Life Coaching with Lindsay        
Helping others achieve peace, joy and purpose in life           
  "Joy of Life" © 1999 LK
 

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... FAQs About EFT

... FAQs About Lindsay

... FAQs from Gary's Manual

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FAQs About Lindsay…

For Lindsay's history with EFT and a ton of information about EFT, listen to her Podcast interviews with Ron Ball, co-author and producer of Freedom at Your Fingertips

FAQs About EFT...

FAQs from Gary Craig’s 79-page manual

Note: If there are any questions not answered here, please e-mail me, and I will try to answer them for you. If it is a frequent question, I will add it to the answers below.  I don't do consultations by e-mail, however. So, if you have an issue that needs clearing, please set up an appointment with me or another practitioner. 

 

Answers to FAQs about Lindsay

Q. What are your fees and availability?

For details on Fees, special package rates and services, please visit our FEEs page

Services I offer my clients:

  • Free digital recordings of your phone sessions
  • Numerous free downloads
  • Some surprise free tele-class audios
  • Free long distance calls for  phone sessions. I'll call you (within the Continental U.S.), thus saving you toll charges (Outside of the U.S. you call me at the specified time)
  • And much more. See the Fees Page for details and package rates

We accept
m  v

Read more about the pre-paid packages by clicking here.

To set an appointment, please contact my assistant, Katherine, at a assistant@LKcoaching.com or at 1- 352-528-0713. If you need to talk to me about something other than appointment times the best way to reach me is by e-mail (I’m in sessions all day, or returning phone calls or e-mails. I return EVERY e-mail, so if you don't hear back from me in a couple of days then I didn't get your message. That happens frequently, I've discovered. So please resend it. "-)

Q. Where are you located, and what are your hours?

A. I am in the San Francisco Bay area, which is PST (Pacific Time), and I take ppointments from  11 am to 5 pm.  Let my assisntant know your preferences for times (i.e. mornings, early afternoons, etc.), and she will do her best to accommodate you. Generally, we are booked out for 4-5 weeks in advance, but I do keep a waiting list in case an earlier time-slot opens up.

I occasionally do sessions Saturday mornings. However, since I conduct workshops and tele- classes on Saturdays, and am often out of town on weekends, Saturday appointments are rare.   

Q. Do you do sessions by phone and how can EFT work by phone?

A. Yes, I do EFT by phone; in fact, about 95% of my clientele is now by phone and from all over the world.  Actually, most accomplished EFT practitioners work by phone as well, so the proximity to a practitioner should not really be a factor in making your selection.  Some people, however, prefer in-person sessions, given a choice.  It is, however, more important to find an accomplished practitioner with whom you resonate, than to find someone who is convenient.

EFT is actually highly effective over the phone, and only slightly less so than a face-to-face session.  We can’t see the client on the phone, so we may miss subtle visual signals that might help reading what’s going on with the client. Nor we can we use muscle testing on the phone, which is often helpful in demonstrating Reversals and “asking the subconscious” questions about what’s going on and other situations. Otherwise, in-person and phone sessions are pretty much the same. 

When you book an appintment my assistant will send you instructions before your session, to help our time together be more efficient. That way you'll know what to expect and what's expected of you. You'll also receive an Intake form, where you can detail your issues if you'd like.

I'll make the call to you, (within the Continental U.S.), saving you toll charges. I record the sessions and send you an audio so you can listen to your session later, if you'd like.

Phone sessions are at the same rates as office visits. Your fee must be paid in advance, however, by credit card. You can download the tapping points and instructions, in advance, on our Free Stuff page.

I live and work in the San Francisco Bay area and do sessions Monday – Friday, 11 – 5 PST. Let my assistant know your preferences for times (i.e. mornings, or Tuesday only, etc.) and She'lll do her best to accommodate you. Generally, we book appointments 2-3 weeks in advance, but we keep a waiting list in case a sooner time-slot opens up, which it frequently does.

If you would like to schedule a phone (or live) session with me, e-mail my assistant, Katherine at Assistant@LKcoaching.com You can also reach her by phone at 352-328-0713, 9am- 5pm, EST. Visit the Fees page for more information and the best arrangement for your needs.

If want to learn more about EFT, I highly recommend Gary’s videos, at www.emofree.com, or attending a live workshop, www.EFTworkshops.org.

Q. How do I set an appointment with Lindsay?

A. I have now made it easier to set up an appointment with me. My efficient assistant, Katherine Rothgeb will help you.  Please contact her by e-mail at Assistant@LKcoaching.com (preferred) or by phone at 888-449-3030. However, if you have a question for me first, that's not answered in these FAQs, feel free to e-mail me .

Q. Can you help me find a practitioner near me….?

A. Finding the right practitioner for your needs is very important. Virtually all experienced practitioners work by phone and get the same results as in a live session. So, unless you feel very strongly about a face-to-face visit, I highly recommend you search for the best person for your needs, rather than someone who works near you.  It is far more important to find an accomplished practitioner with whom you resonate than to find someone who is convenient For pre-screened practitioners, check out my “Find a Practitioner” listings at www.NAFEH.org, and Gary Craig’s “Find a Practitioner” listings at www.emofree.com.  Additionally, I have hundreds of qualified practitioners whom I have personally trained. I list several of my favorites on the "Preferred Practitioners" page.

When searching for a practitioner, it is a good idea to check out their website before calling them.  Often you can find out a lot about them online.  Remember, it is more important to find an accomplished practitioner with whom you resonate, than to find someone who is convenient logistically. Here are some things to look for:

  • How long s/he has been in practice - Look for two or more years experience as a coach or therapist
  • How did s/he learn EFT - Having watched the videos and having read the manual is just not good enough.
  • What is their success rate with EFT - It should be over 90%
  • How many individual clients have they worked with, using EFT - It should be a minimum of 100 
  • What are his/her EFT credentials – The initials EFT-CC after their name is good, but EFT-ADV, is better. This signifies that s/he has taken and passed a series of EFT tests. "EFT Master" is the highest credential, but there are only a handful of Masters in the world, so don’t limit yourself to that criteria.

