This Dynamic Energetic Healing intervention is a modification of

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1 C H A P T E R 20 EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUES, MODIFIED This Dynamic Energetic Healing intervention is a modification of Gary Craigʼs emotional freedom techniques (EFT), which, in turn, is Craigʼs derivative of Roger Callahanʼs Thought Field Therapy (TFT). EFT easily fits into the category of what are generically called meridian therapies. This catchall term is used in the energy psychology community for models that have the client tap on various points of the acupuncture meridians. The Foundation: Thought Field Therapy To put EFT into context, itʼs important first to look briefly at Callahanʼs Thought Field Therapy. TFT is a compilation of various tapping sequences that are prescribed for psychological issues such as particular phobias, traumatic memories, anxiety, and mood disorders. The practitioner must memorize the many algorithms (specific combinations of acupoints) that Dr. Callahan developed to correspond to various psychological and emotional conditions. Dr. Callahan deserves tremendous credit for his discovery that percussing or gently tapping on the twelve major and two midline Chinese acupuncture meridians will rapidly and often permanently eliminate emotional problems, even those that are severe. Chiropractor George Goodheart Jr. did the initial research integrating Chinese medical concepts into Western chiropractic medicine. 187

2 The Dynamic Energetic Healing Interventions The Development of EFT Gary Craig is an engineer who became interested in psychology and motivational change strategies, and he was fortunate enough to be one of Dr. Roger Callahanʼs original students. Craig found that it was much easier and just as effective to have the client tap on the acupoints of the ten major meridians, the Governing Vessel, and the Central or Conception Vessel as a way to streamline the procedures he learned from Dr. Callahan. In my clinical experience, I have found that adding the liver meridian point under the breast and the triple heater point on the back of the hand provides a more comprehensive treatment approach when working with the acupuncture meridians. Therefore, I have modified Craigʼs EFT intervention to include all twelve of the major meridians and the two midline points on the Central and Governing Vessels (see figures 2a and 2b). Craig discovered through his practical experience with countless clients that tapping on all the twelve EFT points, regardless of the clientʼs problem, Figure 2a 188

3 Emotional Freedom Techniques, modified Figure 2b is sufficient to recruit the clientʼs chi field and thereby generate a change that relieves most presenting symptoms. As the client attunes to his or her disturbance while tapping on all the points in sequence (starting on the face, then to the trunk of the body, and finally the hands), the flow of chi within all the meridians being tapped is mobilized, which affects the clientʼs disturbance pattern and change process at multiple levels. It is theorized that when this happens, the thought fields that carry the information responsible for creating and perpetuating the disturbance or the problem collapse. When these thought fields (which are energy fields of specific information) have collapsed, the information is no longer available to negatively affect the client. The clientʼs system instantly reorganizes itself so homeostasis can return, even if the released information had been carried from trauma many years ago. EFT is an energy psychology intervention that anyone can use safely and effectively to immediately let go of negative emotional charge. It can be used 189

4 The Dynamic Energetic Healing Interventions to dissipate anger and frustration that you are holding on to from an argument you had an hour ago or traumatic residue that you have been carrying from an event that occurred twenty years ago. Energy psychology is relatively new (just over twenty years old), so many of its therapeutic interventions are considered experimental and innovative. There is an ongoing debate in the energy psychology community about whether EFT is as effective as TFT. Callahan and his adherents press the argument that it is not only the combination of acupoints used but the order in which they are used that is responsible for the effectiveness of the intervention. Craig and his supporters, on the other hand, insist that ordering has very little to do with the successful use and stimulation of the clientʼs chi field. The points used for EFT tapping are on the face, the front of the torso, and hands because they are easy to access and close to the endpoints of many of the meridians. For example, tapping on the bladder meridian points on the inner edge of the eyebrow is much easier than trying to find points on the bladder meridians that run along either side of the spine. Similarly, itʼs much easier to tap on the kidney meridian points just below the collarbones than it is to tap on the kidney-1 points at the very bottom of the feet. Nobody knows definitively why stimulating the chi field while attuning to a problem state dissipates negative emotional charge. There are many theories presently circulating, including speculations about hormones and brain biochemistry as well as more spiritual and energetic explanations. Meridians The meridians or channels have been called the pathways that circulate chi into, through, and out of your physical body. They are accessible along the surface of the skin, and they are easily stimulated with acupuncture needles or gentle physical pressure to release or balance the chi. Though the acupuncture points are accessible along the surface of the skin, the meridians that they connect to circulate deeply through the body, traveling through each of the organs and muscle groups. Each of the twelve major meridians is named for the primary organ or physiological system that it is connected to. The twelve major meridians circulate through particular organ systems, whereas the Central and the Governing Vessels open more directly to your outer environment. But energy psychology meridian treatments include these two midline points (also called central channels) as significant meridians. It has been observed that the energies you encounter in your outer environ- 190

5 Emotional Freedom Techniques, modified ment can actually move in and out of you through these two central channels (Eden 1998, 97). Energy psychology practitioners who use EFT direct their client to tap on the designated points while the client attunes to the particular emotional disturbance that has been disrupting their life. The tapping or percussing of the acupuncture points on the meridians stimulates and balances the chi by unblocking stagnant or stuck chi in specific meridians. Although it is somewhat mysterious exactly how this balancing occurs (since Western scientists have been unable to clearly define the nature of chi), clients experience immediate cognitive and emotional shifts. Chinese doctors and acupuncturists are trained to look for disturbances in meridian energies that are often directly related to health problems and disease. Traditional Chinese medicine has identified the emotional correlates to each of the major meridians that connect to each of the organ systems (see figure 3). Thus, it is well known in traditional Chinese medicine that the lung meridian is related to sadness and grief, while the kidney meridian is related to fear. As the acupuncturist treats the kidney on the physiological level, the emotion of fear is indirectly being addressed as well. Summary of EFT Treatment Points Meridian Point Body Addresses These Emotions Eyebrow (EB) Bladder Trauma, frustration Side of Eye (SE) Gallbladder Rage, resentment Under Eye (UE) Stomach Disgust, anxiety, nervousness Under Nose (UN) Governing vessel Fear of failure, embarrassment Under Bottom Lip (UBL) Conception vessel Shame Under Collarbone (UCB) Kidney Fear, insecurity Under Arm (UA) Spleen Low self-esteem, insecurity Under Breast (UB) Liver Anger, unhappiness Thumb (T) Lung Grief, arrogance Index Finger (IF) Large intestine Guilt, dogmatism Middle Finger (MF) Pericardium Jealousy, regret, cravings Little Finger (LF) Heart Anger Side of Hand (SH) Small intestine Loss, sadness, vulnerability Back of Hand (BH) Triple warmer Depression, cognitive confusion Figure 3 191