EFT certification
What certificaton is needed to offer EFT as a treatment? I'm confused as to whether any certification is required, or is just studying the dvds and practice enough? I have already done an introductory course, and have a cert from this. I was told that I need to do 2 more training modules to practice, but I get the impression from some sites that you don't actually need these if you feel you know what you are doing. I already have quals in reflexology and massage. Any feedback please? [:o]
Touchtoes
Answers:
Hi Touchtoes
I am going to open a can of worms here. first a quote
IMHO it is not new it is based on reflexology/accupressure/acupuncture/energy healingetc and the energy meridian points are well known to all of those therapists. There is no requirement for you to have any certificates to practice this. You have a done an introductory course and all your other experience from reflexology and massage will allow you to add EFT or whatever you wish to call it e.g. "Reflex EFT"
Answers:
You should, however, consider having the correct insurance. You will need "Non-Invasive Meridian Therapy" insurance to cover practicing EFT on the public.
I personally, would prefer to know that someone treating me with a particular therapy has actually received suitable training from an experienced teacher, and trainied to suitable standards of some body or other such as the AAMET.
Love and Reiki Hugs
Answers:
Hi Energylz
It is interesting to note that EFT or Meridian Therapy is not specified in the house of lords report on complementary therapies. So to what discipline in groups two or three would you add it?
Answers:
Hi Healistic,
Do you have a link to the information?
I could only find this: which seems to show 3 groups. If they're the same thing I would, personally, think that Non-Invasive Meridian Therapies come under group 2 as it falls into some of the existing categories:
Counselling stress therapy
Meditation
Healing
Not ideal, but I don't know much about the report. Please feel free to enlighten me.
Love and Reiki Hugs
Answers:
Hi Energylz
IMHO I thought that EFTwould come under acupressure or reflexology as I thought it was a hands on therapy using meridian points (The acupressure points used in EFT are the locations where the channels rise close to the surface of the body). Which would mean it would be covered under multi therapy.
My original statement was based on Gary Craigs own quote
If I am wrong and it comes under Stress therapy/Meditation/Healing. Then it would be covered under the general healing insurance.
But my main problem was that if it uses the meridians, then they are comprehensively taught under both acupressure and reflexology, which also have their roots in acupuncture on which EFT is based. SoIMHO it is not new therapyjust a new name for an existing therapy.
I say this based on a therapy called TFT which was said to be discovered by Dr. Roger Callahan (who Gary Craig learned from). This is a holistic, mind-body healing method based on the theory in Chinese medicine that energy flows along meridian lines in the body. These meridian points appear to act as a governing force in healing and growth. And can be stimulated by tapping on them with your fingertips. (In which case it could come under Traditional Chinese medicine which is group three).
Answers:
I agree with respect that TFT, EFT and FREEWAY-CER (as well as other meridian therapies) are using the meridian points as used in accupuncture but without the needles; I sometimes refer to the tapping routines myself as "accupuncture without the needles".
However with all of these therapies there is more to it than just asking the client what the problem is and then just saying "tap here, tap here and tap here". There is an element of councelling going on. More especially with FREEWAY as this is not just a tapping routine, but also incorporates breathing techniques, sound healing/energising techniques, meditations, chi-kung (qiqong) exercises and accupressure techniques to name but a few, and the teachings are said to come from ancient wisdom teachings.
So I guess it's a bit of group 2 and a bit of group 3. What would be the advantages/disadvantages of it being classed in one group over the other?
I have my insurance with SMG and they class it under "Non-Invasive Meridian Therapy". I'm guessing the industry is one step ahead of the government as usual. :D
Love and Reiki Hugs
Answers:
Hi energylz
Probably none the only difference between the groups is that group one requires statutary regs, group 2 voluntary regs. and group three no regs as yet.
I practice and teach many therapies but the one that most people sign up too is a holistic healing course which incorporates, Counselling, stress therapy, Meditation and all Healing styles i.e. crystal healing, reiki, aroma healing, meridian healing etc etc. All of these are insured under Healing.
I think in retrospect that you are probably right when you say:
Dont take anything I say personaly It is just me being me.
IMHO Ibelieve that all of the holistic healing modules can be taught at the same time because so many of them interlink with each other. Thus saving the student a lot of time and money on repetitive work.
Ps I forgot to say that we are a fully insured school and Association. We are also an accreditation body ourselves and teach to high standards.
