These terms are part of the EFT lexicon
EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques)
EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) is a practical body/mind self-help method – a process of mindful and intentional tapping (gently, with fingertips) on acupuncture meridian end-points on the face and upper body. An EFT intervention utilizes the same pathways/channels found in
traditional Chinese energy medicine, whilst also capitalizing on our ability to think about or “tune-in” to our problem or issue in proactive ways.
The Standard EFT Protocol (aka Standard EFT)
In EFT International, the Standard EFT Protocol is the “Setup” and “Sequence” of tapping points that comprises one full round of EFT.
The Setup Phrase itself is a two-step process:
• The first step is to tap on the SOH (Side of Hand, originally called the KC or Karate Chop) Point (or rub the Sore Spot, as original teaching described, outlined in the EFT International Free Tapping Manual), while speaking aloud a phrase acknowledging/ tuning-in to the energy of the problem, uncomfortable feeling, thought, challenge, or body sensation (e.g., “Even though I have this ________,”)
• The second step is to continue tapping while stating an affirmation of self-acceptance, acknowledgment or positive intention – to “balance” the negative focus. This allows stepping back more objectively from the problem (e.g., “…I deeply and completely accept myself”
The Sequence (or “Sequence of Tapping Points”)
The Sequence is the second part of the Standard EFT Protocol. It refers to tapping 8 EFT meridian endpoints in succession – Top of Head (TOH), Eyebrow (EB), Side of Eye (SE), Under Eye (UE), Under Nose (UN), Chin Point (CH), Collarbone (CB) and Under Arm (UA) points – while saying a short, specific Reminder Phrase (e.g. “This deep black lump of pain in my neck”). The Reminder Phrase is the issue-at-hand from the first half of the Setup phrase – the words that describe the subjective experience of the client (feelings, thoughts, body sensations, etc.). It is used to maintain focus on the specific aspect the client has chosen to address.
Aspects
Aspects are the separate parts, features, and pieces of a larger, more “global” problem or issue.
Calibration
Observation, of even minute details of a client’s breath, movements and behaviors, is a critical skill in working successfully with others. Calibration, in EFT International, means taking meaningful measurements of these details on a variety of levels. When a practitioner assesses a client’s subtle cues for changes in emotional intensity or cognitive understanding (physiological, verbal, etc.), such as body language or non-verbal cues. This is called calibrating. Calibrating client responses is a key skill in having EFT be as painless as possible by going only as fast as the client is ready to go.
Core Issues (or “Limiting Beliefs,” “Tabletops,” “Writings on the
Wall,” “Rules we live by,” “Vows” etc.)
Core issues are generalized conclusions we have drawn about our selves, our skills, abilities and limitations or life in general based upon our relationship to specific and generally adverse, and often early life experiences.
Core issues are our beliefs and values we hold about others, the world and ourselves. These ‘rules’ often guide our decisions and actions. “I’m not good enough,” “the world isn’t safe,” or “people in my family don’t get educated,” “it’s my role to take care of others,” “rich people are
greedy,” are all examples of various core issues. Core issues can also be the vows or decisions we’ve made, which become the rules we live by (e.g. “I’ll never be ok”, “It’s always going to be like this”, “It will never…” “I’ll always…”)
EFT developer Gary Craig created several metaphors to help us understand the origin and impact of core issues:
• Writings On Our Walls is a metaphor for how events in our lives create our beliefs about the world. The metaphor continues, describing how each of us is born into a “Palace of Possibilities,” an expansive mansion (representing our potential) that we rarely allow ourselves to enjoy, because of all the “rules” we (or others) have written on our walls – kept in place by our negative self-talk, and reflected in the quality of our lives. EFT works
directly on this writing or negative self-talk
• The Tabletop Metaphor* relates to the specific beliefs we hold about the world, our abilities or ourselves as a tabletop, supported by legs of life experience. In this metaphor, the legs once provided the personal, learned evidence that supports our beliefs as true
*The Tabletop Metaphor is also useful for describing the presenting or “global” issue(e.g. anxiety) as a tabletop that is supported by legs made up of specific past events.
