Over the previous 30 years, I learnt and used over sixty different techniques and processes for working with and resolving personal issues, negative emotions and feelings, limiting or destructive beliefs, and painful memories or traumas, etc. Then, in the year 2000, I came across the Emotional Freedom Techniques. I was on several internet mailing lists at the time and, during that year, EFT was mentioned a number of times (by people around the world whom I respected) as a technique that was worth looking into. In November 2000, I had the opportunity to do a one-day workshop in EFT and I enrolled for it (not knowing exactly what it was at that time).

I did the workshop. It took me a few months of trying EFT out and testing it (with myself and some friends and clients who were willing to try something new) before I began to realize just what I had found. I even felt a little threatened by it as I thought I already had "the best clearing toolkit in town". It seemed rather weird at first and I had to get over that too. But, it worked almost every time I used it - and often surprisingly quickly. Back then, I didn't know what to do when it didn't work. I did a second EFT workshop in January 2001 and, within a few months, EFT became my primary clearing technique as its consistent effectiveness was undeniable.

My learning continued during 2001 by obtaining and watching "The EFT Course" video set (now available as part of the EFT Foundational Library sets of DVDs) and by gaining lots of experience using it with myself, friends and clients. I learnt that EFT stands for Emotional Freedom Techniques (plural) and that EFT was not just the simple tapping technique that it first appeared to be. It was actually a well-developed and comprehensive emotional healing approach, but where the same tapping technique (or a shortcut version of it) is used with or as part of ALL the other EFT techniques. Whatever issue is being worked on with EFT, tapping on certain acupressure points (to stimulate the body's energy system) is a central part of it.

The Emotional Freedom Techniques have earnt my respect in a number of significant ways:

• One of them is that EFT is very flexible in that it works equally effectively with just about anything that it is "pointed at" (such as a trauma or a negative emotion or bad feeling or a limiting belief). Prior to this, I always had a number of different techniques for each of these things. EFT seems to work at a very fundamental level and undercuts most other processes.
• With every other technique that I have ever used (prior to EFT), after about three to six months, I would have a clear idea of that particular technique's effectiveness, what it can be used for and not used for, its strengths and weaknesses and its limitations. After using EFT for over seven years full time, I have still not found its limitations or boundaries. The limitations appear to be only the skill and experience of the person using it.
• On top of that, my own personal use of EFT has been very rewarding. One of the great advantages of EFT is that it can be easily self-applied. I use EFT regularly with myself on issues large and small. I personally see EFT as primarily a tool for personal growth, although some others view it more as therapeutic or as a treatment.
• EFT is very accessible to anyone who wants learn and use it. It can be easily self-applied (which is very empowering) and is not restricted to professional healing practitioners (as some techniques are). It is an open subject with no confidental levels and no high prices (unlike some other techniques). You can download the EFT manual for free and, if you want to learn more, there three levels of EFT training, an online regular Newsletter from Gary Craig who developed EFT, and there are also the nine sets of videos (which come in 3 sets of DVDs in each Library) that are so inexpensive that almost anyone can afford them. Gary Craig has a generous heart.

I also came across the book "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle about five years ago. Its conceptual framework, simple truths and powerful exercises have benefited me enormously. In my opinion, the Emotional Freedom Techniques and The Power of Now make a great combination. My own observation is that I have experienced more personal and spiritual growth in the last six years than in the previous thirty (even though I seriously worked on my personal growth through most of that period).

What about the other clearing techniques and processes in my toolkit?

I maintain my focus and purpose to help people to clear their stuff and I always seek to use the best clearing techniques available. EFT has made a number of the techniques in my "clearing tool kit" redundant. Of the clearing techniques or processes that I still use, I often (but not always) use some of them with EFT rather than instead of EFT. Some are particularly useful in bringing up underlying or buried "aspects" (specific components or parts of a complex problem) to the surface, at which point, each such aspect can then be "tapped on" and efficiently resolved with EFT.

I attended two workshops on the Emotional Freedom Techniques (November 2000 and January 2001), added EFT to my "clearing toolkit" and have been using EFT consistently with my clients since January 2001. Around the middle of 2001, I obtained "The EFT Course" set of videos and I have never looked back. This set of videos was brilliant and eye-opening and is now available as part of the EFT Foundational Library in DVD format. Since then, I have used EFT successfully with over 700 private clients and have used it effectively many thousands of times. I have also done over 50 public demonstrations of EFT over the last three years, including two sessions at the EFT Masters Showcase (Sydney) in October 2007. EFT continues to amaze me.

To expand my knowledge along the way, I also paid for and got trained in several other "energy techniques" (which I also selectively use at times): Be Set Free Fast (January 2001), Thought Field Therapy (April 2003) and the Tapas Acupressure Technique (November 2003). I have looked into and "played with" a number of other energy techniques also.

Of all these energy techniques, EFT is by far the standout due to its consistent effectiveness, its capacity to heal emotional issues more thoroughly and deeply, its ease of use, and its flexibility (i.e. the range of things that it can be used for).

I attended a 4-day EFT Master's Workshop in San Francisco with Gary Craig in November 2005. In December 2006, I was officially recognized as an EFT Master, the highest EFT credential, and it was announced in Gary Craig's EFT Insights Newsletter on January 26, 2007. There are about 30 certified EFT Masters worldwide with only two in Australia and two in New Zealand. The EFT masters have their own Web Site and Newsletter - subscribe now!

Although the basic EFT tapping technique can be learnt in less than an hour, there is still much more to learn about the Emotional Freedom Techniques, including how to use it with specific types of issues, what to do when a problem is resistant or challenging, how to break a complex or multi-layered problem down into its parts (aspects), and much more. I am still learning after seven years. But, it's very easy to get started with EFT by learning the basic tapping technique and getting some great results straight away, and then you can gradually add to your skills and build confidence as you go.