Getting to Know Respire: EFT
We’re back after a much needed respite in March and many exciting happenings at Respire! We’ve welcomed clinician Srijana Giri, AMFT to the team, expanding our capacity to serve folks including those seeking services in Nepali and Hindi. We’re gearing up to welcome more in the coming month!
In this month’s segment we’re looking at Emotional Freedom Technique or EFT.
Emotional Freedom Technique, EFT or “Tapping” is based on Eastern and alternative medicine practices including Chinese Acupuncture. The practice was taken by Western practitioners and developed in the 1990’s to fit a model of Empirically Supported Treatment (EST) used by western practitioners. The following represents EFT from a western perspective. Traditional medicine practitioners continue to practice today and provide valuable support to clients. Please reach out if you’d like support identifying a TCM practitioner.
What: Tapping “pressure” or “endpoints” on the body coupled with breathing techniques, affirmation repetition and scaling emotional distress rating
How I use it: I have found this to be a useful coping skill for my clients that are dealing with anxiety, symptoms of ADHD, and feelings of shame or guilt. I teach clients how to use EFT and discuss strategies for incorporating into practice. Client’s who find mindfulness or meditation to be challenging might find this practice a little more manageable.
Application: Client’s who struggle with symptoms of ADHD often report feeling difficulty in spaces where they need to sit and focus, reporting increased feelings of anxiety and physiological discomfort. Client’s have reported success when utilizing tapping in those situations, reducing feelings of anxiety and redirecting thoughts. In this case, I teach client’s how to use EFT points on just their hands and can practice just about anywhere, anytime.
Training: I was first introduced to EFT through a training in my graduate program. I have since participated in trainings and experiential exercises with several EFT practitioners in both personal and professional settings.