Personally, I don’t think credentials such as a M.S., LCSW, or Ph.D. after someone’s name is nearly as important with EFT as their success in using EFT.  After arming yourself with information about him or her, let your instincts tell you if you feel ‘right’ with this person. You should have rapport (or a connection) with someone for the best results. Trust your gut feeling.  Still uncertain?  Check out some of my favorite EFT Practitioners

Q. Do you know someone who specializes in…?

A. This is a common question - and a fair one. However, any practitioner worth their salt can deal with virtually any “tappable” issue.  All of us can easily eradicate anger, frustration, grief, phobias, stress, anxiety, heartache, and much more. However, for the more complex issues, such as rape, trauma, addictions, abuse, serious illnesses, and weight issues, you might want to work with a more experienced practitioner or someone who specializes in your problem.

For instance, I have dealt with hundreds of abuse issues, as well as addictions. However, I prefer not to take those cases anymore, and now refer them to my colleagues who specialize in these areas. If you feel that you need a practitioner who specializes in your issue, click on the “Find a Practitioner” at Gary Craig’s website www.emofree.com.  And, as long as you are there, read the section on “Finding the Right Practitioner” to help you choose the best one for your needs.  Still uncertain?  Check out some of my favorite EFT Practitioners 

Q. Can you personally recommend a practitioner?

A. I can do better than that…I can recommend several great ones. Then, you can choose the best one for you. Please visit the Practitioner page on our site for their contact information:


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Answers to FAQs About EFT

Q. Why do I have to say negative statements?

A. This is indeed a frequently asked question and a valid one. By stating the problem (usually something negative) it brings to the surface feelings and emotions about an event or issue, alerting the body and our sensitive energy system where the blockage might be (remember, the cause of all negative emotions is a blockage in the body’s energy system). By saying the negative but true statement while stimulating the meridians, you are sending tiny vibrations or shock waves throughout your energy pathways. By doing so, you are gently nudging away the blockage or disruption that causes the negative emotion. 

If you stated a positive affirmation instead, such as, “Even though I was just robbed and beaten, that’s OK, I feel safe and secure now” your system would surely rebel. There would be a giant “tail ender” saying “What?! Are you kidding me? I don’t feel secure or safe at all!”  Your subconscious (or even conscious) would have the same reaction if you left off the negative occurrence as well and made only a positive statement.

Believe me, many have tried this approach to no avail.  It’s true that when we tell ourselves “It’s OK, I’ll be alright” we can sometimes calm ourselves down. But calming ourselves is not the purpose of EFT. Using EFT can completely eliminate the negative emotion, pain or issue. 

That said, however, once the intensity is at a lower SUDs level (3 or less) you can then switch to a more positive choice statement. Read more about the Choice Method on the Free Stuff page. 

Q. Do I tap on one side or both?

A. You may have already noticed that many practitioners do tapping differently. Since I initially learned EFT from an Acupuncturist, who really understands the meridian system, I tap on both sides. My belief is that you have a better chance of getting to the blockage and dislodging it quicker by bi-lateral tapping. If you use one hose to wash your car, you’ll still get it clean. But if a friend joins you with another hose on the other side, you’ll get the car cleaner faster (and probably have more fun). That said, probably half of the practitioners out there just use one side and get good results. I’ve tried it both ways, and for me, double-sided tapping gets better results. I suggest you do whatever works best for you.

Q. Is it better to use the Karate Chop point on the side of the hand, or the Sore Spot on the chest as the set-up?

A. These points are virtually the same when it comes to effective set-up statements. However, I use the sore spot on the chest for two reasons:

-        One, because the points on the chest are at the body’s lymphatic drainage system, rubbing them consistently helps disperse the accumulated toxins there (which is why they are sore). This disperses them throughout the body to be diluted and flushed out.

- And secondly because I use the Karate Chop point to do Reversal Neutralizations, thus distinguishing that from the set-up statements on the chest. In reality, you can use either points for both objectives.

Q. Why do people use different tapping points?

A. The body has 14 meridians throughout the body. These energy pathways come to the surface in several places throughout the body; the face, head, upper torso, spine, ankles, wrists, etc. When Gary Craig developed EFT, one of his objectives was to make it simple. You can keep EFT effective and simple by just doing the basic “shortcut” points outline in Gary’s 79 page manual; EB, OE, UE, UN, CH, CB, UA. However, by adding a few more points, the inside of the wrists, liver spot (over the liver on the right side), and the crown of the head, you are the other five meridians, therefore increasing your effectiveness rate by over 50%.

There are really no right or wrong points. We tend to do what works best for us. And for me using the 10 points (thus all 14 meridians) mentioned above brings extraordinary results. For awhile I left out the Liver Spot, just for convenience. But with the encouragement of my colleague, acupuncturist Zoe Walton, I added it back in, and I’m telling you it made a significant difference, providing much better results.

Q. How do you deal with relationship challenges using EFT? 
A. Relationship challenges are just symptoms of a bigger, underlying cause. There's ALWAYS something underneath the problems, jealousy, anger, frustration, hate, guilt, etc. Often the husband reminds the wife of her controlling father, or the wife reminds the husband of his dominant, non-affectionate mother (or whatever.)

Many times someone brings their hurt from past relationships into the new one, punishing the “innocent” new partner for sins from the old partner. That is usually the cause for their friction, not the current relationship.

First I work with each person individually, neutralizing any traumas or “emotional” charges from the past.  I deal with the cause for the strife that results in anger, resentment, frustration, etc. Most people see significant positive change after the first session. Once each person is "clean", I then bring them together for some couples counseling. 

