From Rock Bottom to Renewal:My Journey with Emotional Freedom Techniques aka EFT tapping.

Have you ever felt like you don't belong, like you're trapped in a cycle you can't break free from? I know that feeling all too well.

From a difficult childhood where I felt like the odd one out, to a toxic and abusive relationship that left me a shell of myself, my journey has been full of challenges. But it was through these difficulties that I discovered Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), a transformative practice that changed my life.

Join me as I share my story of overcoming these obstacles, finding my true self, and ultimately, helping others do the same.

Early Struggles and Feeling Out of Place

Growing up, I often felt like the odd one out in my family. My relationship with my mum was cold and distant, and I struggled to feel a sense of belonging. My mum seemed to favour my brother, and it felt like I was always the one to blame when things went wrong. This lack of connection and support left a void in my life, making me eager to leave home as soon as I could.

Out of the frying pan and into the fire.

I was unhappy and desperate for love. So, when a man showed any interest in me, I quickly fell head over heels, grateful to feel loved and appreciated for the first time. When I finally did leave home, I got married and quickly, the relationship turned verbally and emotionally abusive. I became a shell of myself—lacking confidence, self-belief, and a true sense of identity. I felt trapped and unable to see a way out.

Finding the Courage to Leave and Becoming a Counsellor

It took immense courage and strength to leave that toxic environment. The process of rebuilding my life was daunting, but I knew it was necessary. I had to rediscover who I was and what I wanted out of life. Slowly but surely, I began to regain my confidence and sense of self.

After leaving him, I trained to become a counsellor. My main objective was to heal myself. I believed there was an unspoken family rule that we don't talk about our problems; we just smile and carry on. So, in a strange way, even though I was now an adult, I found it really difficult to simply go to counselling myself. Instead, I took the indirect route, thinking I could justify it by saying, "Well, I had to have counselling myself in order to qualify."

Volunteering and Counselling Work

I became a volunteer at Victim Support for a few years, where I supported a family whose loved one had been murdered and also women who had been raped. Additionally, I worked as a counsellor at a women's refuge, helping women understand their patterns so they could find healthy relationships in the future. This work was incredibly rewarding, but I found that traditional counselling had a missing link that I couldn't quite put my finger on.

Searching for the Missing Link

Due to a bereavement, I took a break from counselling and found that I just didn't go back. However, I was still searching for the missing link to heal my own issues.

The Turning Point: Discovering EFT

Years later, when my children grew up and no longer needed me as much, I found myself feeling lost once again. The sense of purpose that came with being a full time mum had diminished, and I was left questioning my place in the world. It was during this time of uncertainty that I discovered Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT).

EFT became a pivotal part of my healing journey. It helped me process my emotions, release past traumas, and regain control over my life. Gradually it started to feel safe to break down my protective armour. Through EFT, I found a renewed sense of purpose and a deeper appreciation for life’s possibilities. It allowed me to reconnect with my true self and embrace my unique qualities.

Helping Others on Their Journey

My transformation inspired me to help others who might be going through similar struggles. If you’re feeling lost, stuck, or struggling to voice your needs, I’m here to support you.

Together, we can compassionately understand the limiting beliefs that have been holding you back and using EFT, we can neutralise their power and create new healthy beliefs.

Let’s have a conversation to see if I can be the right person to support you on your journey of self-discovery and empowerment. Reach out to me today and take the first step towards a brighter, more fulfilling future.

If you would like to work on some of your feelings and worries and would like to give EFT a try send me a message at www.katie@katieseftcoaching.com and we can arrange a free EFT taster session.

Pause, Reflect And Realign - Journal Prompts For Midlife Mums.

Tomato seeds come with instructions.

I love growing vegetables, and there is something deeply satisfying about planting seeds in March and watching them sprout on my dining table. I regularly go and check on them, ensuring they have enough water, and light. As they outgrow their seed tray I pot them on to larger pots until they are ready to go into their final position in the greenhouse. From here, I support them with canes as they grow taller and stronger. When the fruit starts to show, I feed them regularly, hoping to gain a good crop of juicy tomatoes.

Sometimes, however, life gets busy, and I forget about my seedlings. When I remember and check on them, they look sorry for themselves, I regret not consistently caring for them, I try and take remedial action to repair the damage, and watch with bated breath to see if I acted in time.

As Mums, We Often Put Our Own Needs Last

When I was in full mum mode, I focused on everyone else’s needs and inadvertently put my own emotional well-being on the back burner. Ignoring my feelings and neglecting self-care left me feeling depleted and wondering how I got there.

