Question:
I have been using EFT (and since recently TAT) extensively in a women's prison where I run a drug rehabilitation programme. I had a lot of successes, both small and major ones, with everything from cravings through anxieties and tensions to severe traumas, abuse etc. Many prisoners and a good number of staff are now tapping enthusiastically!
I would very much like to hear from anyone else who has experience of using EFT and other Meridian Therapies within a criminal justice setting.
Happy tapping :)
Masha
Hi Masha
This is not something I do but it is something I would like to do
Sarah
Thankyou for starting this thread. This is something I am very interested in doing in the future, as I feel that this form of therapy - as it isn't invasive as many other therapies can be - can really help offenders, whether it's part of rehabilitation, drug rehab or simply to increase self confidence.
I have discussed this with colleagues and some say it would be professional suicide to be known to treat offenders. I haven't yet experienced this type of work, but feel it's something I have to do and will do in the future..
I believe everyone has the right to therapy.. specially those who are i nsuch a position - if noone gives them the break, they will never move on and turn their lives around.
May I ask if you've been able to work with some of the women to help them rehabilitate specifically - or if the trauma work you did was ad hoc and unplanned. I understand the two may go hand in hand.. but would like to know if the people in charge brought you in for general work or something else.
Keep up the good work! I hope someday I'll be able to join you in this.
Hi,
This is great work! May I ask which prison, so that those of us who quote authority can quote it? Only if it's OK to reveal, of course.
Well done Masha!
Hugs
Steve
Only just realised I had replies to this - thanks for your posts everyone!
Gussie, you mention that "some colleagues say it would be professional suicide to be known to treat offenders" - I am very curious to understand their reasoning for that??!!
I have worked with "offenders" for about 6 years now, and a great majority of them are just ordinary but unfortunate human beings with very unhappy, tragic histories. One woman I tapped with recently has suffered 10 years of satanic abuse when she was a child. Who could blame her for starting on heroin at the age of nine??!!
I do EFT (also NLP and TAT, and some Reiki) with prisoners mostly on an ad hoc basis (often we have no more than 10-15 minutes to work in), because my "real" job is to manage a CBT-based drug rehabilitation programme, which keeps me pretty busy!
I don't really advertise it widely, but I find that the majority of staff, including the management, look upon it fairly kindly when they come across me doing "the strange tapping thing", and I even got a permission to run a one-day EFT workshop for prisoners. I've done three of such workshops now, and trained about 20 women to tap for other people as well as themselves (these included half a dozen Listeners - prisoners who are trained by Samaritans to counsel other prisoners).
It may sound strange, but a prison is a wonderful environment for any EFTer as you have such a rich ground for tapping left, right and centre - virtually all prison population (including staff) could do with some serious amount of tapping! And considering the limited number of coping strategies that are available in prison environment, I feel EFT is a real treasure.
I am aware that our prison invites volunteer counsellors to see the women (though person-centered counselling is not necessarily something that is appropriate for the types of horrific traumas that the majority of our prisoners have experienced). I think it would be fantastic if more EFTers were able to "infiltrate" the prison system, in whatever capacity, and help to tap away at least some of the suffering that is accumulated behind those walls.
If anyone is intersted in exploring this avenue further, I would be delighted to talk/exchange emails with ideas.
Cheers
Masha
Heya again...
You ask why some have said it would be professional suicide.. some colleages have said that working amongst offenders may be seen as siding with the wrong side of the law.. as an example, a woman who had been raped would perhaps prefer not to see someone who specialises in working with rapists in the prison environment. I can see their point, but I can also see that working with both victim and offender, many of which have been victims themselves, could surely only serve to enhance my own ability to work with both parties more effectively.. I personally see no point in discriminating against people, anyone, regardless of their circumstance.. everyone deserves inner peace and a chance to heal and move on with their lives.. too many people wash their hands of others..
I appreciate what you say about counselling not being ideal for the prison environment, the beauty of eft permits people, for those who are not familiar with it, to work on issues they are not even able to voice aloud, without even having to tell the practitioner what they are working on.. yet the benefits can still be equally powerful.
As you already know, this is an area I would be very interested in pursuing - I just feel very drawn to this.. I can't explain why, I just feel compelled to do it. Very happy to talk here or in emails. :)
Gussie, you said
and I am truly horrified that these colleagues, who are presumably members of the healing professions, deem prison inmates to be unworthy of healing. Do they consider prisoners to be another category of human beings, different from the rest of humanity? Are they not aware of how many people are currently incarcerated either wrongly or for some minor infringement, such as shoplifting? I would have thought that healers would not think in this way. I am truly shocked. If God can forgive us our trespasses, as I believe He does, then who are these colleagues of yours to pronounce differently. I am so pleased that they don't seem to have convinced you and I do wish you luck if you take your therapies into a prison environment, where they are sorely needed.
