a typical eft session
1. We meet online or in my ADHD clinic, either option is a safe and confidential space.
2. I begin by listening to your story, helping you pinpoint the obstacles and establishing a level of distress that the problem is causing you, on a scale of 1-10.
3. And then the tapping begins, where I guide you to overcome your problem:
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“Even though I feel overwhelmed with all I have to do today, I accept how I feel.”
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“Even though I really don’t want to study for this test, I am still smart.”
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“Even though I feel ashamed of how little I’ve accomplished, I know I am worthy of love.”
These are examples of setup statements that “bookend” your problem with a balancing statement.
We start with 3 of these statements tapping on a meridian point on the side of your hand. Don’t worry! We do it together; all you have to do is copy me and repeat what I say.
4. Next we do a round of tapping on the other 7 acupressure points, while repeating your reminder statement :
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“ I feel overwhelmed with all I have to do today.”
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“ I really don’t want to study for this test.”
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“I feel ashamed of how little I’ve accomplished.”
5. After the first round, things may pop up—memories, sensations, feelings, images.
It’s normal for “random” thoughts or memories to pop into our heads while tapping. That’s another thing ADHDers are great at—noticing all the random thoughts that flit into their heads!
So we take these "pop-ups" and put them into the subsequent rounds. When we tap on these thoughts or distant memories (for example, a parent yelling at you to clean your room or do your homework), they act like stepping stones sent from our emotional brain. They guide us out of inertia or emotional distress and into a more positive state.
As we tap on the various aspects that pop up to clear them, most of the time, the level of distress gets lower and lower the more rounds you do. Even if the problem doesn't get completely neutralized (distress level 0), at around distress level 2, you will have experienced much relief. It is likely that now you will be able to move forward, feeling positive and motivated. At the very least, you will be calmer and more at peace.