In EFT terms, core issues are generally “global” or too broad to resolve successfully without addressing the specific events (legs) that support them (tabletops)
Experienced EFT practitioners believe that finding and resolving core issues is intrinsic to the ultimate effectiveness or success of an EFT intervention.
Core issues are often implied (i.e. subconscious) and don’t always easily surface clearly during the EFT process. For example, a limiting belief such as, “I don’t deserve to be happy” can remain implicit, hidden or unexamined – even though it may be at the core of a person’s preset difficulties. During tapping, it may only arise, for example, when a cognitive shift has occurred (i.e. the client remarks, “After tapping through [those early events], I feel lighter and more at
ease than I have in years. I don’t think I ever felt I deserved to be happy,” etc.). Tapping on the global “I don’t deserve to be happy” may yield little in the way of permanent results (e.g. banging on a tabletop), yet tapping systematically through past events that played a role in creating that belief may indeed help the person begin to question and change the perceived limitation about her or himself.
All core issues are not necessarily created equal either. Some, like “people in my family weren’t educated,” may rest on larger, vaster beliefs such as “we’re bad people” or “I’m a bad person.” A metaphor for this phenomenon is called multiple tabletops. In general, beliefs that speak to our essence as human beings such as “I’m not good enough,” “I’m broken,” “I only have value if I take care of others,” etc., are usually at the heart of core issues.
The Movie/Tell the Story Technique*
The Movie/Tell the Story Technique is for gently and thoroughly reducing the emotional intensity of past troubling memories or other specific past events, one crescendo of intensity (handled as one aspect) at a time. The purpose of this approach is to disarm the negative impact, whether known or unknown, a specific event has had, and continues to have, on a person’s present life experience.
Sneaking Up
In EFT, when we tap on the peripheral aspects of a potentially intense problem or issue (including a specific past event) in an effort
to be gentle, we are “sneaking up”. Sneaking Up is the strategy of carefully approaching a problem to minimize the level of pain
and/or suffering for the client.
Tearless Trauma (or “Guessing”)
When a practitioner asks a client to guess how intense a problem or issue would be if they were to imagine it or tune-in to it or describe it, this is called the Tearless Trauma Technique. Tearless Trauma, also called “Guessing,” is another gentle way of Sneaking Up. The client guesses what the intensity level would be if they were to think about the issue. Tearless Trauma is also a form of “protective distancing” – a deliberate strategy of tapping from a distance to ensure greater safety, comfort and/or to take the edge off emotional intensity. It can also be used in combination with other gentle techniques.
The Box or “Container” Technique
Principles of protective distancing are sometimes taught in a variation known as the Box or Container Techniques. In “boxing,” the event is placed in a container as described by the client and safely put in any location the client selects. Boxing is a valuable distancing technique that works especially well for visual learners. Boxing gives the added benefit of returning the client to some control over the troubling event or memory.
Borrowing Benefits
Borrowing Benefits is a phenomenon that happens when we experience a reduction in emotional intensity
(or a shift in awareness) after tapping along with a group, audio, video or live EFT session – especially
when the client’s issue mirrors our own.
Cognitive Shifts (or “Client Reframes”)
Cognitive shifts or “Client Reframes,” are when a client begins to see their issue in a different way or in a different context, and these usually after tapping thoroughly on aspects or after systematically addressing core issues and specific past events.
Chasing The Pain
Chasing the Pain is the process of identifying and then following a physical sensation as it may move or change within the body. Working with the body sensations is one of the most common approaches of using EFT. Chasing the Pain can also be an appropriately gentle approach and may help Sneak Up on a problem.
The Personal Peace Procedure
The Personal Peace Procedure is a useful method for addressing one’s own issues with EFT. It involves making a list of all the specific scenes or events you can remember and methodically working through the list.