While each person and each couple has their individual issues or problems, the formula is pretty much the same; deal with the cause and the symptom easily dissipates.  The number of total session depends on many facotrs including the severity of the issues and the willingness of the participants to do the homework between sessions. My success rate in dealing with relationship challenges, as with other issues is over 98%. But EFT is the hero, not me. :-)

Q. Can EFT be used on children, the infirm, or pets?

A. Yes, EFT can be used on virtually anyone (including pets) with good results. For babies, pets, the elderly, and those unable to tap themselves you can use surrogate tapping, which is tapping on yourself, for them. To learn more about this phenomenon search for articles on Gary’s sitewww.emofree.com for pets, children or the elderly.  Here's an example of how surrogate tapping is done:

When people first find out about Animal EFT, they immediately think that it is about tapping ON animals and ask where they should tap their animals.  It works the same as with surrogate tapping on people.  Therefore the below protocol applies whether it’s a child an infirm person or someone in another country.

Of course animals do have a meridian system, but many of the points are in places where animals truly do not like to be touched, never mind tapped. The wonderful thing about Animal EFT is that you DON'T tap on the animal directly, but you tap on yourself to make the changes happen.

This is called Surrogate tapping and has lots of advantages:

  • You can do it at any time and even anywhere - you do not have to be in the same room with the animal or person.
  • You can do it much more often than an animal would generally permit.
  • You can help wild animals, animals that don't belong to you, and animals that you can't really touch much, such as birds and fish.
  • Once you have learned the simple technique, you can use it on any problem, on any animal and you don't have to know anything at all about their various meridian systems or points.

How does Surrogate EFT work?

When you focus your attention on an animal, you connect your energy system with theirs.  When you keep the focus of your attention on a specific aspect of that energy system (a problem, disease, behavior, state of mind and so on) and you change YOUR system by tapping on the points, YOU ARE ALSO CHANGING THEIRS through the connection.

This was originally discovered when a lady, distraught because she was sitting by the side of her premature baby's incubator and unable to touch him, treated herself for the baby's problems and the baby responded by breathing more easily and slower, and finding from somewhere the will to live and to fight on more strongly than before.

Since then, thousands of people all over the world have been absolutely astonished to find that by tapping on themselves whilst holding another living being's problems in their mind, they can make changes without touching them or even being in the same room.

I don't expect you to believe this right away. I didn't believe it either when I first heard about it. But I tell you, when you neighbor's dog 100 yards away stops barking after an hour just because you have tapped a round of EFT on yourself, a shiver goes down your spine and you KNOW you made that happen as if by magic, it is a real convincer experience.

So next, here is the Animal EFT protocol for you to try out on any animal you choose.

The Surrogate EFT Protocol

1. Focus Your Intention
Think about the animal and what specifically you would like to release, relax, soothe or change.

2. Make A Statement Of Intent
Find a phrase or a sentence that describes the problem succinctly and clearly to you.

You can say, "Sidney has this terrible allergy." or "Sam never stops barking." or, "This brown horse is distressed." if you don't know the animals' name. This is the main part of directing your attention to the problem.

3. The Setup statement
We surround the statement of intent with the words, "Even though (Sam) (is hyperactive), I deeply and profoundly love and accept (Sam)." It helps bring you closer to the animal for deeper changes and handles permission issues as well as having positive benefits for YOUR system.

4. The Full Opening Set-Up
Place your flat hand on your chest, either left or right, just above your heart. Wait until you can feel the warmth of your hand through your clothes, rub the hand round in a small circle and say the opening statement which is the statement of intent inside the blessing:

"Even though (insert name or description) insert statement of problem), I deeply and profoundly love and accept (name or description)."

Repeat this opening statement three times in all, continuously rubbing the chest area just below the collar bone known as the Sore Spot.

5. Tapping All The Points We now use a shortened version of the opening statement which is called the Reminder phrase and tap lightly with three fingers, about seven times, on the following spots (both sides is best) while saying the reminder statement of “this------(whatever the issue is):

Start Of The Eyebrow - Where the bone behind your eyebrow turns into the
bridge of your nose.

Corner Of The Eye - On the bone in the corner of your eye.

Under The Eye - On the bone just below your eye, in line with your pupil if you look straight ahead.

Under The Nose - Between you nose and your upper lip

Under The Mouth - In the indentation between your chin and your lower lip

Collarbone - In the angle formed by your collarbone and the breastbone

Under Arm - in line with a man's nipples on the side of the body

Liver Point - about 2-3 inches under the breast or nipple

Wrists - bump the inside of your wrists together at the crease between the hand and arm

Top of the Head - at the crown of the head

Karate Chop Point - on the side of your hand, roughly in line with your life line.

When you're all the way through, take a deep breath in and out. You can repeat the treatment with a different statement - often something comes to your mind as you do this. Different statements create different changes, so experiment with many different forms of wording and ways of saying something until you feel comfortable.

Repeat this process until the issue dissipates.  Surrogate tapping for complex issues should be administered by an experienced practitioner.

Q. How long do I have to tap to get results?

A. The short answer is: Until you get the result you want.  I want to expand on that a bit though. Normally you can resolve an issue in 3-4 rounds, which only takes a few minutes. Simple issues are particularly quick and easy to deal with. Sometimes, however, it may take 5-6 rounds, or even 10-12 to resolve a difficult issue. You may need to go through several “doors”, look at many different aspects, and dig for the core issue, to get the optimal end result of complete resolution. That takes time. But, that could be an hour, or two at the most, to completely resolve a painful, lifelong issue.

Traditional therapy could take months or years to resolve the same problem.  We often get spoiled with “one-minute-miracles” getting impatient when something is taking too long. But we must keep it in perspective and realize that even the most difficult or complex cases can be resolved to completion in a fraction of the time any other therapy might hope to offer.  Patience and Persistence is the key to successfully resolving challenges issues. Time should not be a factor.

I want to point out that it’s also important to make sure an issue is completely resolved before leaving it. Some people say “Gee, I feel better now” and stop at that. Later when they feel a negative charge again about the same issue, they will think that EFT didn’t work. I hate it when that happens! If you truly get all of the aspects resolved and get an issue to a zero on the SUDs scale, then it’s likely gone for good.

