FAQs
FAQs for Stretch Your Potential
How does EFT can help with my golf problem(s), especially the yips?
How does EFT help athletes?
How can you help me if I am not living in Oahu?
Do I have to answer all the questions on the Confidential Client Intake form?
Why does EFT give surprisingly good relief from physical problems?
How does EFT deal with stress and anxiety?
Why do I have to say negative statements?
Does EFT last?
How is EFT different from a Quick Fix? How does EFT handle problems that are intense or that are old issues?
How does EFT deal with a person’s need to understand the problem?
What are the benefits of the healing group?
How many sessions will it take to deal with my issue?
Does EFT work for…? whatever
Why do I sometimes get sad, depressed or agitated after a session?
I have tried EFT, but it isn’t working for ME. What do I do next?
What’s the best way to learn about EFT?
Where can I find a workshop?
What do I do when I am stuck doing EFT on myself?
Why do people use different tapping points?
How long do I have to tap to get results?
Why it is important to know my SUDs level and what does SUDs stand for?
What if I can’t figure out my intensity level?
3.How can you help me if I am not living in Oahu?
EFT can be extremely effective on the phone or on video calls.  About 50% my private sessions are being done on the phone and on Skype.  Even if you are living in Oahu, phone/skype sessions are great alternatives.  You can save time and money on gas; it is a great way to skip the crazy traffic here in Oahu.  More importantly, you will be in the comfort of your home, back yard,etc if you choose too.
4. Do I have to answer all the questions in the Confidential Client Intake Form?
No you don’t but it would be helpful if you do.¬† The reason for¬†form is for me to get as much¬†information as I can prior to the¬†session.¬†¬†With the information, ¬†we can really make the best of the time and money that you invested in the session.¬† If for some reasons that¬†the questions¬†evoke too much emotions for you to answer it, please don’t force it.¬† There must be some deep root cause reasons for that.¬† In our session, we can¬†work on taking the edge of before¬†we¬†go deeper into the¬†issues.¬† EFT can be a painless process if we do it right.¬† It is my job to make it as painless as possible for you.¬†¬†After all it is not about the destination, it is about the process to get there.
5. Why does EFT give surprisingly good relief from physical problems?
This is easy to understand in light of the emerging attitudes toward the existence of the mind-body connection. EFT provides striking evidence of this connection. What more obvious proof could one want than to watch changes in both mind and body occur as a result of tapping on the body’s energy system?
But the evidence goes even deeper than this. Applying EFT for emotional issues often brings on the cessation of physical problems. Breathing problems go away. Headaches vanish. Joint pains subside. Multiple Sclerosis symptoms improve. I have witnessed this phenomenon for years. The list of physical improvements brought about by EFT is endless.
The logical inference from this is that EFT effectively addresses any emotional contributors to one’s physical symptoms. Once the emotional contributors are out of the way the symptom subsides. There are those, of course, who believe that one’s emotions or mental processes are the only cause of their physical diseases. I don’t know how to prove or disprove that notion but I offer here the rather obvious fact that emotions, at the very least, substantially contribute to one’s physical health. And EFT is an efficient tool for relief in this regard.
One final note on this. You might wonder what is happening “behind the emotional scenes” when you apply The Basic Recipe directly to a physical symptom (such as a headache) without zeroing in on a specific emotion. Stated differently, if the physical symptom is caused by some emotional issue then why does the physical symptom experience relief when no specific emotion was addressed? I don’t know for sure. There is much to learn about these techniques and the future, I’m sure, will bring us some exciting revelations on many fronts. For now, I believe that the subconscious mind brings up whatever emotional issue is contributing to the cause of the physical symptom. Applying The Basic Recipe automatically addresses that emotion.
6. How does EFT deal with one’s need to understand their problem?
This is one of the most astonishing features about EFT. A shift in a person’s understanding of their problem happens simultaneously with the relief. After EFT, people talk about their problem differently. They put it in a healthy perspective. The typical rape victim, for example, no longer carries a deep fear and distrust of men. Rather, she considers her assailant(s) to have the problem and in need of help.
People who use EFT for relief from guilt no longer take blame for whatever event gave rise to the guilt. Anger turns to objectivity. Grief turns to a healthy, more peaceful perspective about the death of a loved one. Notice how you and others respond to your former problem and you will see what I mean. Your understanding shifts right along with the relief. Here’s a final note on how powerfully EFT shifts understanding. In the hundreds and hundreds of people Adrienne and I have helped with EFT not one of them…ever…has made any request to better understand their problem. Why would they? There was no need.
