EFT – Emotional Freedom Technique, was created in the 1990’s by a man named Gary Craig and has been referred to as psychological acupressure and/or energy psychology. Intrigued to know more about EFT we recruited the expertise of Spread The Light contributor, Kelsey Patel, to share her knowledge on the topic.
What Is EFT?
According to Gary Craig himself “EFT is a universal healing tool that can provide impressive results for physical, emotional, and performance issues. EFT operates on the premise that no matter what part of your life needs improvement, there are unresolved emotional issues in the way. Even for physical issues, chronic pain, or diagnosed conditions, it is common knowledge that any kind of emotional stress can impede the natural healing potential of the human body. Emotional Freedom Technique is a form of counselling intervention that draws on various theories of alternative medicine including acupuncture, neuro-linguistic programming, energy medicine, and Thought Field Therapy.”
To me personally, EFT is an incredible form of healing that is quite simple and easy to self-administer. I love using it weekly on myself and have seen the most incredible shifts in my clients and students by teaching them EFT over the years.
It is an amazing ally to interrupt anxiety cycles, pain experiences and even to open up to larger forms of inner healing or trauma therapy and it can also support the creation of an abundant mindset and opening up to more harmonious flow and ease in one’s day to day life.
How Does EFT Work?
The technique works by an individual or practitioner tapping on different acupressure points of the body (or meridians of energy) where we hold emotions, patterns, fears, traumas and other related blockages. In doing so, these areas are opened and cleared.
Tapping connects us to the subtle energies of the body, known in Chinese acupuncture as meridians. These meridians help control the flow of the body’s energy, including its balance and harmony. When there is a disruption in the flow of energy, it is usually noticed or easily identified as pain, unease, discomfort or dis-ease. The tapping helps move through blockages and creates a new flow of energy by physically tapping on these meridians.
While tapping on this series of acupressure points on the body with your fingertips, you are also speaking aloud and focusing your attention on the emotional distress or belief that is causing disharmony in the body, mind or spirit. As you tap on these different areas, there can be initial emotional intensity or discomfort; however, even after just a couple of minutes of tapping, the shifts and releasing will start to be felt and clients often state they feel lighter, calmer and more at ease. It’s important to note that the immediate shifts from tapping can have really powerful impacts, in a positive way, because the body is composed of an energy system so when energy from old behaviours, fears and limiting beliefs are released, you are instead creating space for balance, flow and harmony.
The Benefits of EFT?
There are also several spiritual teachers and healers, therapists, life coaches and clinical psychologists who use EFT as a form of healing for supporting their clients as they move through emotional blockages, physical pain and unhealthy behavioural patterns.
I was introduced to tapping nearly a decade ago and it has been a consistent practice in my own self-healing and routine wellness. I have personally experienced tremendous healing in my own life by using tapping to help with physical back and neck pain and while having big moments of anxiety. It has helped me diffuse and shift feelings of unworthiness or fear before a big or new life event or experience, calmed down moments and feelings of vulnerability by creating alternative feelings of deep compassion for myself, and it has been incredibly supportive in opening me up to even more joy, abundance and radical self-awareness and self-acceptance.
I also share it now in all of my public classes, workshops, private sessions and retreats across the globe. Each time I have utilized tapping, both in private and public settings, there is an immediate shift and release in energy. Sometimes it takes several minutes and several rounds of tapping to really feel the release and shifting of energy and other times it may take just 1-2 minutes. What’s astounding to me about this technique is that people who have never heard of it or may be very skeptical about it are willing to try it with me in a class or session together and they will often tell me they feel so much more peaceful after tapping. It’s a great technique to utilize prior to meditating as well, especially if your mind feels restless or incredibly busy.
With tapping and any form of self-healing, it’s not always about needing to know what you released or where it came from or why it was there in the first place. I believe, and practice in my own life, that it’s more about showing up for yourself in each moment, noticing if your energy feels off and then taking a few minutes to acknowledge where you are and what you need. If you try tapping and notice that you feel better or lighter or shifted even just slightly, then it’s a good sign that this is a technique you can keep trying and turning to for the balance and harmony of your being.
Kelsey xo
Kelsey Patel is one of Hollywood’s leading wellness and reiki experts. She is not only a sought after spiritual empowerment coach, yoga teacher, reiki healer and meditation teacher, she is a multi-faceted entrepreneur and inspirational speaker, who has just written her first book, Burning Bright.
Her own life story is a part of her public and private workshops and international retreats. Kelsey is known for her ability to connect with all types of audiences in a real, authentic and uplifting way. Her mission is to inspire human beings and give them the tools to relate and connect to their own best self and live life in a purposeful, fun and balanced way. Kelsey’s workshops, classes and self-empowerment tools are a constant in clients’ daily lives, allowing them to take their intentions and goals to the next level.
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