eft for addiction treatment

EFT for AddictionsEmotional Freedom Techniques

Training

Masha BennettNeurolinguistic Psychotherapist

Advanced EFT Practitioner & Trainer AAMET

www.practicalhappiness.co.ukwww.eft4addictions.co.uk

www.practicalhappiness.co.uk

EFT: Definitions & Claims

“Acupuncture without needles” “Emotional form of

acupuncture” “Acupressure combined with cognitive therapy”

“A New Age fad”“Power therapy”

“Universal healing aid”“One-minute wonder tool”

“A placebo”“Another form of quackery”

“Tapping therapy” “Pseudo –science”

A fad or a valuable tool?

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Brief History of EFT Traditional Chinese Medicine

/ Acupuncture : < 5000 years ago

Thought Field Therapy (TFT): developed in the USA by Dr Roger Callahan , 1980s

The case of Mary

Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT): developed in the USA by Gary Craig, 1990s

EFT Applications for Addictions

Reducing / eliminating cravings Alleviating withdrawal symptoms Managing anxiety, fear, grief , anger, guilt Relieving physical pain and tension Addressing irrational & negative thinking Healing past trauma Enhancing sense of control Reducing risk of relapse Stress management & personal

development tool for therapists

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How does EFT work? No proven explanation of mechanism Popular view: balancing of the body’s energy

system in relation to a specific issue? High concentration of mechanoreceptors in

areas of skin associated with acupoints Signal produced by stimulating the points

appears to reach the limbic system in the brain and reduce arousal

Stimulates endorphin production Dual attention / Adaptive information

processing? - Effects comparable to those of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing)

Main EFT Acupressure PointsEFT Point Meridian point

CR – Crown Several points EB – Eyebrow Bladder 2SE – Side of Eye Gall Bladder 1UE – Under Eye Stomach 1UN – Under NoseGoverning Vessel 27CH – Chin Central Vessel 24CB – Collarbone Kidney 27UA – Under Arm Spleen 17TH – Thumb Lung 11IF – Index Finger Large Intestine 1MF – Middle FingerPericardium 9RF – Ring Finger Triple Warmer 1LF – Little Finger Heart 9KC – Karate Chop Small Intestine 3

SS – “Sore Spot” (not an acupressure point, but a neurolymphatic area)

ABC of EFT

Awareness of the problem/issue Specific description SUD (Subjective Units of Distress) – for emotions/physical

sensations, or VoC (Validity of Cognition) – for beliefs, rating on the scale of 1 – 10

Balancing Stimulation of the Karate Chop point, or the “Sore Spot” “Set-up” statement to include description of problem and a positive

affirmation, the latter usually about self

Clearing Stimulation of the sequence of points Focus on problem emotions, physical sensations, thoughts, images “Reminder phrase” (naming the problem) at each point to maintain

focus

Awareness of the problem

Specific description, e.g.

General More Specific

“I feel stressed at “I am worried about notwork” finishing my report on time”

“I am in pain” “I have a sharp stabbing pain in my left shoulder“

“I am fed up” “I am annoyed with my friend for not ringing me on time”

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Awareness-Balancing-Clearing Awareness of the problem cont.

Rating/Scaling the problem SUD (Subjective Units of Distress) 0– 10 VoC (Validity of Cognition) 0 – 10where 0 is no intensity, and 10 is maximum

intensity

Alternative scaling methods, e.g. for kids Use arms to show how “big” the problem is Traffic light system Red – high intensity

Amber – medium intensityGreen – calm

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Awareness-Balancing-Clearing Awareness of the problem cont.

What to pay attention to in the client’s language in description of the problem

Mental images, e.g. “I can still see those scary eyes” Emotions, e.g. “I feel sadness” Thoughts, e.g. “I don’t know why it’s upsetting me so” Physical Sensations, e.g. “churning in my stomach” Belief Statements, e.g. “I should be able to cope better” Sounds/Voices, e.g. “I can hear him say ‘It’s your

fault’…” Smells, e.g. “I can still smell her perfume” Taste, e.g. “metallic taste in my mouth” Metaphors, e.g. “heavy burden on my shoulders”

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Awareness-Balancing-Clearing

Awareness of the problem cont.

Non-verbal cues to pay attention to: Facial expression, e.g. sad, smiling, confused, scared Breathing, e.g. fast, slow, deep, shallow, (ir)regular etc Muscle tone, e.g. tense, relaxed Skin colour, e.g. pale, red, blotchy Eyes, e.g. gaze fixed or moving, bright, dull, tearful

etc Voice tone & pitch Speed/rate of speech e.g. fast, slow Use of emphasis, e.g. “…and then IT HAPPENED..” Posture, e.g. upright, slumped, open, closed Gestures, e.g. their location, fast, slow, small, large Sweating, e.g. sweaty palms

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Psychological Reversal 1

Psychological Reversal can be defined as Self-Sabotage on both psychological and energetic levels.

Psychological Reversal can be assumed to be always present in:

eating disordersserious addictionclinical depressionserious chronic illnesses

and may be present with other issues/conditions

Psychological Reversal 2

If uncorrected, Psychological Reversal is likely to stop the treatment (EFT or any other) from working

Can be detected through muscle testing (as in kinesiology) – however, this requires skill and often takes longer than the EFT Set-up / Balancing, so testing is usually unnecessary.

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Awareness-Balancing-Clearing Balancing / Set-up

The Purpose of Balancing is to correct for any Psychological Reversal / Self-Sabotage present.

The correction is TEMPORARY, and the Psychological Reversal can “kick-in” again within minutes or even seconds

The Balancing/Set-up is normally repeated at the start every sequence of tapping

Awareness-Balancing-Clearing

Balancing / Set-up cont.