That’s not to say that at some point an aspect that was missed might not pop up for you. But resolving that should be very easy, since the bigger components have already been collapsed.  So, stay with it until you’re sure an issue is completely resolved. Test yourself by trying to get upset about it again. If you just can’t find a charge, then you’re likely done. That’s how long it takes.

Q. Why is it important to know my SUDs level and what does SUDs stand for?

A. SUDs stands for Subjective Units of Distress (the ‘s’ at the end is superfluous, but is commonly used anyway). It’s important to know your intensity level so you’ll know where you are and where you need to go. If you simply say, “I’m really upset” that doesn’t give you much information. If you can put a number to it, say a 9, for instance, even if it’s subjective, you at least you have a guesstimate of a starting point. Then as you tap and get in touch with your decreasing SUDs level on subsequent rounds, you’ll know you’re making progress. You’ll also have a handle on how far you still need to go to completely resolve an issue.

Conversely, if your number hasn't’t changed after a couple of rounds, you know you’re missing something, and will need to make some changes (see the “9 Stumbling Blocks of EFT” to give you direction). Likewise, if you get down to a 2, you know you’re close, but not quite finished. You want to keep going until you can say for certain that you’re at a zero.

It’s important to remember that the objective of EFT isn't’t just to “feel better” (although that’s certainly nice). The ultimate goal is to realize a complete cessation of a negative emotion or issue. So don’t stop just because you start to “feel better”. Keep tapping until you’re feeling great and the issue has been completely put to rest.  If you truly get to a zero on the event, issue, pain or whatever, it’s unlikely it will return.  To make sure that you’ve really neutralized problem, test yourself by trying to get upset. Revisit the issue, even the formally painful aspects and see if the intensity rises at all. If it does, you still have some work left to do.

If the event, pain or issue seems ‘fuzzy’, hard to remember or difficult to grasp, and there’s no “charge” left, then you are likely done.  When my clients get to a zero, I ask them how they know that.  Often it’s the cessation of a physical manifestation, such as tightness in the shoulders or neck, or an upset stomach. Or, they might feel profound relaxation, feel lighter and experience renewed energy or peace of mind.  I love using the SUDs rating and check it several times (usually after every 2 rounds of tapping) in the course of eliminating an issue.

Q. What if I don't know my intensity level?

A. It’s not always easy to figure out, on a scale of 1 to 10, how much your shoulder hurts, or how angry you are at your brother-in-law, or how afraid of spiders you are. At best, it’s a subjective guess. While many people come up with their SUDs level right away, many others struggle with this little aspect of EFT. I ask clients to guess what their number would be. Try saying this sentence out loud rather fast, without pausing at the end. Just say what comes to you. “Even though I don’t know what my intensity level is, if I had to guess I’d say it was at a…..”. 

This simple little trick bypasses the conscious mind and allows the subconscious to provide the answer.  Good practitioners generally know where someone stands as they talk about their issues. So, if a client’s number is far off from the estimate of the practitioner, he or she would have occasion to question the client’s answer. When working with yourself, however, you can only guess and do your best. Chances are, if you don’t analyze it too much and just go with your gut feeling, you’ll be just fine.  As stated in the above question, it's important to get the SUDs rating so you’ll know where you are and where you need to go.

Q. How do I deal with an intangible issue or get a SUDs rating on it?  What if I have a problem like procrastination, or lack confidence around new employees, or want to lose 30 pounds, or I'm just stuck and can't get going? How do I measure or test issues like that? 

A. To deal with intangible or hard-to-measure issues, I use what I call the Ultimate Truth Statement. Here’s how you can use this interesting and effective tool:  Develop a sentence that would represent the most positive outcome you would like to achieve. For instance, if you have a problem with procrastination, use an Ultimate Truth Statement of “I always complete tasks in a timely manner, never putting things off, and always keep commitments with myself and others.” 

Please download and read my artilce about how to use this powerful process Ultimate Truth Statements

Q. Does EFT work for…? (whatever)

A. One of the most common questions EFT Practitioners hear is, “Can EFT help with…. PTSD, diabetes, hepatitis, multiple sclerosis, pimples, etc?”  To which we almost always respond “Probably! Try it on everything!” A more thorough, and accurate, answer, however, would be: “Many others have experienced great results with your issue, so it is highly likely that you will get resolution too.” It’s safe to say that EFT has been tried on just about every issue, problem or physical ailment you can image.

We know EFT can bring miraculous results to virtually anything…especially in the hands of an accomplished practitioner.  And since EFT has never been known to harm anyone, it’s painless, and it works when nothing else has, go ahead and try it on your issue.  I’ve used it on everything from corns to cancer, and from hiccups to hypertension. 

In experienced hands, EFT delivers significant relief over 90% of the time (the medical profession would love to have those results). Many cases, however, especially if complex, require more than just applying the basic sequence.  So, if you’ve already tried EFT and aren't’t getting the results you want, it’s unlikely any shortcoming of EFT, but rather that you’re missing some important element.  Virtually all complex issues should be dealt with by a competent EFT Practitioner.

There is an art to EFT that goes far beyond what you can learn in the 79-page manual or even by watching all of Gary’s wonderful videos that only comes with experience and practice.  For instance, there are several obstacles that can impede EFT’s progress. I suggest you read my article “The 9 Stumbling Blocks of EFT” which you can find at on this site on Free Stuff page. Or enter the above title in the search bar at Gary’s site www.emofree.com.

Q. What’s the best way to learn EFT?

A. There's so much to EFT that you should take several routes.  EFT is elegant in its simplicity, however, there is SO much more to it than meets the eye. EFT is effective for hundreds of simple issues and can be self-applied, however, for more complex issues you should see an experienced practitioner.   

