Emotional Freedom Techniques vs.
Emotional Freedom Technique

Is the complete name for EFT plural or singular?

Gary Craig states at the very top of the World Center for EFT home page, in an area called the banner, this declarative headline:

“Emotional Freedom Techniques: Where emotional relief brings physical health Self help method often works where nothing else will ~ No Drugs Involved ~ High Success Rate”

The first question and first paragraph on his website “new comer” page, defining what EFT therapy is, is presented this way:

”What is EFT?

EFT is based on a new discovery regarding the body's subtle energies. Simply stated, it is an emotional version of acupuncture, except needles aren't necessary. Instead, you stimulate well established energy meridian points on your body by tapping on them with your fingertips. The process is easy to memorize and is portable so you can do it anywhere. It launches off the EFT Discovery Statement which says...

‘The cause of all negative emotions is a disruption in the body's energy system.’"

Analysis of available information

Two ways to interpret the above:

1. The name is plural

A. Just look at the banner title, above: “Emotional Freedom Techniques”

2. The name is singular

A. Referred to in the banner title, above, as a “Self help method…” note the singular form of “method”, without an “s”

B. In the explanation, above, is found, “Simply stated, it is…” The use of “it is" suggests a single technique, as opposed to the plural form which would begin the sentence, “Simply stated, they are…”

C. In the explanation, above, is found, “The process is easy …” The use of “process is easy” suggests a singular technique, as opposed to the plural from which would begin the sentence, “The processes are easy…”

D. Throughout the EFT website of Gary Craig, only one technique is described and presented, not two or more. This one technique does have several steps, perhaps convoluted, and he instructs us that not all steps are always necessary. He further explains that some individual steps can be used as stand-alone therapy to promote emotional freedom by reducing energy disruption. When a situation warrants, a stand-alone step can be used to correct an energy disruption, or reintroduced to the simplified version of Emotional Freedom Techniques for added emphasis for a recalcitrant case that is not responding well. Yet, he hardly ever uses the term Emotional Freedom Techniques, preferring to simply call it EFT.

E. A Google search for Emotional Freedom Technique (singular) reveals a long
list of websites written by people who seem to agree the name is actually singular; apparently, many people seem to think of this great stress relief method not in the plural form, Emotional Freedom Techniques. Even the one of the world’s leading Alternative Medicine authorities, and strong advocate and teacher of EFT, Dr. Joseph Mercola, on his website, refers to the singular form, Emotional Freedom Technique.

Why make such a big deal of this?

First, this opportunity is taken to make this point because words are important – greatly important.

Any one who does Emotional Freedom Techniques, or Emotional Freedom Technique, or whatever you call it, knows full well the spectacular power of words. A particular word often possesses the dial-on-the-combination-lock ability to accurately and promptly open the mind of someone with a distressed energy field hand related negative emotions. Once that disrupted energy pattern is transformed, the disrelationship associated with that particular word or phrase and the energy pattern is also transformed, causing an emotional shift that can be startling. Healing can occur in the blink of an eye, and emotional and physical health can be restored that fast. All that is required is an exact and specific word or phrase to bring all of this together to change the energy pattern, while tapping. Wrong word, nothing happens – right word, magic happens. Words are critically important to what we do in energy psychology.

When I am doing EFT by phone with a client, other than the tone of my voice, all I have are the words I use. These words had better be meaningful and accurate, or I am not doing EFT phone counseling – I am just beating my lips together. The same for someone doing Emotional Freedom Technique as an at-home stress relief technique. If the words do not convey the exact thought needed to access that part of the emotional memory associated with the corrupted energy field and negative emotions, Emotional Freedom Techniques will not be successful.

Second, I believe there is a larger lesson here than the grammatical difference between the singular and plural form used to describe Emotional Freedom Techniques. Gary Craig is a very intelligent and dedicated man who is a White Knight on a mission to change the world of mental health care. Emotional Freedom Technique is his love affair, and it is obvious he is deliberate and purposeful how he writes of EFT. Perhaps there is an interesting message that Sir Gary is slipping between the lines of his vast website, and I do not want to miss it.

As I contemplate the difference between what is written about EFT therapy, by Gary Craig and hundreds of other people, and what it means to me as I enter my second decade of doing energy psychology, primarily as EFT over the phone, I am mindful that words are indeed the tools of Emotional Freedom Techniques. Accurate words make a difference.

Single or plural

I propose that the singular term, Emotional Freedom Technique, is more accurate to express how EFT is used today in the field of energy psychology, and that is why such a large portion of the people who use EFT therapy think of it in this monolithic and singular term. EFT is often thought as being one idea – a revolutionary and monumental idea – but still singular in the way it is explained, taught and practiced most of the time.

However, I further propose that the plural form, Emotional Freedom Techniques, is more accurate to express the multiple ways it can be changed by intentional and unintentional modification of EFT, to say nothing of the effectiveness of its component parts when they are used as stand-alone techniques.

In class, I have seen Gary experience a personal “zzzzzt” moment and merely tap only on the “Under Eye” point – nothing more – and continue on as though nothing happened. Another time, he might merely tap briefly just on the “Collar Bone“ point while he continues uninterrupted with his lecture in an entirely different area. Talk about versatility of a technique! Talk about one technique that can be seen as different techniques! Talk about one technique that has the capacity to actually be many! Aha! That could be the answer. What do you think?

After all, at this mid-point of 2008, there are 16 variations of Emotional Freedom Techniques that Gary refers to as “EFT cousins” on the emofree.com website. Introducing the many variations of EFT, he says in typical open-minded fashion, “EFT is part of a family. It has many cousins, including the approaches to energy healing developed by the dedicated innovators listed below. Every serious student should be aware of these alternatives and what is involved in learning more about them.”

I am saying that the genius of Gary Craig is expressed within the first few words of the first page of his Emotional Freedom Techniques website. Within the first few seconds of teaching us about EFT, he lays out the subtle idea that EFT is not one thing; it is plural, although it works when you think it is singular. In effect, the name he sneaks into our brain is plural, although he explains it, teaches it, and uses it, as if it was singular. EFT therapy is so powerful and adaptable that it is easily modified to suit different personalities and schools of thought – and still be effective.

Yes, words are important. And Emotional Freedom Techniques can be singular or plural in your mind, but to use it and benefit form it, you should also appreciate that the power of EFT is found in the words you use. The more specific we can be in bringing the correct words to light, to express the exact aspect of an issue, the more accurate the feelings that these words elicit, the more specific the emotional file that is accessed, and the more volcanic the release when the energy disruptions and the negative emotions are transformed.

I speak of EFT casually as Emotional Freedom Technique, but in my heart and mind I appreciate the fact I am helping people with Emotional Freedom Techniques. In the singular form EFT would be Gary Craig’s selfish discovery; in the plural form it is his gift to the world.

Thank you, Gary, for allowing the plural form to exist and evolve.