A NEW technique incorporating centuries old medicine and some modern psychotherapy is helping people beat both emotional and physical pain and improve their work performance.
Clinical psychotherapist Christine Sutherland said Emotional Freedom Techniques combined work on the unconscious mind with tapping on the body’s meridian points – a sort of psychological acupuncture.
Ms Sutherland said the technique helped the unconscious mind focus on a troubling problem and heal itself.
Clinical psychologist Steve Wells said he was exploring EFT’s applications to heighten peak performance.
Mr Wells applied EFT techniques to former Australian Baseball League team Perth Heat pitcher Pat Ahearne who went on to return previously unheard of pitching figures.
Mr Wells said he was still working with the now US-based Mr Ahearne who returned the best pitching figures this year for the Atlanta league.
He said EFT’s application to peak performance in the sports field could be easily transferred to the business world.
EFT was developed by former engineer Gary Craig who studied with Thought Field Techniques developer Roger Callaghan. EFT is an offshoot of Dr Callaghan’s work.
Ms Sutherland said she was initially sceptical of the techniques.
“I couldn’t believe anything so weird could work,” she said.
“However, I was intrigued, started experimenting with it and had amazing results. The techniques help people to think more clearly and make rational decisions.”
Ms Sutherland said she thought that emotional baggage stopped workers having focus.
“Neuroscience shows that when people are emotional, linear logic flies out the window,” she said.
