Innovation Into Schools

Posts Tagged ‘Tapping’

Four wayward, disruptive, aggressive, “not-interested-in-learning” students with a “last reprieve” undertook a three-week program to address their problematic behavior. Desperate for a solution to this growing problem within the school, the Resource Teacher-Learning and Behavior, of Pukekohe High School in New Zealand and the Principal invited EP specialist Wayne Thompson to implement an EFT-based program, as everything else the school had tried had no impact.

The program’s focus was to give students tools to manage their negative emotions, so no matter what problems arose, they would be able to choose better behaviors.  The students’ initial attitude was a challenge. They were resistant and thought the “tapping” technique was too weird!

Wayne used a four-step process that began by building rapport with the students using NLP matching and pacing techniques and then continued with identifying the disruptive patterns in their use of language, swearing, fidgeting, talking out of turn, rocking on their seats, etc.  Next, Wayne encouraged their disruptive patterns, which allowed him to then interrupt these negative patterns.   Lastly, he facilitated new positive patterns through role-play.

During the three week period, Wayne’s main focus was to make sure that the students learned how to use EFT and apply it to challenging situations as they arose in the present and to also apply EFT to negative events from the past.  Every day the program commenced with the students doing the EFT routine together to reinforce learning the technique.

Weeks after the program finished, staff noticed huge shifts in the students’ behavior. The Principal has asked for a follow-up program, and news of its success reached another local school.

Rehana Webster BSc
www.behaviourchanges.com/