EFT Level 1 and 2 Class Review

EFT Level 1 and 2 Class Review EFT Protocol Often clients present with a general or global issue. A useful metaphor is the concept of the table top in explaining how and why getting to specifics events, scenes, sensations is important. Legs are the emotions and the aspects of the events that hold up the table. A main job of the practitioner is to find and address a specific event. Listening closely to, and using, the client s words the practitioner develops a two part Setup made up of a specific problem statement and an acceptance statement which is often called an affirmation. Specificity, dealing with aspects and testing are key cornerstones to using EFT. Finding specific events and related aspects can take some detective work. Generally, probing questions (the discovery questions), revolve around who, what, when, where, how and questions that bring out the five senses: seeing, hearing, feeling, tasting, smelling. While in some cases an issue may collapse quickly most clients need several sessions to address their issue thoroughly and frequently persistence is necessary to see results. We are most helpful to our clients when we narrow the problem down to a specific event (time, place, person.) After all, the decisions we make as we grow up about ourselves, others and the world were created as events happened to us. We will most likely uncover and be able to resolve core issues those deep beliefs that underpin much of our day to day reactions by finding and resolving those events in which that core issue/belief was formed. Our core issue is often that limiting belief that restricts how we see ourselves, others and the world. Those limiting beliefs are often passed on to them by an authority figure and can even be created before we have language. Keep in mind that it s all connected. Any story they share about an issue is relevant and related to their presenting problem. As we listen to how our clients describe their problems they may or may not be aware of how their negative beliefs are a part of what is behind their self sabotage behavior and what holds them back. The client s negative beliefs show up in the words they choose, the attitudes, behaviors and opinions they share. Negative beliefs can show up as a negative Tail Enders after a positive statement. The metaphor, Writing on your Walls, is often used to explain how others in our life often write on our internal walls i.e. what we believe about ourselves, others and the world. Setup Setups are developed from the words the client uses to describe the issue. Tap on the fatty side of the hand as you make a problem statement AND an acceptance statement. You can state the reminder phrase from one to three times. The reminder phrase used on each point can be simply one word, or some of the key words from the story, or you can add in all of the words of the description at different points. The other option would be to tap without words sometimes useful with very high intensity. Page 1

The Points We begin tapping the points by saying the Setup on the fatty side of the hand. The acupressure points used in tapping the EFT Basic Recipe are: head, eyebrow, side of the eye, under eye, under nose, chin, collarbone, under arm. Additional points used in a FULL recipe are the finger points and the gamut point on the back of the hand. Other points introduced in Level 2 as additions are the wrist point and the ankle points. The concept of your point means that you have one point that seems to work effectively all by itself to Testing There are numerous ways to test our results. Intensity levels, percentages, validation of cognition scale (VoC) for beliefs (1-7), outstretched arms, or in some cases when someone can t/won t use numbers words such as, A lot, some, a little, none, vivid imagining the situation, role play, and the ultimate test is in a real life trials (in vivo). The main purpose of testing is to assess progress, or lack thereof, during a session. Testing helps guide the practitioner by assessing what issue/apects/events are complete. Probably the most common method used to test is the 0 to 10 intensity scale. This scale was adapted from the one developed by Joseph Wolpe in 1969 for use in cognitive-behavioral treatments for anxiety disorders and for research purposes. Itwas called the Subjective Units of Distress Scale. This terminology is in use by many EFTers and you will see the abbreviation of SUD or SUDS or SUDs frequently on AAMET literature or the internet in sites discussing EFT. However, it is not necessary to teach this term to your clients; after all we are to follow their words not teach them unnecessary new words. (Gold Standard EFT does not use this term.) Assessing the intensity in whatever way could be used throughout the session after each round or shift of aspect but definitely at the beginning and end of the session. Test too, the presenting problem as to how much it bothers them in the beginning of the session and ask again at the end of the session to address how much progress was made on their overall problem as you worked on various individual events. EFT Concepts The Discovery Statement The cause of all negative emotions is an imbalance in the energy system. The Movie Technique Useful when the client is unwilling to talk about the event. Instruct them to use a scene no more than 3 minutes long; ask the client for a title and assess the intensity. Tap generally if the intensity is 6 or above. Tap several rounds helping the Page 2

