What to Expect in an EFT Tapping Session

By Juanita Ecker

Because EFT tapping (Emotional Freedom Techniques) is still relatively new, people are confused about what will happen in a tapping session. I thought it would be a good idea to explain how it works.

Here is a little background on EFT. EFT was developed about 25 years ago by Gary Craig. Its foundation is in Chinese medicine and acupuncture. Instead of needles, you tap gently with your fingertips on the meridian points (acupoints) on the surface of your skin. Tapping on the acupoints helps restore balance in the energy system.  Focusing on a negative event or a bad memory while tapping helps remove the charge (the negative emotions)associated with that event or memory.  In other words, the tapping allows you to release the emotional impact of those thoughts so that the memory no longer triggers you. This sounds complicated. Yet, tapping is very simple to do.

EFT tapping reduces stress and calms the nervous system. Research has shown that it is effective in addressing pain, phobias, trauma, among other problems. It can be used to calm down anxiety and reduce cravings. It can work on relationship issues, financial burdens or work-related stress. Whether it is money, relationships, career, health or body issues, EFT is a powerful technique that can help you get more out of life.

We all have unresolved emotions that are stored in our bodies. For example, think of something you wished never happened.  When you think of that event, what emotion comes up for you?  If what you are feeling is negative, then the energy of those unresolved emotions is still stuck in your body. The meridian tapping is a way to release those unresolved emotional hurts and reprogram the subconscious mind.

When clients first contact me, I offer a free 20-minute strategy session so that I can learn what you want to work on. During the consultation, you can ask questions, we will set realistic goals and we will see if it makes sense to work together. The sessions are done on the phone or with Skype.  This saves the client’s travel time and they can do the sessions from the comfort of their homes. This allows me to work with anyone no matter where they live.

So what really happens in a session? At the beginning of the session, I will ask, what is the most pressing issue right now?  EFT tapping can address a variety of physical and emotional issues. Whatever is the most pressing issue for the client is where we start.

At the beginning of the session, you will be asked to tune into your body while thinking about the issue you want to address. I will ask you to give the emotion you are feeling a rating from zero to ten. This numerical rating is called a SUD (Subjective Unit of Distress) score.  At 10, the emotion you are feeling is at its worst; at 0 it is completely gone. This SUD rating helps both of us measure the effectiveness of the techniques we are using during the session.

You tap along with me during the session; you tap on yourself as you follow my lead.  We tap on the end points of the meridians on the face and torso.  EFT sessions are relatively painless. You won’t have to dwell on painful memories for it to work.  After a few rounds of tapping, I will ask you to tune in and see where your SUD number is now. We track when the number goes up, down or disappears. The goal is to get the SUD number down to 0.

In this or subsequent sessions, I will help you identify a specific event or a combination of events from the past that have contributed to the challenges you are experiencing now. Often there are many aspects to an event or an unresolved emotion.  Think of the aspects as different parts of a story: the sights, smells, tastes, what we heard, and what we felt. We diligently clear each aspect until it is down to 0 before we move on to the next. I am trained in 48 “clinical” EFT techniques that we can use to clear unwanted emotions.  I prefer to use the techniques that will help the client clear the issue as quickly as possible.

During the session, we will uncover core issues that play a role in how you view the world.  We will tap on the limiting beliefs or the old behavior patterns that are holding you back.  If you are working on a belief such as: I want to lose weight, I want to make more money or I want to meet a mate, etc. I am able to muscle test for you to determine if you are in agreement with your beliefs.  Someone might say they want to lose weight yet their body is not congruent with that belief. It doesn’t matter how many affirmations or positive statements you make, if your body is not congruent with what you want to achieve, you will never achieve it.

If we find that you are incongruent with a belief, we will use the tapping techniques to reprogram your subconscious. The tapping removes beliefs from the subconscious mind that are not serving you and are actually blocking you from achieving the results you want.  The tapping is a tool to turn those beliefs and behaviors that are no longer serving you into positive ones that do.

People often ask me if they will need more than one session. Some issues can be dealt with in one or two sessions. Issues that are deep-rooted, persistent or complex could take longer. I have found that when clients commit to four sessions, they typically experience a real breakthrough. The multiple sessions give them enough time to really feel a shift.

Clients love how they feel at the end of a session. What was once upsetting to them no longer triggers an emotional response.  My clients tell me they feel calmer, happier, and less stressed than they did at the beginning of the session.

Can EFT tapping create a one minute miracle? Probably not; however it could be the step you take to dramatically improve your life.

To learn more about how EFT tapping can help you, contact Juanita at image3@nycap.rr.com  to schedule your FREE  20-minute strategy session.