter said that she felt she was no longer able to dance naturally we tried tapping. This was easy to do- I was even driving at the time! She said that she felt calmer immediately and went into her dance exam with increased self confidence. I am not claiming a link between tapping and better dancing but she was able to clear a superimposed worry and came out of the exam with a very high mark!!
I enjoyed attending ETF workshop run by Mila. She is very good at explaining
the technique, confident and convincing. I am not sure how much tapping is effective but combined with word sequences it creates a positive emotional atmosphere and overall is an interesting new experience. I would certainly try it again.