Pole-vaulting The Apex Effect In EFT
http://www.womensloft.com/articles/790/1/Pole-vaulting-The-Apex-Effect-In-EFT/Page1.html
Stewart Robertson
All content copyright 2008 EFT Glasgow. Stewart Robertson BSc is the author of the highly acclaimed EFT Training Software. His Running Start With EFT package is freely available to download here: EFT Tapping. By Stewart Robertson
Published on March 13, 2008
Emotional Freedom Techniques – EFT – uses tapping on the acupuncture meridian system to bring relief for physical and emotional issues It’s a new form of energy therapy bringing rapid results for the majority
Emotional Freedom Techniques – EFT – uses tapping on the acupuncture meridian system to bring relief for physical and emotional issues. It’s a new form of energy therapy bringing rapid results for the majority.
Within EFT, established Practitioners quickly become aware of the “Apex Effect” when working with clients. Put simply, after EFT, clients often can’t remember what their issue was when they came in, and some even refuse to believe they had a problem at all, such is the effectiveness of EFT.
From a business perspective this has the potential to be problematic, so it’s worthwhile to build in a few ideas to your EFT sessions in order to elegantly side step this quirky issue.
1) Always Take A SUDS Scale
The SUDS (Subjective Units of Distress Scale) is a way of measuring how intensely the client experiences the current emotional or physical distress they are feeling. It’s used widely in different therapy models and extensively in EFT. To get round the apex effect, be sure to *always* take a SUDS scale measurement before and after EFT, even around specific individual rounds of tapping, where a particularly important memory is being resolved. Consistently confirming SUDS levels with your client will help clarify progress made along the way.
2) Or, Always Measure Submodalities
Another version of 1) is to measure the submodailities the client experiences, before and after EFT tapping. These are the finer properties of a visual picture, sound, or feeling as the client experiences it. Typically after tapping, a picture held in the minds eye will change, e.g. might appear hazy or more distant, the colour may have changed, or the sounds may be quieter. If you’re client has difficulty with the SUDS scale, try measuring these properties before and after EFT to remind the client of progress made. Works well for technically minded, or factually-oriented clients. Whichever method you use, the key is to use it consistently, and politely mark it out for your client in your voice intonation, in such a way that they recognize progress made.
3) Write Down Clients Exact Language
Although not always required, it can be prudent to jot down near the start of the session, the exact words or sentence the client uses to describe how the problem impacts their life, in case it’s needed later. Should you come across the apex effect in that session, there is nothing more convincing than reminding the client of their own words and phraseology to convince them they did in fact say it, and they did in fact have a problem to begin with!
4) Post-Frame Changes Made
Very naturally, as we experience EFT (or any energy therapy), when one emotional aspect of a situation we’re working on is resolved, another aspect pops up quickly for resolution also. In these situations, be sure your client recognises the progress made on the emotional aspect you started with; point out that we have now shifted to a different emotional aspect, then begin working on that. This avoids any temptation for the client to believe they are still tapping on the same 8-level intensity they were at the start of the session. Nothing more than politely pointing out the progress made, in a conversational way, is required.
5) Pre-Frame Changes And Aspect-Shifts
As a double security against 4), point out, even before you begin tapping, that we do shift emotional aspects when tapping, extremely readily, and it happens so fast that it’s barely noticeable. Pointing this out to your client before you begin is always much more effective than trying to explain how and why it happened after the event. It will also clarify your experience level and expertise for the client, improving rapport, and helping EFT bring about maximum healing.
Within EFT, established Practitioners quickly become aware of the “Apex Effect” when working with clients. Put simply, after EFT, clients often can’t remember what their issue was when they came in, and some even refuse to believe they had a problem at all, such is the effectiveness of EFT.
From a business perspective this has the potential to be problematic, so it’s worthwhile to build in a few ideas to your EFT sessions in order to elegantly side step this quirky issue.
1) Always Take A SUDS Scale
The SUDS (Subjective Units of Distress Scale) is a way of measuring how intensely the client experiences the current emotional or physical distress they are feeling. It’s used widely in different therapy models and extensively in EFT. To get round the apex effect, be sure to *always* take a SUDS scale measurement before and after EFT, even around specific individual rounds of tapping, where a particularly important memory is being resolved. Consistently confirming SUDS levels with your client will help clarify progress made along the way.
2) Or, Always Measure Submodalities
Another version of 1) is to measure the submodailities the client experiences, before and after EFT tapping. These are the finer properties of a visual picture, sound, or feeling as the client experiences it. Typically after tapping, a picture held in the minds eye will change, e.g. might appear hazy or more distant, the colour may have changed, or the sounds may be quieter. If you’re client has difficulty with the SUDS scale, try measuring these properties before and after EFT to remind the client of progress made. Works well for technically minded, or factually-oriented clients. Whichever method you use, the key is to use it consistently, and politely mark it out for your client in your voice intonation, in such a way that they recognize progress made.
3) Write Down Clients Exact Language
Although not always required, it can be prudent to jot down near the start of the session, the exact words or sentence the client uses to describe how the problem impacts their life, in case it’s needed later. Should you come across the apex effect in that session, there is nothing more convincing than reminding the client of their own words and phraseology to convince them they did in fact say it, and they did in fact have a problem to begin with!
4) Post-Frame Changes Made
Very naturally, as we experience EFT (or any energy therapy), when one emotional aspect of a situation we’re working on is resolved, another aspect pops up quickly for resolution also. In these situations, be sure your client recognises the progress made on the emotional aspect you started with; point out that we have now shifted to a different emotional aspect, then begin working on that. This avoids any temptation for the client to believe they are still tapping on the same 8-level intensity they were at the start of the session. Nothing more than politely pointing out the progress made, in a conversational way, is required.
5) Pre-Frame Changes And Aspect-Shifts
As a double security against 4), point out, even before you begin tapping, that we do shift emotional aspects when tapping, extremely readily, and it happens so fast that it’s barely noticeable. Pointing this out to your client before you begin is always much more effective than trying to explain how and why it happened after the event. It will also clarify your experience level and expertise for the client, improving rapport, and helping EFT bring about maximum healing.