Why and how to apply the technique to children?

Little known in France, the EFT method consists in freeing itself from its negative emotions by touching very specific points of the body.Applied to children, she helps defeat phobias and blockages.Emilie Adam's advice, coach and practitioner EFT.

An emotional release method

If it is inspired by traditional Chinese medicines, the EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique)), literally "emotional liberation technique", was born in the United States, where millions of people use it today.Its creator, Gary Craig, surely did not expect such success!This engineer, attracted by personal development and neurolinguistic programming (NLP)), relied on an experience of Dr. Roger Callahan who followed, in the 80s, a woman with water phobia.The patient said he felt embarrassment in the stomach at the simple evocation of the aquatic element.Sweet in the energy techniques of the meridians, these canals of the interconnected human body, the doctor offered to stimulate a point under the eye.Result: the embarrassment in the stomach ended up disappearing, and the patient rushed into water!

Gary Craig, the founder

Following this success, Craig met Callahan.By following his algorithms, it came out that certain points could be stimulated by acupressure, form of touch centered on the energetic points of the body, which made it possible to erase negative emotions.The graduate of the University of Stanford simplified the method in the 90s so that it was applicable by all.EFT was born.

EFT, what is it for?

Sometimes defined as "acupuncture without needles", this method links body and mind by combining the founding principles of Chinese medicine, namely work on energy meridians, and modern psychology, with taking into account the'unconscious.The EFT technique has won the banks of Europe in the 2000s.In France, still little known to the general public, it is taught today in school psychology courses, in the same way as hypnosis."The EFT consists in stimulating acupuncture points, at the entrance and the exit of meridians," says Émilie Adam, coach and practitioner for five years.The goal?"Activate the relaxation branch in the energy system to deactivate stress.»The EFT thus leads to better circulation of energy in the body and in the mind.

The example of the dog bite

To make the EFT more concrete, Émilie Adam explains to us: “In our life, we are going through different events that are recorded in the hippocampus, the library of memory.The bite of a dog, when you are a child, registers in this library, as well as all the emotions it generates: fear, anger, sadness...We then develop a belief linked to this memory: dogs are dangerous.Subsequently, our system is alert, and the branch of stress activates as soon as a dog crosses our path.We then apply one of the three defense techniques: leak, attack or died.Our system wants to save our life, but the reaction is not always appropriate: all the dogs we meet are not a threat.

To overcome trauma and update our system, we must therefore modify the memory and the belief that is connected to it.This is where the EFT method enters the track."When we focus on the memory, when we talk about it, the emotions emerge.At that time, it is necessary to stimulate the different energy points to deactivate stress.Then we repeat the operation several times.By force, the buckling system.He ends up dissociating the emotional load of memory.The individual remembers the bite of the dog undergoes child, but no more negative emotion is linked to this memory.Thanks to EFT, fear has disappeared."Concludes Emilie Adam.

Who can practice EFT?

Everybody !The bases are simple, to the point that children can practice the only at home.Émilie Adam transmits the tool to parents and children, so that they use it at home and transmit it in their turn to all siblings.Its concrete, physical side, makes the EFT accessible to the youngest."I practice it on children from six years old because they manage to express themselves," says Émilie Adam.Below six years, I advise rather to go and consult a child psychiatrist.This method is even used in class by certain teachers who want to evacuate negative emotions linked to a traumatic event, like the death of Samuel Paty for example.Émilie Adam collaborates with schools, and organizes group sessions on a specific subject."The energy of the group is focused on the same problem.It may surprise to see a whole group practice tapping, but it works!»»

EFT, how does it work on children concretely?

What happens during a session ?EFT applications

"I like to receive children alone, without parents, for 30 minutes, so that they can speak freely," emphasizes our expert.In a second step, I work with the child and his parents for 15 minutes.All on several sessions.In general, if there is no big trauma at the start, the problem is solved in less than five sessions, thanks to the EFT.It can go very quickly because children do not have filters and there are not the resistance that we meet in adults.They also have less experience and therefore less bazaar in their heads.It is an easy audience because it trusts quickly.»It takes 50 to 100 euros for an EFT session.