The Balancing or Set-up Phrase has two main components:Statement of Problem / IssuePositive affirmation about self

Typical structure of the Balancing Phrase: “Even though [insert problem]…

…I accept myself.”

Awareness-Balancing-Clearing Balancing / Set-up 3

”Even though [problem]….

… I deeply and completely accept myself”

… I love and accept myself”

…I forgive myself”

…I give myself permission to… [heal, relax etc]”

…I am OK”

…I am a good person”

…I am cool”

Examples of Balancing / Set-up Phrases:

Awareness-Balancing-Clearing

Clearing Tapping through the rest of the points, 7+ times Reminder Phrase at each point , e.g.

“This [problem]”“Remaining [problem]”“This [aspect of problem]”

Important Note: Reminder Phrase is NOT an affirmation It’s function is to keep us focused on the problem

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The Movie Technique

How long does the movie last? If longer than a few minutes, it may need

to be split into more than one movieGive the Movie / Memory a title, e.g.

“Incident at Sainsbury’s” What type of movie is it – drama, horror,

thriller, tragi-comedy, action film?Tap on the title of the movie After one or two rounds check if OK to

look at individual scenes.

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The Movie Technique cont. Client to choose one scene & name it Usually the most emotionally charged

scene, though sometimes we may work in chronological order

Tap on the scene until the emotion subsides, then move to the next one

It is important that there is only one emotional “peak” in each scene

At the end get the client to “watch the movie” from beginning to end

Check for remaining intensity, tap more if needed

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Shortcut for Cravings

EFT Shortcut for relieving cravings / urges Tap on the following points (both sides) whilst focusing on the

physical sensation, emotions and cognitions associated with the craving:

Under Eye (Stomach 1)Collar Bone (Kidney 27)Under Arm (Spleen 17)Collar Bone (Kidney 27)

Repeat a number of times until craving subsides. Revert to full protocol if required.

Typical effects of EFT on cravings Intensity of craving / desire decreases, often dramatically Perceived smell of food / substance changes (usually from

pleasant to unpleasant or neutral) Tension & anxiety reduces

AspectsAspect = Emotionally

significant component of the issue

Aspects can be Conscious Unconscious Remembered Imagined

Aspects can emerge Sequentially Simultaneously Both

Aspects can often be broken into smaller aspects

Aspects can be Emotional Cognitive Visual Kinaestethic Auditory Olfactory Gustatory Symbolic

Side EffectsSide-effects may include1. Tiredness, lethargy, yawning2. Light-headedness, dizziness3. Temporary increase in emotional charge4. Pain/ache moving to another location5. Different emotion emerging6. Repressed memories surfacing7. Feeling of nausea

The best way to deal with the side-effects No.3 to 7 is to continue tapping until the discomfort is alleviated.

Contra-indications Clients with high blood pressure

avoid tapping on the head can use any other point instead, e.g. collarbone

Pregnant women avoid tapping on inside ankle point as it is thought to

stimulate uterus avoid working with core beliefs in the 1st trimester (?)

Client in Pre-contemplation Avoid directly pursuing the issue which is being denied Work on any distress experienced by the client

Therapist’s competence & confidence psychotic symptoms / schizophrenia manic depression / bi-polar disorder multiple severe traumaOnly use EFT with the above if you already have

knowledge / experience of working with this client group

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EFT Survey by M. Bennett in 200871 respondents

including 49 practitioners 22 lay users

Table 1. Self-reported frequency of successful outcome with EFT

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Results for self Results for other

Frequency no. % no. % Frequency________________________________________________________________________________________________

Never 0 0 3 4.2 Never

>25% 1 1.4 2 2.8 >25%

25-50% 5 7.0 2 2.8 25-50%

50-70% 12 16.9 9 12.7 50-70%

70-90% 24 33.8 24 33.8 70-90%

90-100% 29 40.8 29 40.8 90-100%________________________________________________________________________________________________

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EFT Survey cont.Table 2. Top 10 issues for which EFT was reported to be effective __________________________________________________________

no. % Issue

________________________________________________________________________

65 91.5 Anxiety/Panic

55 77.5 Anger

54 76.1 Confidence/Self-esteem

53 74.6 Relationship issues

51 71.8 Depression

55 64.8 Pain Management

45 63.4 Trauma/PTSD

42 59.2 Phobias

41 57.7 Addictions

38 53.5 Abuse issues

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EFT Survey cont.

Table 3. Comparison of EFT with other approaches by practitioners

Approach compared no.no. % no. % no. % no. %

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy 15 10 66.7 3 20 1 6.7 1 6.7Person Centered Counselling 13 8 61.5 2 15.4 1 7.7 2 15.4Hypnotherapy 17 10 58.8 4 23.5 1 5.9 2 11.8Anti-depressants 11 9 81.8 1 9.1 0 0 1 9.1Tranquilizers 11 8 72.7 3 27.3 0 1 0 0Painkillers 18 14 77.8 4 22.2 0 0 0 0

EFT more effective EFT as effective EFT less effective Don't know

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Masha’s Contact Details W: www.eft4addictions.co.ukW: www.practicalhappiness.co.uk

E: masha@eft4addictions.co.ukE: masha@practicalhappiness.co.uk

T: +44 (0)7887 617558A: Practical Happiness, PO Box 142, Glossop,

Derbyshire SK13 9ADSkype: masha.bennett

Masha Bennett is based near Manchester, UK and travels nationally and internationally to teach EFT to health professionals and general public

www.eft4addictions.co.uk

Main References

Bennett, M. (2009) Use of EFT Survey. In preparation for publication in Journal of Holistic Healthcare.

Bennett, M. (2009). EFT: Tapping into New Solutions. Addiction Today, Jan-Feb 2009, pp.30-31

Craig, G. The EFT Manual – downloadable from www.emofree.com