Welcome to EFT4Vets™! Helping Veterans and their families heal from the trauma of war

“No one comes back unchanged” (Col. (Dr.) Tom Burke, Department of Defense, Director of Mental Health Policy)

What we will do today Current situation and care of returning Veterans – Symptoms of PTSD – Studies – Discussion of Military Mindset – Discussion of roadblocks to healing

What we will do today What are we dealing with spiritually and historically? The warrior archetype War as a rite of passage Some food for thought…

What we will do today Establishing rapport and trust Strategies to provide EFT support to Veterans and returning troops How to tap specific Veterans issues with EFT

Our role as EFT4Vets™ Coach: Not to judge… Not to condone… Not to excuse… But to help heal what happened!

War may be hell…but home ain’t exactly heaven, either. When a Soldier comes home from war, he finds it hard…

…to listen to his son whine about being bored.

…to keep a straight face when people complain about potholes.

…to be tolerant of people who complain about the hassle of getting ready for work

…to be understanding when a co-worker complains about a bad night’s sleep

…to control his panic when his wife tells him he needs to drive slower

…to be grateful, that he fights for the freedom of speech.

…to be silent when people pray to God for a new car.

…to be compassionate when a businessman expresses a fear of flying.

…to not laugh when anxious parents say they’re afraid to send their kids off to summer camp.

…to not ridicule someone who complains about hot weather.

…to control his rage when a colleague gripes about his coffee being cold.

…to remain calm when his daughter complains about having to walk the dog.

…to be civil to people who complain about their jobs.

…to just walk away when someone says they only get two weeks of vacation a year.

…to be happy for a friend’s new hot tub

…to be forgiving when someone says how hard it is to have a new baby in the house.

…to not punch a wall when someone says we should pull out immediately

The only thing harder than being a Soldier…

is loving one

A gentle reminder to keep your life in perspective. And when you meet one of our returning Soldiers, please remember what they’ve been through and show them compassion and tolerance. Thank you. CPT Alison L. Crane, RN, MS Mental Health Nurse Observer-Trainer 7302ndMedical Training Support Battalion

The three Components of PTSD Re-experiencing (flashbacks, nightmares, intrusive thoughts,…) Avoidance (numbing of emotions, social withdrawal, avoidance of triggers and reminders, drugs…) Arousal (hyper vigilance, startling, rage…)

Remember: A flashback is NOT an intense memory! A flashback lets a situation appear as REAL!

Remember: The toughest PTSD symptom to deal with: AVOIDANCE Avoidance stops the guys from reaching out and accepting help

EFT and the Military Mind “We are trained like a kind of cult: We don’t question, and we don’t complain to outsiders!” Anson, USMC

Rand Study: “Invisible wounds of war” First large-scale, nongovernmental assessment of the psychological and cognitive needs of military service members who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan over the past six years. April 2008

Current situation of Care (Rand) Of about 1.64 million deployed soldiers, 303,000 Veterans (about 20%) are expected to have or develop PTSD/Depression – 53% of those had sought care from a physician or mental health provider last year – But just over half of those reaching out received a minimally adequate treatment – The number of those who received quality care (evidence based care) would be expected to be even smaller

UK Study: Do Military Peacekeepers want to talk about their experiences?

n% To military friends or peer group on the same deployment74198 To spouse or partner72495 To another family member58076 To military friends or peer group not in the same deployment45360 To civilian friends or peer group39552 The chain of command11215 To medical services628 To welfare services578 Who did peacekeepers speak to about their experiences?

Remember Only about 25% of Veterans who have or are developing PTSD are receiving “minimally adequate care” through the VA The vast majority of Veterans prefer to speak to people close to them about their experiences If we help those who the veterans turn to with EFT, we will be able to reach many more people effectively!

Introducing EFT to the military “Don’t go to the VA or the military unless you are ready to fight the government at a high level. Don’t approach the individual in the military environment. They will respond even less.” Joe, USMC

The mission The mission of the military is defense, not healing! Fulfilling mission will always be more important than the personal wellbeing of the individual. Tap on the fact that we can’t change that

War trauma in the Chain of Command Remember: Deployment and war experience is an essential component of a military career. A large number of the decision makers suffer from combat trauma and PTSD This might impact their decisions.

