Meridian Tapping Techniques or "tapping" is the umbrella-term for all energy-psychology modalities like Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). This is an evolving healing modality so there are many variations on it. They all work.
When combined with regression-to-cause hypnosis you can get rapid and deep healing as a result.
MTT has its roots in ancient energy-based systems. Over 5,000 years ago, Chinese Medical practitioners were mapping the flow of vital energy along meridians in the body. They identified the over 400 points which make up the acupuncture system.
Approximately 10,000 years ago the Indian Ayurvedics were studying energy centers which coincide with nerve plexi along the spinal column in the body.
There are lots of theories about what tapping is and how it works, but frankly, who cares? It works!
The purpose of any Meridian Tapping Technique (MTT) is to clear disruptions in the energy system of the body. These disruptions result in negative emotions which drain the body of vital energy, leading to exhaustion. Over time, the immune system starts to break down and physical health problems start to emerge.
“The minute we don’t have energy in our body – we’re dead.” – Gary Craig
Tapping induces hypnosis
Tapping is a ritual that utilizes things like repetition, auto-suggestion, and focused concentration – all components of hypnosis. Brain wave studies show that tapping not only affects the deep unconscious it activates the body’s innate self-healing intelligence.
Dr. Robert Scaer, an expert in the field of trauma and addictions and author of ‘The Body Bears the Burden’, sees great promise in tapping as a therapeutic modality in the field of somatic psychology.
The amygdala is the part of the brain responsible for fear conditioning. It’s the early-warning system in the emotional brain that processes perceptions of threat. When the amygdala gets stimulated repeatedly it gets sensitized to the trigger.
With hypnotherapy, we search for the Initial Sensitizing Event (ISE) to resolve the underlying cause of the problem. We then clear the Subsequent Sensitizing Events (SSE) which served to reinforce the perceptions established in the seed-planting event.
In brain theory, that’s the event that caused the amygdala to become hyper-sensitive to a specific stimulus. Dr. Scaer cites the case of a woman whose amygdala was calcified. As a result, she was completely placid; unable to feel either fear or rage.
The conclusion is this: if we are incapable of feeling fear or anger without amygdala arousal, then the key to resolving these feelings is to turn down the amygdala. But how?
One possibility is social bonding. Indigenous societies heal through ritual. And social bonding inhibits the amygdala. Interesting, huh? This underlies the importance of rapport in the therapeutic relationship. It turns down the amydala.
Another way to turn down the amygdala is through empowerment. The repetition of statements while tapping may seem mechanistic but they are statements of empowerment. So, tapping while facing a trigger in regression will calm the amygdala allow the trauma of the event to be released.
“Because EFT is associated with a lot of ritual, whether or not the tapping on the meridian planes and point is homeostatic, regulating the autonomic nervous system, or whether its ritual, probably isn’t important. It is probably both.” – Dr. Robert Scaer
Is tapping enough?
Dr. Callahan sought to establish that tapping, alone, was enough to effect a cure. There certainly is evidence to support this.
Steve Wells and Dr. David Lake of EFT Downunder suggest that tapping alone will ‘tone’ the energy system. The addition of suggestion, however, does significantly improve the results.
It turns out the algorithms are not that important. A person can tap anywhere, in any sequence and receive benefit. In fact, you can rub on a point, or touch it, or even just think about tapping on the points.
This makes tapping a very simple tool that you can add to your existing techniques. It's easy to learn. It's easy to teach. And as long as you are focusing attention on the issue while tapping you will get noticeable results. Sweet!
Apparently the success of tapping alone lies in repetition. This is because it can take a while to resolve the many aspects that are contributing to the problem.
Regression to cause gives you a way to uncover the aspects that are at the root of the client's symptoms. Tapping gives you a way to easily release the energies trapped in the event. When used together, you can dramatically reduce the amount of time it takes to thoroughly cleanse a past event.
What do you need to tap on?
You can tap on anything and everything! But the four key aspects to tap on in a painful event from the past are:
- Thoughts about "what’s happening" and how that makes the client feel (specific emotion).
- Who is present in the event, including what they are saying or doing, and how those things make the client feel.
- How the client feels about themselves while all this is happening.
- What they want more than anything during this experience. What need is not being met?
Adding tapping to your regression-to-cause hypnosis sessions will get you surprising results. So, if you haven’t already, consider adding it to your tool box. It’s easy to learn. It’s easy to teach your clients. And it will get you a deeper level of healing.