Furthermore, people don’t have to ‘believe’ in EFT in order for it to work. In fact, some of Lindsay Kenny’s biggest successes, and now advocates, are those who were the biggest skeptics in the beginning.
7. Why do I have to say negative statements?
This is, indeed, a frequently asked question and a valid one. By stating the problem (usually something negative) it brings to the surface feelings and emotions about an event or issue, alerting the body and our sensitive energy system where the blockage might be (remember, the cause of all negative emotions is a blockage in the body’s energy system). By saying the negative but true statement while stimulating the meridians, you are sending tiny vibrations or shock waves throughout your energy pathways. By doing so, you are gently nudging away the blockage or disruption that causes the negative emotion.
If you stated a positive affirmation instead, such as, “Even though I was just robbed and beaten, that’s OK, I feel safe and secure now” you’re system would surely rebel. There would be a giant “tail ender-negative belief/thoughts that counter the positive affirmation” saying “What?! Are you kidding me? I don’t feel secure or safe at all!”  Your subconscious (or even conscious) would have the same reaction if you left off the negative occurrence as well and made only a positive statement.
It is true that when we tell ourselves “It’s OK, I’ll be alright” we can sometimes calm ourselves down. But calming ourselves is not the purpose of EFT. Using EFT can completely eliminate the negative emotion, pain or issue.
This question is usually a companion to the above “quick fix” question. After all, the “logic” goes, any problem that can be relieved that fast must be temporary. Lasting results, at least in the minds of most people, must take time to produce.
Not so. EFT’s results are usually permanent. The case histories in this course are filled with people who have had lasting results…even though the problem was relieved in moments. This is still more evidence that EFT is addressing the true cause of the problem. Otherwise, the remedy would not be so long lasting.
Please remember, however, that EFT doesn’t do everything for everyone. Some problems seem to reappear and that is usually caused by different aspects of the original problem showing up at a later time. The experienced student of EFT will recognize this and simply reapply The Basic Recipe for this new aspect.
The experienced student will also break the problem down into specific events and apply EFT to those underlying causes. In time, after all aspects and specific events have been addressed, the problem usually goes away completely and does not return.
9. How is EFT different from a “quick fix?”
The label “quick fix” carries with it a negative connotation and is often used to label the questionable healing techniques of hucksters and cheats. The term goes hand in hand with the term “con man” and, when used, often brings about thoughts of suspicion and caution. EFT offers rapid relief from numerous emotional and physical ailments without meriting the negative label “quick fix.”
This is obvious to any observer of the case histories in this course and is even more obvious to those students who have experienced the results first hand. I use the term rapid relief instead of “quick fix” to put across the same idea but without the negative connotation.
Now here’s an important note: Throughout history healing techniques of various kinds have usually been low and inefficient until someone finds the true remedy for the ailment. When the true remedy is found, everything changes and the old methods become relics of the past.
Polio is a case in point. Until the Salk vaccine was discovered, Poliomyelitis was considered incurable and all manners of medications and therapies (including the Iron Lung) were employed to help the sufferers. They didn’t do much, of course. They helped ease some of the discomfort and limited some of the long term damage caused by the disease. But that was about it.
And then came ¬†the Salk vaccine. It did away with all the antiquated, inefficient attempts at curing Polio and replaced them with a true remedy. It was, indeed, a “quick fix” without the negative connotation.
The eradication of Polio is only one example where inefficient methods give away to true remedies.¬† Penicillin, for instance, has been another “quick fix” miracle drug that has provided instant cures for illnesses ranging from respiratory diseases to gonorrhea.
The examples go on and on, of course, but the point is that these procedures are replacing all the inefficient techniques used in behalf of emotional health. The fact that they give rapid relief to seemingly difficult emotional problems is impressive evidence that they represent the true remedy. If they took forever to do very little then they should simply take their place among the other ho hum techniques of the past. But they don’t. They hit the bull‚Äôs eye and perform as a true remedy should‚Ķquickly, easily, permanently.
10. How does EFT handle emotional problems that are very intense and/or have been with a person for a very long time?
The same way it handles every other emotional problem. To EFT, the intensity of a problem or how long it has been around is immaterial. The cause is always a disrupted energy system and using The Basic Recipe to balance it gives relief…regardless of its severity.
“Old” issues however may be ingrained in the body’s memory or subconsciously the body wants to hang on to the problem. This is what I call a Polarity Reversal (or psychological reversal). If a reversal is in place, and it often is with old or serious issues, you’ll need to neutralize it before EFT will work. To learn how to do that read Lindsay’s article on Reversals click on the Free Stuff page to download it.
