EFT Articles
EFT as a Cognitive Somatic Energy Modality
For practitioners of “tapping” modalities, like EFT, Matrix Reimprinting and others, it is important to understand where we fit in the larger scheme of healing modalities. As our profession grows, it becomes more visible by the mainstream public and that offers both opportunities as well as challenges. On one hand, more people will find out and be helped by this powerful work. On the other hand, being more visible includes further invites greater scrutiny and potential regulation from academic, governmental and health care bodies. This exists not only for tapping practitioners but for energy workers at large. Those who have professional practices in the healing arts profession within the field of “energy work” have managed to exist and grow without oversight and regulation, which has of course both advantages and concerns.
Regulation, most importantly for the safety of the public from unskilled and unethical practitioners is on the horizon whether you like it or not. The question is, who is in charge of such regulation, those from outside our profession with minimal knowledge and understanding of what we do or those within our field. We have already witnessed actions that have missed the mark, such as the efforts in the state of Massachusetts to regulate energy workers and allied complementary practitioners to meet the same educational standards/knowledge base as massage therapists, even when there is no manual contact with the client.
There is movement afoot within the United States for a proactive approach to this issue of national certification. I am limited at this time as to what I am authorized to reveal but I will offer one component of these discussions. A “within our profession” working group was created to help to explore and offer recommendations with regards to what elements are most integral to a program or school or organization that offers training, especially with regards to certification requirements.
One important element has been offering a name/description for what we do. Now that may seem simple but its not, given the variety of techniques that may fall under the largest umbrella of Energy or Energy Medicine practices. Under that umbrella lies the various fields of Energy Psychology modalities, including tapping techniques like: (Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), Thought Field Therapy (TFT), Tapas Acupressure Technique TAT, Matrix Reimprinting (MR), Wholistic Hybrid derived from EFT and EMDR (WHEE) and many others.
A working group came together over a year ago, one that I am very proud to be a part of that represents various elements of our field. We worked to create a label or moniker that was collaborative, inclusive, professional and accurately descriptive. We also had to take into account the inherent problem of not simply using the term Energy Psychology which is a highly risky title for non-licensed practitioners which would very likely draw the attention and ire of psychology and other mental health licensing boards. We came up with: Cognitive-Somatic Energy Practices. We worked towards finding a description that points to a mind-body approach while maintaining the core essential energetic element. It would not be hard to imagine the abundance of words that were considered when trying in a single short phrase all the elements of emotions, thoughts, beliefs, behaviors, physical and spiritual and energetic elements, and attempting to refine and fine tune so many aspects into a short title.
To further assist what we were delineating, here is the definition we came up with:
Cognitive-Somatic Energy Practices comprise a family of methods designed to strategically and methodically intervene with human energy fields in elevating physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being. These approaches are used by practitioners of psychotherapy, counseling, coaching, energy healing, and health optimization.
Practitioners view issues as systemic, interactive bio-energetic patterns. This involves constant complex communication among neurobiological processes, electrophysiology, consciousness, and bioenergy systems (which may include the biofield, chakras, and meridians). Practitioners use a variety of techniques to help clients shift the flow of information and energy throughout these systems.
We are proud of what we have arrived at and would love to hear your thoughts about it!
Craig Weiner
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