EFT:
Therapy has changed a lot in recent years. And EFT has been in the vanguard of that change.
In the words of Gary Craig:
"Even though EFT violates just about every conventional belief out there, the results remain remarkable...My jaw still drops".
EFT is an emotional form of acupressure using tapping to stimulate key meridian energy points combined with certain statements and affirmations, on the premise that the cause of many negative emotions is a disruption in the body's energy system. It is a surprisingly effective way to eliminate negative feelings. Relief is often felt immediately.
This is a method that is easily taught to clients who can then use it on their own, whenever they start to feel upset, overwhelmed or any kind of negative emotion. It works wonderfully with children. To many people it sounds weird and I admit to some of the same thoughts when I first heard of it. But I only had to try it once to be completely convinced that it does work, and it works even if you're skeptical. As Gary says,
"It often works when nothing else will".
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
(CBT) uses talk therapy to teach you how certain thinking patterns are causing your bad feelings. It is the most widely researched psychotherapy available and a quick search of the internet will unearth dozens of peer-reviewed studies with impressively high success rates. It is also effective over a relatively short period of time, depending on the severity of the condition.
Studies show that it changes neural pathways in the brain, allowing you to think in more positive ways. It augments EFT quite well.
Solution-Focussed Brief Therapy
Solution focused brief therapy is an approach to counselling that is brief and effective. Research shows it to bring about lasting change on average in less than 5 sessions and in up to 83% of referrals. It can be brief because it is future-focussed and because it works with the strengths of the clients by making the best use of their existing resources.
It can bring about lasting change precisely because it aims to build solutions rather than solve problems. There are dozens of studies of this approach showing positive results.
Psychospiritual Therapy:
This approach relies on a belief in a power greater than ourselves, whether that power is within the framework of an established religion or not. In fact the separation between spirituality and physical and mental health has been shrinking for years.
Since 1995 Harvard Medical School has held an annual "Spirituality and Healing in Medicine" conference. More than half the medical schools in the United States now include courses on spirituality. And there is increasing evidence spirituality can help people prevent and recover from mental and physical ill health. At Duke University in the U.S. they have established a centre to conduct research on the effects of religion (or spirituality) on physical and mental health (see http://www.dukespiritualityandhealth.org/).
