I was introduced to Emotional Freedom Techniques [EFT] as part of my course in Integrated Clinical Hypnotherapy and have been fascinated with it ever since. Further training in the AAMET certified advanced EFT helped in revealing multiple effective ways of application. It’s a simple technique which effectively heals everything from negativity, stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, fears, addictions and cravings to aches and pains among many others. This technique is being effectively applied world-wide and is now beginning to create an impact in India as well.

How Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) work:

We are energy beings. We all have energy running through our bodies. This energy runs through lines called meridians. Negative thoughts create disturbances in the flow of this energy and result in negative emotions. Often, emotional disturbances create pain or unpleasant bodily sensations and likewise a majority of physical ailments have underlying emotional contributors.

In EFT, we tap on specific acupressure points while repeating certain statements. This combination of energy medicine and psychology restores the natural healthy flow of energy through our body and results in release of dysfunctional negative emotions. This in turn facilitates cognitive shifts to healthier perspectives which are uncolored by overwhelming emotions.

Sessions at times start with the clients feeling overwhelmed with immense grief, anxiety, fear, pain or helplessness. While we work through the emotions, helping them acknowledge and deal with all that they are thinking and feeling, the emotional and physical distress keep reducing and new perspectives on the situation unravel. By the end of the session, the clients are able to come to a greater level of understanding and acceptance. They are then in a position to think with better clarity and take the necessary actions required.

I have often seen chronic pains reducing, anxieties giving way to increased confidence, cobwebs of negativity clearing away, childhood traumas getting easier to live with¸ unraveling of multiple layers of insight and understanding and renewed acceptance of life and self with EFT.

This technique is simple and quick. It can be easily learned and is a wonderful tool for self-help, providing stress relief in seconds. So, if you find yourself getting bogged down by negativity, this simple and effective technique is ready to come to your rescue.

Post contributed by: Mahima Gupta (Psychologist, Inner Space, 2010-2012)