I hear this question quite a bit in my practice because Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is often thought to be a New Age therapy because it involves working with energy meridians in the body. When I first heard about EFT, I was extremely curious about it because it looked too good to be true. I downloaded the free manual and tried to learn how to do it on my own, and I prayed for guidance from God about this new technique. When I use it with clients now, I explain it this way: The last time you had a headache and reached into the medicine cabinet for an aspirin, did you feel the need to ask forgiveness from God for putting a drug into your body? People look at me strangely when I ask this question, because no one thinks twice about popping an aspirin when they have a headache. Taking medicine for an ailment is the way we do things in America. We were raised to heed the advice of our doctors, to the point that some people have more faith in doctors than they have in God.
So if our brains can send warning signals to our body that puts us in a state of tension and stress, doesn't it stand to reason that our brains can also send calming signals to our body that puts us in a peaceful and relaxed state? This is how EFT helps us.
EFT simply gives us an alternative for healing other than drugs. Instead of popping an aspirin for a headache, simply try a one-minute tapping procedure to get the headache to go away. A wise counselor who has used EFT in her practice for many years told me that she simply adds the phrase "in Jesus' name" at the end of her tapping protocol - just to make sure that God gets all the glory for any healing that might occur. I have adopted this phrase into my EFT sessions and it helps alleviate any questions about who is getting glory for this work.
We all have fears that have developed over our lifetime. For example, say you are afraid of snakes. If you are walking along and see a huge snake in your path, your body will instantly send signals to you - rapid heartbeat, sweaty palms, faster breathing. This reaction is strictly your brain telling you that there is danger because you believe there is danger. However, if you happen to love snakes and grew up around snakes, your body will not react strongly to snakes like someone else's might. Your brain does not send warning signals and your body remains calm. Our brains determine which way we will react to different situations and our reactions are based on our experiences in life and our beliefs about those experiences. So if our brains can send warning signals to our body that puts us in a state of tension and stress, doesn't it stand to reason that our brains can also send calming signals to our body that puts us in a peaceful and relaxed state? This is how EFT helps us.
No matter what hand life has dealt you, EFT can help you play it out with joy and peace. Ultimately, this is the way God intended us to live - in His perfect peace.
