EFT and Choices

Dr. Patricia Carrington (external link) has pioneered a powerful extension to EFT, which she calls the Choices Method (external link). The tapping protocol at the heart of this method is known as the "Choices Trio" because it comprises three separate rounds of EFT.

Preliminary Steps

• Identify the negative cognition (thought, attitude, feeling) you want to eliminate.
• Estimate your level of intensity about this problem, on the 0-10 Subjective Units of Distress Scale (SUDS).
• Formulate a choice that is roughly the opposite of this negative cognition; an antidote to it. For example, "I choose to feel at ease flying in planes" would be an appropriate opposite Choice for the negative cognition "I'm afraid of flying in planes."
• Combine the negative cognition with the positive Choice for use in the Choices set up. For example, "Even though I'm afraid of flying in planes, I choose to feel at ease when flying in planes."
• Tap the Karate Chop spot three times while repeating this Choices set up phrase.

Perform the Choices trio, as follows:

Step One

Do one complete round of EFT using the negative cognition only as the reminder phrase. For example, "I'm afraid of flying in planes", repeated at each tapping point.

Step Two

Follow immediately with another complete round of EFT using the positive Choice only as a reminder phrase. For example, "I choose to feel at ease when flying in planes", repeated at each tapping point.

Step Three

Perform a third round of EFT, alternating the negative cognition and positive choice as you move between tapping points:

• At the first tapping point (top of your head) use the negative cognition for the reminder phrase ("I am afraid of flying in planes.")
• At the next tapping point (eyebrow) use the positive choice as the reminder phrase ("I choose to feel at ease when flying in planes.")
• At the next tapping point (side of the eye) again use the negative cognition for the reminder phrase.
• Continue alternating the negative and positive until you have tapped all of the EFT points, ending at the Under the Arm point on the positive choice.

When you've finished the three rounds, estimate your new SUDS level. Repeat the Choices Trio until you get your SUDS level down to zero.

(Summarized from Patricia Carrington's Choices Training Manual (external link).)