Answers:
Hi there,
I read with interest this thread regards accreditation. Public liability is a requirement for all professional therapists and professional training in each specific therapy a requirement of the insurance company to validate your insurance. EFT is far more than simply tapping on meridians, it is a mind/bodytreatment and as a Registered AMT Trainer EFT I teach and supervise many therapists who are trained in a variety of different disciplines. EFT is meridian based psychotherapy and the AMT curriculum teaches how to identify root causes, how to use clean language, metaphors, how to deal with abreaction, work with dissociation, use muscle testing, evaluate outcomes etc. A little knowledge is dangerous and it would be easy to retraumatise someone if you dont have professional training, that is why there are appropriate trainings and why there are levels of training in terms of introduction, practitioner and advanced. Each part of the training builds upon the other and develops knowledge, skills and competency. There is also a requirement to evidence your competency and to adhere to a code of ethics, and professional reflective practice. i.e. supervision.
I hope this helps.
Love Kim x
Answers:
Hi Solutions
I am aware of all of what you say, as I have said before I been teaching since 1972. But to put you right on one point.
Public liability is not a legal requirement for all professional therapists.
That does not mean that I dissagree with it.
Answers:
Healistic
Apologies public liability is not legal requirement, I was meaning professional indemnity which is similar and not the same. As a professional therapist, trainer and supervisor I have both. Insurance for teaching is separate to insurance for practising. (insurance company will guide you on this) Of course the laws in other countries are very different.
The professional bodies of which I am a member require evidence of both insurance and supervision.
Technically speaking you do not need insurance to practice. To practice professionally and ethically you do.
If you are not insured and someone visits you at a home clinic and trips over your front door, they can sue you.
If a client complains about the service you provide, and it is proven that you are practising having read a book or watched a dvd or attended an introductory friends and family training, again you will be liable. Costs run into thousands of pounds. This is an ethical matter as well as financial. I for one would not wish to be in that situation of risking the health and wellbeing of the public, my own health and wellbeing, careeror of losing my home.
There are many schools offering their own accreditation and many professional bodies, its good to research and check out individiual criteria for membership, accreditation and my personal and professional preference is for independent bodies that accredit many schools or externally validated courses. ie, courses validated by independently established educationional bodies.
Love Kim x
Answers:
Hi soulutions.
Yes I agree that to practice ethically you do need insurance. It is a requirement for all of our student to be fully insured before they practice. Also our trainingdivision is fully insured to teach therapies, as are our tutors(some out I know are not). I totally believe that every therapist should be insured. The point I was making was that the word professional only means "has an experience of what they offer". Believe me when I say there are a lot of therapists out there who say they are professionalbut do not practice ethically because they are not insured. That unfortunately is their choice and again unfortunately is not illegal.
I agree with accreditation. We are a professional body offeringassessment, accreditation and validation and have been since 1972.
Answers:
Hi Healistic
Glad we're in agreement around the ethics. My concept of professional includes adequate training, though Im not trained in legal system so have no idea what their definition would be. It's good that Healthy Pages supports ethics and professionalism as well as those who seeking.
Training is such a minefield with many schools and bodies, I recently supervised a Hypnotherapy Trainee who had parted with £1500 and was not professional status according to the Hypnotherapy Council. With the progression of the National Occupational Standards the law will I'm sure be changing from its current status.
Love Kim
Answers:
Yes I can fully understand that, I have assessed a few students from other schools with a similar problem, to be fair only aromatherapy and reflexology so far. But my response was basically " You are a professional therapist trained to a high standard and are welcome to join our association, you are fully Insured your training was to a high level and you are more that competent to practice. Do no worry if the aromatherapy council do not accept your training. You have been trained to a level above the NOS and are fully insured to practice. Interestingly enough the Codes of Codes of Conduct and Ethics on her course were an integral part of the training. Some AC approved centres do not even list them on the course content.
Personally I think that a lot of the hype about NOS and the law is just that. I have spoken to a few MP's and they do not believe that those therapies in group two or three of the report will ever come under statutory regulations.
Answers:
EFT is being used for everything from Backache to heroin addiction. And everything in-between.
I do feel very uncomfortable about someone with no other mind therapies training or supervision treating eg a suicidal client with EFT, even if they had training as eg a reflexologist.
Gary Craig, the founder of EFT, promoted it as a CPD add-on to any healing profession, and as such for instance a massage therapist can use it for the client's backache. But what if the backache treatment unleashes anorexia and suicidal action? This is where it is really important for everyone working with EFT to have supervision in terms of a supervisor or attending relevant courses.