  • Start the learning process by downloading Gary’s free 79-page manual at www.emofree.com. While there, consider purchasing Gary’s fabulous video programs on EFT.
  • One of the best ways to learn EFT is by doing an approved EFT workshop. Level 1 is for beginners, even those who have watch the videos and read the manual. Move up to Level 2 after doing 1 and when you have more experience with EFT. Take Level 3 when you ready to take your knowledge to the next level. While Level 3 is not exclusively for aspiring practitioners, it is often the serious student who will take that course.  Go to the next question to see where you can find one.
  • We offer the Ultimate Practitioners Workshop for qualified students. Read about it at the above link
  • Read the book "Freedom at your Fingertips" by 20 World Class EFT practitioners (including Lindsay).
  • Another way to learn EFT is by seeing a practitioner for your own issues and learn as you go.
  • You can also learn a lot about EFT on our EFT pages . There is a wealth of information there, including case histories, testimonials, workshops, teleclasses, and audio files.  And by all means, check out our "Free Stuff" page. There you’ll find many other resources for learning EFT.
  • If you can't attend a workshop live, try one of our Tele-Classes, and order my new "Ultimate Level 1 Workbook".

Q. Where can I find a workshop?

One of the best ways to learn EFT is by doing an approved EFT workshop (start with Level 1 and then move up to 2 and 3).  Visit my workshop site at or, for a workshop in your area, check out Gary’s site www.emofree.com and go to the “Learn EFT” section.

Q. I’ve tried EFT, but it’s just not working for ME. What now?

A. When people try EFT for ‘old’ problems, or complex issues, and aren't’t getting the results they want, they may think EFT just isn't’t working for ‘them’. Others think that maybe the testimonials they’ve heard aren't’t real. Actually, neither is true. 

As wonderful as EFT is, there are several impediments that can get in the way of its success. For one, beginners should only try using EFT on “simple” issues, leaving more complex problems to experienced practitioners.

Please read my article about the 9 Stumbling Blocks of EFT. You can download it on the Free Stuff page.  You can also purchase an audio series there about the same topic.  If, after reading the article, you are still having problems, you may need assistance. The article explains why that is true. Sometimes, even we experienced practitioners need the eyes, ears and intuition of others to get to the heart of the matter -especially for complex issues. 

Q. What’s the difference between Simple and Complex issues?

A. First let me “broadly” define “Simple” issues. There are no hard and fast rules, but typically simple issues are problems that are usually:

  • Single faceted, like the hiccups, or your boss embarrassed you at the sales meeting, or you’re disappointed that you didn't’t get the promotion you wanted, or you’re stressed after a tough day at work. 
  • Recent, as opposed to something that happened years ago, or has been going on for a long time.
  • Not chronic; that is it’s not a persistent problem like chronic pain, anger or grief
  • A simple pain or injury, as opposed to a complex medical issue or a serious illness
  • Fear or simple phobias
  • Emotions like stress, frustration, anger, embarrassment, cravings, etc.
  • Ones you can generally work on and resolved yourself, with some basic knowledge of EFT

I believe there are Two Tiers of complex issues, which almost always involve more than one aspect.  Tier one issues include things like grief, chronic pain, “minor” traumas, allergies, some abuse issues, weight issues, food addictions, stuttering, and most non life-threatening illnesses.  Many of the examples used in my “9 Stumbling Blocks” article (available on the Free Stuff page) are examples of Tier 1 complex issues.  Some of these you can work on yourself. If you’re not getting a resolution, you should contact a practitioner.

The second, or more-difficult-to-work-with, Tier 2, includes child abuse, sexual or ritual abuse, traumatic or life-altering accidents or deaths, severe and sustained physical or emotional abuse, drug addictions, morbid obesity, and so on. Tier two complex issues are usually highly charged emotionally, or often, a result of very traumatic occurrences.  Also included in these more difficult cases would be psychological problems, such as bi-polar, schizophrenia, multiple personalities, serious illnesses and so on.

Here’s what’s important to remember:  Most simple issues can be handled by anyone, including yourself. Complex issues, especially Tier 2, need to be dealt with by an experienced practitioner.  Nonetheless, in case you’re curious, or just want to know more about complex issues read my article “EFT issues, Simple or Complex?” on the Free Stuff page  (the article is mostly for other practitioners, but you’re welcome to read it too)  But again, please consult a qualified practitioner for the tough stuff.

Q. What words and phrases do I use?

A.  This is a simple, yet complex question and one of the most frequently asked. The easy answer is this simple formula: Add an acceptance affirmation to your problem, such as, “Even though I have this __________(fill in your issue), I deeply and completely accept myself.”  However, there is a bit more to it than that.  What’s important to remember is that you can’t do it “wrong”, but some phrases are more effective than others.  Try it different ways, until you get the result you want.

To learn about doing set-up phrases, and what’s important about them, read my article on  the “9 Stumbling Blocks of EFT”, which is downloadable at my Free Stuff page. Being specific, finding the core issue, and getting rid of Reversals are imperative to successful EFTing.

Here are some examples of set-up statements. Remember, being specific is important.

"Even though I have this fear of speaking to groups over 5, I deeply and completely accept myself."

“Even though a part of me doesn't’t want to forgive my mother for hurting my feelings at Christmas, I accept who I am without judgment.”

"Even though I have this sinus headache above my eyes, I deeply love and accept who I am."

"I deeply and completely accept myself, even though I have anger towards my father for yelling at me last night."

"Even though I have this stiffness on the right side of my neck, I completely accept myself and love my body."

"I deeply accept myself unconditionally, even though I have a killer craving for chocolate right now."

"Even though I have this fear of snakes, I love and accept myself anyway."

"I deeply and profoundly accept myself, even though I’m really sad over my breakup with ________.”

 Q. How many sessions will it take to deal with my issue?

A. There isn't an easy, pat answer to this question. There are so many variables among people and issues that it could take 1 session or 5.  Some might even be more than that. Complex issues, weight issues, abuse, trauma, and many others often take several sessions. Often I'm done with someone in 30 minutes, depending on the circumstances. I find that we can often deal with 1-3 issues per session. However, many people have multiple issues making it hard to tell without really getting into the matter.

