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Emotional Freedom Technique vs. Zensight – A Comparison of Energy Healing Approaches

Many people arrive to Zensight energy healing technique after first experiencing Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). Frequently questions arise as to what the differences are, and when to use which approach.

EFT is a technique created by Gary Craig, as a result of his work in streamlining Roger Callahan’s Thought Field Therapy (TFT).

EFT and TFT both involve focusing upon very specific concerns – often fears, phobias, or some other kind of emotional or physical upset – while tapping on different energy meridian points. EFT generally involves tapping upon the same sequence of points regardless of the particular concern being worked upon, while TFT involves tapping upon different sequences or sets of meridian points, depending upon the type of concern being targeted.

EFT and TFT can be considered to be the “grandfathers” of the energy psychology movement. I believe that these were the first targeted energy psychology approaches.

Zensight and EFT share many similarities. Both are excellent, highly targeted healing approaches that can be easily learned and used as a self-help treatment for rapidly healing fears, phobias, traumas, and other issues including many physical concerns. Both of them removed congested energy from the energy meridians, and both of them can be easily incorporated into psychotherapy, if desired.

The most obvious difference between Zensight and EFT is that with Zensight no tapping is involved. Instead, with Zensight, we use a “healing symbol” to assist us in focusing our intent. As we do so, upsets and concerns simply melt away, while at the same time the energy meridians that were affected by the upset become more balanced.

The most common experience during Zensight in addition to feeling better about the targeted concern(s) is a deep and profound feeling of relaxation. Some people may also experience the same type of warmth, tingling and energy “moving” sensations that are frequently experienced with Reiki and other Universal energy approaches.

Secondly, Zensight includes a focus upon the use of visualization as part of the healing process. Although Zensight can be done without the use of visualization, it is strongly recommended that visualization – or, alternatively a focus upon body sensations – is incorporated into your Zensight healing work.

The reason for the emphasis upon use of visualization is twofold:

a.) Working with visual images allows us to access areas of the subconscious mind that we can not readily reach through the use of language alone. Often the visual images that arise during Zensight work are similar in nature to those seen during meditative or dreamlike states – they often include aspects of the situation or concern, that we had not consciously recognized.

The use of the healing symbol to then transform and heal those images, allows us to address even those aspects of the situation that we may otherwise have missed.

b.) The combined use of visualization together with verbal statements activates both hemispheres of the brain. This allows the whole brain to become involved, which often then assists us in linking logic together with emotion. A disconnect between logic and emotion (for example, having a fear of the dark even though one rationally may recognize that they are safe) is often a big part of most personal concerns.

Thirdly, while EFT, TFT and most other energy psychology approaches instruct the user to focus upon very specific aspects of their concerns, with Zensight we begin by targeting our healing approach at the most general level.

For example, rather than focusing upon a specific phobia, we will target our healing work to all of the areas of our lives in which we experience fear, whether we consciously recognize all of those fears or not. We do this through the use of visualization and statement that target fear at the general level, as well as through energy balancing exercises that can be accomplished with Zensight in a matter of minutes.

We do with Zensight also work on the specific level as needed, but even in doing so, we set the intent of healing a wide area.

For example, I will frequently use statements such as:

I now heal any and all beliefs that any parts of me formed in connection with this incident or any other incidents similar to it that don’t serve my highest good now.

I now heal, transform and release any and all roles or identities that any parts of me have taken on from my mother or anyone else who gave me negative messages about myself.

I now heal and dissolve any and all programming that any parts of me have internalized from my family, from society, or from anyone else about my appearance or weight.

It may sometimes – but not always – still be necessary to do more work at the specific level. We test this by checking in with the specific concern and see if any upset is remaining, and then dissolve whatever is left using both general and specifically targeted healing statements, or additional visualizations.

The activation of both hemispheres of the brain, and the included focus upon the general level – as well as an emphasis upon engaging all parts of self in treatment – leads to most people finding that their results with Zensight generalize to more areas of their life, and thus experiencing more rapid and more thorough results than they may have previously in their healing work.

Most people also enjoy the freedom and relief of having less need to identify hidden aspects of concerns.

However, some people who are particularly kinesthetic in nature, may feel as if they are not “doing” enough when using Zensight.

