How to Tap with Jessica Ortner
Emotional Freedom Technique, or EFT, is a form of stress relief developed by Gary Craig. Often referred to as “tapping,” EFT was developed following the research conducted by Dr. Roger Callahan in the 1980s. Craig’s theory developed following his tutelage under Callahan, who developed his own theory, or Thought Field Therapy.
The two theories operated off of the premise that stress and anxiety could be reduced by tapping various “meridians,” which are critical points on the body where the body’s energy—ch’i or qi—can be accessed and influenced. The same principle applies to acupuncture though EFT doesn’t call for needles.
The process begins by identifying a particular stressor that needs to be addressed, then crafting a “setup statement.” The setup statement will vary and follow different formats depending on what is being addressed as well as where the template for the setup statement is drawn from. There is a large capacity for interpretation and flexibility in EFT.
After the setup statement is repeated three times, a deep breath is taken and the tapping commences, beginning with the “karate chop” meridian. Other meridians follow in what is called an algorithm, or a particular order of meridians. After assigning a numerical character to the subsequent stress level, the process can be repeated.
Tapping has several benefits and the relative merits of the whole process have been studied by numerous universities, including some of the most prestigious ivy league schools.
According to The Tapping Solution, “tapping provides relief from chronic pain, emotional problems, disorders, addictions, phobias, post traumatic stress disorder, and physical diseases.” In addition to these benefits, perhaps what is best about tapping is its overwhelming simplicity.