From a hopelessness to Emotional Freedom.........

I've had a stammer since childhood. One memory stands out I'm eleven years old and I'm in a fish and chip shop in my hometown in Wales and a large queue has formed.

I can feel the butterflies floating in my stomach as I get nearer to the counter. I begin to rehearse in my mind what I have to say 'four lots of chips, two fish, two steak and onion pies and a cornish pasty'.

The queue moves again and I start to look at problematic words like four and fish and wonder how I'm going to say them.

I'm next but one now. I know many of the people behind me, some are in school with me and there is lots of chatter. Then, it's my turn and there is silence

"What would you like love?" the woman behind the counter asks.

"Four, four....three lots of chips, five cornish pasties and a steak and onion pie," I manage to squeeze the words out.

"Nobody'll notice," I tell myself as I climb the hill towards home.

Then I open the door and everyone gathers round. "I'm starving," Dad says "now, where's my fish,"

I put the food down on the table and tiptoe to the door that leads to the stairs and the safety of my bedroom, but before I can reach it I hear Dad's voice "Where's my fish? John."

"Fish? Isn't it there?" I ask feigning surprise, "maybe the woman forgot to put it in. She's put in a lovely, large cornish pasty though, look," I smile, nodding towards the opened wrapping.

"I asked for fish," Dad says.

"I got a steak and onion pie though," my sister smiles.

"Go back down," Dad starts to rewrap four of the cornish pasties. "and take these with you."

"....but I can't,"

"Why can't you?"

I put my head down and swallow hard, "because I can't say 'fish',"

Ten minutes later I'm back in the fish shop with a note and as I stand marvelling at a seven year old who is able to order exactly what he feels like I'm aware of a voice in my ear, "Next," it bellows. "Oh, you've got a note,"

"Yes," I nod red-faced briefly checking none of my school mates are in the queue.

"There you are then, and there's your note back."

"Th...th....ok," I smile weakly and like a snail that's just broken it's shell climb forlornly back up the hill.

How did EFT help me?

As you can imagine anger and frustration followed me around big time but there was also shame. I felt ashamed that I'd let my parents, my friends and more importantly myself down everytime I opened my mouth.

I sat on a mountain of negative emotion and a feeling of powerlessness until I received my first EFT session with a skillful therapist. The effect was subtle and the change barely noticeable but something had changed. I went for a few more sessions and began studying as much information on EFT as I could find - I bought all of Gary Craig's dvds and watched them for hours. I read books and I started to practice on family and friends. The more I helped others the more I helped myself.

After I qualified as an EFT therapist I was afraid of public speaking and about what my one to one clients would think of me if I stammered in front of them. I worked on this issue using EFT at home and continued my workshops anyway. They got easier, in fact with so much emotional freedom from all the tapping the overwhelming shame has disappeared and the anger around having a stammer has gone. The main thing though, my speech has really improved.

Thank you Gary Craig and EFT

For a free 20 minute consultation over the phone please call John on

Brighton 01273 241 204 or 07533 991 731