One lady, for instance called me because she was 'stuck' at work and couldn't seem to get the recognition she wanted. That seemed, on the surface like a relatively easy matter to be dispensed with quickly. As it turned out, however, there was a considerable physical trauma in her life that had to be dealt with, the suicide of a family member, an eating disorder and much more. And while "Ann" didn't think any of those things contributed to her problems at work, they were actually critical to her success (or lack thereof).

So the answer to this question is "It depends". However, long it takes will be considerably less than tradition therapies of any kind, and likely much more effective.

Q. Why do I sometimes get sad, depressed or agitated after a session?

A. It’s not uncommon for people to experience a negative reaction after (or during) an EFT session, especially if you are tapping for yourself.  Feelings such as anger, anxiety, uneasiness, sadness or even temporary worsening of the issue(s) might emerge. They are not side effects of EFT, nor is there anything wrong with you.  There are several possible causes for these odd-feeling emotions you may experience during or after tapping. Here are some of them:

1)    You may be regretting previous choices you've made in life (or things that have happened to you.)  Or you may be saddened when reminded of the “opportunities wasted” in your life due to your issue. These regrets or feelings are often suppressed until EFT is introduced and things become stirred up. It’s natural to think, then, that EFT has caused these “new” feelings, when in fact EFT has simply reminded you of something you have suppressed that needs to be dealt with.  Remember EFT’s Discovery Statement is “The cause of ALL negative emotions is a disruption in the body’s energy system”.  Left untreated, those energy blockages (manifested as negative emotions) can lead to a plethora of physical ailments.

2)    While in the process of clearing major traumas or issues with EFT some people become anxious or fearful sensing the possibility of living life with a different set of rules. Being free from past baggage might mean risking rejection rather than living inside a “bubble of protection” provided by the previous challenges. For instance, those who have been victimized may have often blamed others for their crummy life or bad choices. Once EFT starts lifting the curtain of pain, blame, shame and resentment, they realize that they don’t really know how to live a life of accountability.  They might feel like a fish-out-of-water as they begin to see life from a completely different perspective.

We often have two parts of us that battle for dominance. The old, familiar part feels out-of-sorts or fearful because it doesn't’t know how to conduct itself in a different paradigm…with a new identity.  Being accountable, responsible and optimistic can be frightening if you’ve never or seldom experienced those sensations.  Yet the “other” part of you may yearn for that freedom and peace of mind.  It could be this dichotomy that causes the discomfort during or after tapping.

3)    Another cause for anxiety or fear during or after tapping is that there may be a payoff for keeping your issues.  Some people are financially compensated for a disability, while others may get emotional support with attention, sympathy or special favors as a result of their issues. When these payoffs are threatened by using EFT, a part of you may be reluctant to change or to give up these payoffs. Similarly the grief over losing a loved one, the pain from being traumatized or victimized, or the memory of a horrific incident can grow into an “excuse” for your life not working. The realization that you may no longer have this excuse might be overwhelming. 

Please don’t misunderstand. I’m not saying that you would consciously choose to be incapacitated, or stay ill, or continue to live in pain or to remain traumatized.  However, a part of you may be very protective of these secondary benefits and therefore be reluctant to let them go, triggering the anger, sadness or anxiety after an EFT session. (For more information on this read my Reversals article here on Gary’s site, or on the Free Stuff page of this website.

4)    A part of you may be sad (or even sick to your stomach) when you strive to leave the old identity behind. Sometimes there's a reluctance to do say goodbye for reasons that vary among different people. Just as people stay in bad marriages or keep a clunky care because it's at least familiar, we sometimes want to stay with what we perceive as a safe place, habit or personality. To change what's become so familiar is disconcerting to some, while exhilarating and uplifting for others.

5)    The most likely cause, however, for feeling unsettled after doing EFT is that you simply haven’t reached the core issue yet. Sometimes getting close to a painful memory causes us to back off.  Perhaps you’ve peeled the first layer of the onion and the layer underneath is “stinging your eyes.”  You may be only partially into your issues and are stirring things up before completion.  My friend and workshop co-facilitator, Zoe Walton says this about core issues:

“If you don’t know what your Core Issue is when you start a session and you proceed to tap on the various aspects you do know about, you may end a session without finding the actual cause of your problem -- the Core Issue. For example, you may be tapping on an uncomfortable emotion or body sensation that is happening at the moment, such as rage or tightness in the throat. But you would only be addressing a symptom, not the main cause. Underneath that rage, a deeper Core Issue, such as “he never really loved me” or “my mother abandoned me” still needs to be addressed for full resolution.

When the Core Issue is not dealt with, it is like chopping off the green weeds in a lawn but never getting to their roots. Also there might be many Core Issues around a particular issue and one session only dealt with one of the Core Issues, leaving more work to do. Confusion, “foggy-headedness”, anxiety, headaches, anger, or sadness often means that you’re simply not done with the problem or haven’t found the all-important core issue.

It is often hard to discover Core Issues on your own. It is sometimes hard for us to see our own problems clearly, just as a dentist would have a hard time giving himself (or herself) a root canal. That is where a good practitioner can help.”

6)    There’s still another possibility for post-tapping problems. It’s highly likely that you are working on issues far too complex for you to handle alone.  EFT is magical and extremely effective in the right hands.  Beginners should generally stay with simple, rather than complex issues.  Serious trauma issues, abuse, depression and other complex topics usually need the perspective of an accomplished practitioner.  Sometimes people get frustrated that EFT isn't’t working for them, when in fact it’s just that they’re not experienced enough to deal with their own issues.

Look at it this way -- if you experience negative stirrings after a session it’s actually a good sign that EFT is in fact starting to work.  Your body or emotions are reacting because you’ve scratched the surface of something that needs to be dealt with.

