EFT - Therapy : Emotional Freedom Techniques

An Energy Therapy?

Einstein, and then quantum physics, have taught us that matter is nothing other than energy. The discovery of an electron's 'non-locality' shows us how strong the observer's influence is on observed reality. A scientist's simple observation of an electron makes the electron 'become' matter, reducing its non-local wave reality to that of an observable particle.

According to Gary Craig, founder of EFT, and following Traditional Chinese Medecine, negative emotions are due to a disturbance in the body's energy system. EFT-Therapy treats those distrubances by re-balancing energy canals in the body (often called 'meridians') which may be seen as one of the areas where undigested traumatic events may be 'stocked' and block propoer energy circulation. This blocked energy can come from traumatic events and end up as phobia, depression, etc.

EFT-Therapy is not classical acupuncture, mais uses gentle and specific tapping on certain acupuncture points to re-harmonize energy in the canals (meridians).

What's that all about?

EFT-Therapy is a straightforward, often rapid, method allowing certain emotional pains or undigested trauma to heal. The tapping on certain points, accompanied by awareness of the emotional and physical malaise, is they heart of EFT-Therapy's success.

EFT = Emotionnal Freedom Techniques

EFT-Therapy is based on the idea that our body stocks emotional pain. As we treat the energy problem within the body, we're treating the emotional problem as well. EFT is is one of psychotherapies that make up the family of Energy Psychology. (www.energypsych.org)

What's remarkable with EFT-Therapy is that we can treat problems coming from pre-verbal and pre-cognizant childhood, often recorded in the body without any clear memory.

EFT: A grandchild of Humanistic Psychotherapy

From the precursors of modern psychotherapy (Charcot, Janet), Freud and his immediate followers used analysis of the free association of ideas to unearth certain aspects of the subconscious mind. Freud helped publicize the notion of 'repression' generally admitted in modern psychology. Classical psychoanalysis openly recognizes its limitations. Jacques Lacan clearly stated that healing was not the goal of psychoanalysis but more the 'cherry on the cake'. After years of analysis, the patient often gains insight on the causes of his difficulties, but the pain and emotional paralysis may remain.

After the 1950s, the Humanistic school of psychology began to emerge with Carl Rogers in the forefront. In this school, the realtionship between therapist and patient is an important element contributing to psychological healing. This special realtionship may permits the safe expression of the patient's emotions in response or echo to those of the therapist. This subtle alchemy allows for growing inner freedom. This was a major step forward in the evolution of psychology.

Alas, even the humanistic approach may be insufficient when wounds are too strongly etched in the patient.

Traumas or deficit disorders

When someone has undergone a trauma, or important traumatic events often repeated over months or years (car accident, childhood sexual abuse, violence, chronic lack of estime or affection), a part of the person may emotionally dissociate by remaining blocked by this event.
This part of self (often called 'Ego State') remains sort of 'frozen' in the past, even if other parts of the person were able to continue growing intellectually and physically.
But a later event in life may trigger off a similar feeling or emotion to the one linked to the blocked past event, even if the even remains unconscious. The "dissociated' person may then react with the past emotion with a surprising intensity having little to do with the present event.

And EFT in all that?

EFT often works where nothing else will - G.Craig

WHY?
EFT-Therapy doesn't need to delve into long explanations of the defense systems of our complex psychology. We work directly on the paralysed part within us. When the energy starts to flow again, the patient often finds himself free of a certain weight without necessarily undertanding why.

Go to EFT-Therapy techniques ->

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