Energy Psychology techniques that are based on contacting Meridian Points in the body are known as Meridian Energy Techniques or Therapies.
E.F.T. Emotional Freedom Technique
EFT is the best known of the Meridian Energy Therapies.
EFT does exactly what it says, it frees us from our emotional blocks that can lead to all sorts of health problems.
Our body’s Meridian lines (see Understanding Meridians below) keep our energy flowing but how we react to life’s challenges can create blockages in the flow and result in pain – emotional and physical. Acupuncture and acupressure are widely researched and accepted therapies to help with pain and a variety of other illnesses.
EFT is a form of acupressure (acupuncture without needles) that is based on new discoveries regarding the connection between your body’s subtle energies, your emotions and your health. It has its roots in psychology and kinesiology as well as acupuncture. Gary Craig developed EFT from the original concept and work of Roger Callaghan and it is now widely recognised as a breakthrough in Energy Psychology.
Eminent clinical psychologist, Dr. Roger Callaghan developed Thought Field Therapy from an interest in Applied Kinesiology, following a breakthrough with a patient’s water phobia. He discovered the mind/body connection while working on his patient’s fear of water over 20 years ago. He asked his patient, Mary, to contact her stomach meridian point underneath the eye as he was working on aspects of her issue. The result was astounding, immediate and permanent. Following a year and a half of psychology and hypnotherapy there had been some improvement but no resolution. Involving the meridian point in the session created the shift to dissolve the fear. Dr Callaghan researched the main accessible meridian points and linked them to different psychological states of mind. He called this Thought Field Therapy.
He started training people with his system and one of his students Gary Craig experimented further to refine the protocol. He discovered that the results were the same if all the points were contacted or tapped. This made it easier than analysing which point would be most useful for what issue with each patient.
He developed EFT – Emotional Freedom Technique. The result is a simple elegant tool that anyone can try.
EFT has been reported successful in thousands of cases covering a huge range of emotional, health and performance issues.
The practitioner or each individual taps or presses certain acupressure points on the face, body and hands while focussing on the problem. This connects the mind with the body and the healing process can then be incredibly fast!
It sounds so simple and it is, but there are obviously safety protocols and different ways of ensuring the effectiveness of the technique so it is important to work with or train with someone who is accredited as an MET (Meridian Energy Therapy) trainer.
To fully understand the scope of EFT and how to use it effectively with specific issues and aspects of issues, it does require some study and practice, so look at a course or workshop to help you to realise the full potential of EFT.
You will cover different protocols for different issues. There are different ways of helping people depending on their individual needs. Someone with a chocolate addiction would need a different protocol from someone with a traumatic memory or help with conflicting emotions. Each client is unique and there are diverse approaches to tailor make a session and homework (if appropriate) for each person.
EFT is also wonderful for children who can work on their “magic buttons”. Group work is enjoyable and effective if the members share a common aim, such as weight loss when “borrowing benefits” helps everyone together.
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The AMT – The Association for Meridian Energy Therapies was the first non-profit umbrella organisation for Meridian Energy Therapies and is a leading light in training, innovation and support. For details of Practitioners, Trainers, Conferences, Literature, Web sites and more go to www.theAMT.com
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Some of the EFT Variations:
From the basic tapping sequence there are now variations that prove just as effective and may suit some people or circumstances better.
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Dr.Silvia Hartmann’s Heart and Soul Protocol is very special and is a gentler more flowing version. Dr. Hartmann is one of the founders of the AMT, inventor of EmoTrance and a prolific writer and respected contributor to the world Energy Psychology.
The Heart and Soul sequence begins and ends with the person’s hands on their own heart and leaves out one or two of the less appealing tapping points to create a smoother and calmer experience. I have found it wonderful for those with self esteem issues, lack of self-confidence or who do not appreciate their own self worth. |
TAB, Tap and Breathe involves holding each meridian point with two or three fingers whilst breathing in and out. It is a gentler version and suits people who cannot or prefer not to tap.
Slow EFT is sometimes used for complex issues and involves working on one meridian point at time. It is a precise, deliberate and thorough form of EFT.
Proxy EFT can be used animals or anyone that you cannot tap on. You are the “stand in” for the client and imagine yourself in their situation.
Telephone Tapping is useful for helping people who you cannot see for a session.
BSFF – Be Set Free Fast uses a cue word or trigger word after creating a set up for your subconscious mind to act upon whenever you need help with a particular issue or set of issues. Created by Dr Larry Nims it is a simple technique that everyone should try!
TAT is Tapas Flemming’s technique for emotional freedom involving a simple holding pose while connecting to the issue.
There are more Meridian Energy Therapies to explore and different approaches to Energy Psychology such as Event’s Psychology and Matrix Re-imprinting.
All have their place and application. The exciting challenge is to discover which technique and approach is suitable for which person. The aim is to help people with their issues, help them with the wisdom and learning that comes from addressing an issue and to empower them to move forward in their life stronger and more able to help themselves.
