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Part 1
The Practitioner-Driver’s Role
With their knowledge of tapping and experience, the Driver knows how to drive the car safely to reach the destination.
They know how the vehicle runs. Is it a gear box/shift stick or an automatic? It makes all the difference in knowing which gentle technique to use. If you try to force a client to handle a haunting trauma by going from gear 1-5 in one step then you’re likely to re-traumatise them. They may want to shut down. Then the car stops moving.
The Driver Knows How To Pace A Session And Take The Quickest Route
They have experience in travelling this road. They’ve worked with others who, for example, are experiencing panic attacks. They understand the ins and outs to getting free from that issue. In this, they’re not dictating the route. Instead, they use reasoning and experience to offer the client information on approaching that route. Do we drive off peak or take a neat back road to shorten the overall journey? Offering simple choices empowers the client.
A Safe Driver Knows How To Read The Signs Of The Road
Say the client directs the Driver to go over a bridge that’s coming up. The Driver reads the signs of the road and sees it’s a pedestrian foot bridge. They can't go there. In setting safe boundaries, the Driver would explain why it’s unsafe to dive straight into the worst trauma from a history of childhood abuse in the first session. It might be too shocking for the client and trigger a panic attack response.
A good Driver is well-versed in understanding what the Navigator is communicating, both directly and indirectly. In caring for the client they know how to read their capacity to handle an issue. So when a client is exhausted after processing a taxing memory, the Driver won’t immediately approach the next core issue. It would be like trying to drive a journey of 500 miles without planning any rest breaks. It would be tiring for both the client and the practitioner. They’d likely have an accident.
A Good Driver Asks Curious Questions So That They Can Understand The Client’s Perspective
How do they see the world? Is the real-time information app on the phone alerting us to an accident and congestion ahead? That information might help them take an earlier turn-off to avoid the worst of the bottleneck.
A good Driver reads body language to check whether what the client is saying matches what they’re feeling. Do they have gritted teeth? Are they reaching for the hand brake to stop the car? It might be kinder and more efficient in the long run to go at a different speed, even if the client says they’re OK.
Ultimately, a good Practitioner-Driver will be thinking about how would it feel to sit in the Client-Navigator’s seat. “How would I like to be driven? What’s it like to be coached with EFT in this way?” This knowledge grows from being the client in many swaps with other practitioners. This mindset also allows the practitioner to learn how to pace a session and offer gentle, professional care.
The Client-Navigator’s Role
What about the Client-Navigator’s role in this? First, they name the destination they want to reach. It could be they want freedom from a crippling fear of public speaking that stands in the way of getting promoted. They can suggest the route they want to take: super-fast along a motorway, or one that’s going to take a couple of detours to handle related issues.
Perhaps, along with the fear of public speaking, they want to start showing some leadership skills so they can grow into a promotion. The client gets to see the sights as they travel – they notice how they’re showing up more naturally confident in meetings at work and this adds to their joy in the experience of working.
A problem that I’ve had arise with unskilled Drivers is if they try to take over the Navigator’s role. They try to force the client down a road that they don’t want to travel. This is where a weak practitioner can become over-controlling. For example, insisting that a client forgive a perpetrator might not be in the client’s best interests, and should never be forced. It is likely to be mentally harmful if the client doesn’t wish to go there. It’s a dangerous approach.
In Summary
I’d always choose to work with a skilful practitioner over doing simplistic tap-a-longs. Good practitioners know how to get to the destination safely. They are efficient with time. Think, “Do I really want this problem for another 9 months whilst I try by myself to figure out how to get EFT to work for me?” A skilful practitioner will deliver unexpected improvements along the way that will delight.
Sejual Shah is an EFT International Trainer of Trainers and Practitioner in the UK. She helps execs with career growth and confidence issues. Since 2008 she has pioneered ways of delivering business EFT courses to large companies at home and abroad and loves coaching other practitioners to do this as well. She has developed Business Energetics, a spiritual tool that includes EFT for profound business growth. Her coaching website is www.healthyinmind.com, and her EFT training courses can be found at https://eftclasses.co.uk/
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