Discovering EFT tapping transformed my approach. Now, I'm better at recognising my emotions and self-talk, addressing issues promptly before they escalate.

Yet, this journey required practice and focus to turn it into a healthy habit. Like all skills, it takes time to pause and tune into ourselves, asking, "What do I need right now?"

So, Where Are You On This Journey?

Do you regularly check in with yourself, acknowledging your feelings and worries? Are past experiences still weighing you down? Perhaps you ask yourself what is holding you back from being your best self right now?

Once you have the answers, EFT tapping is an amazing tool to clear the emotions and beliefs that aren’t serving you, making your future seem a bit easier to handle.

If you would like guidance and journal prompts to delve deeper and gain clarity about your present circumstances and what you would like moving forward, then I have something for you.

Claim your free journal workbook designed to help you navigate life's challenges with clarity and confidence.

Click Here To Get Started

Together, let's cultivate a happier, healthier future.

If you would like to work on some of your feelings and worries and would like to give EFT a try send me a message at www.Katie@katieseftcoaching.com and we can arrange a free EFT taster session.

Mission Impossible

Its a Saturday night, and I am at a friends party chatting and sipping at my chilled white wine. I overhear a conversation and it sounds interesting, my ears prick up.

I turn to join that group, David is talking about his 50th birthday which is coming up next year. He has been offered charity places for the New York marathon and wants to raise money for Great Ormand Street Hospital. He is asking if anyone would like to run with him.

Before I know it I hear myself saying - “Yes I will join you!”

Now let me just point out that at this point in time, I am not a runner, I struggle to run to the end of the road. Yikes what have I agreed to?

The next day I research how to run from coach to 5k and work through the program, I am so excited every time I achieve a run, I manage to run 20 minutes without stopping, this feels like such an achievement. Then each run I add one minute, 21minutes becomes 22 minutes, small additions.

Fast forward to New Years day, I run 7 miles non stop today for the first time, I feel absolutely amazing, I try and push away the nagging thought that I am still a long way off my target of 26.2 miles, but I know I have 10 months to reach this. I CAN DO THIS!

I research the best way to train for a marathon, and create an 18 week plan. It includes long runs to build the distance, short recovery runs, speed work to build fitness, I also add in yoga to help my muscles recover and to avoid injury.

I put the chart on the wall and try to focus simply on my next run. I am still terrified about the race, but I am trying to build up my distance slowly and focus on each challenge to manage my nerves.

Every time I run, I tick it off the chart, I can see the race date getting closer, but I can also see my achievements building too.

Every long run feels scary. I battle with my negative self talk, so I break each long run into chunks, one mile at a time. I occupy my mind by playing games like a - z of girls names, then boys names, then countries. Before I know it I have run another few miles.

I work through my schedule, some days I don’t achieve what I hoped other days I run more, its ok I tell myself, its ok to be ill, tired, lacking in motivation, just start the run and see what happens, and forgive myself if it doesn’t quite work out.

Race day finally arrives, I have my schedule with me, this is my evidence that I deserve to do this well and enjoy the experience. I have run nearly 500 miles in the last 18 weeks, I am definitely a runner now.

The crowd is cheering us on and shouting out our names, its absolutely amazing, I am loving this. Around every corner is a band playing music, flags are waving, new groups of people applauding. I am buzzing, the crowd are so enthusiastic.

The miles add up, and eventually I reach Central Park where the finish line is. I start to get really excited, oh my word I am actually going to do this! I can’t believe it, it feels serial. I turn the final corner and up ahead is the finish line, I can feel the emotions building up. I run a bit faster as the adrenaline kicks in, I raise my hands and grin from ear to ear as I cross the line.

I am stunned but then feel tearful - happy tears, relief, disbelief, Wow I actually did it, something that once felt impossible!

Sometimes in life goals can feel so far away, so impossible, but if you can break it down into manageable chunks and celebrate each win however small, it means you can enjoy the journey. The end destination is wonderful but it really is important to also enjoy how you get there too.

Midlife can feel a bit like this for us mums, we have taken care of our children, and now they have grown up and don't need us as much any more. So what is next for us? It might feel exiting or it might feel daunting or somewhere in between. If you are in this place now and you would like some emotional support to help you overcome any emotional blocks stopping you from being your best self in this next chapter then that is where I can support you.

Send me an email katie@katieseftcoaching.com to arrange a free EFT taster session and chat to see if we can work well together. I look forward to hearing from you.