Don’t question the mission! Soldiers believe in the mission they are sent to fight. They sacrifice and watch others die for it Questioning the mission is highly offensive and will cause for the soldier to walk out.

A glimpse on military values Honor Service Sacrifice Pride Acknowledgement “Country and mission over personal wellbeing”

Honoring the Hero The word “hero” feels strange to many They feel they are just “doing their job” They are embarrassed by too much attention

Mission and Responsibility Troops are trained to fulfill their mission and command without questioning This gets them through deployment Many begin to question their personal role after their return and develop guilt as a solution

PTSD in the VA System Another reason why it is hard to get access to VA: PTSD and Avoidance in VA personnel Remember: Part of the warriors path is healing others Many work at the VA and Vet centers as counselors

How to reach out We don’t need permission from the VA to help a Veteran We can reach out to one person, one community, establish trust and rapport and help him/her with EFT Tapping By doing so, we demonstrate reliability, trustworthiness and effectiveness

How to reach out We can reach out to the spouses, friends and buddies who are already helping their soldier. Helping and training them in EFT coaching allows us to support those Veterans who don’t reach out to outsiders or mental health services

Leadership Tactics “Lead by example” “Lead or get out of the way!” An EFT practitioner needs to prove him/herself as a leader

Returning troops struggle with: Lack of structure Training to be either “on” or “”off” High adrenaline Feeling lost, military values don’t count at home

Returning troops struggle with Judgment and non understanding community Relationships with Buddies stronger than with family Financial and job problems

EFT works so well because: Provides structure Reliable Predictable, easy process Coach demonstrates leadership, and: Allows for leadership by the soldier Takes the charge out without condoning or excusing

EFT works so well because: Low risk of retraumatization, as coach and veteran are in constant verbal exchange EFT works with that the soldier is angry, not why he or she is angry Doesn’t judge, condone or excuse Confirms and honors any experience! Acknowledgment without comparing scars

EFT works so well because: Phrasing can be specifically customized and appropriate for military: “Even though…I honor and respect myself” Coach takes the role of a one person tribe Coach offers respect, honor, acknowledgment and forgiveness in a tribal way

What are we dealing with spiritually and historically? “War and the Soul” Edward Tick, PhD

Rites of passage and initiation “…are much like going through a long corridor, where we are put through training and ordeals that prepare us for a rebirth as a new person, with new status and new wisdom.” Edward Tick, PhD “War and the soul”

Rites of passage and initiation Rites of passage are necessary for healthy, human development They are needed to prepare and celebrate our changes through the life cycle They are archetypal, so they show up in substitute forms when ignored.

All rites of passage include: Creation of a sacred space (separation from the tribe) Elders train and prepare the boys for their position as a warrior Ordeals that test and prepare the initiate Tribe: Witnessing, storytelling, cleansing

All rites of passage include: Rituals that symbolize the transformation sought A concluding celebration, during which the candidate was often renamed

Remember: The transformation is not complete in solitude: We must witness for and initiate each other! This then becomes a part of our shared history!

The archetype of the Warrior Seeks initiation and transformation Desires the experience of doing things beyond oneself Desires to earn honor and meaning through moral behavior and service

The archetype of the Warrior The ordeal develops character, lets him/her face death, and learn how fragile life is. His/her culture helps heal and shape him/her into a mature warrior who, having been tested and proven, can take on a new place in society. To this day, war has some of that fascination and we have the spiritual hunger for righteous service

The archetype of the Warrior The path of the warrior is not fulfilled, until he/she has saved/healed another person

The role of the tribe Witness the warriors ordeal Listen to the stories told and retell them Offer forgiveness and take responsibility from the warrior Cleansing

EFT is the perfect tool Storytelling Witnessing Cleansing EFT is so easy to learn that it allows the warrior to finish his/her mission and help another person heal

Food for thought… A warrior and a healer have a lot in common: They sacrifice for a higher purpose They are willing to face ordeals that help them grow They NEVER give up!

Food for thought: Always check if the Veteran you are working with has been able to finish his rite of passage! If not, he/she will be “stuck in the tunnel” Help him/her out of it and finish the rite of passage with EFT!