So if you get stuck, don’t stop!  Find some help to work through your issues. Check Gary’s practitioner listings on this site for a competent practitioner to assist you and don’t give up on yourself or on EFT!

Q. How can I learn enough about EFT to become a practitioner?

A. Although even beginner can generate impressive results with EFT, the more you learn and practice the more competent you will become. EFT is capable of far more than what you can learn in Gary’s 79-page manual, but that’s an excellent place to start and it’s free.  Here are some other options:

  • Order Gary’s EFT videos on EFT at www.emofree.com Click on the “Learn EFT button, for a list of great video products.  After learning the basic videos, my favorites were the two “Specialty Series” and “Steps to becoming the Ultimate Therapist”. If you haven’t already ordered Gary’s videos you’ll be pleasantly surprised to learn you get about 5-6 DVDs with each order.  And he offers 40% off with purchases over $100.  It’s an amazing bargain!
  • Take Approved Levels 1-3 workshops where you can actually practice EFT, work on your own issues, and get your questions answered. You’ll learn even more in a live workshop than in the initial videos. To really learn how to do EFT effectively, it’s great to do both. Check Lindsay’s EFT Approved workshops at www.EFTworkshops.org or the Approved workshops at Gary’s site www.emofree.com  Ask others for referrals to workshops that are highly recommended.
  • See a practitioner in person, or by phone. Find one at either www.emofree.com or at my sister website www.NationalAllianceforEmotionalHealth.com  You can also obtain a lot of information there about EFT including testimonials, case histories, and free downloads.  
  • Practice, Practice, Practice.  There’s nothing like getting out there in the trenches and doing as many cases as you can. Just remember to stay with SIMPLE issues until you know what you’re doing. Practice on friends, relatives, and pets until you gain skill and confidence.

Contact Lindsay about her “Becoming a Practitioner” program

The following are FAQs as published in Gary’s fabulous 79-page manual. If you haven’t already done so, I recommend that you read it to get you started in EFT. Download your free copy at www.emofree.com .  Gary pretty much says it all below, but I have added some of my own comments in italics

Q. How is EFT different from a "quick fix?"

A. The label "quick fix" carries with it a negative connotation and is often used to label the questionable healing techniques of hucksters and cheats. The term goes hand in hand with the term "con man" and, when used, often brings about thoughts of suspicion and caution. EFT offers rapid relief from numerous emotional and physical ailments without meriting the negative label "quick fix." 

This is obvious to any observer of the case histories in this course and is even more obvious to those students who have experienced the results first hand. I use the term rapid relief instead of "quick fix" to put across the same idea but without the negative connotation.

Now here's an important note: Throughout history healing techniques of various kinds have usually been low and inefficient until someone finds the true remedy for the ailment. When the true remedy is found, everything changes and the old methods become relics of the past. 

Polio is a case in point. Until the Salk vaccine was discovered, Poliomyelitis was considered incurable and all manners of medications and therapies (including the Iron Lung) were employed to help the sufferers. They didn't do much, of course. They helped ease some of the discomfort and limited some of the long term damage caused by the disease. But that was about it.

And then came the Salk vaccine. It did away with all the antiquated, inefficient attempts at curing Polio and replaced them with a true remedy. It was, indeed, a "quick fix" without the negative connotation.

The eradication of Polio is only one example where inefficient methods give away to true remedies.  Penicillin, for instance, has been another "quick fix" miracle drug that has provided instant cures for illnesses ranging from respiratory diseases to gonorrhea.

The examples go on and on, of course, but the point is that these procedures are replacing all the inefficient techniques used in behalf of emotional health. The fact that they give rapid relief to seemingly difficult emotional problems is impressive evidence that they represent the true remedy. If they took forever to do very little then they should simply take their place among the other ho hum techniques of the past. But they don't. They hit the bull’s eye and perform as a true remedy should…quickly, easily, permanently.

Q. Does it last?

A. This question is usually a companion to the above "quick fix" question. After all, the "logic" goes, any problem that can be relieved that fast must be temporary. Lasting results, at least in the minds of most people, must take time to produce.

Not so. EFT's results are usually permanent. The case histories in this course are filled with people who have had lasting results...even though the problem was relieved in moments. This is still more evidence that EFT is addressing the true cause of the problem. Otherwise, the remedy would not be so long lasting.

Please remember, however, that EFT doesn't do everything for everyone. Some problems seem to reappear and that is usually caused by different aspects of the original problem showing up at a later time. The experienced student of EFT will recognize this and simply reapply The Basic Recipe for this new aspect.

My experience is similar to Gary’s in that if a problem crops back up a related aspect might have been missed originally. Also, if an issue wasn't’ taken all the way to a zero, you might see a reoccurrence.  That’s why it’s important to get every issue to a zero. And you can test that with probing questions or actually trying to get yourself upset again. If the intensity goes up, you’ll know there’s still more work to do…often on a different aspect.  For more information on that read my “9 Stumbling Blocks of EFT”on the Free Stuff page. LK

The experienced student will also break the problem down into specific events and apply EFT to those underlying causes. In time, after all aspects and specific events have been addressed, the problem usually goes away completely and does not return.

Q. How does EFT handle emotional problems that are very intense and/or have been with a person for a very long time?

A. The same way it handles every other emotional problem. To EFT, the intensity of a problem or how long it has been around is immaterial. The cause is always a disrupted energy system and using The Basic Recipe to balance it gives relief...regardless of its severity.

“Old” issues, however may be ingrained in the body’s memory or subconsciously the body wants to hang on to the problem. This is what I call a Polarity Reversal (or psychological reversal). If a reversal is in place, and it often is with old or serious issues, you’ll need to neutralize it before EFT will work. To learn how to do that read my article on Reversals click on the Free Stuff page to download it. LK

This question usually comes about because of the belief that intense and/or long resident problems are more "deeply ingrained" than other problems. Therefore it should take more effort to relieve them. This seems very logical when viewed through conventional approaches because conventional approaches don't directly address the true cause.

