When using EFT, rather than trying to address very general issues, it is better to be as specific as possible. Being too general is often one of the reasons why EFT “doesn’t work”. Fortunately, there is a simple and effective technique that can help one be more specific. It is called the “Movie Technique”.
If someone can’t make a specific movie of their problem, then it is probably being too generally stated. Here’s an example: suppose we say the problem is, “My mother didn’t loved me.” A better way to work on this would be to find a specific instance that happened that is connected with this statement such as, “When I was 6 years old my mother forgot to pick me up from school, which meant I had to walk home alone in the dark. This really frightened and upset me, and I feel that after that I never really trusted her.”
Important note: Sometimes it is useful to take a break in the middle of telling a story in order to give one’s system time to digest and integrate the process. This is especially important if the event in question was very overwhelming. If at any time you feel like it’s getting too much, then either take a break or arrange to see a professional therapist to help guide you through the process.
Movie technique procedure
- First ask, “If it was a movie, how long would it last?” Usually this would be either a few minutes, or a few hours. If it is “several days,” then it’s probably too general.
- Next ask, “What would the title be?” It might have a title such as, “Fight in the Garden” or “My accident in Dad’s car.”
- Next, imagine your “movie” is on a disc or DVD sitting on your table and check what intensity you have, on a scale of 0-10, about the fact that this “movie” exists. At this point avoid going into any of the details of the movie.
- Then, do several rounds of EFT on “this ____________ movie” until you are down to a zero about the fact that it exists.
- Next, if you feel ready, either verbally or mentally run movie, starting at least a few minutes from the worst part. Stop whenever you feel any intensity. These pauses provide opportunities for tapping and to help you to not get overwhelmed in the re-telling of the story.
- Use EFT at each pause (at each part where you get upset or activated) until there is no more intensity on that part (aspect) of the movie.
- Once you have gone through the whole story, again run the movie in your mind to see if any intensity comes up on any of the aspects. If it does, then continue using EFT on any leftover intensity.
- Keep doing this EFT/movie cycle until the movie no longer has any charge in it.
Remember to be gentle with yourself, and not to go into anything that you don’t feel ready for. This is not an endurance test and can be completed over a series of several sessions if necessary.