client clarify the aspects while running the movie in their head. Encourage them to use all five senses when running the movie. When the intensity is reported to be a 0 have them run the movie again and ask if they are willing to share the story. Both the Movie Technique and Tell the Story assess intensity, address the fear of going there and enable an event to be broken down into its aspects which are then handled one by one. NOTE: AAMET literature appears to combine The Movie Technique with the Tell the Story and not differentiate between the two, except to say that if the client wishes he or she could simply run the movie silently without sharing the story. Tell the Story is not currently taught separately in AAMET. In the emofree.com tutorial the Gold standard EFT states that the Movie is always started silently in the client s head. Gold Standard clearly differentiates between the Movie Technique and Tell the Story. Tell the Story steps are: Assess intensity, Address anxiety about telling story; Tell story beginning at a point before the event; Encourage client to stop at any intensity; Continue to end of story; Then repeat story until no intensity; Test using Vivid Visualization ; Tap for any remaining intensity; Also test in vivo when possible. Chasing the Pain simply tap on whatever presenting physical symptomology and follow the definition and movement as it changes, i.e. intensity goes up or down, mores to another area of the body, new symptoms appear, or pain can go gradually or suddenly. Can develop and tap for descriptive metaphors. Tearless Trauma Technique This helps the client distance themselves or disassociate from the painful event until they are more comfortable in addressing it. Often used with high intensity events or with something that you/they know would upset them if they would address it. Simply ask them to guess what the intensity would be if they were to go to the event, then tap for a very general title such as, This happened, or The Big One, etc. Tap until the guessed intensity is 3 or below then use Tell the Story or the Movie Technique. Sneaking Up on the Problem is simply a phrase for describing not going straight to a core issue or painful event or trauma. You want to work with small bits of the situation or related parts that do not bring up strong emotions. Positive choices are not a part of the Gold Standard EFT. However, positive choices or affirmations are so popular and common that AAMET sees them as a realistic option to be used when intensity is at 3 or below. Remember that for a choice to be maximally effective there should be a discussion with the client as to what choice they would rather have not the choice you think they need. Page 3

Constricted Breathing is a useful exercise to use with new clients or as an exercise to demonstrate EFT to a group. When we are upset we tend to breathe much more shallow. Using EFT to address the percentage of a full breath is an easy way to address our anxiety/upset without having to thing about what to say. Take three slow breaths. Then take one more, assessing the percentage of a full deep breath. Using simply the % of breath as the wording for the Setup and Reminder, tap several rounds and reassess. If % changes as you go, change the % used in the wording. Special Issues 1) Addictive behaviors generally driven by anxiety and self sabotage and early childhood traumatic events. Teach EFT for relaxation, and cravings, explore any background of trauma, work on areas in which client is exhibiting self sabotage. 2) Children Work first with the parent. Help the parent deal with his or her issues around the child s problem. This also gives you an opportunity to assess the family dynamics. 3) Working with Friends As mentioned above doing an EFT session could in some way shift the existing relationship. Be careful, set boundaries and be respectful. Never push EFT on anyone no matter how good a friend, no matter how much you may think it can help them. 4) Psychological Reversal or self sabotaging behavior can block EFT from working. The secondary gain that may be a benefit from the behavior is often unconscious. Two good questions are some variation on: What is the upside to keeping this problem? What is the downside of getting rid of it? 5) Working with Groups one way is to tap using whatever you think would be any of the aspects, thoughts and emotions around the presenting problem the group may have. Another is to use Borrowing Benefits. While you are working with one or more people in front of the room you would instruct the group to Borrowing Benefits is also useful to work with your own issues with a video and to teach this method to your clients for their self use. 6) Surrogate tapping or proxy tapping. Tapping as if you are the other person in order to relieve their pain/issues. For the most powerful results make sure you are clearing your own emotions around the other s problem. 7) When EFT gets stuck some of the issues to investigate are: Is the issue being addressed too global? Have you tapped long enough? Some issues take many, many tapping rounds and over a long period of time. You may need to add more points. You may have a week Setup not closely enough related to the real feelings. Sometimes saying the Setup VERY loud is helpful. There is a core issue interfering with the progress that you have not found and addressed. There are Page 4

additional issues, emotions surfacing. In rare cases, it could be an environmental issue, what you eat, the environment you are in, the chemicals you use, etc. 8) The 9 gamut is useful when EFT seems slow or stuck; session seems to be heavy; you ve cleared a lot and want to reinforce the learning; just seems to be a good idea. While tapping continuously on the back of the hand, and holding head level as if you were looking at a large clock on the wall, close your eyes, open your eyes, look hard down to the right, look hard down to the left, Go around the imaginary clock, now do it counter clockwise. Hum a few bars, count to 7, hum a few bars again. 9) The Personal Peace Procedure is the practice recommended to help guide someone in self work. Create a list of events in your life that are still bothersome and simply pick something from the list every day to address. Ethical Issues: 1) Focus of session should be on the client. Whenever possible the best approach is to use the client s words when working with someone. 2) Your job as practitioner is to hold a safe space for the client to share. 3) If someone presents with a physical problem always ask if they have seen their physician and had a physical workup 4) In all cases, the focus of any EFT session should be on the client s needs. 5) The role of practitioner is generally perceived as an authority and can shift a personal relationship in ways that could adversely affect the existing relationship. 6) Confidentiality is critical around any session whether paid or gratis as information comes out that is often not shared with others. 7) The ankle point may cause early termination of pregnancy or trigger contractions and is contra indicated in using with EFT for pregnant women. 8) Always go at the pace of the client, even when you believe EFT could resolve their problem quickly. Sometimes the fastest way to get somewhere is to slow down. Client may not be ready. 9) Rapport is critical, tone of voice should be calming, soothing. 10) Introducing EFT While it is good to have several elevator speeches that can briefly describe EFT it is best to match your explanation with what can best be a bridge to their existing understanding and belief system. About Trauma Big and small traumatic events can happen to anyone. Fortunately, with support and time many of us resolve the impact of the trauma. Sometimes, however, past events are not resolved and intrude into our present lives affecting our ability to cope. In some cases the trauma intrudes to the point that the emotions can be so overwhelming the person may tend to avoid places, people and situations which could trigger the memory and the intense emotional reactions. Experiencing a trigger or addressing a traumatic event could lead to an abreaction generally defined as normal but intense reaction to a trauma or whatever trigger stimulated the reaction. These intense Page 5

