Emotional freedom technique, or EFT, utilizes a combination of tapping and guided reflection to help patients heal from serious emotional or therapeutic issues.
The locations on the body where this tapping occurs are points where meridian lines (energy highways throughout the body) intersect. These lines are also used in other similar practices, such as acupuncture.
By focusing on emotions, thoughts, and feelings that cause distress while, at the same time, tapping on certain parts of the body, patients can find relief. Sounds incredible?
Why not try it and find out what benefits EFT can offer you?
1. It’s Empowering
For some people, therapy can feel like a very disempowering experience. Why?
They go to a therapist’s office and sit on the couch for 45 minutes to an hour. They discuss what problems are afflicting them. Perhaps the therapist provides their own take on those problems and what can be done. Yet, afterward, they don’t feel like you accomplished anything at all.
Contrarily, the empowering part of EFT is that it’s a technique you can do both with a therapist or on your own. Thus, it’s a solution that you can implement in your daily life whenever you are experiencing distressing thoughts or emotions.
2. It Uses Affirming Language
When you participate in an EFT session, you use affirming language. Before you start tapping, you acknowledge the problem that you are struggling with. But you also practice acceptance for yourself.
This is a powerful step because you are not hiding from the issue at hand, such as stress. Plus, you are accepting your essential nature and everything about yourself. Basically, you are saying to yourself that you are facing a problem, but that you still accept yourself, no matter what.
That acknowledgment can be boiled down into a single sentence that you can repeat to yourself while you are practicing the tapping portion of EFT.
3. It Works with a Wide Variety of Issues
Another benefit of EFT is that it works with a wide range of therapeutic issues.
For example:
- Panic disorder
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Addiction
- Emotions such as anger or fear
- Physical pain
- Stress
This makes EFT a flexible technique that isn’t reserved for a specific problem. Also, many people struggle with more than one of these issues, so EFT can be utilized for a variety of problems simultaneously.
4. It’s an Alternative to Medication
Many of the problems listed above are often managed with medication. Medication can certainly help with symptom relief, but it does not always get to the source of the problem. Also, some people may be concerned about the side-effects of therapeutic drugs.
EFT does not require medications, so there are no side effects.
At the same time, if you are taking medication, you can still use EFT as well. It both complements medication and can be used as a stand-alone technique. Again, this means it’s a very flexible tool for those who are seeking relief.
5. It Can Be Incorporated into Your Daily Routine
A final benefit of EFT is that you can incorporate it into your everyday routine.
There are two ways you can accomplish this:
- Daily meditative practice: You practice EFT as part of a self-care schedule. This is particularly helpful if you have had something on your mind and need a way to process it.
- Intervention: If you have a situation where you feel triggered, you can use EFT to cope in the moment. This is a more proactive way of addressing a problem, instead of trying to avoid it or hope it goes away.
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Emotional freedom technique holds the potential to help you proactively address many different kinds of therapeutic issues. Like any technique, EFT does take some practice. However, once you get the hang of it you will be easily able to utilize it for coping with stress, pain, anxiety, and many other issues.
To learn more about EFT and how to practice it, consult with a therapist familiar with emotional freedom technique. I would be delighted to help you on that journey.