I have had students come for Level 1 only training in one day and then I suspect got insurance with the certificate and their minimal training in another therapy. That is kind of OK if EFT is used very little but my impression is that these students would have gone on to deal with stuff that you need at least EFT Level 2 certification for.
EFT is not a licence to make money but a powerful and loving healing modality. Sure, it makes the healer money too, but this should be in a loving and caring way.
There are a number of associations that represent EFT practitioners in the UK. The larger associations (not the meridian therapy ones) are interested ultimately in regulation. Some powers that be that are associated with EFT do not want to make the necessary effort for regulation. Now I have a problem with this. You see, I treat a number of clients each and every week who have been - frankly - abused by the mental health system, and I know that a more modern way would have saved these clients this trauma. I think those raking it in with EFT should for once bother to get regulation in for the sakes of these lovely people who have done no wrong and mistakenly trusted the system with their mental illness. Change is happening, but it is too slow and here is an opportunity to get more healing out to more people.
On another tangent on this subject, I get many students who have been told they have to have Level 3 EFT to work in an establishment, even though this in itself and on its own is not relevant/good enough. And some excellent practitioners feel bullied into Level 3 EFT even though they are doing the equivalent or even better in many other ways.
And what about the client? Many people have private medical insurance. This covers them for counselling in many cases, even though EFT by a non-counsellor is often more effective and requires less sessions. Regulation has the potential to change this. Physiotherapy is covered too by many, so a physiotherapist can give EFT and the client does not need to pay (other than their private insurance premiums and excess), whereas a massage therapist at the moment can give the same EFT and the client would have to pay. This is in the UK, and I understand that in other countries it can be different.
What I'm trying to say is that sometimes we therapists think "what certification do I need?" or "what certification do the organisations need from me?" when we really need to ask "what qualifications and skills does my client need me to have?" In answering this question honestly, there lies your real answer.
Energy psychology is a relatively new genre of healing, and it will be interesting to see how the certification develops.
Answers:
What I'm trying to say is that sometimes we therapists think "what certification do I need?" or "what certification do the organisations need from me?" when we really need to ask "what qualifications and skills does my client need me to have?" In answering this question honestly, there lies your real answer.
Hi New Age London,
Thanks for your reply. Putting the focus on what the client needs has made this clear for me.
Thanks,
Touchtoes :)
Touchtoes
Answers:
Hi Touchtoes
I am going to open a can of worms here. first a quote
IMHO it is not new it is based on reflexology/accupressure/acupuncture/energy healingetc and the energy meridian points are well known to all of those therapists. There is no requirement for you to have any certificates to practice this. You have a done an introductory course and all your other experience from reflexology and massage will allow you to add EFT or whatever you wish to call it e.g. "Reflex EFT"
Answers:
You should, however, consider having the correct insurance. You will need "Non-Invasive Meridian Therapy" insurance to cover practicing EFT on the public.
I personally, would prefer to know that someone treating me with a particular therapy has actually received suitable training from an experienced teacher, and trainied to suitable standards of some body or other such as the AAMET.
Love and Reiki Hugs
Answers:
Hi Energylz
It is interesting to note that EFT or Meridian Therapy is not specified in the house of lords report on complementary therapies. So to what discipline in groups two or three would you add it?
Answers:
Hi Healistic,
Do you have a link to the information?
I could only find this: which seems to show 3 groups. If they're the same thing I would, personally, think that Non-Invasive Meridian Therapies come under group 2 as it falls into some of the existing categories:
Counselling stress therapy
Meditation
Healing
Not ideal, but I don't know much about the report. Please feel free to enlighten me.
Love and Reiki Hugs
Answers:
Hi Energylz
IMHO I thought that EFTwould come under acupressure or reflexology as I thought it was a hands on therapy using meridian points (The acupressure points used in EFT are the locations where the channels rise close to the surface of the body). Which would mean it would be covered under multi therapy.
My original statement was based on Gary Craigs own quote
If I am wrong and it comes under Stress therapy/Meditation/Healing. Then it would be covered under the general healing insurance.
But my main problem was that if it uses the meridians, then they are comprehensively taught under both acupressure and reflexology, which also have their roots in acupuncture on which EFT is based. SoIMHO it is not new therapyjust a new name for an existing therapy.