This question usually comes about because of the belief that intense and/or long resident problems are more “deeply ingrained” than other problems. Therefore it should take more effort to relieve them. This seems very logical when viewed through conventional approaches because conventional approaches don’t directly address the true cause.
Conventional approaches tend to take aim at one’s memories or other mental processes and ignore the energy system (where the true cause lies). When slow progress is being made it is convenient to blame the problem because it is presumed to be “deeply ingrained” or otherwise difficult to deal with. In this manner, conventional approaches can…and do…explain away ineffective results.
When EFT requires persistence it is NOT because of the intensity or resident length of a problem. It is usually because of a problem’s complexity. Complexity, to EFT, means the existence of several aspects to a problem each of which must be relieved before total relief is felt. The notion of aspects is covered repeatedly in this manual, the videos and the audios.
Note: The above comments may or may not apply to serious mental illness. The application of EFT to such disorders has proven helpful but it should only be applied by a professional skilled in this area
11. How does EFT deal with one’s need to understand their problem?
This is one of the most astonishing features about EFT. A shift in a person’s understanding of their problem happens simultaneously with the relief. After EFT, people talk about their problem differently. They put it in a healthy perspective. The typical rape victim, for example, no longer carries a deep fear and distrust of men. Rather, she considers her assailant(s) to have the problem and in need of help.
People who use EFT for relief from guilt no longer take blame for whatever event gave rise to the guilt. Anger turns to objectivity. Grief turns to a healthy, more peaceful perspective about the death of a loved one. Notice how you and others respond to your former problem and you will see what I mean. Your understanding shifts right along with the relief. Here’s a final note on how powerfully EFT shifts understanding. In the hundreds and hundreds of people Adrienne and I have helped with EFT not one of them…ever…has made any request to better understand their problem. Why would they? There was no need.
12. What are the benefits of the Stretch Your Potential group?
Our healing group is an ecomomical alternative to private one on one session. Here are the benefits of the group:
- It cost only $25 for 1.5 hours session  instead of $85/hour for one on one session
- You will be surrounded by similar minded individuals who can potentially become your tapping partners outside of group sessions
- You will learn the art of EFT delivery by watching Hang conduct a session with someone in the group
- You will receive the borrow benefits* from the synergy of the group tapping.  By tapping with the group, your issue(s) also will be diminished
- You will get the consistent support for your journey of growth.
1. How many sessions will it take to deal with my issue?
There isn’t an easy, pat answer to this question. There are so many variables among people and issues that it could take 1 session or 5.¬† Some might even be more than that. Complex issues, weight issues, abuse, trauma, and many others often take several sessions. Often I’m done with someone in 45 minutes, depending on the circumstances. I find that we can often deal with 1-3 issues per session. However, many people have multiple issues making it hard to tell without really getting into the matter.
So the answer to this question is “It depends”. However, long it takes will be considerably less than tradition therapies of any kind, and likely much more effective.
One of the most common questions EFT Practitioners hear is, “Can EFT help with…. PTSD, diabetes, hepatitis, Multiple Sclerosis, pimples, etc?”  To which we almost always respond “Probably! Try it on everything!” A more thorough and accurate answer, however, would be “Many others have experienced great results with your issue, so it is highly likely that you will get resolution too.” It’s safe to say EFT has been tried on just about every issue, problem or physical ailment you can image.
We know EFT can bring miraculous results to virtually anything…especially in the hands of an accomplished practitioner.  And since EFT has never been known to harm anyone, it’s painless, and it works when nothing else has, go ahead and try it on your issue.  I’ve used it on everything from corns to cancer and from hiccups to hypertension.
In experienced hands, EFT delivers significant relief over 90% of the time (the medical profession would love to have those results). Many cases, however, especially if complex, require more than just applying the basic sequence.  So, if you’ve already tried EFT and aren’t getting the results you want, it’s unlikely any shortcoming of EFT, but rather that you’re missing some important element.  Virtually all complex issues should be dealt with by a competent EFT Practitioner.
3. Why do I sometimes get sad, depressed or agitated after a session?
It’s¬†common to have reactions like these.¬† There are several possible reasons:
1) You may be regretting the previous choices you’ve made in life (or things that have happened to you) and ‚Äúopportunities wasted‚Äù in your life due to your issue. These feelings are not usually at a conscious level, however, until EFT is introduced and stirs things up. It’s as if one part of you is¬†blaming yourself for an unfulfilled, or less-than-satisfying life, and another part is eager to step into a new role. So two or more elements of you may be battling or even raging with each other.