Tap

Concretely, the EFT consists in performing pressures with the fingers on specific meridian points of the face and body, remaining centered on targeted suffering: a traumatic memory, physical pain, emotional blockage..."You have to tap specific points, and verbalize what is happening inside you," explains Émilie Adam.These acupuncture points correspond to the main termination points of the energy circuits located below the surface of the skin.Tapping send micro-impulses to the brain, capable of modifying and dissolving the disturbances that have been formed in the energy system.Each point is tapped gently and continuously with your fingertips.The tip of one, two or three fingers depending on the area and the sensitivity.For children, 9 points are used, located symmetrically on both sides of the body.Each point is tapped at least time to state the problem into a short sentence, aloud or internally, focusing on images that arise and awaken unpleasant sensations and negative emotions.The tapping ends when there is no longer any emotional intensity when the problem is mentioned.

The tapping, how does it work?

We press precise points of the fingertips, following the three axes: head, heart and body, in the order that we want, by performing back and forth."You have to focus on your emotions, your bodily sensations and deliver your thoughts aloud," advises Émilie Adam.

Where are the nine main points located?

These 9 points are located:

1. au sommet du crâne,
2. au début du coin interne du sourcil,
3. dans le coin externe de l'œil,
4. sous l'œil,
5. sous le nez,
6. à la base du menton,
7. au niveau de la clavicule, à la base du cou,
8. sous le sein,
9. sous le bras.

During the EFT session, the child chooses the method that suits him best.Either the practitioner, or the parent trained, tapped on the child.Either the child taps at the same time on a plush.Or, the adult and the child tap each on their side.

Teach the technique of children

"I teach it to parents who can then apply it to their children," says Émilie Adam.From six years old, they can learn it easily, whether with me or directly with their parents.The youngest can first train on a blanket, on which colored pastilles are placed at the place of the nine points EFT.The objective being always the same as that of Gary Craig, founder of the method: empowerment.

Does the EFT really work on children?

This technique, which enters the category of alternative medicine, works if we believe its growing popularity in France and the growing number of professionals who use it: psychologists, sophrologists, acupunctuators, specialists in energy medicine...It leads to better circulation of energy in the body and in the mind."We can't get wrong with EFT.At worst, that gives no results, but it is very rare, ”judges Émilie Adam.The method is stunning.There is a magical side when the professional is competent and the feeling goes well with his patient.

Help live your emotions better...

The EFT method can help overcome different trauma (separation, death...)).In the case of a child, night terrors, but also excessive shyness issues, a feeling of insecurity that can generate knocks, such as touching constantly to reassure themselves."We are working on everything that is problematic in terms of emotion, when emotions become excessive and represent daily discomfort," emphasizes Émilie Adam.For example, I had a ten -year -old girl who couldn't sleep with her friends because she was too anxious.It was linked to separation anxiety with his parents.»»

...and cure phobias

« Lors des séances avec des enfants, nous travaillons aussi sur leurs phobies»», raconte Émilie Adam.Following the COVIR, the coach notes that there is more pressure at school, and that many school phobias have developed.The EFT method allows them to neutralize them.

The conquered stars

The efficiency and simplicity of the method are the ingredients of its success.There are tutorials on YouTube, but the content will not be adapted to everyone."You have to accompany the technique, help the patient put words on emotions," advises Émilie Adam.If the same problem can be common to several people, the causes and consequences differ depending on the individual.»»

Proof that EFT is successful, the stars are doing it: Meghan Markle uses this technique discovered in the documentary Heal to lower its level of stress and anxiety, and help their children feel more relaxed.Her sister-in-law, Kate Middleton, also uses her to calm her three children, tapping them on their heads when they make a big anger.Thanks to the EFT, the Duchess of Cambridge rewards order at the palace!

To know more :

Gary Craig Center

Émilie Adam