Potted History
Based on the ancient Chinese Meridian Energy system, EFT along with it’s fellow energy therapies can trace their roots far, far, back to the earliest origins of Acupressure and Shiatsu. Both of which, where developed independently, yet around the same time, in the countries of China and Japan. Strange as it may also seem, there has been other evidence, although hard to date, that groups of people as diverse as the Bantu in Africa along with the people in the Alpine Oetz Valley and Eskimos in the Arctic carried out acupuncture-like treatment long ago.
I find it strange to think of this, as Acupuncture is usually considered to be a Chinese therapy and their history does have a continuous theme to it, even up until today, but nevertheless the evidence it there, for us all to see. As times changed and progress was made, although still used in its pure form in it’s own country, Acupuncture was taken into realms of Western Medicine. With this mixture of Eastern and Western ideas the Energy Therapies including Meridian Therapies, that we use today appeared.
The Background
It was during the 1960′s that a Dr. George Goodheart who was a trained Chiropractor, started to look at the possible links between organs in our body, meridian engery and the bodies muscle strength. Dr. Goodheart was utilizing the work started in the 1950′s by two physical therapists Kendall and Kendall. From this work, he continued to develop a diagnostic muscle testing therapy and over the years a variety of people continued to study theories relating to the human body, it’s meridian energy and muscles.
One man Felix Mann (who founded the Medical Acupuncture Society (President 1959-1980)) did research on acupuncture meridians. Other people called Chapman and Owen, where also studying, but their studies were into Neurovascular reflex’s. A combination of all these peoples work mixed where eventually mixed together and grew into the science of Applied Kinesiology, however it wasn’t until 1973 that a colleague of Dr. Goodhearts called John Thie published a book called “Touch for Health” and brought the science of Applied Kinesiology to the general public.
During the ’70′s there was a psychologist called John Diamond who used his studies of Applied Kinesiology in his Psychotherapy workplace. He named this new field of Psychotherapy and Applied Kinesiology ‘Behavioural Kinesiology’. John Diamond had a student who had studied Kinesiology with him, his name was Dr. Roger Callahan. Dr. Callahan also had an interest in Eastern Health Practises.
The story goes…
During the early 80s Dr. Callahan had a patient who had come to see him for approximately 18mths, she had a phobia of water, her name was Mary. Having gone from therapist to therapist, with headaches, nightmares etc., (all to do with her water phobia), Mary saw Dr. Callahan, possibly as her last chance. Becoming increasingly frustrated that during that time their sessions, there was only a slight change in Mary, one day Dr. Callahan decided to put his studies of the energy system in our bodies to the test. He started to tap under Marys’ eye (meridian end point for stomach) and what happened next was astonishing. After complaining of discomfort in her tummy, Mary suddenly announced her phobia was gone! To prove this Mary rushed down to Dr. Callahan’s’ pool and started splashing herself with water.
Apparently Mary’s energy flow was disturbed by her intense fear, by tapping under her eye, Dr. Callahan had sent tiny pluses to the meridian energies and balanced the problem out. Mary’s fear went away and never did come back. Spending the next ten years studying and developing this theory Dr. Callahan named the therapy Thought Field Therapy (TFT).
Providing training programmes on this technique, different therapists trained in TFT and a few of them went on to develop their own energy therapies. The founder of (the one I am fully trained in) Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) was one of these therapist, Gray Craig a ‘performance coach’ (who was originally trained in engineering at Stanford University) spent the next 20 years examining and developing a simplified process of TFT, a therapy where all the meridians could be covered at once. EFT was born.
Today Gary Craig still continues his work and the openness of Gary and his attitude is very much at the centre of EFT. It is like Gary says “the cause of most disease is our dis-ease”.
What EFT is not ………….
While EFT is without a doubt the most elegant, exciting, impressive healing tool I have ever come across in over 17 years in the mental health field, EFT is not a “cure-all. ” At times, the results are so astounding that, yes, it appears to help people “cure” their problems. However, we need to see and use it as a tool, to help us regain balance in our emotional, physical and spiritual lives. As with all tools, they can be misused, handled inadequately, or applied in a mechanical, course, heartless way.
EFT is not hypnosis, cognitive-behavioral therapy, NLP, prayer, laying on of hands, Reiki, Therapeutic Touch, or any other technique that has similar properties or compatible supporting theories.
EFT is not a replacement for adequate mental health counseling or physiological tests and treatment by authorized and licensed Medical doctors.
EFT is not a technique to be used with severely disturbed individuals by inexperienced clinicians.
EFT is not a replacement for learning invaluable interpersonal communication skills – learning how to share feelings responsibly and to listen to others deeply and respectfully.
In short, when used correctly, EFT has the ability to enhance the emotional peace, physical strength, and spiritual depth of your life. But you still have to live your life and interact with your partners, children, employer, friends and colleagues!
Note: The information contained here is educational in nature and is provided only as general information.