2) The “new you‚Äù feels out-of-sorts because “it” doesn’t know how to behave in this new paradigm, with a different identity. Some people, who have been victimized, for instance, may blame others for their crummy life or bad choices, and not know how to live an accountable existence. Once the curtain has lifted using EFT, however, they might¬†feel angry, or fearful, like a fish-out-of-water as they begin to see life from a more accountable, optimistic perspective.
3) There’s still a part of you resisting change. After clearing major traumas or blocks with EFT, you see the possibility of living life with a different set of rules. This might mean risking rejection rather than living behind a wall of protection (the previous excuse for your challenges.) Therefore you feel a bit unsafe or on unfamiliar ground.
4) There may be a payoff for having your issue (I’m not suggesting that you would choose to have your problems.)  However, some people are financially compensated for a disability, may get attention, sympathy or special favors as a result of their issues, so a part of them is reluctant to change.  Don’t get mad at me here for suggesting this. I’m not saying your consciously choosing to stay ill, or in pain or whatever, only that a part of you may have latched on to some secondary benefits of your issues.
5) A part of you is sad (or even sick to their stomach) for the ‘old’ identity you’re striving to leave behind. And sometimes there’s a reluctance to do that…for reasons that vary among different people. Just as people stay in bad marriages because it’s at least familiar, we sometimes want to stay with what we perceive as a safe place, habit or personality. To change what’s become so familiar is disconcerting to some, while exciting and uplifting for others.
6) And most likely…you’re simply not done yet! You’re only partially into your issues and are stirring things up. You may (or may not) have cleared out some blocks and resolved some issues, but there’s still more.  Often people feel they should be “fixed” after one or two sessions, and that’s just not likely…in most cases.  Confusion, “foggy-headedness”, anxiety, headaches, anger, or sadness simply means you’re not done! Be patient with the process and continue to work on your own, between sessions, or with an experienced practitioner.
If you’re experiencing any of the above problems, it’s highly likely you are working on issues far too complex for you to handle alone.  EFT is magical and extremely effective in the right hands.  Beginners, however, should stay with simple, rather than complex issues.  One of the ways you’ll know if your issue is over your head is if you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms.  If so, Gary’s listings on www.EFTuniverse.com for a competent practitioner to help you out.
4. I’ve tried EFT, but it’s just not working for ME. What now?
When people try EFT for ‘old’ problems or complex issues and aren’t getting the results they want, they may think EFT just isn’t working for ‘them’. Others think that maybe the testimonials they have heard aren’t real. Actually, neither is true. 
As wonderful as EFT is, there are several impediments that can get in the way of its success. For one, beginners should only try using EFT on “simple” issues, leaving more complex problems to experienced practitioners.
5. What’s the best way to learn EFT?
There’s so much to EFT that you should take several routes.¬† EFT is elegant in its simplicity, however, there is SO much more to it than meets the eye. EFT is effective for hundreds of simple issues and can be self-applied; however, for more complex issues you should see an experienced practitioner.¬† ¬†
- Start the learning process by downloading Gary’s free 79-page manual at
- . While there, consider renting Gary’s fabulous video programs on EFT.
- Another way to learn EFT is by seeing a practitioner for your own issues and learn as you go.
- One of the best ways to learn EFT is by doing an approved EFT workshop.
6. Where can I find a workshop?
One of the best ways to learn EFT is by doing an approved EFT workshop (start with Level 1 and then move up to 2 and 3).  Visit one of my teachers, EFT Master Lindsay Kenny’s workshop site at www.EFTworkshops.org or, for a workshop in your area, check out Gary’s site www.emofree.com. Go to the “Learn EFT” section.
7. Why is it important to know my SUDs level and what does SUDs stand for?
SUDs stands for Subjective Units of Distress (the‘s’ at the end is superfluous, but is commonly used anyway). It’s important to know your intensity level so you’ll know where you are and where you need to go. If you simply say, “I’m really upset” that doesn’t give you much information. If you can put a number to it, say a 9, for instance, even if it’s subjective, you at least you have a guesstimate of a starting point. Then as you tap and get in touch with your decreasing SUDs level on subsequent rounds, you’ll know you’re making progress. You’ll also have a handle on how far you still need to go to completely resolve an issue.
Conversely, if your number hasn’t changed after a couple of rounds, you’ll know you’re missing something and will need to make some changes. Likewise, if you get down to a 2, you know you’re close, but not quite finished. You want to keep going until you can say for certain that you’re at a zero.