I say this based on a therapy called TFT which was said to be discovered by Dr. Roger Callahan (who Gary Craig learned from). This is a holistic, mind-body healing method based on the theory in Chinese medicine that energy flows along meridian lines in the body. These meridian points appear to act as a governing force in healing and growth. And can be stimulated by tapping on them with your fingertips. (In which case it could come under Traditional Chinese medicine which is group three).
Answers:
I agree with respect that TFT, EFT and FREEWAY-CER (as well as other meridian therapies) are using the meridian points as used in accupuncture but without the needles; I sometimes refer to the tapping routines myself as "accupuncture without the needles".
However with all of these therapies there is more to it than just asking the client what the problem is and then just saying "tap here, tap here and tap here". There is an element of councelling going on. More especially with FREEWAY as this is not just a tapping routine, but also incorporates breathing techniques, sound healing/energising techniques, meditations, chi-kung (qiqong) exercises and accupressure techniques to name but a few, and the teachings are said to come from ancient wisdom teachings.
So I guess it's a bit of group 2 and a bit of group 3. What would be the advantages/disadvantages of it being classed in one group over the other?
I have my insurance with SMG and they class it under "Non-Invasive Meridian Therapy". I'm guessing the industry is one step ahead of the government as usual. :D
Love and Reiki Hugs
Answers:
Hi energylz
Probably none the only difference between the groups is that group one requires statutary regs, group 2 voluntary regs. and group three no regs as yet.
I practice and teach many therapies but the one that most people sign up too is a holistic healing course which incorporates, Counselling, stress therapy, Meditation and all Healing styles i.e. crystal healing, reiki, aroma healing, meridian healing etc etc. All of these are insured under Healing.
I think in retrospect that you are probably right when you say:
Dont take anything I say personaly It is just me being me.
IMHO Ibelieve that all of the holistic healing modules can be taught at the same time because so many of them interlink with each other. Thus saving the student a lot of time and money on repetitive work.
Ps I forgot to say that we are a fully insured school and Association. We are also an accreditation body ourselves and teach to high standards.
Answers:
Hi there,
I read with interest this thread regards accreditation. Public liability is a requirement for all professional therapists and professional training in each specific therapy a requirement of the insurance company to validate your insurance. EFT is far more than simply tapping on meridians, it is a mind/bodytreatment and as a Registered AMT Trainer EFT I teach and supervise many therapists who are trained in a variety of different disciplines. EFT is meridian based psychotherapy and the AMT curriculum teaches how to identify root causes, how to use clean language, metaphors, how to deal with abreaction, work with dissociation, use muscle testing, evaluate outcomes etc. A little knowledge is dangerous and it would be easy to retraumatise someone if you dont have professional training, that is why there are appropriate trainings and why there are levels of training in terms of introduction, practitioner and advanced. Each part of the training builds upon the other and develops knowledge, skills and competency. There is also a requirement to evidence your competency and to adhere to a code of ethics, and professional reflective practice. i.e. supervision.
I hope this helps.
Love Kim x
Answers:
Hi Solutions
I am aware of all of what you say, as I have said before I been teaching since 1972. But to put you right on one point.
Public liability is not a legal requirement for all professional therapists.
That does not mean that I dissagree with it.
Answers:
Healistic
Apologies public liability is not legal requirement, I was meaning professional indemnity which is similar and not the same. As a professional therapist, trainer and supervisor I have both. Insurance for teaching is separate to insurance for practising. (insurance company will guide you on this) Of course the laws in other countries are very different.
The professional bodies of which I am a member require evidence of both insurance and supervision.
Technically speaking you do not need insurance to practice. To practice professionally and ethically you do.
If you are not insured and someone visits you at a home clinic and trips over your front door, they can sue you.
If a client complains about the service you provide, and it is proven that you are practising having read a book or watched a dvd or attended an introductory friends and family training, again you will be liable. Costs run into thousands of pounds. This is an ethical matter as well as financial. I for one would not wish to be in that situation of risking the health and wellbeing of the public, my own health and wellbeing, careeror of losing my home.
There are many schools offering their own accreditation and many professional bodies, its good to research and check out individiual criteria for membership, accreditation and my personal and professional preference is for independent bodies that accredit many schools or externally validated courses. ie, courses validated by independently established educationional bodies.
Love Kim x
Answers:
Hi soulutions.
