After going through several traumatic experiences, I started researching post-traumatic stress disorder and also effective therapies. In the course of my research I stumbled onto EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). I found a therapist who knew how to use this therapy. I can say from experience that it works. It is also intense. In my opinion it is one of the few therapies that work, in my opinion. The other thing that helps emotions is eating right and exercising, although most people here probably know that already.

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Hi, I wondered if you'd ever come across EFT - Emotional Freedom Technique? It incorporates eye movements in the Gamut procedure, though the shortened form of the process generally works just using the tapping points on the meridians. It's a fabulous magic wand technique that can be used on practically everything from purely (apparently!) physical pains and conditions to emotions and mental traumas which have compromised the body's energy systems.
Gary Craig, who developed it from various other therapies is a great guy who has generously shared tons of information, tutorials, articles, testimonials and a free downloadable manual all available at www.emofree.com
Enjoy!

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if anyone is interested I have a short article here on HolisticLocal that introduces EFT...

http://www.holisticlocal.co.uk/articles/view/11

Cheers,
Martin

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Hi everyone, I'm new here and just thought I would add a comment as I am a qualified EFT/NLP practitioner, my personal view is that EFT is a wonderful gentle technique that can and does work on lots of things, basically try it on anything. NLP however, is more powerful in my experience, I have used both for a personal fear of spiders and although my fear was reduced with EFT it took NLP to bring it right down to a level where I don't flinch when seeing one in action. I still don't want to pet the things and never will but I don't have a screaming fit like I used to.

Newy, Michelle

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Michelle, I did an EFT course some years ago but didn't work for me. Perhaps I wasn't susceptible to it then, I don't know, but it "never floated my boat" Sorry

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Thanks for your responses everyone. I have heard of EFT, but I had not researched it until I saw your responses. To be honest, it sounds like EMDR uses a different, but complementary method to relieve trauma symptoms. EMDR seems to reframe the experience from the mind. It forces the person's attention back and forth from the right and left hemispheres, while focusing on the event. This helps the brain process the event fully. EFT, if I am understanding it correctly, seems to focus on the body and the emotions and energy that get stuck therein. Maybe they could work well together?

I have heard of NLP as well, though again I am not familiar with it especially how it could be used to heal from trauma. To be honest, I thought it was more of a "how to manipulate people" method. I am open to better understanding though.

My interest in this is not just personal. I studied political science in school. I am not involved in the ivory tower system anymore, but I am always on the lookout for things that could help bring more peace into the world. Helping people in nations (like..oh..say..Iraq...maybe) heal from their traumatic experiences is one thing that could help prevent wars in the future.

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I am a counselor who is familiar with EFT, NLP, and EMDR. I think all three are useful techniques that can be used as stand-alone treatments (by qualified people in the case of EMDR) or in conjunction with one another. My experience is that there is no "one size fits all" treatment that works for everyone (although I know that EFT is marketed that way). I have gotten miraculous results with EFT and gotten nowhere with EFT. (For example one client was cured of impotence in 30 minutes with EFT while another got 0 improvement). I think it just depends on the person and the problem.

Laura Giles
http://healthy-living-solutions.com

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HealthyLiving,
That's great! Do you find that one works more often than the others?
Or have you been able to determine in what situations one works better than the others?

Kathy

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Hi, I would recommend a combination of NLP, Time Line Therapy tm and Hypnosis!

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Hi

I'm new on here, I have heard of EMDR but know practically nothing about it. However on the subject of EFT, I am qualified in EFT and EmoTrance, but last year I trained in a home grown meridian and energy therapy, called FREEWAY-CER, which I have found to be far faster and more powerful than EFT and more importantly the changes stay put permanently. I have since learning to use it basically replaced EFT, which is I admit a wonderful technique, with FREEWAY-CER because it is simpler for the client to learn and use themselves and has faster results. I have been very honoured by the originators of the therapy and been promoted to South of England and South Wales practitioner tutor in the therapy, so will be organising seminars to train other therapists to practitioner level in the not too distant future, once I get myself a bit more organised.

Bernie
www.berniemorgan.com

Last edited: 27-07-2007 10:06:08 PM

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I have been an EFT master practitioner for over a year now, and find it useful sometimes in clinic. All the other modalities mentioned are good, but as Laura (I think) said, no one size fits all.
The best method for removing phobia's etc that I have found, is the Compulsive Behaviour process that 3 in 1 Concepts use.. I have yet to see it fail. All the other techniques mentioned here are combined in this process. BTW, I do not believe there is any 'quick fix' for these sorts of problems. The process from 3 in 1 takes about 90 mins, but one session only.

