Over the past few years, I have watched the changes that my clients have experienced when they use the Emotional Freedom tapping technique that we practice during therapy sessions. It never ceases to amaze me at the effectiveness of this tool. As a therapeutic provider, I really enjoy seeing younger children grab a hold of the tapping tool and use it to overcome negative feelings.
Alex Ortner is advancing the Emotional Freedom Technique, along with his family, through his business The Tapping Solution. Recently he shared some very interesting research and application in his own personal journey.
Alex’s oldest son Malakai, who was 6 years old at the time, shared with his parents that he was nervous and scared every day at dismissal about missing the bus. The chaos of everyone getting their things together, along with the muffled sounds of the buses being called over the loudspeaker, was putting him into a panicked state every day. They immediately began implementing the tapping technique to help their son reduce the anxiousness he was experiencing. The circumstances didn’t change, but Malakai’s physical and emotional response to the stressor changed.
A few days later, Alex checked back in with Malakai, asking him how dismissal was going? He asked, “Are you still nervous about it every day?” His response was just a bit of a shrug and a “No, it doesn’t bother me anymore.” Alex emailed his teacher that evening, who was also keenly aware of his stress about the end of day routine, and she confirmed that he had been acting and feeling completely different over the last few days. These simple, yet extremely powerful shifts in our children’s experience, can be life-altering.
According to a recent study by the American Psychological Association, almost one third of kids suffer from stress that manifests physically in the form of headaches, stomach aches, and more. In my practice, I have worked with children that have suffered with nausea on a daily basis due to anxious feelings over school, sleep disturbance, and depressed mood. A further study by Stanford University in California found that the number of kids between the age of 7 and 17 who are suffering from depression more than doubled between 1985 and 2001. The reality is that our children are under more pressure and stress than ever before (as are we as adults!). The childhoods we remember…are not the same as the childhoods our children are currently experiencing. I have been seeing freedom for children in my practice as I help parents approach stress reduction from a holistic approach of supporting their spiritual, emotional and physical growth and wellness. The EFT tapping is just one tool, that I have seen shift a child from elevated stress, manifesting as fear, anxiousness, and depression, to a place of improved happiness and confidence. Tapping is a simple but effective technique for children and adults that’s easy to learn and use, without the negative side effects that other forms of treatments can bring.
With schools going back in session this month, I want to support families with some helpful resources that can bring an easier transition. Tapping has been used with children, both young and old, on a multitude of different issues. Here are just a few examples:
– Feeling hurt or left out
– anxiety and fears
-Sadness, grief or depression
-Stress and overwhelmed
-low self-esteem
-sleep disturbance
Steps in Pursuit:
- Changes in your child’s behavior are often the first indicators that they are under stress,
or they are worried. These changes may include crying, whining, temper tantrums or
angry outbursts, and acting out in frustration. Watch for any of these changes as your
child transitions into the new school year. - What negative experiences and events in school from your own childhood changed your
beliefs about yourself and the world? - Learning to relax and de-stress are important for our children to learn at a young age. As
you model ways to release stress through prayer, walks, tapping, deep breathing, etc.
have conversations about the importance of staying healthy during times of change with
your children.
I enjoy helping families learn how to use the tapping technique to improve emotional wellness
so let’s talk about how we can do that for your family!
Continue the Pursuit,
Denise
