We all know it’s a good idea to speak with an EFT practitioner and ask questions to find out if the practitioner is a good match to us before we agree to work with them, but when you’re actually speaking with the practitioner and s/he is firing questions away at you, it can be difficult to remember all the things you wanted to find out to help you make the best decision.
The following is a list of eleven questions you can ask the practitioner, as well as what to look for in her/his answers. You don’t need to ask all of the questions, especially if you don’t like what you are hearing. At any time if you sense that this is not the practitioner for you, simply thank the practitioner for her/his time, and move on to the next person on your list.
A word of caution – most practitioners are not used to being interviewed in this much detail by prospective clients, and may leave them wondering what on earth is going on. To be fair, before you begin, respectfully explain to the practitioner that you have a list of questions you’d like to ask to help you decide if the practitioner is right for you. This will save you both time in the long run, so most practitioner will appreciate your initiative.
1. How long have you been an EFT practitioner?
This question is mainly for the benefit of the practitioner. It is a question s/he will expect, and should help set them at ease. The amount of time isn’t that important as long as it is an amount of time that you are comfortable with.
2. Do you use EFT on yourself daily?
The answer you are looking for is a resounding, ‘Yes.’ We all encounter things on a daily basis that trigger us and need clearing. You will benefit the most from being in the guidance of a practitioner who is constantly honing her EFT skills, for whom tapping is almost as natural as breathing.
3. Do you have an EFT practitioner friend or mentor you go to when you need additional help clearing?
Everyone needs additional help from time to time and we practitioners are no exception. The insight and assistance of another professional from time to time is invaluable. So again, the answer you are looking for is a resounding, ‘Yes.’ Also, this answer gives you some indication if the practitioner will willingly refer you to other healthcare professionals if the need arises, and how likely s/he would be to refer you to a different EFT practitioner if you were not getting the desired results from your sessions together.
4. Please describe to me what you consider to be a successful outcome for a client.
This gives you the practitioner’s definition of success and will probably give you information about how other clients have been helped by the practitioner in the past. It also sets the foundation for your next question.
5. Based on your definition of a successful outcome, what are your success rates?
Most EFT practitioners have success rates of 80% or higher. EFT is a very forgiving technique, and even small children have great success with using EFT. There are numerous factors that affect the numbers, so this information is most helpful when considered together with the answer to question 4.
6. I’m looking for help with issue ‘x.’ Do you believe you can help me? Why?
If the practitioner believes s/he can’t help you with the issue, it’s best to know that before going any further. If s/he believes s/he can help you, you will get more information about what approach s/he will take and the expected benefits. S/he may go on to tell you about other clients who have had success overcoming a similar issue.
7. Have you had experience with other clients who have wanted to overcome this issue? Were these clients successful at overcoming the issue?
The practitioner may have already answered this for you in question 6, but if s/he didn’t, here is your chance to find out. How the questions are answered is just as revealing as the words used. For example, does the practitioner sound confident? Do you feel like the practitioner is being completely up front and honest with you?
8. Have you had any clients who were not successful at overcoming issue ‘x?’
If s/he has, s/he may or may not offer an explanation or a theory as to why that was. Again, how the question is answered is just as important as the words. Does the answer ring true to you?
9. What kinds of programs do you offer?
This gives the practitioner the opportunity to talk about the different options available to you and find out more about your individual needs. It also indicates that you have an interest in the possibility of doing sessions with the practitioner.
10. Which program do you recommend for me and why?
This question gives you more information about the services offered, and also gives you the chance to be certain you are choosing the program that is in your best interest. You can also get more clarification about the differences between the various options.
11. What special gifts or abilities do you bring to your healing sessions?
This question gives you more information on how this practitioner may differ from the others on your list. In addition to the content, does the practitioner speak with most of the emphasis on herself/himself, or is s/he speaking in the context of serving you? What you want to hear is not only what those gifts and abilities are, but how those special gifts and abilities will be of benefit to you.
You may have noticed that nowhere on the list is there a question about qualifications or certifications. I’ve left this out because currently there isn’t a standard system for EFT qualifications worldwide. In countries like Japan where I live, EFT is unified, so level 1 certification or level 2 certification has meaning within this country. But in places like the U.S., various EFT organizations have come up with their own certification programs. Even qualifications from the same organization can vary over time as guidelines become more strict, so at present qualifications or certifications are confusing and at times misleading. The creator of EFT Gary Craig speaks in more detail about this on his website, www.emofree.com.
There are many great EFT practitioners out there. I hope you’ve found this article with questions to ask a practitioner and tips on the answers to be useful, and I hope they’ve given you more confidence in your ability to find the right practitioner for you. For more information, please see my other articles about EFT practitioners.
Here’s to Your Transformation!
Teresa Bolen Okamoto
Copyright 2009 by Teresa Bolen Okamoto. All Rights Reserved.