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Hi Jon, I noticed your details weren't listed on the emofree website for Master Practitioners in New Zealand. It might be helpful to enquire with Gary Craig's site on whether they've got up to date info for you.

Hi everyone, I'm new on here, but was interested by the discussion on this thread. Touching on some of the points raised about whether a particular technique works or not, I wonder if an important part of the equation is the therapist/teacher providing the support in the technique? I'm sure we've all been in situations where we've made rapport with a client and the work has flowed at a good pace, intuition has helped inspire the work, and the client leaves feeling that the therapy has worked for them. Then there have been other ocassions when the connection has been awkward and little or no progress has been made.

Continuing with role of intuition, I find that some of my most successful approaches have been when I've focussed in purely on the client's issue they want to work on, rather than on the technique I'm going to apply and then gone with the flow. As a result, I might mix an hour of EFT for self confidence issues with 30 minutes of Reiki at the end to say release tightness in the chest.

I'd be interested to hear whether this rings true with anyone else's experiences.

Sejual

Last edited: 16-08-2006 06:32:36 PM

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Katherine,

I think you'd be interested in something new called Fight or Flight Therapy. You can read more about it at www.FightorFlightTherapy.com.

All the therapies discussed above are excellent and typically require emotional work. Fight or Flight Therapy is different, and it can be very successful on its own, or as a complement to those other therapies. Here's why:

It has long been understood that we respond to stress and trauma in precise physiological ways. Our nervous system instinctively activates specific mechanisms designed to protect us, helping to insure our survival. This is commonly referred to as the ‘fight or flight’ response.

Not surprisingly, it can now be clinically measured that due to the stress of our lives, almost everyone is chronically stuck in some constant state of ‘fight or flight’ (even when we think we are relaxed!). This not only affects our daily functioning, but, over time, sets us up for stress-related health issues later in life.

The immediate problem is that once stuck, we are no longer able to function to our fullest potential. New stresses and challenges only aggravate the problem. Rest, exercise, meditation and behavior modification all offer only temporary or partial relief. Therapies like EMDR, EFT and those mentioned above are excellent in lessening the emotional response to that specific event. But subconsciously, our physiology, mediated by our nervous system, is still functioning in survival mode (like a constant false alarm), mediating the behavior and functional difficulties that remain.

Fight or Flight Therapy is a light therapy performed in the comfort of your own home that works directly on your nervous system to shift it back toward normal. Within days to weeks, most people feel more relaxed, less stressed and are functioning easier. And once the nervous system has been completely ‘re-set’, the results tend to be permanent!

If you'd like to learn more, please review my website at: FightorFlightTherapy.com. Be sure to check out the testimonial page. Listed are good examples of the wide variety of symptoms and diagnoses that respond to this work. But remember, we never treated any symptom or any diagnosis. Neither did we talk about the trauma or tap into the emotions of it. All we did was measure to what degree their nervous system was stuck in fight or flight and, using light, gently shifted it back toward normal. What you're reading is how that particular person's life changed as they reclaimed their ability to function more normally.

If you'd like to chat, I'm just down the road in Denver. Call me at 303 744 6508.

Dr. Stuart Tessler

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Hi all - A quick note of support for EMDR and EFT ~ both are wonderful and it is my experience that many psychotherapists that seek training in one will eventually complete training in the other. I am a licensed psychotherapist in the United States had have used both modalities with great success with many clients for many years. I had the good fortune to be trained in EMDR by Francis Shapiro long ago – the second year she offered the training I believe, followed by EFT training. Like all other training I received, I also used them personally and was in therapy with an EMDR therapist myself. I received so much from the use of EMDR and EFT therapy that I continued on a weekly basis for about three years. A therapist's education/training in combination with his or her personal therapy are what it takes to make a therapist a great therapist. So,if you are in the helping profession, then being the best you can be is part of the responsibility. While EMDR and EFT are both wonderful for their quick, comfortable and therefore affordable way to help resolve significant issues. However, EFT and EMDR are not simply for clinical issues like anxiety, depression and trauma resolution, but for accomplishing other goals due to their cumulatively powerful abality to help with longer term treatment and development. They are used here in the USA by people without psychological training for helping people achieve personal or career goals - very popular with actors, artists, athletes and even some politicians. For you practitioners on this site, be sure to check out the work of John Omaha, PhD (johnomahaenterprises.com ). The concept of “missing resources” is something that any therapist should evaluate / address with clients. I also credit the training I received from John with improving my skills and clinical outcomes. For the non-clinical users, you might like reading about David Grand's approach with actors www.biolateral.com/grandsystem.htm .
Wishing you all the best - MahaHaha

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