For experienced tappers...
This article is intended for experienced tappers who are interested in successfully using the technique of Borrowing Benefits with a group.
Assess.
Before you can lead a formal Borrowing Benefits process, you’ll need to decide if Borrowing Benefits is the right technique for your group. How much time do you have? How large is the group? If there were to be an abreaction, could you handle it on your own or would you need assistance from other experienced tappers as EAs (Emotional Assistants)?
If your group is too large for you to handle a potential abreaction, it might be that Borrowing Benefits is not the right technique at this time. Remember, you don't know what you don't know. Also, if you’re new to facilitating Borrowing Benefits, it may be better to practice your skills in a small group (of 2 or 3 students, for example) before moving to a larger group. If it feels like Borrowing Benefits is too complex or not right for any reason, stick with a group tapping exercise like Constricted Breathing to give each of your participants an experience of EFT.
Choose a Demo.
If you’ve settled on moving forward with Borrowing Benefits, you’ll need to find a suitable “demo” – a person with whom you can tap ‘on stage,’ in front of the group. Each participant in the group will tap along with your demo person with the express purpose of receiving a tangible, measurable result.
What makes a good demo, you ask? Books could be written on the ins and outs of finding the most effective or appropriate tapping demonstration possible. However, let’s not shoot for perfection. Instead, let’s settle for something that has the best chance of giving your volunteer a safe, brief and satisfying experience of EFT – specifically something with low to moderate intensity. This could be a craving for sweets or crisps, a minor ache or pain, or a minor annoyance of some kind.
One way of finding the right demo is to meet and greet a number of your group participants before class (and thereby get a feel for what each one is like). You might also remember to keep an eye and ear on the room during the tapping “q & a” portion of your presentation, or during the setup for Borrowing Benefits. Listening for the right person with a pretty clear ‘low-intensity’ issue…
Explain the Process.
Once you have settled on a demo, you’ll need to explain Borrowing Benefits. i.e. When you tap along with someone else’s issue, you can also receive a benefit, especially when you have set a clear issue to address.
At this point, ask each member of the room to identify a low-intensity issue they would like to tap on – an ache or a pain, a craving or other minor annoyance. If possible, help each person fine-tune his or her issue individually. Have each person write down the issue along with the intensity level.
Once they’ve identified a few words that carry some intensity and written them down, instruct your participants to turn their attention completely towards your demonstration. Let them know they will tap-along and repeat-along with your volunteer. If needed, give an example.
Keep it simple.
During the demo, be very mindful to use basic EFT (Standard EFT from the EFTi Glossary of Terms). This is your opportunity to step into beginners mind with your group. In other words, don’t get fancy or otherwise too nuanced with your demo. Keep it simple. What you’re demo-ing should match the handouts you’re giving to your group (i.e., basic EFT).
Remember to check-in.
After you’ve tapped a few rounds with your volunteer, check-in with the room. You might poll each person individually or ask for general feedback. Did anyone’s issue go down in intensity? If so, how do they know it went down? This is an opportunity for people share their subjective experience. What the tapping felt like for them, or how their issue stands now compared to where it was before…
Tap a few more rounds.
Once you have checked-in with the room, return to your demo volunteer. If possible (and appropriate), do a few more rounds of tapping, especially if there is any remaining emotional intensity. Be mindful of any need to ‘calm and contain’ or otherwise tap down any remaining intensity.
Ask the room for feedback.
What is their original issue like now? What is the intensity level? How did it change?
Check-in with your demo volunteer.
Before excusing the demo volunteer, check-in to see if they need or would like any further rounds of tapping to help them ‘ground’ or return to the room. Remember, each step of the process is a teaching and learning opportunity.
Extra Credit:
Below is a link to a video I did of ‘on the fly’ Borrowing Benefits on Vermont TV a few years back. I did not structure it formally, but I did use many of the steps I shared above:
As you’ll see, there was a variation of a group tap at the beginning, then a more traditional Borrowing Benefits process towards the end. Hopefully you’ll notice that, while the process is very flexible, it still requires tight facilitation. Enjoy experimenting! ☺
Additional Resource: https://eftinternational.org/my-favorite-eft-group-demo/
Jade Barbee is an Accredited Certified EFT Master Trainer of Trainers. His specialties include better sleep, working with allergies and being a mentor.
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