Paul Shepherd, Gritstone
In early 2018 I found myself in a training room in Lowestoft being asked if I would be happy to take part in a demonstration of a technique called EFT, commonly known as ‘tapping’. It was part of a course I was undertaking, and I had to recall something that caused me to feel anxious or even a memory or behaviour that I would like to change. No problem I thought, having lived a full and adventurous life, I had plenty to choose from, so I recalled the experience of a primary school teacher who used to beat me up for talking in class when I was 10. Something I had long ago confined to memory.
Forty-five minutes later I felt completely different and suddenly this childhood event, that I now realise had shaped my experience as an adult, was gone. I knew where the memory was, but it no longer mattered! It was weird. I had experienced something very special and wanted to know more so I could use the technique in my business environment and to help friends and family.
Having worked in the learning, development and training sector for the last 20 years I am always drawn to ways we can improve our personal and working lives. As an NLP Master Practitioner and Resilience Trainer, the awareness and practice of EFT has become a powerful and special technique I now use in my business, to great effect.
The History and Background of EFT
In the 1970s, it was discovered that by verbally focusing on a problem or issue (emotional or physical) – while manually stimulating acupuncture points, doctors could bring surprising relief in their patients – particularly about fears, phobias and physical responses to stress. One of the medical students, Gary Craig, made it into a more simplified form, adding key NLP (neuro linguistic programming) concepts, and called it EFT or Emotional Freedom Technique.
EFT Tapping enables us to tune in to the negative patterns that we form around our uncomfortable thoughts, feelings or troubling memories. We ‘tap’ on the correct pressure points while bringing the thoughts or emotions into consciousness. The aim is to find relief, relaxation, and promote healing around the emotional or physical issues that hold us back.
The therapeutic effects of this technique are recognised around the world, and recently the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommended EFT for further research in dealing with post traumatic stress disorder.
You can use EFT tapping for anxiety, weight loss issues, pain, stress, cravings and many other aspects.
So, is therapy facing a revolution?
Find Out More
I’ll be running a workshop on EFT at the St Thomas’ Centre, Chatsworth Road, Brampton where you can learn more about this technique and how it can enhance your wellbeing - more details below - or please call me on 07957 836521. Or visit www.eftinternational.org