Here's a great example of how EFT can help reduce anxiety and boost self-confidence: I want to share the experience of one of my favorite skeptical clients. “Paula” is a biotech scientist & needs hard proof (verifiable by independent research) before believing in any new type of healing/health-oriented technique.  She had come to me for energy work sessions “as an experiment” at the request of her friends.  Prior to our appointment, she had done extensive online research regarding the placebo affect in acupuncture & debunked various healing techniques.  She did, however, believe that caring human touch in itself is soothing and healing. During one particularly difficult session, Paula felt overwhelmed by the enormity of the stress & anxiety that was consuming her life. I suggested EFT as a “next step”.  She said she’d look into it – do a little research, and get back to me. Paula was in the midst of a contentious divorce with a very controlling & verbally abusive partner. The issues she experienced throughout her marriage are layered, but the crux of the concern we discussed during her first EFT session was the fear that gripped her when she stood up to her former husband.  His behavior was very manipulative and he used their children as leverage, so she felt trapped and powerless when it came time to state her own needs.   Paula had requested information (via email) from Joe regarding finalizing their divorce.  She could not progress with her attorney without some key information from Joe.  She waited 3 days for a response, but received nothing. She needed to get the information to her attorney by the next business day. Paula was unable to talk face-to-face with her ex-husband, and spiraled into anxiety just knowing that she’d need to call, or even email him.  Physically she experienced insomnia, tight chest, nausea, clenched stomach, and sweaty hands.  Emotionally she felt incapacitated and unable to hold on to what her needs were. Once recognizing a need, the thought of verbalizing it induced extreme panic.     Her anxiety regarding the necessary follow-up communication was acute enough for her to resort to this “far out” method (EFT) even though she was sure it wouldn’t do anything. I asked Paula to rate her intensity level between 0-10 after saying aloud, “I need to call Joe now”   “Probably 8 or 9 – I feel really anxious just thinking about talking about Joe.” We tapped for reversal: Even though I feel like throwing up just knowing I’ll have to call Joe, I accept myself anyway. Even though my throat is closing up and my mind is blanking thinking about stating my needs with Joe, I accept my feelings and who I am. Even though I have difficulty breathing when I think about talking with Joe, I accept myself and my feelings. Then tapped through the basic series + 9 gamut: This fear & mindlessness This tightness in my throat This fear of calling Joe Hard time breathing This nausea Fear of calling Joe Tightness in my throat Difficulty breathing (9 gamut – used “this fear”) After 2 rounds, I asked her to take a deep breath and say aloud, “I need to call Joe now” She looked at me & said, “I still feel anxious.” I asked her again to tell me what the feelings were when she thought about the effect Joe had on her, and she said, “He’ll cut me down, denigrate me.  Or, he’ll just withhold and won’t even give an answer and I feel completely powerless, I can’t get anything I need, no matter how reasonable, he’ll just withhold to control me.  Now I feel rage – an impotent, powerless rage.  Like a toddler bashing away trying to get my needs met, but being ignored or just an irritant.” We rubbed the sore spot for reversal: Even though I feel like I’m back being a frustrated, ignored toddler when I deal with Joe, I accept myself anyway. Even though I feel consumed by an impotent rage because of Joe’s treatment of me, I accept my feelings and who I am. Even though I am angry with myself for letting myself get in sucked into this abusive relationship, I forgive myself and I accept my feelings. Then tapped through the basic series + 9 gamut: This impotent rage Blaming myself Scared of being cut down or ignored Feeling like a powerless toddler This consuming rage Anger & blame at myself This rage at Joe for treating me like a non-entity This rage and blame (9 gamut – used “this rage”) She looked at me, laughed & said, “I can’t really even think about it...it’s like I’ve had an injection of Novocain in the anxiety part of my brain...this is too bizarre!  It feels like my brain just won’t go there.” “I would never have believed this if it hadn’t just happened to me!” We attempted to aggravate/heighten the anxiety to no avail.  She couldn’t get worked up about calling Joe. The physical symptoms were completely gone, and she was exhausted. Paula called and checked in a week later & said that she had placed the (previously) dreaded call, and though she didn’t feel like dancing when she had to call her ex-husband, she asked for exactly what she needed and didn’t feel the fear that she’d felt before. She had also had a great night’s sleep prior to the call, which is unheard of for her. She shared that she was shocked that the tapping had lasted & that she continued to be amazed at the ease with which she released such a gut-wrenching issue.   That first EFT session was in March, and it is now November – the effects of our EFT session have lasted, and Paula’s only fear at this point is that she’ll “jinx it” by trying to remember what it felt like to be in such a powerless place. Needless to say, we’ve worked together to diffuse some of the other issues that have cropped up both from the divorce, and from being in a long-term controlling, verbally abusive relationship.  Paula continues to marvel at the simplicity and effectiveness of EFT in her healing process, and has become an advocate, recommending tapping to her friends in distress. Part of the beauty and the gift of EFT is that healing occurs in a safe space that does not re-inflict injury and trauma – nor are there judgments or agendas.  Seeing the peaceful resolution and fairly painless process work for so many clients has been a blessing. Thank you Gary, for making EFT so accessible to so many who need it. Namasté Lorie Michaels