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Over the last decade we have witnessed the fabulous spread of EFT to millions of people around the world. However, with this rapid expansion, we have seen false expectations offered, misconceptions generated and potentially harmful ideas put forward about EFT. This article addresses what we consider to be the 10 most important EFT “myths” we feel any newcomer to EFT should be aware of.
10. EFT is a just a self-help tool
One of the things we love about EFT is that anyone can learn the tool and self-apply it. There aren’t many healing modalities that offer such an option. If, however, you have used EFT and it appears to have failed, it may simply have been that you were only utilizing it as a self-help tool. While there are millions of issues you can work on by yourself, there isn’t a single person who wouldn’t benefit from being guided in the tapping process by a skilled expert.
Think of it this way, a dentist can brush his teeth and may even be able to use some of the hygienist’s tools to clean them thoroughly, but he can’t perform a root canal on himself no matter how good he is. If you haven’t received sufficient progress on your issue(s), then please consider working with a certified EFT coach with experience in the challenges you want to resolve. This is especially true when significant traumatic experiences are at the heart of the issue you are working on.
9. EFT is better than Western medicine
Yes, recent studies show that medical mistakes happen and that medications are frequently offered when safer alternatives could be explored. It's also true that medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the US. That being said, lives are saved every minute by the appropriate use of medication and properly offered medical attention.
Too often we have seen alternative care practitioners, or advocates of complementary care eschew Western medicine to a fault and ignore obtaining a proper diagnosis or treatment. We’ve seen a number of times when just the right dosage of a psychotropic medication given for a short period of time by a skilled and ethical psychiatrist made all the difference in the world in terms of EFT actually being able to work. Just like going to get a cast for a broken bone, getting medication for mental health challenges has its place.
Luckily, more than ever, doctors, therapists and psychiatrists are either learning about EFT or are at least open minded enough to work in conjunction with EFT. When this happens everyone wins.
EFT research has only just begun to be compared to more traditional and accepted techniques such as CBT, EMDR, etc. To make any claims of EFT’s superiority without evidence is fallacy and potentially harmful. The first question that any qualified EFT professional should be asking regarding physical conditions is if you have seen doctor and had it properly examined.
8. All certified practitioners have their stuff resolved
Just because an EFT practitioner has been in private practice for several years doesn't mean they have healed all their own wounds. There are chain-smoking tappers, alcoholic tappers, coaches with unresolved physical and emotional issues, and ones who have difficulties with boundaries, resulting from unfinished personal work.
The best practitioners are the ones who continue to do their own personal work for a lifetime. Just because a practitioner hasn't completely resolved their own issues doesn't make them incapable of helping you with yours. Looking into their references, their certifications, their experience in the area you wish to work in, along with having a consultation before you commit to working with them is our best advice.
Make sure that when you decide to work with someone it’s a good fit. This is a very special relationship you will be building, and it can be a significant investment of time, energy and expense, so double check to make sure you are in good hands. The best practitioners are the ones who know and accept that their own healing work is never done. An EFT coach who doesn’t do this takes the risk of working with an inflated ego, or crossing a line, or suffering from vicarious trauma.
7. All EFT training is created equally
There is absolutely no substitute for live workshop training (as opposed to pre-recorded videos only) delivered by a highly experienced trainer. During a live training, a good trainer will provide you with many opportunities to practice, and may offer invaluable individual feedback. There are nuances that even a streaming broadcast cannot capture. In our opinion, the best EFT training programs, such as those accredited by EFT International, require that you spend time having a mentor to review your work with clients as you go through certification.
I wouldn’t trust someone who referred to themselves as an electrician, whose training consisted of just an online course or mail order course to work in my home. I trust the electrician who went to school, was a supervised apprentice under someone who had been in the profession for years and passed his/her requirements for licensure.
Because EFT is an unlicensed profession, you will find many practitioners who haven’t taken the necessary steps for mastery and think they are prepared to work with bigger issues that are likely to arise.
If you would like to read about 5 more misconceptions, you can read them here in Part 2.
Craig Weiner is an Accredited Certified EFT Master Trainer of Trainers.
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