Testing is crucial when it comes to getting excellent results with EFT.
Testing enables you to know when you have truly cleared a problem, rather than leaving you guessing and hoping it is gone. Good testing also serves to uncover any remaining parts of the problem. Once uncovered you can work to clear them leading to better results.
There are many ways that you can test the results you gain using EFT.
The ultimate test of course is in the real life scenarios. For example if you have a fear of lifts, your ultimate test would be that you could easily without effort or willpower go in a lift and feel totally safe. Anything less than that constitutes a partial result meaning there is more to work to be done. Of course not all lifts are the same, you would need to test the specific type that triggers your problem.
100% Result
Firstly before we get into testing we need to identify what constitutes a perfect result. What is really achievable. Many people new to EFT have very low expectations because they don’t know what is possible. They will settle for a slight improvement thinking, “I can live with this”. But why do that when you might not have to. Go for the best case scenario, then if you don’t quite achieve it, you will still be laughing. If you do hit it, you will feel brilliant.
Having to Use Willpower: Means There is More to Do
If when testing you need to use willpower, it is an indicator that there is more work required.
Blocking Beliefs
Many people have beliefs such as, “I have had this problem along time therefore it will be really difficult to let it go”. This is a belief, it does not have to be your reality. You might not attempt to fully clear a problem if you have a belief like this as you may not think it is possible. This belief is also part of “the problem”, tap on the belief until it shifts. This will take you one step closer to gaining freedom from “the problem”.
Now that you understand to go for the best case scenario when tapping, let’s look at ways to test and monitor your progress.
Testing a Problem Overview
Before you begin to do any work using EFT you need to evaluate the problem. This then provides you with the information you will need later on to test “the problem”.
Evaluate the Presenting Issue
For example the problem maybe a fear of presenting. Before you begin to work on this problem you need to establish how the problem currently affects the client.
“What needs to happen for you to have this problem?”
Not all fear of presenting problems are the same. You need to know how this problem shows itself. For example a person may say,
“when I have to present in front of the bosses I panic. I am totally ok, presenting to my work colleagues”.
Or
“I can’t sleep for days before a presentation”.
People are often aware of different bits of the problem. Another great question to ask,
“What is your goal from doing this therapy?”
You are looking for something measurable. If the answer to this using the examples above is, I would be able to sleep, you need to get more details about the sleeping part of the problem by asking further questions. These can include, “how many days before the presentation do you find you cannot sleep”? And “does this occur 100% of the time?” Keep going until you have a solid picture of when this happens and when it doesn’t happen.
If there awareness was more on the presenting side of the problem then you ask similar picture of this to enable testing later on. For example, “Do you get this problem presenting in front of the boss all the time?”
You can add,
“if you presented in front of the boss once and didn’t panic would that indicate an improvement?”
Some may say,
“No, it doesn’t always happen?”
Get the frequency of “the problem” and the specific circumstances under which it occurs.
Only when you have identified a way to test “the problem” should you begin to work upon it.
Another good question to ask is,
“Can you get that problem now?”
Many people only need to think a series of thoughts in order to activate the problem state. When you ask them to run their mental strategy for triggering the state you gain valuable information.
You can set up an initial assessment of the problem state.
If the client triggers the problem state, you can establish an initial assessment of the problem state. You can say, where are you feeling that in your body? What type of feeling? What is the intensity of that? This is your before therapy assessment.
Tips For the Initial Assessment
Some people are very uncomfortable providing numbers. In some cases this is linked to an underlying issue, sometime being put on the spot, and the pressure to get things right because of previous consequences. You can sometimes make it easier by taking the pressure off by just asking them to estimate the number.
Information that will allow you to test your results. And also information on what you need to clear with EFT to clear the problem. For example to activate the problem state the person may need to imagine the boss screaming at them. You can then work on this issue.
Testing During the EFT Session
Before and after each round of tapping in EFT we use the SUD (Subjective Units of Discomfort or Disturbance) or VOC (Validation of Cognition) scales. The SUD scale is used for pain and emotional issues. The VOC scale is used for beliefs.
Feedback: Pain and Emotional Issues
The typical way we test during the EFT session is to ask before and after we do each round of EFT the following question,
“On a scale from 0-10, where 10 is the worst this has ever been, 0 is no problem whatsoever, what is the intensity now”
This gives us an indicator if the intensity is reducing, staying constant or even increasing. This is valuable feedback that we can then use to guide our next actions.
Feedback: Beliefs
Your beliefs have a powerful impact on your life. Some beliefs support us to lead quality lives while others limit us. EFT is a powerful tool for shifting limiting beliefs. Beliefs are not truths, they are merely our assumptions about our reality, assumptions that control how we act and behave. Shifting the beliefs that limit you in life can result in powerful changes.
If you are working on beliefs then you can ask yourself or client this question:
“On a scale from 0-10, where 10 is 100% belief this is true, 0 is, I do not believe it to be true at all, what number would I give it now”
People will often respond to this question by saying,
“I know it’s not true, but…”
You should answer,
“Logically you know it isn’t true, but emotionally how true does it feel?”
Tips to Testing
1. When tapping you need to know precisely which aspect you are working on. People’s mind can shift to new aspects sometimes without them realising. For example initially you might be working of fear when you think of a certain person looking at you. After tapping you still feel discomfort but you are now thinking about what they said. Your mind has shifted onto a new aspect. To test, you need to go back to the original thought and emotion, which was that person looking at you. What is the intensity of that? Write down the new aspect that has popped into your mind so that you can begin to work on that after clearing the initial aspect.
