Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) And Provocative Energy Techniques (PET)
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Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) and Provocative Energy Techniques (PET) are part of a revolutionary group of approaches in the exciting new field of Energy Psychology. These approaches offer the potential for rapid and effective relief from many emotional problems, including trauma, anxiety, phobias, anger, sadness, grief, guilt, etc. Beneficial results have also been achieved on various physical conditions.
More about Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT)
More about Provocative Energy Techniques (PET)
What is Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT)?
Emotional Freedom Techniques (or EFT) is an emotional healing technique, which is based on a revolutionary discovery that violates most of the beliefs of conventional psychology. It contends that the cause of all negative emotions is a disruption in the body's energy system.
Essentially, EFT is a form of "psychological acupressure" - except that we don't use needles. The approach relieves symptoms by tapping on various body locations. This tapping balances energy meridians that become disrupted when we think about or experience an emotionally disturbing circumstance. Once balanced, the upset is usually resolved - the memory stays but the emotional charge is gone. Typically the result is lasting and is also accompanied by positive changes in thinking. The technique is easy to learn and ideal for self-help.
Background:
Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) evolved from Thought Field Therapy, which was created by US clinical psychologist Roger Callahan. Callahan discovered that stimulating acupressure / energy points lead to psychological relief for an anxious client, and through experimentation was able to discover a series of useful points.
Gary Craig, who studied with Callahan, identified a comprehensive set of "all purpose" energy points that could be applied to treat any emotional problem. He called this Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), and achieved excellent results with this approach on a wide range of emotional as well as physical problems.
EFT has been successfully applied to treat a wide range of emotional problems and issues, including anxiety, fears, phobias, trauma, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, grief, anger, guilt, etc. It has also been applied to enhance performance and improve relationships. In relationships, EFT can help us by reducing the emotional upsets towards our partner, many of which have their origins in our past. Using EFT, couples can overcome many of the barriers to friendship and closeness.
Perhaps the most exciting thing about EFT is that anyone can learn this approach and use it to help themselves. While some problems require persistence with the technique over a period of time, and some will require the intervention of a skilled therapist, many ordinary people can learn EFT and apply it successfully to the general problems and stresses of living.
Note: Whilst EFT has achieved excellent results with many physical conditions the technique should not be seen as a substitute for appropriate medical care and should always be used in conjunction with medical consultation and intervention for such conditions.
How to Use EFT:
Begin by rubbing on the sore spot (see diagram below) and repeating the self-accepting statement shown, inserting the words that describe your problem (eg. "Public speaking fear"). Then tap on each of the points about 7 times while remaining focused on your problem. Proceed through all of the aspects of the problem that are troubling. To use the technique most effectively, it may be necessary to consult a trained professional or attend a workshop. See our practitioner list and workshop calendar for information about people and programs near you.
Research:
Some excellent results are being reported in research studies being conducted worldwide on EFT. A study at Curtin University in Western Australia in 1999 by psychologists Steve Wells, Kathy Polglase, Henry Andrews, Patricia Carrington, and Harvey Baker found EFT to be successful in treating specific phobias and the results were superior to a more traditional treatment. Behavioural shifts achieved in the 30-minute treatment sessions were maintained at follow-up 6-9 months later. This study was published in the prestigious peer review journal Journal of Clinical Psychology, September 2003 edition.
Researchers in the USA are mapping the physiological effects of the approach and finding that major changes in functioning can occur when people tap on the meridian points. Most people start to relax almost immediately, and report that their traumatic experiences are less bothersome after EFT treatment.
Want to learn more about EFT?
See the Articles pages for lots more free information about how to use EFT to achieve greater freedom in your life.
For information on live training workshops in Australia, USA and Europe click here
To learn EFT at home using our books and videos
click here
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EFT and the Role of Energy in Therapy
By Dr David Lake and Steve Wells
The presence and flow of energy around and within the body has been extolled by ancient cultures, notably the Indian and Chinese, although single-word definitions can't begin to illuminate innate subtle meaning.
The Hindus call it prana and the Chinese call it Qi. While Western science has found no conclusive proof of the organisation of energy systems, bioenergy has been discovered to be vital to pain perception, healing and regeneration. Authorities regard it as belonging to the Universal energy field as well as to the organism; there is connection and flux.
Bioenergy paradigms conceptualise disease as a "disruption" of energy exchange, and "intoxication" of the body, especially through stress. Healing is based on the principle of conducting cosmic energy through the healer, in particular the hands, eyes, thoughts and words. Qi creates order out of chaos as it flows toward the "higher concentration" (unlike entropy, where energy flow is toward dissolution).
In the Chinese system of energy, there are 12 main meridians (circulation channels), while the Hindu system emphasises 7 energy centres called chakras.