Understanding Meridians
ENERGY – moving forward
Wind, heat, light and sound are all forms of energy.
Energy is present in the body:
Blood circulation is energy
Our conscience and mental activity are forms of energy
The work of the immune system is energy
The processes controlling our growth are energy
Taken together all forms of energy in the body are called VITAL ENERGY
Vital energy is movement and life. Lack of vital energy is death.
Meridians
Meridians are channels of energy.
An infinite yet invisible network of channels interweaving the body, although some research in the 1930’s claims evidence of these channels being discovered alongside the nervous system.
Meridians form the basis of Mayan and Chinese Traditional Acupuncture.
A free unimpeded flow of energy along the meridians is essential to health.
A blocked flow will lead to illness. In Chinese medicine working with the meridians also involves Yin and Yang philosophy (balance in everything),
As well as the understanding that man is an integral part of the nature surrounding him.
The five elements and the four seasons in nature are considered in all aspects of Chinese Medicine.
Chinese physicians devoted their entire professional careers to the study of just one acupuncture point to discover which diseases were linked to which point. Finally anatomical charts were drawn connecting individual points all relating to diseases in the same organ.
A total of 24 paths were drawn in pairs arranged symmetrically to either side of the body, each two lines formed one meridian which was named after the organ or functional part of the body to which it was related.
The energy that circulates around the body is called VITAL ENERGY.
This can be the blood circulation, our conscious and mental activity, digestive, immune response, growth etc.
Vital Energy circulates within the body along MERIDIANS.
It nourishes all vital processes.
Metaphorically speaking, the meridians are “main water canals” whereas the points are “locks”. “Side canals” emanate from these locks. Some canals fall into locks that are interconnected with other main canals (thus providing links), but their main task is to “carry water to the surrounding fields”.
In this way meridians are perceived as:
Main canals of the vital energy
The flow of energy is imbalanced by various forms of blockages in the body, just like the stream of a river delta can be diverted by means of embanking some of the branches.
There are 12 main meridians named after the organs or functions to which they are related. They cover both sides of the body meaning that the lung meridian for example starts in each lung and ends at the nail bed on the outside of each thumb. Meridians exist in pairs; one goes to the extremities whilst the other runs back. Two such meridians are called partner meridians e.g lung and large intestine meridians.
Meridians are bilateral and energy crosses over from one side of the body to the other. Therefore it does not matter which side you tap on for E.F.T.
Each point that we use corresponds to a different meridian which affects a different part of the body and has a different mind/body emotional link.
The points are where the meridians come to the surface and are used in acupuncture, acupressure and shiatsu treatments and now there is E.F.T.
Reference:
Understanding Meridians by Jorgen Frydenlund
ISBN 87-980436-7-6
For more information on meridians go to http://theamt.com/how_energy_healing-works.htm
The Complete basic EFT protocol aims to cover most of the main emotional states that people experience. Each point when contacted can help with certain feelings. Algorithms of appropriate points are often devised for addictions, anxiety and for quick self help.
In brief the main points are:
The Sore Spot rubbed prior to tapping whilst contacting the thought or emotion can help with self sabotage and psychological reversal and begins to create the mind/body link.
1. Eyebrow point - Trauma, Fear, Memory, Phobias
Bladder Meridian
2. Side of Eye - Decisions, Energy, Anxiety, Anger, Shock
Gall Bladder Meridian
3. Under Eye - Confusion, compulsions, addictions
Stomach Meridian
4. Under nose - Embarrassment, Panic, Hunger, Allergies, Shock, self-confidence
Governing Vessel
5. Chin - Trauma, panic, anxiety, shame, fatigue
Central Vessel
6. Collarbone - Fear, Lack of energy, indecision, lack of willpower, confidence. Key point for all issues
Kidney Meridian
7. Under Arm - Addictions, concentration, indecision, over tired and sensitive to criticism
Spleen Meridian
8. Thumbnail - Sadness, grief, depression, resentment, inflexibility, lethargy, good for OCD
Lung Meridian
9. Index Finger - Forgiveness, Intransigence, resentment, guilt
Large intestine Meridian
10. Middle Finger - Low self-esteem, jealousy, restlessness, callous, cold feeling, lack of enthusiasm, lack of concern for others
Pericardium Meridian
11. Little Finger - anger, selfishness, loneliness, depression, sorrow, arrogance, extreme behaviour
Heart Meridian
12. Karate Chop - Forgetfulness, self confidence, anxiety, shock
Small Intestine Meridian
13. Gamut - Exhaustion, Dizziness, inability to express love and emotions. May help with physical pain.
Also the Gamut point is contacted when the mind cannot stay focussed and a technique to bring the right and left hemispheres of the brain back into harmony is used.
Triple Warmer Meridian