Blessings
Sunanda xx
These colleagues are speaking from a business and not a personal point of view, they do believe that inmates deserve help as much as anyone else, but expressed this concern to me as part of some recent discussions. I can understand that working with perpetrators of violent crime may alienate some. Perhaps I am driven more by my heart than my head..
Healers... interestingly I have on my travels found some of the most judgemental people in the healing fields, it's shocked me to the core when you would expect the most empathy in this profession, but everyone is an individual.. we all have our reasons to work within this field and we all believe our motives are good.
I don't know when I will work in this environment, but I believe when I am ready, that opportunity will present itself and I hope that I can make some small steps.. and hopefully some more profound steps to make life much better for these people.
Hi Marsha
I feel you should be commended, it is very important to look at the bigger picture when dealing with prisoners, they are also victims. They are in prison because of an underlying problem. They have been abused, are addicts, classified as social misfits. And of course some have mental problems.
To give someone their self esteem back, to give them a sense of self worth is very important.
Too many people are quick to judge and to shout about the special treatments and educational projects that prisoners are given. But we have a responsibility to treat everyone with humanity.
I have experience of teaching in prisons and have seen the benefits.
Again Well Done Marsha
Regards
Bridie
Masha,
As promised when we met, I have sent you a email but your box seems to be full. I will give you a few days to catch up and will send it again.
Love
Sarah
Hi Masha, You certainly do some important work. Over these months I have had a few people contact me who were innocent victims wrongfully imprisoned - Some still unable to get redress....too scared to speak out...I have also spokenwith someone who had to attend compulsory Jury dutywhere a young man was sent to prison...while in the pub afterwards she overheard the police boasting about how 'they got him' and withheld the evidence.....this lad was innocent and not only suffered this traumatic ordeal....but now has a black scar on his records in the process. The Jury member lives with guilt to this day...........What happens is very very wrong.
I am sure you have heard and seen many stories. What I do know is that it is almost impossible to get media attention to warn other people of legal corruption - who a major tabloid told me happens all the time. You will know first hand of the devastation to peoples lives...and then there are some who just cannot cope...I am tolddepression isrife and suicide is not uncommon either....
My interest and motivation is to assist with self empowerment.....I would be happy to talk with you and expand my awareness......I am based in Greater Manchester...andam preparedto lend my support with your efforts.
Pauline Maria
Just keep on posting everywhere, something is better than nothing ;)
I would very much like to hear from anyone else who has experience of using EFT and other Meridian Therapies within a criminal justice setting.
Happy tapping :)
Masha
Answers:
Hi Masha
This is not something I do but it is something I would like to do
Sarah
Answers:
Thankyou for starting this thread. This is something I am very interested in doing in the future, as I feel that this form of therapy - as it isn't invasive as many other therapies can be - can really help offenders, whether it's part of rehabilitation, drug rehab or simply to increase self confidence.
I have discussed this with colleagues and some say it would be professional suicide to be known to treat offenders. I haven't yet experienced this type of work, but feel it's something I have to do and will do in the future..
I believe everyone has the right to therapy.. specially those who are i nsuch a position - if noone gives them the break, they will never move on and turn their lives around.
May I ask if you've been able to work with some of the women to help them rehabilitate specifically - or if the trauma work you did was ad hoc and unplanned. I understand the two may go hand in hand.. but would like to know if the people in charge brought you in for general work or something else.
Keep up the good work! I hope someday I'll be able to join you in this.
Answers:
Hi,
This is great work! May I ask which prison, so that those of us who quote authority can quote it? Only if it's OK to reveal, of course.
Answers:
Well done Masha!
Hugs
Steve
Answers:
Only just realised I had replies to this - thanks for your posts everyone!
Gussie, you mention that "some colleagues say it would be professional suicide to be known to treat offenders" - I am very curious to understand their reasoning for that??!!
I have worked with "offenders" for about 6 years now, and a great majority of them are just ordinary but unfortunate human beings with very unhappy, tragic histories. One woman I tapped with recently has suffered 10 years of satanic abuse when she was a child. Who could blame her for starting on heroin at the age of nine??!!
I do EFT (also NLP and TAT, and some Reiki) with prisoners mostly on an ad hoc basis (often we have no more than 10-15 minutes to work in), because my "real" job is to manage a CBT-based drug rehabilitation programme, which keeps me pretty busy!
I don't really advertise it widely, but I find that the majority of staff, including the management, look upon it fairly kindly when they come across me doing "the strange tapping thing", and I even got a permission to run a one-day EFT workshop for prisoners. I've done three of such workshops now, and trained about 20 women to tap for other people as well as themselves (these included half a dozen Listeners - prisoners who are trained by Samaritans to counsel other prisoners).