As Fred Gallo states in his book "Energy Psychology":
" energy resides at the most fundamental level of being.... if all is essentially energy, it follows that this holds true for the hardware of our nervous system, the neuro-chemistry and even thought and cognition. "
He goes on to suggest that one can assume that "psychopathology can be treated by addressing subtle energy systems in the body".
Recently, a new group of behavioural interventions called "meridian-based therapies" or "energy psychology" have been proposed to do just this, based on a growing body of clinical evidence which indicates that these approaches can produce rapid improvement in negative emotional states.
These "energy therapies" owe their origin to a discovery by US Clinical Psychologist Roger Callahan who was studying the meridian system while treating a woman - Mary - with a severe water phobia. Callahan took note when Mary said her fearful feeling was located in her stomach and had her tap on a meridian point under the eye linked to this region. She stated excitedly that the feeling was gone and proceeded to test this by rushing to the pool and splashing water on her face. Her life-long phobia was gone - all from a few simple taps under her eye!
Following many similarly startling clinical results Callahan hypothesised that emotional problems are caused by "thought fields" which have "perturbations" that disrupt subtle energy flow. Negative emotions result from these blockages. Tapping on the energy system releases the blocks, allowing the energy to flow more freely.
Gary Craig (who trained with Callahan) identified a comprehensive set of energy points that could be applied to treat any emotional problem. Rather than having to use complex diagnostic procedures or remember numerous sequences, his one sequence 'covers all the points'. Craig found this approach, Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), to have an excellent clinical success rate and has since developed several improvements to enhance its results.
EFT is a true combination of Eastern and Western medicine. It can be thought of as psychological use of the acupuncture meridians. It is a body-energy technique that has profound psychological effects. It also positively influences body symptoms of distress, pain and suffering from disease states.
EFT has been successfully applied to treat a wide range of emotional problems and issues, including anxiety, fears, phobias, trauma, PTSD, grief, anger, guilt, etc. It has also been applied to enhance performance and improve relationships.
Using EFT, many problems can be resolved very quickly, with most general anxiety-based problems responding in 1-4 sessions. Other problems may require persistence over a number of sessions with the client doing the tapping at home on a daily basis. This persistence frequently results in complete relief - although results with addictions and depression are often less spectacular.
The scientific validation of Energy therapies has lagged behind such extraordinary results, although validating research is appearing. A study by Wells, Polglase, Andrews, Carrington and Baker (2000) found EFT to effectively treat specific phobias in one 30-minute treatment session, and results were superior to an alternative treatment. A study on auto accident victims suffering PTSD (Pulos and Swingle, 2000) found significant reductions in symptomatology following 2 sessions of EFT treatment, and a study on children diagnosed with epilepsy found significant reductions in seizure frequency and extensive clinical improvement in EEG readings after 2 weeks of daily EFT treatment (Swingle, 2000). These and other studies in progress indicate a very high success rate for the approach.
The idea of tapping on acupressure points will disturb many therapists as it both provokes and requires a shift in some of our deepest beliefs. Only those who can tolerate the resulting uncertainty will contemplate embracing Energy therapies. Nevertheless they do work whether we believe or not. They also invite healing and integration on many levels as body and mind work together.
In the future the role of the body's energy system in emotional and physical healing will be widely acknowledged and respected. In the meantime, this idea is still quite revolutionary and as Gary Craig points out "We are on the ground floor of a healing high-rise".
References:
Gallo, Fred (1999) Energy Psychology, CRC Press: New York
Lake, David and Wells, Steve, (2003) New Energy Therapies: Rapid Change Techniques for Emotional Healing (Second Edition)
, Waterford Publishing: Inglewood, Western Australia.
For more information on this book Click here
Wells, Steve and Lake, David (2001), __Pocket Guide to Emotional Freedom_, Waterford Publishing: Inglewood, Western Australia.
For more information on this bookclick here
Research:
Pulos, L. & Swingle, P. (2000). Effects of a meridian-based therapy, EFT, on symptoms of PTSD in auto accident victims. *
Swingle,. P. (2000). Effects of the Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) method on seizure frequency in children diagnosed with epilepsy. *
- Papers presented at the Annual Meeting of the Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology, Las Vegas, NV.
Wells, Polglase, Andrews, Carrington and Baker (2003), Evaluation Of A Meridian-Based Intervention, Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) in Reducing Specific Phobias of Small Animals. Journal of Clinical Psychology, Volume 59, No. 9, September 2003, pages 943-966.
To read a pre-print of this article click here
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Specially For Newcomers - 9 Steps to Getting Great Results With EFT.
If you are a newcomer to the EFT technique and you want to start getting results as soon as possible, here are a few suggestions to help you to accelerate your learning.
