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EFT for Educational Use

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EFT for Motor Skills Page 3
By Dr. Patricia Carrington
I
pointed out to Daisy in glowing and appealing terms, how easy it is and how
good it feels to be able to bring the car to a stop almost effortlessly and
with such ease that you barely know you're stopping. Although she didn't
seem to know what I meant, having never experienced it, the idea did appeal
to her, so we formulated the following set up phrase:
"Even
though I stop pretty well, I choose to stop so smoothly I hardly even know
I'm stopping.”
Notice
the insertion of the phrase, “Even though I stop pretty well” into the
set-up. This allowed Daisy to acknowledge her own progress at braking
(important for her), while at the same time she prepared to take another step
forward and acquired new mastery of the process.
I
did not ask her to give me a SUDS level on this issue at any time because
there was no identified anxiety here, it was a self-improvement task. I
believe this is important to note because when using EFT for on-the-spot
teaching, a SUDS level is usually unnecessary, since one can conduct an
immediate objective test after each round or so of the tapping – the person
is right in the car (or wherever) and can try out the behavior being tapped
on. How better to rate ease with it than through a direct demonstration?
So
we systematically tested out the effects of EFT after every three rounds of
tapping (my Choices Trio method described in Chapter 3 of my Choices
Manual). I would ask her to drive over to a more deserted part of the
parking lot and brake at a designated point. For example, I would suggest,
“As you’re driving over there, bring the car to a stop. Before you reach that
green post over to your right…or, before you reach the red car that is parked
near the curb…etc.”
She
followed my directions and I must admit I was amazed. After doing only three
quick rounds of EFT (the Short Form of EFT), during which we had installed
the new positive attitude of “hardly even knowing she was stopping,” Daisy,
who had never even thought she had a problem with her braking but had simply
taken my word for the fact that there was a problem, now handled her car in a
completely different manner. I watched as she gently brought it to a stop
with perfect control and no suddenness whatsoever –– her stops were seamless.
What
was also interesting was the fact that Daisy herself had no awareness of any
difference in her driving after she did the tapping. She had not perceived a
problem in braking before and she did not perceive a difference in her
performance now – but it was clearly there, a behavior apparently learned at
a subliminal level. The change in her visual motor coordination while
driving was so rapid and complete that it was clearly apparent to me
immediately after this first 3 rounds of tapping – but to this day it is not
apparent to her, although that change appeared to be permanent.
Just
to make sure that this new behavior would take, I had her do some more
tapping using the same phrases, after which we again did a test. We
alternated this sequence three times, the tapping then the testing, and then
it was time for the rest of the family to board the car and for her to drive
us all back home.
The
drive back gave me ample opportunity to observe the carryover effects of the
work we had just done. As we traveled, I felt as though I were riding with a
completely different driver. I watched her stop at intersections or behind
other cars or to let pedestrians cross the street, or whatever else was
demanded, with such ease and smoothness that it was a pleasure to be a
passenger now.
Particularly
important was the fact that her father has since reported that Daisy’s
driving has improved noticeably. According to him, there is a definite ease
and sureness that was not there before, although clearly she has a way to go
in terms of road mastery, something that can only come with experience.
Daisy
has not done any more tapping for this problem because she feels no need for
it, nor does anyone else in the family.
From
this experience with the “driver’s ed”, it seems to me that an important
potential use of EFT may be on-the-spot for educational purposes, that is,
its use while the instruction process is proceeding, as an adjunct to it.
Imagine
the educational implications if such a plan were implemented in standard teaching
situations.
Can
you imagine a teacher stopping in the middle of a math class, say, to have
the children tap on their anxiety about specific difficulties with math,
right then and there –– and then continue with the math lesson?
Can
you imagine a teacher stopping during a class to have students tap on their
anxiety about a test that has just been announced -- and then proceed with
the lesson?
Can
you imagine an athletic coach stopping to have students tap to improve a
specific move on the high jump, and then continue with their practice?
These
are but a few of the many possible educational applications that come to my
mind. EFT may be able to contribute powerfully to the efficiency and
effectiveness of education, and I would hope that we will all explore this
possibility.
EFT Master, Dr. Patricia Carrington
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