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.