How can EFT work for you?

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Before I begin, I want to thank Andrea Hunt who kindly offered to take me through EFT. She not only helped me a great deal but also was able to vicariously help my husband with his own stress and anxiety! Read on to learn more about EFT and Andrea’s practice.

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Over the last few years through both recovery and writing, I’ve been on a journey of self-discovery. While for some this might mean spending time with nature or volunteering, for me it’s about therapy and the different means available. I’m a sucker for alternative therapies. I love crystals, yoga, mindfulness, and everything in between. While my emotional and mental health is better than it once was, I’m still on the lookout for other ways to cope. Not because I haven’t found what works, but rather I want to continue to find new, interesting ways to be the best me that I can possibly be.

Emotional Freedom Tapping [EFT] ; What is it and how does it work? 

I had the pleasure of speaking with Andrea Hunt, a life coach who also works with EFT. Andrea talked me through tapping therapy, and how it can help benefit our emotional, physical and mental wellbeing.

Emotional Freedom Tapping is, in layman’s terms, an alternative practice to help process and manage conditions such as:

• Anxiety
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Intrusive thoughts
• Depression

During our session, Andrea and I talked about my issue with empathy and taking on the emotions of others. It’s not something I’ve talked about on my blog, but I tend to gobble up others’ emotions like yesterday’s leftover pizza. If someone I’m particularly close to is feeling some sort of way, I usually take that feeling on board. This works well if it’s a positive emotion, but when it’s negative it can throw my whole day for six. 

I worked with Andrea on a number of affirmations, all while carrying out tapping on specific areas of the body. Andrea fed me the lines, and I simply repeated them back. We worked on this together for an hour, taking a breather between each session and checking in on my anxiety levels throughout. I went from a solid nine down to three by the end of the hour.

But how does EFT work?

Andrea explained that EFT is a type of acupressure. It was developed in the ’90s by Gary Craig and involves tapping specific points of the body in sequence. While you focus on tapping, you also focus on a specific issue you wish to treat. The act of tapping corresponds with the meridian points within our bodies, the areas where our energy flows freely. EFT advocates state that by tapping on these meridian points, we’re able to restore the balance of energy within our bodies. But like many things, it might take time. Some might feel better after one session, while others may need to repeat the exercise over and over to feel the true effects.

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10 Ways EFT can help you!

> It’s a form of acupressure. 

As mentioned above, it works using acupressure. That means no medication, no stimulants or depressants, and no side effects. Win, win! By trying EFT you essentially have nothing to lose.

> Repeating affirmations internally may not be enough. 

We’ve all heard of affirmations, right? I use affirmations daily, and while they can be very helpful, they can also get old very quickly. Especially if you’re internalizing them. EFT gives us the opportunity to use those affirmations and encourages us to voice them out loud. For some, this can help affirmations stick! For me, repeating things aloud while actively tapping helps me internalize them more!

> You can practice tapping anytime, anywhere at varying levels. 

Feeling stress or anxious at work? Take a quick bathroom break to use your newly learned EFT skills. You can prepare a script for just such an occasion or use one proved by an EFT specialist. EFT can even be used during exams, in class, when flying, on public transport, etc. And, because you don’t even have to close your eyes, you can potentially use it while *driving.

*Provided you do so safety and sensibly.

> It can be tailored to your needs. 

EFT is an extremilly flexible technique that can be customised to your own situation. Andrea has created a script for me to use when I feel my empathy getting the better of me. If you’re working on a budget, you can even try creating your own!

*You can address multiple issues at once, and often do without realising.

> Improvement can be rapid! 

Some might reap the benefits with just one, ten minute session. Others may need to rinse and repeat as necessary.

> There are no known side effects. 

No drowsiness. Absolutely no nausea, vomiting, cramps or brain fog. The only side effect you might feel is clarity. Just be careful while operating heavy machinery!

> It’s free to practice tapping in your own home. 

Not convinced it’s for you? You can follow along to some general EFT exercising using a variety of YouTube tutorials. All from the comfort of your own home. I personally find it a lot better to have things personalized to my situation. But, if you just want to improve your overall well-being, there are plenty of videos for you online.

Andrea suggested Brad Yates for my husband. Ryan’s not one for regular therapy, so he’s no doubt missing out on some healing benefits. But, after just 30 minutes of following this video, he was able to feel calmer and able to think clearer.

> You don’t need to lie down on a special couch or close your eyes. 

It’s easy to practice sitting at your desk, in the car, and on the sofa. But if you want to get cozy and practice laying down, you do you. I’ve even been known to practice small, more discrete tapping exercises when things begin to get hectic at work. And there’s no need to leave my station!

> Tapping allows you to take back control. 

It puts you back in control of your mental health. You get to choose what you address, and you have the control to do so at any *reasonable time.

*Again, be sensible about when you choose to use tapping.

> You can pass tapping exercises onto your friends.

Finally, the joy of EFT can be easily passed onto your friends and loved ones. Remember those YouTube videos I mentioned? You can easily forward them on and briefly explain the benefits. Even your sceptical friends might give it a try!

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Interested in connecting with Andrea?

Andrea offers EFT and life coaching services online to anyone who might benefit from it. She’s a certified transformational life coach and a member of the International Coaching Federation. Andrea is also qualified in Level 2 EFT Tapping (Emotional Freedom Technique) and a member of AEFTP (Association of Emotional Freedom Technique Professionals). She’s currently working towards her EFT Masters Level 3 Certification.

** It’s important to note that Andrea does not treat trauma and serious psychological issues. Her focus is on helping people manage their stress and anxiety, limiting beliefs, and re-framing and clearing negative emotions on specific information. Please be mindful of this when going into your session.

You can get in touch with Andrea via her website to discuss or book an appointment.