5 minute guide to starting secondary school nerves

This was the response from a friend eight years ago after I spent just one session with her trying out a new ‘tapping’ technique that I had recently been trained in to tackle the transformation of negative emotional states to a more positive and peaceful sense of wellbeing. 

I knew that Emily had a crippling spider phobia which had plagued her for years. I also knew that she was experiencing physical and mental discomfort every time she encountered even an image of spider, let alone a live creature and that she was growing increasingly anxious about ‘passing it on’ to her own daughter.

That evening we worked through the algorithms for her phobia and within minutes she was responding. It seemed that tapping had enabled Emily to be free of her arachnophobia. She could not believe that by tapping on specific points on her body in a particular order, a lifetime of fear and trauma attached to these animals could collapse. 

Life has a funny way of testing us, and a few days later, Emily texted me to say that a spider had scuttled across her stairs and had proceeded to plant itself and remain stationary, on her landing. Emily had calmly taken a glass; placed it over the top of the insect; slid a piece of paper underneath and then deposited the spider outside. She did not enjoy this experience and nor is it probable that she will ever like spiders, but in dealing with this intruder she had proved that her phobia no longer needed to interfere with her daily routine.

This outcome fuelled and encouraged my belief that the meridian energy system of TFT (Thought Field Therapy) training I had just completed would prove to be an invaluable addition to my work as an arts therapist in primary and secondary school settings and as a highly effective approach towards enhancing emotional wellbeing. 

The world was a different place back then, with far less awareness around the importance of addressing mental health and the need to offer proactive pathways towards supporting wellbeing issues. I felt strongly that there was a real need to train in solutions that could offer quicker recovery solutions and greater resilience in the face of challenging times.

Abby Stain TFT-DX

BA (Hons)

TFT (Thought Field Therapy) is based on the concept of eliminating negative feelings by tapping on certain meridians on the upper body and hands using your fingertips. 

Discovered, researched and developed by the late Dr Roger Callahan PhD in the 1970s, it is what is known as the original ‘Tapping Technique’ and is now used worldwide by certified TFT practitioners.