It may sound strange, but a prison is a wonderful environment for any EFTer as you have such a rich ground for tapping left, right and centre - virtually all prison population (including staff) could do with some serious amount of tapping! And considering the limited number of coping strategies that are available in prison environment, I feel EFT is a real treasure.
I am aware that our prison invites volunteer counsellors to see the women (though person-centered counselling is not necessarily something that is appropriate for the types of horrific traumas that the majority of our prisoners have experienced). I think it would be fantastic if more EFTers were able to "infiltrate" the prison system, in whatever capacity, and help to tap away at least some of the suffering that is accumulated behind those walls.
If anyone is intersted in exploring this avenue further, I would be delighted to talk/exchange emails with ideas.
Cheers
Masha
Answers:
Heya again...
You ask why some have said it would be professional suicide.. some colleages have said that working amongst offenders may be seen as siding with the wrong side of the law.. as an example, a woman who had been raped would perhaps prefer not to see someone who specialises in working with rapists in the prison environment. I can see their point, but I can also see that working with both victim and offender, many of which have been victims themselves, could surely only serve to enhance my own ability to work with both parties more effectively.. I personally see no point in discriminating against people, anyone, regardless of their circumstance.. everyone deserves inner peace and a chance to heal and move on with their lives.. too many people wash their hands of others..
I appreciate what you say about counselling not being ideal for the prison environment, the beauty of eft permits people, for those who are not familiar with it, to work on issues they are not even able to voice aloud, without even having to tell the practitioner what they are working on.. yet the benefits can still be equally powerful.
As you already know, this is an area I would be very interested in pursuing - I just feel very drawn to this.. I can't explain why, I just feel compelled to do it. Very happy to talk here or in emails. :)
Answers:
Gussie, you said
and I am truly horrified that these colleagues, who are presumably members of the healing professions, deem prison inmates to be unworthy of healing. Do they consider prisoners to be another category of human beings, different from the rest of humanity? Are they not aware of how many people are currently incarcerated either wrongly or for some minor infringement, such as shoplifting? I would have thought that healers would not think in this way. I am truly shocked. If God can forgive us our trespasses, as I believe He does, then who are these colleagues of yours to pronounce differently. I am so pleased that they don't seem to have convinced you and I do wish you luck if you take your therapies into a prison environment, where they are sorely needed.
Blessings
Sunanda xx
Answers:
These colleagues are speaking from a business and not a personal point of view, they do believe that inmates deserve help as much as anyone else, but expressed this concern to me as part of some recent discussions. I can understand that working with perpetrators of violent crime may alienate some. Perhaps I am driven more by my heart than my head..
Healers... interestingly I have on my travels found some of the most judgemental people in the healing fields, it's shocked me to the core when you would expect the most empathy in this profession, but everyone is an individual.. we all have our reasons to work within this field and we all believe our motives are good.
I don't know when I will work in this environment, but I believe when I am ready, that opportunity will present itself and I hope that I can make some small steps.. and hopefully some more profound steps to make life much better for these people.
Answers:
Hi Marsha
I feel you should be commended, it is very important to look at the bigger picture when dealing with prisoners, they are also victims. They are in prison because of an underlying problem. They have been abused, are addicts, classified as social misfits. And of course some have mental problems.
To give someone their self esteem back, to give them a sense of self worth is very important.
Too many people are quick to judge and to shout about the special treatments and educational projects that prisoners are given. But we have a responsibility to treat everyone with humanity.
I have experience of teaching in prisons and have seen the benefits.
Again Well Done Marsha
Regards
Bridie
Answers:
Masha,
As promised when we met, I have sent you a email but your box seems to be full. I will give you a few days to catch up and will send it again.
Love
Sarah
Answers:
Hi Masha, You certainly do some important work. Over these months I have had a few people contact me who were innocent victims wrongfully imprisoned - Some still unable to get redress....too scared to speak out...I have also spokenwith someone who had to attend compulsory Jury dutywhere a young man was sent to prison...while in the pub afterwards she overheard the police boasting about how 'they got him' and withheld the evidence.....this lad was innocent and not only suffered this traumatic ordeal....but now has a black scar on his records in the process. The Jury member lives with guilt to this day...........What happens is very very wrong.
I am sure you have heard and seen many stories. What I do know is that it is almost impossible to get media attention to warn other people of legal corruption - who a major tabloid told me happens all the time. You will know first hand of the devastation to peoples lives...and then there are some who just cannot cope...I am tolddepression isrife and suicide is not uncommon either....
My interest and motivation is to assist with self empowerment.....I would be happy to talk with you and expand my awareness......I am based in Greater Manchester...andam preparedto lend my support with your efforts.
Pauline Maria
Answers:
Just keep on posting everywhere, something is better than nothing ;)
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