When you are able to precisely identify an isolated emotional response that does not serve you well (e.g., irrational fear, irrational guilt, irrational hatred, irrational jealousy) and you apply the protocol from the Basic Basics module, the early clinical indications emerging from energy psychology suggests that the pattern will shift in a surprising proportion of situations. The tapping protocol is, for instance, probably a far more effective intervention than if (suppose the irrational fear were around spiders) you were simply to state an affirmation such as, "I will stay calm and relaxed whenever I see a spider." In addition to reprogramming unwanted emotional responses, reports are accumulating that the same methods can be applied with reasonable success for attaining goals. Using the tapping protocol to increase the believability when you envision an ideal response in a given situation (see Closing Phases module) appears to translate into greater personal effectiveness with enough frequency that it is probably worth experimenting with it. Some practitioners go so far as to recommend applying the basic protocol to all aspects of one’s life. Steve Wells, a psychologist in Australia, suggests using the tapping procedure with every problem you have, and he further advises that you continue with the process until all remaining intensity about each problem is completely cleared. He recommends using the methods not only in a remedial fashion to eradicate existing problems, but also to change basic life patterns, to help create a "new future." He believes that even people who know the technique underestimate its potential for attaining greater emotional freedom and supporting their most fundamental goals and potentials.

But what if the methods are not working? Assuming you are applying them precisely as they are presented and that you are not attempting to apply them in areas where the services of a qualified mental health professional are indicated (e.g., in the treatment of such conditions as major depression, severe anxiety, personality disorders, bi-polar disorders, dissociative disorders, the aftermath of severe trauma, substance abuse, or psychotic disorders), you would next look to physical factors and psychological factors.

As emphasized in the Neurological Disorganization module, when stress or fatigue interfere with the flow and balance of the energies that support brain function, energy interventions for bringing about psychological change are less effective. The most obvious first steps are to be sure you are getting enough rest and exercise and a nutritious diet. With that in place, the basic Energy Routine presents a set of procedures that have been found to be quite effective for optimizing the body’s energies and enhancing the functioning of the nervous system to promote clear thinking, ease of learning, and overall vitality. These can be applied just prior to the tapping protocol or can be used as a daily routine or "energy vitamin" for establishing optimal energy patterns. A health professional who works directly with the body’s energies can further guide you in this area.

www.allergyantidotes.com

www.naet.com

www.alternativementalhealth.com/articles
 

A third set of physical considerations involves the choice of which acupuncture points are stimulated. Many practitioners believe that for some individuals and some conditions, basic standardized protocols are not adequate. Different and often more elaborate protocols are applied. While a health professional capable of using more advanced methods may indeed be useful, many practitioners also believe that most people can attain at least some promising results with at least some of their issues using the basic protocol.

As mentioned at the close of the Formulating Energy Interventions module, Gary Craig uses the metaphor of a table to describe the way he approaches a problem such as generalized anxiety or incessant feelings of shame. If the presenting problem is the top of the table, the legs are the aspects of the problem, particularly specific events in the client’s life that produced similar feelings. By chipping away at the legs, the table top often falls away spontaneously or with minimal further intervention. So rather than to begin with the "table top" or global problem, such as "I feel shame," Craig works with the "legs," addressing the problem’s history—specific event by specific event—until every memory involving shame is cleared (after addressing several specific events—Craig estimates the typical range as being between 5 and 20—there is a "generalization effect" so the remainder become emotionally resolved).

Sometimes, to clear a memory, it is necessary to separate it into smaller aspects still ("the feeling of ice in my heart," "the look in her eye when she discovered me," "the sound of his voice," etc.) and treat them one at a time. Craig reports not only an extremely high success rate when focusing on these micro-aspects of a problem, but also that the gains are far more durable than when only using a global (table top) formulation of the problem. Craig’s website, www.emofree.com, has a powerful search engine where you can find discussions of EFT with hundreds of specific issues.

Also, see Links for lists of therapists who specifically utilize an energy perspective.