Starting a Session Ask about how buddies are doing Ask about insomnia (safe and desirable) Tap on physical issues if appropriate Consider tapping on rage about betrayal

Conflicts with accepting healing Guilt is a SOLUTION for many The only way they feel they can take charge of what happened in the past! Help them find the personal honor and self respect in the story, even if they believe they betrayed the values of the warrior!

Establishing trust and rapport During the course of war, the Veterans’ world often shrinks. Their mission was to protect their country, now it becomes a matter of personal survival and survival of their buddies Veterans are often trained to decide within seconds if someone is friend or enemy Maybe the most important starter question: “What do you need to know about me?” Trust is of the essence Put all your cards on the table and (briefly) tell your story

Ways to Rapport Before reaching out to Veterans: Find your own story: Why is it important to me to do this work? Where are my limits? What are my biggest fears/objections? Find the place of unconditional forgiveness

Our role as EFT4Vets Coach: Not to judge… Not to condone… Not to excuse… But to help heal what happened! Proving ourselves worthy to become a “Buddy”, backing up, helping out, offering unconditional forgiveness

Coaching Stay GOAL oriented! Use choices technique in a way that reflects the Veteran’s goals

A roadmap to healing war trauma Regaining personal control and power Acknowledging ethics and the soul Releasing the fears and ego

A roadmap to healing war trauma Regaining power and control: The “How do you want to feel about what happened?” factor

A roadmap to healing war trauma Acknowledging ethics and the soul: The “Where is the betrayal?” factor

A roadmap to healing war trauma Releasing the ego fear that stops the healing: The ” What is the underlying fear and belief?” factor

Communication Listen and confirm! Vets don’t want to have to explain themselves It is not the story that is important, it is the Veteran and how he feels about the story

Communication Veterans don’t compare scars! Keep sentences short, military language is short Veterans often communicate nonverbally F…man…

Numbness Numbness is an emotional reaction Neutral is a thought without charge As an EFT coach, I feel neutral and deeply compassionate, but my reaction is not in relation to the event, but in relation to the Veteran’s response to the event

Forgiveness We can offer unconditional forgiveness from the context in which the event/trauma happened Helping the Veteran finish his rite of passage as a tribe member Taking back responsibility, offering forgiveness, gratitude and honor

Insomnia Ask “when was the last time you had a good nights sleep?” What happens when you try to sleep Expressing compassion and confirmation of the effects that insomnia can have on everybody’s life

The gentle EFT Techniques Chasing the pain “Sneaking up on the problem” The “Movie” technique and: The “Choices” technique

Overwhelm Even though I feel completely overwhelmed right now,…I chose to be surprisingly OK with that Even though I am uncomfortable tapping… I honor and respect myself Even though nobody understands what I have been through, I honor and acknowledge myself for being a warrior

Anger and Rage Look for betrayal before, during and after deployment: Betrayal during childhood Betrayal from the commanders (“elders”) Betrayal from the community (‘tribe”) Betrayal about broken promises and responsibilities (VA, marriage, life after return,…) Betrayal about rite of passage (incomplete war experience, …)

Grief (careful with that one…) Brother in arms What others did What he/she couldn’t prevent What he/she did For the innocent For the lost dreams of others

Feelings that often go together: Rage and Betrayal Guilt and Grief Overwhelm and Helplessness Helplessness and Worthlessness Loneliness and “Loss of the soul” “Being stuck in the past” and not deserving Forgiveness

Childhood Issues Are almost always present Check for beliefs that were created in childhood Release them in connection with war memories

Outlook Get EFT into the Veterans’ communities Create locations (virtual or physical) for the Vets to meet EFT support groups Community involvement in witnessing, storytelling and cleansing (=EFT) Find ways for the Veterans to teach!

EFT Study Psychological Trauma in Veterans using EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques): A Randomized Controlled Trial Church, D. 2009

Minimum values for the GSI, PST, and PCL-M are the symptom-free or best score. Clinical cut-off scores represent the criterion for a clinical diagnosis. Score above 60 are considered in the clinical range for the GSI and PST. Scores of at least 50 are considered in the clinical range for PTSD on the PCL-M according to military standards.

Figure 2. GSI, PST, and PCL-M Pre-During-Post Treatment