Yes I agree that to practice ethically you do need insurance. It is a requirement for all of our student to be fully insured before they practice. Also our trainingdivision is fully insured to teach therapies, as are our tutors(some out I know are not). I totally believe that every therapist should be insured. The point I was making was that the word professional only means "has an experience of what they offer". Believe me when I say there are a lot of therapists out there who say they are professionalbut do not practice ethically because they are not insured. That unfortunately is their choice and again unfortunately is not illegal.
I agree with accreditation. We are a professional body offeringassessment, accreditation and validation and have been since 1972.
Answers:
Hi Healistic
Glad we're in agreement around the ethics. My concept of professional includes adequate training, though Im not trained in legal system so have no idea what their definition would be. It's good that Healthy Pages supports ethics and professionalism as well as those who seeking.
Training is such a minefield with many schools and bodies, I recently supervised a Hypnotherapy Trainee who had parted with £1500 and was not professional status according to the Hypnotherapy Council. With the progression of the National Occupational Standards the law will I'm sure be changing from its current status.
Love Kim
Answers:
Yes I can fully understand that, I have assessed a few students from other schools with a similar problem, to be fair only aromatherapy and reflexology so far. But my response was basically " You are a professional therapist trained to a high standard and are welcome to join our association, you are fully Insured your training was to a high level and you are more that competent to practice. Do no worry if the aromatherapy council do not accept your training. You have been trained to a level above the NOS and are fully insured to practice. Interestingly enough the Codes of Codes of Conduct and Ethics on her course were an integral part of the training. Some AC approved centres do not even list them on the course content.
Personally I think that a lot of the hype about NOS and the law is just that. I have spoken to a few MP's and they do not believe that those therapies in group two or three of the report will ever come under statutory regulations.
Answers:
EFT is being used for everything from Backache to heroin addiction. And everything in-between.
I do feel very uncomfortable about someone with no other mind therapies training or supervision treating eg a suicidal client with EFT, even if they had training as eg a reflexologist.
Gary Craig, the founder of EFT, promoted it as a CPD add-on to any healing profession, and as such for instance a massage therapist can use it for the client's backache. But what if the backache treatment unleashes anorexia and suicidal action? This is where it is really important for everyone working with EFT to have supervision in terms of a supervisor or attending relevant courses.
I have had students come for Level 1 only training in one day and then I suspect got insurance with the certificate and their minimal training in another therapy. That is kind of OK if EFT is used very little but my impression is that these students would have gone on to deal with stuff that you need at least EFT Level 2 certification for.
EFT is not a licence to make money but a powerful and loving healing modality. Sure, it makes the healer money too, but this should be in a loving and caring way.
There are a number of associations that represent EFT practitioners in the UK. The larger associations (not the meridian therapy ones) are interested ultimately in regulation. Some powers that be that are associated with EFT do not want to make the necessary effort for regulation. Now I have a problem with this. You see, I treat a number of clients each and every week who have been - frankly - abused by the mental health system, and I know that a more modern way would have saved these clients this trauma. I think those raking it in with EFT should for once bother to get regulation in for the sakes of these lovely people who have done no wrong and mistakenly trusted the system with their mental illness. Change is happening, but it is too slow and here is an opportunity to get more healing out to more people.
On another tangent on this subject, I get many students who have been told they have to have Level 3 EFT to work in an establishment, even though this in itself and on its own is not relevant/good enough. And some excellent practitioners feel bullied into Level 3 EFT even though they are doing the equivalent or even better in many other ways.
And what about the client? Many people have private medical insurance. This covers them for counselling in many cases, even though EFT by a non-counsellor is often more effective and requires less sessions. Regulation has the potential to change this. Physiotherapy is covered too by many, so a physiotherapist can give EFT and the client does not need to pay (other than their private insurance premiums and excess), whereas a massage therapist at the moment can give the same EFT and the client would have to pay. This is in the UK, and I understand that in other countries it can be different.
What I'm trying to say is that sometimes we therapists think "what certification do I need?" or "what certification do the organisations need from me?" when we really need to ask "what qualifications and skills does my client need me to have?" In answering this question honestly, there lies your real answer.
Energy psychology is a relatively new genre of healing, and it will be interesting to see how the certification develops.
Answers:
What I'm trying to say is that sometimes we therapists think "what certification do I need?" or "what certification do the organisations need from me?" when we really need to ask "what qualifications and skills does my client need me to have?" In answering this question honestly, there lies your real answer.
Hi New Age London,
Thanks for your reply. Putting the focus on what the client needs has made this clear for me.
Thanks,
Touchtoes :)