It’s important to remember that the objective of EFT isn’t just to “feel better” (although that’s certainly nice). The ultimate goal is to realize a complete cessation of a negative emotion or issue. So don’t stop just because you start to “feel better”. Keep tapping until you’re feeling great and the issue has been completely put to rest. If you truly get to a zero on the event, issue, pain or whatever, it’s unlikely it will return.  To make sure that you’ve really neutralized problem, test yourself by trying to get upset. Revisit the issue, even the formally painful aspects and see if the intensity rises at all. If it does, you still have some work left to do.
If the event, pain or issue seems ‘fuzzy’, hard to remember or difficult to grasp, and there’s no “charge” left, then you are likely done.  When my clients get to a zero, I ask them how they know that.  Often it is the cessation of a physical manifestation, such as tightness in the shoulders or neck, or an upset stomach. Or they might feel profound relaxation, feel lighter and experience renewed energy or peace of mind.  I love using the SUDs rating and check it several times (usually after every 2 rounds of tapping) in the course of eliminating an issue.
8. What if I don’t know my intensity level?
It’s not always easy to figure out, on a scale of 1 to 10, how much your shoulder hurts, or how angry you are at your brother-in-law, or how afraid of spiders you are. At best it’s a subjective guess. While many people come up with their SUDs level right away, many others struggle with this little, but important aspect of EFT. I ask clients to guess what their number would be. Try saying this sentence out loud rather fast, without pausing at the end. Just say what comes to you. “Even though I don’t know what my intensity level is, if I had to guess I’d say it was at a…..” 
This simple little trick bypasses the conscious mind and allows the subconscious to provide the answer.  It may not be 100%, but it gives you a reference point. Good practitioners generally know where someone stands as they talk about their issues. So if a client’s number is far off from the estimate of the practitioner, he or she would have occasion to question the client’s answer. When working with yourself, however, you can only guess and do your best. Chances are, if you don’t analyze it too much and just go with your gut feeling, you’ll be just fine.  As stated in the above question, it’s important to get the SUDs rating so you’ll know where you are and where you need to go.
9. How long do I have to tap to get results?
The short answer is: Until you get the result you want.  I want to expand on that a bit though. Normally you can resolve an issue in 3-4 rounds, which only takes a few minutes. Simple issues are particularly quick and easy to deal with. Sometimes, however, it may take 5-6 rounds, or even 10-12 to resolve a difficult issue. You may need to go through several “doors”, look at many different aspects, and dig for the core issue, to get the optimal end result of complete resolution. That takes time. But hey, that could be an hour, or maybe two at the most to completely resolve a painful, lifelong issue.
Traditional therapy could take months or years to resolve the same problem.  We often get spoiled with “one-minute-miracles” getting impatient when something is taking too long. But, we must keep it in perspective and realize that even the most difficult or complex cases can be resolved to completion in a fraction of the time any other therapy might hope to offer.  Patience and Persistence is the key to successfully resolving challenges issues. Time should not be a factor.
I want to point out that it’s also important to make sure an issue is completely resolved before leaving it. Some people say “Gee, I feel better now” and stop at that. Later when they feel a negative charge again about the same issue, they will think that EFT didn’t work. If you truly get all of the aspects resolved and get an issue to a zero on the SUDs scale, then it’s likely gone for good.
That’s not to say that at some point, an aspect that was missed might not pop up for you. But resolving that should be very easy, since the bigger components have already been collapsed.  So, stay with it until you’re sure an issue is completely resolved. Test yourself by trying to get upset about it again. If you just can’t find a charge, then you’re likely done. That’s how long it takes.
10.  Why do people use different tapping points?
The body has 14 meridians throughout the body. These energy pathways come to the surface in several places throughout the body; the face, head, upper torso, spine, ankles, wrists, etc. When Gary Craig developed EFT, one of his objectives was to make it simple. You can keep EFT effective and simple by just doing the basic “shortcut” points outline in Gary’s 79 page manual; EB, OE, UE, UN, CH, CB, UA. However, by adding a few more points, the inside of the wrists, liver spot (over the liver on the right side), and the crown of the head, you are the other five meridians, therefore increasing your effectiveness rate by over 50%.
There is really no right or wrong points. We tend to do what works best for us. And for me using the points mentioned above paragraph brings extraordinary results. For awhile I left out the Liver Spot, just for convenience. But with the encouragement of my teachers, acupuncturist Zoe Walton and EFT master Lindsay Kenny, I added it back in, and it made a significant difference, providing much better results.