(i) Begin by reading the articles on this page "What is EFT?" and "EFT and the role of Energy in Therapy". You will find a diagram of the shortcut EFT points and a basic description of how to use the technique. If you haven't already read these articles, Click here or scroll back to the top of the page.
(ii) Consult some of the excellent internet resources offering information on EFT. We provide links to useful internet resources on our Practitioners and Resources Page
(iii) Be sure to visit the website of Gary Craig, the creator of EFT at: www.emofree.com This website has hundreds of pages of useful information on EFT. We recommend you begin with the Newcomers message located at: http://www.emofree.com/newcomer.htm
(iv) While at Gary's website, download his free manual on EFT. This is the 80-page manual that accompanies Gary's original EFT Video Course teaching EFT and it includes a description of how to do both the long and short versions of the technique and much more. Use the following link to go right to the manual download page: http://www.emofree.com/freestuff.htm
(v) Read the free articles on EFT on our website at the Main Articles Page
In particular, see the articles on Enhancing Your Results with EFT"
Also see Steve Wells article on "Gaining Complete Freedom"
(vi) Get hold of some books and video materials where you can learn EFT at home - We recommend you consider our little Pocket Guide to Emotional Freedom as a first step as it offers a very accessible and inexpensive introduction to the essentials of EFT. For a more indepth learning consider Gary Craig's video series on Cd-Rom which is very inexpensive - You can find details of both by clicking on the following link: EFT Teaching Resources
If you are a helper or therapist wanting to use EFT with your clients, you will find our manual "New Energy Therapies" to be an excellent resource. For details of the manual Click here
(vii) Learn the EFT sequence and points "off-by-heart" by following the basic instructions in either Gary's manual or our Pocket Guide - or follow along with Gary on his video program on Cd-Rom. It will be worth the investment of time. Once you have the technique you have it for life.
(viii) Try out EFT on some of your own emotional or physical issues. Be prepared to give it a decent try and to persist if necessary as some problems have many aspects.
(ix) To learn and experience EFT in more depth we recommend you: (A) Attend a live training; and/or (B) Locate an experienced practitioner near you and have them help you to apply the technique to some of your own issues and problems.
We have a list of Australian EFT practitioners on this website - Accessible by clicking on the "Practitioners and Resources" button or using the following link: Australian EFT Practitioners
We also provide introductory and advanced workshops throughout Australia, Europe and USA - Details of our upcoming workshops are on the Events Page
Gary Craig also provides an international practitioner listing and details of EFT workshops on his website. If you are consulting with a practitioner please check that they have sufficient training and experience to assist you with your problem.
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What is Provocative Energy Techniques (PET)?
The integration of Energy techniques with the style of Provocative Therapy
"One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious."
---
(C.G. Jung)
Provocative Energy Techniques (PET) is a unique integration of principles and techniques from the Meridian-based therapies (mainly EFT), with the humorous and paradoxical communication style and techniques of Provocative Therapy. PET addresses the multi-level nature of problems through warmth, humour and spontaneity, whilst also providing the means for rapid desensitisation of clients' emotional problems. For most therapists, it will represent a radical departure from how they have been trained to think about what they do. If you believe that real change takes time; that therapy must always be serious; that all problems are cognitive creations; and that change is inevitably painful - this approach may turn your therapeutic world upside down.
Essentially, Provocative Therapy involves "humorously playing the devil's advocate with the client, siding with the negative half of their ambivalence towards themselves (and towards change), seeking to show how they bind themselves in the situation, and doing all this in a way which promotes the client's self-knowledge and capacity for change." (Farrelly). Provocative Energy Techniques (PET) uses provocation also as a means of accessing emotional "hooks" that EFT can then release. By doing this, we are able to test the congruency of the change. For example, whenever the client remembers a life event they become upset. After treatment, provocation fails to elicit the old reaction.
In PT the therapist seeks to "get into" the client's phenomenological and experiential world, mirroring this back to the client, and (humorously and perceptively) exaggerating and extending the negative aspects. In emphasising and exaggerating the "doom and gloom", the reasons why "not to change", and why change would be a bad thing, the Provocative Therapist is able to tap straight into the affectively-laden material which the energy therapist needs to focus his/her intervention on. PET provides a way of assisting clients rapidly to deal with the emotional "push-pull", and thus promotes clarity and personal force for change.
PT uses the client's own resistance to change in order to promote change - and to encourage the client to consider the positive aspects of changing. By over-focusing on the gloom and doom, the Provocative Therapist provokes the client into considering the positive polarity of a problem, mustering assertiveness and self-acceptance. PET provides powerful techniques to minimise the anxiety that accompanies such change.
More information on Provocative Energy Techniques (PET) - See the articles page.
For information on upcoming PET Training workshops and training click here
For information on the PET Practitioner Certification Program click here
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