While it is not necessary to do so, those people may feel more engaged in the treatment process if they use their EFT tapping as they process with Zensight. They also may wish to begin by targeting any beliefs or expectations that if no physical action is taken, that healing is not possible.

Just as EFT may initially feel uncomfortable or strange to newcomers – until they experience the incredible benefits it offers – some people may experience an initial uncertainty with Zensight.

Another experience that people occasionally have is that when in a state of overwhelm – or in a state of acute physical pain such as with an ear infection or other illness – it is sometimes easier to simply tap than to stop and focus intent, particularly if you are new to Zensight.

If such a situation arises, I suggest to people that they may wish to begin with a couple of rounds of tapping to decrease the overwhelm and/or pain, and as it lessens, that they then settle in and process the remainder with Zensight.

Whatever technique you experience benefit with, and find easy to use, is the one that is most right for you. The beauty of EFT, Zensight and many other energy healing approaches is that they can be adapted and combined to best meet the needs and comfort level of the individual user.

5 Tips for Mental Balance From a Psychotherapist

Living doesn’t really need to be such a battle. As soon as we let go of just a few old thought habits, things are likely to become a whole lot easier. Here are just a few things you can do in order to maintain good mental balance: 1. Let Go of the Need to Be Right – Is working ourselves up into a state of needless excitement simply because of a need to prove we were right anything other than an exercise in frustration and futility? If only we had been able to take a small step backwards and look at the situation in a calmer, less egotistical manner, then perhaps we might have been able to see – and to react – a little differently. After all, what have we really accomplished by always being right? Does it really bring respect, or does it simply breed resentment? Simply by giving up the burning need to be always right, we free ourselves – and others – to get on with the really useful and productive things in life. We may play being the know-it-all, but who really likes a know-it-all? A little inner humility goes a long way in the mental balance department. 2. Let Go of Being Perfect – Understand that being excellent does not mean being perfect. Sometimes it’s easy to demand too much of ourselves. If we imagine that we need to be perfect because this means that we cannot be criticised, then we need to do some serious work on self-acceptance. Don’t waste your time attempting to make something absolutely perfect. It really is far more effective and useful to finish a task in a timely manner than it is to spend forever in a futile attempt to be perfect. There really is no point in dragging things on forever trying to get it perfect. Do your very best and then move on. Do this often enough and your best – and you – will just keep on getting better in a natural, progressive and balanced manner. 3. Let Go of Trying – And start doing. This is where those advertising people working for Nike were on the money: What a wonderful slogan! ‘Just Do It!’ With that attitude we pretty much guarantee positive results. And, of course, mental balance is all in the attitude. The problem with trying, as opposed to doing, is that whenever we try, we set ourselves up to fail. You didn’t try to open this page, you just did it. You didn’t try to get out of bed, you just did it. We give ourselves excuses when we merely try. Lying to ourselves about ourselves and making excuses for ourselves really isn’t the best way to achieve mental balance: We need to get honest. We either do it or we don’t. It really is that simple. The choice is simple: either we act or we don’t. Did I mention simple? When we allow ourselves to let go of trying, then we allow ourselves to begin doing. And doing allows us to move forward and grow. Set goals and start achieving them — go on, just do it! 4. Let Go of Mistakes – We can learn from our successes and learn from our mistakes too – and then we need to move on. Every single experience we ever have contains some kind of lesson – even the ones we don’t get right – if only we allow ourselves to see and learn. Mistakes are there, after all, to be learned from, which is why they’re called ‘successive approximations’ in the language of psychology. Each time we make a mistake it’s an opportunity to learn to get it right. Dwelling on our mistakes and beating ourselves up for them is a futile pursuit. Take the lesson and move forward. A well balanced self is a self that uses and is guided by life’s lessons. Such an attitude leads to a life full of excellence – and mental balance. 5. Let Go of the Past – The past is there for a myriad of reasons – to instruct and inform, for example – but it is not meant to be lived in. To do so robs us of all we ever really have: Now. When we catch ourselves continually spending time in the past, then maybe we need to think about working with a professional who can help us come to terms with and move on from the past. Each one of us has a past and each one of us has gone through experiences that were difficult and unfair. Because of this, each one of us has the need to forgive. Failure to do this makes us prisoners to the past. And if forgiveness seems just a bit too difficult at the moment, at least consider that anger and resentment does not hurt the person or people who have hurt us – they just keep us in chains to them. Letting go of the past usually involves finding a way to forgive – and don’t forget, this means forgiving ourselves, too. Do this and we truly will live in a state of real mental balance and inner peace.

