Origins of EFT™
EFT™
is one of many Meridian Techniques that make use of the 14 energy
meridians that run throughout the body. These energy pathways have been
known to the eastern traditions (e.g. Indian Ayurvedic and Chinese
medicine systems) for over 4000 years and are the basis for Acupuncture,
a therapy which is receiving increasing acceptance from the western
medical community. Other physical therapies which make use
of the meridian system include Acupressure (Acupuncture without
needles), Shiatsu (a form of massage), Touch for Health (a self-help
system used for a wide variety of ailments) and Kinesiology.
The basic idea behind all Meridian Techniques is that health
problems (including emotional issues) arise when the flow of energy
round the body is blocked or disrupted in some way. Meridian Techniques
work by restoring the energy flow.
In modern times, the
use of meridian techniques goes back to the 60's and resulted in
the development of Applied Kinesiology. In the 70's, a few
psychiatrists began experimenting with using muscle testing as a
diagnostic tool for psychotherapy. In the 80's Dr Roger Callahan
developed TFT (Thought Field Therapy) which involved tapping on
specific meridian points while the client focussed on the issue
at hand. Callahan specialised in phobia cures and was so successful
(treating people in one or two sessions) he went out of business
for a time!
In 1995, one of Callahan's students, Gary Craig,
developed EFT™ (Emotional Freedom Technique). Craig is a Stanford
engineer by training and wanted a procedure which did not require
lots of diagnostic work to decide which points to tap and which
was easy to learn and remember. He took the "100% overhaul"
approach - which means tapping all the points, every time and for
every issue. He then went about running many workshops and
treating many people in order to take EFT™ to the public. Several
other related techniques have since been developed by other people
in the field and the area is growing fast. But because EFT™
is so user-friendly it remains the mainstay for many practitioners
in this area and for individuals looking for easy to learn self-help
techniques. Gary Craig's website at www.emofree.com
remains the definitive place to look for up to date information
about EFT and its uses.