reactions are more likely to occur if the emotions connected to the traumatic event have been long repressed or buried. The possibility of an abreaction is one of the reasons practitioners should develop a strong rapport and level of trust with the client. Empathic statements such as, This is hard for you. or Share with me what that was like for you. are useful. Other good ways that help establish rapport would be to match the client e.g. matching his or her tone of voice, body language or movements perhaps as simple as matching their rate of breathing. Always, too, you will listen closely to the client and pay very close attention to calibrate - any changes in emotions or body language. Empathic responses that show you are listening and accepting of the client are critical in maintaining a positive engaging relationship between you and your client. In this way, you will be able to assess the emotional and physical reactions. Calibrating their various responses by watching their eye movements, breathing rate, tone of voice, even skin tone helps you be aware of changes in the body and emotions. Checking in with your client by asking such questions as, What s going on with you now? Or, What comes up for you now? Or, What just happened? are also important for helping understand where your client is at the time. This information can help guide you when a client has shifted aspects i.e. moved to a different part of the problem. He may mention that the emotion has changed or they ve shifted to another memory. If the client does become very upset, or experiences an abreaction, the practitioner should keep tapping with the person or, in situations that are permitted within your licensing or governmental regulations, tap on the client. These reactions can be upsetting as well to the practitioner. It s helpful to keep yourself focused and calm by tapping along with the client. This is another reason that continuous work on oneself, both on your own and with another practitioner or in a group, is important to avoid being triggered by your client, to have more awareness of what is happening in the room and to prevent imposing your own agenda in the session. Often practitioners utilize the Personal Peace Procedure as suggested by Gary Craig. This process involves making a list of painful events in your life and tapping through them one at the time every day, adding to the list as others come up and watching for patterns or related events. This is actually a life long process as we are never really through. Fortunately, however, we don t always have to tap on every single event. Often there are patterns to the events we experienced. After resolving one or more events with similar characteristics the remaining related events collapse due to the generalization effect. Other AAMET topics not mentioned by Gold Standard EFT 1) The Apex Effect - Client not accept that EFT was helpful for them even when it is clear that it did. Keep records of issues worked on. 2) Additional tapping points Ankle and wrist points 3) Frequency of Setup Originally Gary taught saying the Setup 3 times. In Gold Standard this is now optional The times can vary from one to three times. Page 6

4) Floor to Ceiling Eyeroll Useful when intensity is down to 1 or 2. While holding your head level and looking straight ahead tap continuously on the gamut point as you move your eyes to the floor. Then slowly roll your eyes up as far as they will go, still tapping. 5) Touch and Breathe Instead of tapping the points, touch each one as you take a slow breath. 6) Talk and Tap (or Rant) Tap as you are telling the story without interruption. 7) Continual Tapping as above but also can mean to tap continually throughout the day, e.g. on the finger points. 8) Calibration the practice of watching for changes in the client s behavior, movement, skin tone, facial expressions, breathing rates, voice tone and inflections, how emotions are expressed. In essence you are paying attention to how the client says and does everything and gleaning meaning (and asking the client for meaning) from it. 9) Hydration While there is no research as to the effect of being, or not being, hydrated on the effectiveness of EFT s impact we can all agree that water is an important to our well being. 10) The liver point Located about an inch under the nipple this point is often either skipped or tapped on a lower point on the liver meridian. In the original EFT the liver point was listed in the Full EFT Recipe. 11) Cognitive shifts Occur when the client decreases his or her intensity to be able to look at the situation in a more realistic and logical manner. 12) Positive and Alternative Phrasing AAMET allows for using choices or tapping in positive phrases. Level 2 only introduces the concepts of reframes, intuition, positive choices and working with trauma. More on these subjects are to be taught in Level 3. AAMET s revised guidelines effective June 30, 2014 has moved the teaching of reframes until Level 3 Reframes can be differentiated from positive choices as a reframe is a statement that comes from you sometimes the client comes up with their own. Reframes simply help the client discover or develop a cognitive shift. The goal for most counseling and coaching is to help the client develop a healthier perspective - a cognitive shift. While EFT can be effective without using reframes, it appears that offering a reframe as intensity to an issue is decreased cognitive shifts happen faster. There are several types of reframes and using them effectively depends on carefully following the client and timing. Page 7