Integrating Heart Centered Hypnotherapy

Heart Centered Hypnotherapy is a natural fit in complimenting many other healing modalities. In and of itself, it is a powerful method to release the energy that keeps us blocked in many self-defeating patterns in our lives. This includes relationships, work situations, family dynamics, money issues, negative thought patterns, depression, anxiety, guilt, shame, fear, loneliness, addictions, and the list goes on and on. I say self-defeating because we end up attracting our unresolved issues over and over again until we release the energy from the source, or roots in childhood. Let me explain. When we are children we are in a different developmental state than we are as adults. Many times we look back at certain childhood events as being silly or of no consequence because as adults we are in a different developmental place. As a result we are not capable of feeling empathy for our own inner child because we just do not understand. A simple event in childhood can create trauma in the child’s eyes by eliciting fear, shame, guilt, and loneliness. Many other emotions spawn off from these but these are the four “biggy” dysfunctional emotions. Early events can get anchored in our neurotransmitters, which keep dumping the neuropeptides into our bodies that produce the same emotions and perceptions over and over again. In order to extinguish the dysfunctional emotions and change the results we need to release the energy and triggers from the original events in our childhoods so we can create a wider space where we can choose a healthier response and behavior. When we start doing this on a regular basis we start attracting different situations and people into our lives. The good news is that you are in total control during hypnotherapy and you will never do something you do not want to do or are not ready for. You are in control of your healing! I am just guiding and witnessing the process. This is where the other approaches to personal growth and change integrate nicely with Heart Centered Hypnotherapy. In order to truly change and heal our issues and negative patterns we need to approach our growth through mind, body, and spirit, or through our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual selves. One of the other methods I employ is soul retrieval work, usually done during hypnotherapy, which energetically brings back soul fragments we have lost along our life’s journey. I drum and take and guide patients on shamanic journeys to access their spirit guides and power animals so they can ask them questions and gain clarity on what direction to take to heal their problems. I also facilitate Heart Centered Breathwork which spontaneously regresses us back to childhood or to the birthing process to release old wounds and traumas that keep them stuck. I teach patients Holistic Integrative Breathing while I do a combination of energy work to release energy that no longer serves them. This helps restore balance and vitality to their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual bodies. I use body-centered psychotherapy at times which concentrates on the wisdom of the cellular memories in the patient’s body. And finally I specialize in Quantum Leap Coaching which facilitates changes in one’s negative or limiting thought systems. There are many other techniques that compliment hypnotherapy well. Some of these for the physical body are massage, chiropractic, nutritional, herbal, and mindfulness meditation to name a few. Other methods for releasing emotional issues and unwanted belief systems are Psych K, the Sedona Method, Byron Katie’s work, and the Essential Experience Workshop. With the mental and thought systems there are many different types of coaching that address and transform one’s thoughts along with James Ray seminars, and empowerment trainings. And, there are many different options to broaden your spiritual horizon whether it is Buddhism, Hinduism, A Course in Miracles, The Way of Mastery, Yoga, Tai Chi, Taoism, or organized religion. The important thing is Heart Centered Hypnotherapy integrates well with all these approaches. I work with people in many different ways to address all pieces of the human species puzzle – physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. Finally if I’m not able to provide what a person needs, I do my best to find specifically what they need and refer them to the appropriate practitioner, group, or seminar. Once again, there are no quick fixes, but hypnotherapy is a great place to start and build upon. The foundation allows for organic integration and enhancement of other methods to provide truly holistic healing. I’ve come to the conclusion from my three-year hypnotherapy internship that it’s one of the most integrative, effective, insightful, intense, and heartfelt approaches in which I’ve ever been trained. Be courageous, self-loving, and change your self-defeating patterns. You deserve to give yourself the gift of Heart Centered Hypnotherapy.