Introduction
Video...
Emotional Freedom TechniquesWhere emotional relief brings physical health
Self help method often works where nothing else will No Drugs Involved ~ High Success Rate
Note: This article assumes you have a working knowledge of EFT. Newcomers can still learn from it but are advised to get our Free EFT Get Started Package or our Affordable DVDs for a more complete understanding. For more, read our EFT Info and Disclaimer Document
EFT helps autistic horseback riding student focus on riding
Hi Everyone,
Here is yet another example of using EFT to improve the lives of our autistic citizens. Many thanks to Jennifer Vaughan for sharing it.
Hugs, Gary
Dear Gary,
As a horseback riding instructor and trainer, I have found many opportunities to apply EFT. In addition to simply using EFT to help students improve their riding skills, I have applied it to eliminate chronic physical pain aggravated by tension; eradicate fears that not only affect a student's ability to ride well, but also cross over into other areas of their life; and to assist a young student with Autism to regain some peace and focus. I would like to share the story of the latter with you.
"Jason" is 11 years old, and suffers from Autism with psychotic features such as visual & auditory hallucinations. I say, "suffers" only because he truly does suffer. I have worked with several autistic children as a horseback riding instructor, and none of these kids seemed to be suffering the way Jason did.
Jason was experiencing a lot of anxiety and fear, as well as the typical lack of focus and "spacing out" most of my other autistic students have had. As an example, Jason would sometimes suddenly scream in terror after having ridden peacefully for several minutes. I began to notice a pattern to his anxieties.
Let me back up a bit: One of the early exercises I did with Jason was to have him "follow the fence" of the arena on horseback. Jason was completely unable to do this, even for 20 feet or so. He was able to steer the horse, just unable to stay focused long enough to remember my directions. He was frustrated with himself, the horse, and me!
However, whenever I suggested that I help him by redirecting the horse myself, or asked to put the horse on a lunge line (a long rope that allows ME to control the horse), Jason would really fall apart emotionally - screaming NO! NO! at the top of his lungs and crying desperately.
I realized Jason was very upset about his lack of control over himself and his thoughts. I asked him if he would try this "new, weird thing" I was doing to help people feel better when they're upset. Like any typical kid, he likes anything new and weird, so he agreed quickly.
Jason didn't have the attention span to complete the full basic recipe, so we did it in a few stages with breaks and talking in between. (He was on the horse at this time.) He did some of his own tapping, and I did the rest for him. I did not measure his level of intensity, but he was definitely in a highly charged emotional state at this point.
We tapped on his KC point saying, Even though I HATE not being in control, I accept myself and know I'm a really great kid! (I asked him to say this with energy, so he yelled it enthusiastically ... three times.
We continued with ... out of control … I hate it ... I have no control... it's not fair...etc.. on his other points. We then tapped on can't control my mind ... can't control the pictures in my head ... the noises in my head... can't control my horse....
It was interesting to see Alex visibly relax after just one round, even though we had to take breaks during the tapping. The immediate results were that Jason was able to complete his riding lesson and followed the fence perfectly - all the way around the 70 X 150 foot arena, at a walk and a trot!He was also calm and relaxed the whole time.
I have been teaching Jason for 3 months since that day. He has never had difficulty "following the fence" since. He has also had only 2 incidents of screaming, both of which were the result of doing something new and frightening for him on the horse. I used surrogate EFT and both times he relaxed within 2 minutes or less and went on to do the new skill fearlessly, even smiling and yelling out to his dad, "I'm doing it! I'm doing it!!"
Jason still has unusual "hallucinations" but they no longer seem to be very upsetting for him. I am now simply able to say, "Jason I need you to pay attention to my voice now." and he comes back to the present, seemingly un-traumatized. This is a huge improvement for Jason, and even his father says he seems to be doing better in all of his activities.
I'm so grateful to have EFT as a tool to assist my students in riding and in life. Thanks, Gary!
Jennifer Vaughan
