The most effective therapists are those who are flexible in the strategies and techniques they use. We have already covered the EFT Basic Technique, which involves tapping mainly on the face, upper torso, and side of the hand. There are other points on the body which are also commonly used. Knowing about these points and when to use them will increase your flexibility and effectiveness when using EFT.
The EFT Finger Points
The EFT finger points were part of the original EFT Basic Technique, which I will call classic EFT. If you look on the internet you will find plenty of examples of people routinely tapping on the fingers in addition to the other points when they do EFT. More modern versions of EFT seldom use the finger points as part of the basic routine. They are still however essential.
Location of the Finger Points
- 1. Side of the thumb, at the base of the nail
- 2. Side of the first finger, base of the nail
- 3. Side of the second finger, base of the nail
- 4. Side of the fourth finger, base of the nail.
1. If the Modern EFT Routine is Not Getting Results
If you are not getting results using the shorter, modern approach, you might add the finger points into the mix and see if it improves the situation.
2. Conversational EFT for Active Listening, PreFraming, and Reframing
Location of the Points Used for Conversational Tapping: The Hand Points and the Wrist Point.
We use the EFT Basic Technique when we choose to target “the problem.” There are, however, situations where a less formal conversational approach might be required. These include:
The client has never told their story to anyone else. When a client comes to therapy, it might be the first time they have verbalised what has happened to them. There may be a longish story to be told. In cases like this, the therapist may need to give them the space to do this. Stopping them tell their story and attempting to clear it without listening can, in some cases, create a situation where you lose rapport with the client. They may feel that you do not want to listen to their story, and as a consequence, you trigger them.
People not listening or caring about what they have been through in their life can be one of the reasons they have never revealed it before. Once triggered, they can clam up, become defensive or angry. This can be recoverable if you have excellent rapport skills; in fact, it can take you straight to a core problem. But you need to re-establish rapport.
The fingers can be used these type of situations. When you realise there is a story to be told you can ask to hold their hand and tap. Never touch a person with permission. I tend to put a pillow beneath the arm to make sure there is no stress on the shoulder and arm, both mine and theirs. I also drop it way down below the eye-line, and then actively listen to their story. As they go through their story, I tap through the finger points, wrist point, and side of the hand point.
I do not need to look down and check where I am tapping as it is easy to tap and move to the next point without tapping your attention away from the client. I tap continuously through the points for a long as they are talking. I actively listen to their narrative and join in at specific points to clarify anything they say that is not clear or detailed enough for me. The tapping generally goes out of their awareness. This is a very nurturing way to tap. Great for kids (if they are your own) and people of all ages. While listening as a therapist, you are paying attention to the pattern of what they have experienced and points of trauma.
Although it may seem as if we can have many problems in life, it tends to be repetitive themes we experience. Identifying and working on the themes (Core Issues) can be a powerful way to work.
When talking about the events that have happened to a person in life, the objective is not to reinforce the negative feelings. Repeated talking about uncomfortable events in life can serve to reinforce them. Tapping while talking through the story can often act gently, subtly strimming through the layers of emotion.
When you have given the space to the story, at some point, you need to go to more formal EFT.
“is it OK now to begin to work on that?”
Get permission before moving to the more formal stage.
Conversational EFT, PreFraming, and Reframing
There are times during an EFT session where the client needs to be prepped before formally tapping. A great example of the is loss and bereavement issues. Typically with loss and bereavement issues, you will hit a lot of resistance to tapping unless you pre-frame and educate the client prior to the formal part of the session.
In the pre-frame, you address any concerns of the client that you think might be present. Typically with bereavement and loss, people do not want to let go of the person. As a consequence, they are in a “holding on” pattern, which involves holding onto the traumatic memories which are often at the root of their distress. Explaining the outcome of what will happen during the EFT process can alleviate this block.
“When we tap using EFT, we are going to deal with the traumatic memories to clear them. In my experience as a consequence of clearing the traumas, we become more aware of the good memories, the good experiences. EFT only helps clear the bad stuff. Is that OK with you?”
This addresses a central fear of people dealing with bereavement and loss that they will feel nothing or lose everything connect to the person who is no longer here. This isn’t the case. They reconnect with the good stuff.
Conversational EFT can also be used when working with bereavement and loss to identify the client’s belief structure. Therapists need to work within the client’s belief structure.
You can identify their beliefs by asking while tapping either on the hand points for the client or asking the client to tap on the side of the hand point,
“What do you believe happens when we die? Where would they be now?”
Once you know the belief system, you can Reframe.
3. Easy Homework
Many clients, when asked to tap between sessions, don’t do it. One of the reasons for this is because they often feel overwhelmed thinking about “what words should I use.” One of the ways to overcome this is tap without words. SET, Simple Energy Techniques is a Tapping technique developed by Steve Wells and Dr. David Lake from Australia that involves continuous tapping. In this approach, people tap on points on the head and upper torso and hands without consciously thinking about their problem. (You can also do a more targeted version where you do think about it). They just continuously tap.
The version of SET that I find very useful for homework purposes for clients is the finger tapping approach. In this, you use the thumb to tap on the finger points. This is incredibly easy to do. Tapping in this way also can be done discreetly if needed. People can tap as they walk down the street. They tap throughout the day. Although SET does not require that we actively set up our problem, the truth is that we tend to think endlessly about it without even realising. SET rebalances the body and tones the energy system.