Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) is a tool to help people deal with all types of physical and emotional issues.

Created by Gary Craig, EFT can be seen as a kind of acupuncture without the needles. Gentle tapping on the same energy meridians gives a person relief from pain and emotion.

This is an incredibly empowering tool as it is something that can be taught to anyone in a very short time! The person then has this tool for their own use whenever they need it!

The "tapping points" used in EFT are on the face, chest and hands. Tapping on these points while saying different phrases works on pain and emotion.

How does it work? There are as many different opinions to explain how such a simple tool can be so effective.

Here are my thoughts on how it works...

By doing the tapping and saying the phrases, we give attention to the pain (headache, back pain, etc.) or emotion (fear, anxiety, etc.) This focused attention allows us to shift the energy of the pain or emotion to something more resourceful.

Whatever the truth is about how EFT works, there is much evidence that it does work! I use it for everything from heartburn and muscle strains to anxiety before going into important meetings and negotiations!

I learned EFT from a wonderful practitioner and instructor in West Seattle, Dena Przybyla. She also holds group sessions called Borrowing Benefits which brings people together to tap on various issues.