As a school guidance counselor, I see EFT being a great tool for the classroom teacher to use with the students. Before introducing a difficult concept, the teacher could lead the students in a round or 2 of EFT to "clear the way."  When there are days the students seem to come in "hyper" (and there are those days!), the teacher can use EFT to calm everyone, teacher included. 

The idea of "group" EFT, particularly for students and perhaps teams and youth groups is a great one. It's easy for individuals or practioners to forget that EFT can have a collective impact and be presented to more than one person at a time. Coaches, team leaders and teachers have the group dynamic to contend with and group approaches are an excellent topic for discussion in this forum.

With the resources in schools and many youth organizations reduced EFT can offer a free resource, almost like an added staff member, or assistant at times when the group's emotions or energy level might be getting out of control or in need of positive support. 

I'm curious if we can use these forums to share, or develop languaging, and in this case group languaging, that kids, adolescents and/or teens will relate to and willingly use. Can you provide any details or experiences illustrating how this has worked for you, or how a facilitator might begin to introduce this to a group of overanxious, or unruly young people?

Eric

In preparation for the dreaded state mandated tests, I have gone into classrooms and asked if anyone is nervous about the upcoming exams. Usually most of the students raise their hands to indicate that they are, indeed, very anxious about the tests. I give them a brief explanation of their bodies' energy systems, explaining that when we get stressed, upset, angry or anxious our energy sytems can get tangled and "knotted". When we have these tangles or disruptions in our energy systems, our energy can't flow as it is supposed to, and the anxiety or stress gets stuck. I liken it to a blood clot in an artery that can cause a lot of problems. I then explain that we can clear the blockage, the energy clot, by stimulating some points on the body. Here I throw in a very brief reference to acupunture. I ask if anyone would like for me to bring in the needles. Of course, they get very animated at this point and clearly do not want anything to do with needles!

When I tell them we don't need to use needles, we are just going to tap on ourselves with our fingertips, they are ready to give it a try. I've done this with many classes of students, and I rarely have a student who will not participate. Most of them are eager to do it. I tell them it looks a little goofy, but it works. Before we start tapping, I explain that we want to rate how nervous or anxious we are on a scale of 1 - 10, and have them write their number down so they can refer to it after tapping.

Some of the setups I've used include: "Even though I'm really nervous about the TAKS reading test, I'm still a great kid." 

                                                       "Even though reading is hard for me, I'm still a great kid."

                                                        "Even though I'm afraid, I choose to relax and let my brain do good work."

After a couple of rounds, I get them to check their anxiety level. That's always the fun part. I remind them that they can use this technique themselves whenever they are upset about anything. I even have some third grade girls who do EFT with and for each other!

There are many other examples, but I will save those for another time.

Hugs and blessings,

Syandra

I am in the process of becoming an EFT-ADV. One of my goals is to work in the school system in the Maritimes introducing EFT to anyone who is interested. To that end I am presenting 2 1 hour workshops to the NS guidance counselors at their annual conference in Octobre 2007.

I will be preparing a booklet to hand out at this conference and would greatly appreciate specific, signed, case histories from teachers and counselors who have had success with EFT in classroom or individual settings. As EFT is a "new" experience for many people and I only have an hour I would also appreciate advice as to how to make the greatest impact with the attendees. I can be contacted at arodee@eastlink.ca.

Thank you

Al Rodee

Al, it's great to hear of your plans to introduce EFT to the school system in the Maritimes. I do have some information I will be happy to send you in a couple of days. In the meantime, you might want to go to the home page for www.emofree.com and look under Resources, then Sports and Other Performance. I have an article, "School counselor uses EFT to improve math ability...," about using EFT with a group of at-risk 6th graders in preparation for the Texas mandated exams. The article is about half or two-thirds of the way down on the page. There are also some other wonderful articles in the Children's section of Resources.

We would love to hear from others who have some suggestions for Al. This is a wonderful opportunity to make EFT available to more children, teachers, and parents.

Hugs and Blessings,

Syandra Ingram

Hi Eric

As a School Counsellor introducing EFT on a one to one basis, I encountered giggles initial embarrassement and then hey! this works and it's kind of fun.  I feel, if the person using EFT technigues is confident and thorough in there application, the successes will speak for themselves.  Pupils will want to try EFT for themselves.  I worked with one young man age 12, who left my room shouting I'm cured!  The next week I had questions from some of the teachers and 2 of the students "Whats EFT?  Word and results spread. 

Take care

Lorraine

Lorraine, your positive attitude and examples will inspire many who come to there forums. Thank you for sharing your experience and please continue to let us glimpse how you use EFT with your students.

Be well,

Eric 

I am a new comer to EFT.  Working as a teacher of elementary students I see many emotional and educational problems.  This has given me a great desire to use these tapping techniques on a few of my students.  I first used it two years ago on a third grade student whom had a very difficult time concentrating on his work.  I tried moving him and giving him extra time to complete his work but to no avail.  I had just learned about EFT and thought it might help, so I kept the student in at recess, told him I wanted to help him and asked him if he was willing to try something different.  He said, "Yes." so I proceeded to show him how to do EFT.  From that day on he had no more problems focusing in on his work.  The next year I taught second grade and has one student worse than the first.  I should have remembered what EFT had done previously but I didn't.  Finally by the end of the year I came across the papers on EFT and decided to try it on this little guy.  I pulled him in at recess and told him the same thing I told the first.  This time, however the little guy wanted to understand what I was doing. I asked him if he knew how a light came on.  He said, "Yes, when you flip the switch the light comes on." "Well", I said, "what happens when you flip the other way?" He said, "The light turns off".  "Well", I continued,"that's what's happened in your body.  The light that says, 'It's time to work', has switched off and now I'm going to show you how to turn the switches back on."  He was satisfied and we began going through the technique.  After that he was so happy and got his work done. I was happy too.  Later, when another child was having problems this little guy went over to the "problem child" and said, "You should have Mrs. Smith do that thing on you like she did to me.  It works!"  I would really like to teach more teachers how to do it.  I really see the potential in it.  Now that I am in the Title I program I plan on showing it to more students, even if they are young.  They can do it when you use yourself as a pattern.

Great going!

Maralee 

Hi Maralee,

I really love the "light switch" analogy. That's something the kids can easily understand.

Sounds as if you are doing a great job! Thanks for sharing!

Hugs and Blessings,

Syandra Ingram

www.emotionalhealingnow.com

I have been presenting EFT to conferences in Florida and have presented it more as energy psychology.More educators are accepting of anything with psychology in the name that they are with tapping. If you interested in how I presented it, you can go to my website: www.thesterlingrose.com . There I have posted one of the power points. Please feel free to use the ideas, I have written a book called: Tap for Better Teaching and share it with attendees as a further resource. I first suggest that educators utilize EFT to clear their own issues before using it on their kids. The more familiar we are with EFT, the better we will be able to address student issues. If you need any other info or ideas, I will be happy to share. Good luck!!! Getting EFT into educational institutions is critical for improving this beautiful country.