2. Some people can be very reluctant to rate a problem as being zero. They may say it is a one or more because of that. It is sometimes good to ask,
“How do you know you are not a zero?”
Using Mental Strategy for Testing
“Can you get that problem now?”
This is an excellent question to get right to the crux of the problem. Many people can just think a series of thoughts and make themselves feel very uncomfortable. You can use this question to go straight into the problem and also to test it throughout the session.
When the problem has thoroughly cleared you should not be able to get it at all no matter what you think. The first time I test using this question I don’t push it as I don’t know if the problem is there or not. If you or your client pass this first test you should up the ante by saying,
“Can you get that problem now, be ruthless, think whatever you want and really try and get it back? Be ruthless.”
Or if you are working on yourself try and get it back, be ruthless, think whatever you want.
Real Life Testing
This is the ultimate test, how does the work hold up in a real life situation? There is an art and skill to testing. Never take for granted that after the EFT session the problem has completely gone even though it may seem that way. Thorough testing should be done in a safe way that does not re-traumatise. Setting up a series of progressive tests that the client (or you) need to pass before you move onto the more challenging ones is a safer way to work. Good testing can uncover any remaining unresolved aspects connected to the problem that may still be present. This then provides valuable information for more thoroughly clearing the problem. If you still have “the problem” there are still unresolved aspects.
At the end of your session if you have tested as far as you can go in that environment and no matter what you do, the client (or you) are totally fine, then it is time to instruct the client to provide feedback for the next session.
“Right now in this office, no matter what we do you are no longer able to get the problem. Do you agree with that?”
They should say yes.
“You can no longer feel it now, and you feel very different from how you came into this office, would you agree with that?”
They should say yes.
“I want you to now test this in the external world. Notice what has worked and notice if there is any thing more that we need to work on. That is fine, note it down and we can work on it. Is that ok with you?”
They should say yes.
It is important that you phrase it this way because some people think in a very black and white way. It has either worked or it hasn’t worked, there are no shades of grey. You need to dispel this thought. There are degrees of success.
Real World Testing Example Fear of Flying
During the session identify what triggers are present.
Examples
Ideally set up a series of progress tests prior to doing the ultimate test, which is being on a plane potentially long haul.
- Sound of plane engines
- Looking at a plane in the sky
- Feeling in an enclosed space where they cannot get out
- Going to the airport
- Looking at the airport
- Watching an airplane movie
- Sitting in a cramped airline seat
Sometimes when dealing with an issue such as this you can find a similar experience that is easier to test. An example I have used is asking my client to get on a very short train journey. The short train journey was only minutes. They said they had the same feeling about flying and trains. This was one of a series of progressive tests that were used.
Testing with Props
In some cases using props can be a powerful way of testing your work. For example with a bereavement.
Firstly clear the traumas and uncomfortable feelings related to the loss etc. When you feel it has cleared, and that the person has reached a place of peace, then progressively test. One of the tests you can do with a prop is ask the client to bring a picture of the person that is no longer here. Put it face down without the picture being visible. Ask,
“How do you feel at the thought of looking at that picture?”
With bereavement the end point of therapy is when they can think about the person and feel joy, they are remembering the good feeling. They should not have to try to feel this way it should automatically occur when bereavement therapy has been successful.
Smoking cessation therapy is an area where the use of props can be very valuable. Get the person to bring some of their favourite cigarettes with them. Make sure they do not smoke that day. If you don’t do that, many will binge smoke outside your office. Worst still, because they have binged when you ask,
“How much do you want that cigarette right now?”
They will often say,
“I don’t”.
This impacts your ability to effectively test.
To test prior to doing your work using EFT on smoking cessation, get them to put the cigarettes in their hand, bring it to their mouth and breath in as if they are smoking. Then ask,
“How much do you want that right now?”
You can then use this as a test throughout the session. Please note the cigarette is not lit as it is illegal to smoke cigarettes in buildings in the UK. For some smokers this will be a great test.
Using Vivid Imagination to Test
Instructions if you are working on a specific event, give these instructions prior to doing the test.
- Close you eyes
- Go through the scene bit by bit, vividly imagining that you are there now, looking out of your eyes and seeing what you would be seeing, hearing what you would be hearing, smelling, tasting and feeling as if you are there now. Make it real.
- If at any point you feel anything even if it is just a twinge, stop and let me know.
- This isn’t about you being brave, this is about you being 100% clear of this problem, so even if it is just a twinge, stop.
Each time they identify something that is still bothering them, stop and tap on it. Then get them to repeat the test. Keep doing this until they can do this from the beginning to the end of the test and nothing about it bothers them.
Testing By Turning Up Submodalities
This method of testing is typically used when you have worked on a specific event and you think it is no longer affecting you. We experience our world through our senses. When we think, we have images, we hear sounds, we feel physical sensations etc. This method checks all the sensory channel s making sure that you do not have any remaining data still impacting from the past uncomfortable event.
Instructions
- Get back into that you who experienced that event.
- Look over your eyes as if you are there now, seeing what you saw, hearing what you heard, feeling what you felt.
- Turn up the brightness, sounds, feelings, smells and tastes and try and make anything about bother you.
If you find there is something still affecting you, set it up in EFT and tap it out.
Summation
Now you should have a thorough idea of how to do an initial evaluation of a problem and how to test to uncover any further aspects.