An Effective Method For Getting In Touch With Core Memories

The most useful way to use EFT to treat issues in our lives is to locate the early events that caused the issue. Once those core memories are found, they can be cleared using EFT, which greatly helps resolve the issue. The only problem is that it can be challenging to find these core memories.

A Body-Oriented Approach

I would like to share a very useful technique that I have learned for uncovering "core memories" underlying a current day issue or upset. This technique is particularly useful with people who tend to be in their heads where their intelligence can get in the way, but it works well for most everyone. The technique involves using bodily experience of an issue as a doorway to early memories related to the issue. This article was written for practitioners to use with their clients, but it should be readily useable for oneself as well.

The first step is to invite the client to generally tune into or "be with" the issue or recent upsetting experiece, letting go of the specific details. You then ask the client to notice where in their body s/he feels the issue, where s/he feels a reaction in their body. The next step is to describe the physical sensations in as much detail as possible. For instance, how big an area does the sensation cover? Is it sharp or dull? Does it have an electrical feeling? Is it warm or cold? And so on. The purpose of this step is to get more deeply in touch with the bodily experience of the issue.

Once the client has done this, you ask him/her to notice what emotions they are having. Also, ask if there are any words the client is saying to him/herself (eg. I'm not safe or I'm not important, etc.). The self-messages are optional. Don't get stuck at this step. It's more important to keep the flow going.

The Float Back Technique

The next step is the "float back" process. You ask the client to keep their attention on their bodily sensations, emotions and self-statements and try to take a relaxed, friendly, receptive stance and wait for a memory to pop into their head. It is very important that they not try to use their mind to "figure out" or actively seek the memory. It's important to passively wait for the memory to come.

Usually, a memory will come after a short time. If so, you have found a memory connected to the current issue or experience. Otherwise, the first common obstacle is that the client may say something like, "I'm bad at this kind of thing" and give up too quickly. Their feeling like they are bad at it can block the process. In this case, just encourage the client to give it a try with no pressure for success (or you could do a little tapping here, of course).

Another potential issue is a client saying that they don't feel anything in their body. This can be a significant issue in itself. It's helpful to do the constricted breathing exercise here to both bring energy into the body through the increased oxygen flow and to help the client feel their body. Noticing one's breath is a bodily awareness.

The more common occurrence than the first two is that the client will remember a related experience that happened as an adult. In this case, congratulate the client's success, make a note of the memory for future tapping, and then try again asking the client to wait for a young memory to pop into their head.

I have found this float back technique to work extremely well, and I use it with all of my clients. I hope that you find this useful for uncovering tappable memories in your practice.

Warm hugs,
Stefan Gonick, Expert EFT Practitioner, Trainer, and Love Coach