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CM . . .
. Volume XXIII Number . . . .February 17, 2017
excerpt:
Teenage girls are confronted with a variety of stresses and challenges which may feel overwhelming for them. Stress may arrive from the pressures of schoolwork, from a situation at home with parents or siblings, from a romantic relationship, from bullying or other social problems, or from issues of self-esteem and self-image. EFT refers to Emotional Freedom Techniques, a method which uses touch on various acupuncture meridians throughout the body. The technique helps focus thoughts on a specific problem rather than young women simply feeling a vague sense of anxiety or stress. The touch is a way to physically soothe oneself and experience the relaxation which results. The power of touch can calm if necessary or also enhance energy if that is what is required. Wheeler divides the text into five main sections. The first includes an introduction to the idea of tapping to relieve stress and explains how to implement the technique. The other sections each deal with a practical area in which to use the tapping solution: Part two deals with how you look and feel, Part three with situations at home, Part four centres on school, and Part five looks at relationships. At the end of the book is an appendix for parents wishing to use the book to help their daughters or themselves. Wheeler includes real-life situations and gives many examples of how to create the statements necessary to the technique as well as various tapping points on the body. Throughout the book, there are ongoing comments from 16-year-old Cassidy, a young woman who has used the technique effectively and who acts as a teen consultant for the author. Along with tapping, young women are encouraged to use journaling as a technique. Both strategies help to put the teen in control rather than feeling like a victim of anxiety or stress. Once readers have better understood their emotional reactions in various situations, they are closer to both self-acceptance and self-help. Proponents of EFT comment that it is easy to learn and can be applied to a variety of situations. They suggest that it is helpful in dealing not only with present problems but also with issues which caused difficulties in the past as well as with the anxiety promoted by potential future problems. Those who have successfully used the technique are enthusiastic about its extraordinary results. Wheeler’s bio on the book’s cover mentions that she has taught EFT to parents and counselors as well as to teens. Thus this book could be useful for teens faced with challenges and also for those at home or at school who are attempting to help them and care for them. Highly Recommended. Ann Ketcheson, a retired high school teacher-librarian and teacher of English and French, lives in Ottawa, ON.
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