Conventional approaches tend to take aim at one's memories or other mental processes and ignore the energy system (where the true cause lies). When slow progress is being made it is convenient to blame the problem because it is presumed to be "deeply ingrained" or otherwise difficult to deal with. In this manner, conventional approaches can...and do...explain away ineffective results.

When EFT requires persistence it is NOT because of the intensity or resident length of a problem. It is usually because of a problem's complexity. Complexity, to EFT, means the existence of several aspects to a problem each of which must be relieved before total relief is felt. The notion of aspects is covered repeatedly in this manual, the videos and the audios.

Note: The above comments may or may not apply to serious mental illness. The application of EFT to such disorders has proven helpful but it should only be applied by a professional skilled in this area.

Q. How does EFT deal with one's need to understand their problem?

A. This is one of the most astonishing features about EFT. A shift in a person's understanding of their problem happens simultaneously with the relief. After EFT, people talk about their problem differently. They put it in a healthy perspective. The typical rape victim, for example, no longer carries a deep fear and distrust of men. Rather, she considers her assailant as having the problem and needing help.

People who use EFT for relief from guilt no longer take blame for whatever event gave rise to the guilt. Anger turns to objectivity. Grief turns to a healthy, more peaceful perspective about the death of a loved one. Notice how you and others respond to your former problem and you will see what I mean. Your understanding shifts right along with the relief. Here's a final note on how powerfully EFT shifts understanding. In the hundreds and hundreds of people Adrienne and I have helped with EFT not one of them...ever...has made any request to better understand their problem. Why would they? There was no need.

Furthermore, people don’t have to ‘believe’ in EFT in order for it to work. In fact, some of my biggest successes, and now advocates, are those who were the biggest skeptics in the beginning. LK

Q. How does EFT deal with stress and anxiety?

A. In EFT, stress and anxiety have the same cause as all other negative emotions...a disruption in the body's energy system. Accordingly, they are addressed with The Basic Recipe the same as any other emotional issue. Anxiety has a specific meaning in clinical psychology. It refers to an intense fear or dread lacking an unambiguous cause or a specific threat. In EFT, however, we give it a much broader definition to include that general state of uneasiness which is more commonly known as anxiety. Under that definition stress and anxiety fall into the same category.

Stress and anxiety tend to be ongoing problems because the circumstances that create them are ongoing. An abusive family situation or a stressful job environment are but two of a long list of possibilities. EFT does not do away with the circumstances, of course, but it is an important aid to reducing your anxious responses. In most cases, EFT will need to be used persistently (most likely daily) because the stressful circumstances tend to show up every day.

After a while, you should notice that your responses to difficult events is much calmer. Things just don't get to you like they used to. You smile more. Your health improves and life seems easier.

Q. How does EFT help with sports performance? 

A. Ask any accomplished athlete and they will tell you emphatically that their mental set is critical to their performance. The difference between good days and bad days for the athlete is almost always due to emotional causes. Barring sickness, the athlete always brings the same highly skilled body into the field of battle. The only thing that changes is the effect that emotions have on the body.

Everyone, including athletes, has their share of negative thoughts and self doubt. By now you are quite familiar with the fact that those negative states of mind disrupt the body's energy system and cause negative emotions. These negative emotions show up in the body in a variety of ways (pounding heart, tears, sweat, etc.) and this includes some tension in the muscles.

In athletics, timing is everything and even the slightest tension in the muscles affects it. Hitting a baseball, tennis ball or golf ball requires perfect timing and being off by just 1/8 of an inch is the difference between hitting a home run and flying out…or...hitting a killer serve or one that hits the net…or...making or missing a putt. And so it goes.

Athletes are well aware of this problem and many hire sports psychologists to help them in this regard.  Any negative emotion...even the mild ones and the subconscious ones...can be critical to an athlete's performance.

EFT provides a remarkably effective solution to this problem. The purpose of The Basic Recipe is to neutralize negative emotions and their effects. One of the most common responses to it is that people feel relaxed which, by the way, is another way of saying that the tension has left their muscles. This is ideal for the athlete because it neutralizes any unnecessary emotional tension in the muscles without affecting the rest of their athletic ability. It allows their potential to flow through without being hindered by any resistance in the muscles.

Q. Why does EFT give surprisingly good relief from physical problems?

A. This is easy to understand in light of the emerging attitudes toward the existence of the mind-body connection. EFT provides striking evidence of this connection. What more obvious proof could one want than to watch changes in both mind and body occur as a result of tapping on the body's energy system?

But the evidence goes even deeper than this. Applying EFT for emotional issues often brings on the cessation of physical problems. Breathing problems go away. Headaches vanish. Joint pains subside. Multiple Sclerosis symptoms improve. I have witnessed this phenomenon for years. The list of physical improvements brought about by EFT is endless.

The logical inference from this is that EFT effectively addresses any emotional contributors to one's physical symptoms. Once the emotional contributors are out of the way the symptom subsides. There are those, of course, who believe that one's emotions or mental processes are the only cause of their physical diseases. I don't know how to prove or disprove that notion but I offer here the rather obvious fact that emotions, at the very least, substantially contribute to one's physical health. And EFT is an efficient tool for relief in this regard.

One final note on this. You might wonder what is happening "behind the emotional scenes" when you apply The Basic Recipe directly to a physical symptom (such as a headache) without zeroing in on a specific emotion. Stated differently, if the physical symptom is caused by some emotional issue then why does the physical symptom experience relief when no specific emotion was addressed?

I don't know for sure. There is much to learn about these techniques and the future, I'm sure, will bring us some exciting revelations on many fronts. For now, I believe that the subconscious mind brings up whatever emotional issue is contributing to the cause of the physical symptom. Applying The Basic Recipe automatically addresses that emotion.

If you have a question that wasn't answered above, e-mail us and we'll try to answer it. If it's a frequently asked one that we've just missed, we'll add it you our growing library of questions.

 
   

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