Anita Bains, M.S., APRN, BC, an EFT Specialist and Board-Certified Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, is committed to helping individuals unlock their untapped potential for wellness, peace, prosperity, and joy. Drawing inspiration from Siddhārtha Gautama Buddha’s wisdom that “we become what we think,” she assists clients in shedding limiting beliefs and empowers them to:
Maximize their potential
Enhance relationships
Realize dreams
Cultivate abundance
Restore health and balance
Begin your journey toward the life you desire with Anita Bains.
Read more in the latest MysticMag interview.
How do you help clients identify and challenge negative thought patterns in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
I ask them to talk about specific beliefs they learned from parents, care providers, and peers. For example, what they learned about money. If they’ve identified “not having enough money” as the problem to resolve I ask questions about what they learned, and the circumstances. It might be like “money doesn’t grow on trees, there’s not enough to go around, etc., and how this belief shows up in their life. We then proceed to use EFT on their belief which uncovers how this belief interferes with their desire/goals. In the same way, I ask them other beliefs about their health, body, self-esteem, and relationships that are relevant to their identified problems. We then tap away at their limiting beliefs using the EFT protocol. Magically their old belief is neutralized and they gain a positive, new perspective. Cognitive restructuring happens easily and naturally. One is able to see clearly and accurately instead of through the cloudy lens of the limiting belief.
Could you provide an example of a cognitive restructuring exercise you might use?
The EFT protocol is a cognitive restructuring technique. It happens easily and naturally. As we use the protocol unpleasant physical sensations, thoughts, and emotions are neutralized and positive ones emerge. It’s as if the negative ones that result from life experiences have been covering the authentic positive beliefs.
CBT often emphasizes the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Can you describe how you assist clients in recognizing and modifying this interconnectedness to promote positive change?
I explain the heart, brain, and body connection and describe how our foundational beliefs begin in the uterus and extend to about age seven. Since our brain is still developing at this stage, we do not know fact from fiction. Our self-identity is based on falsehoods we learned in childhood. When we leave the home environment, these beliefs are who we think we are so we create experiences that reinforce these beliefs “No matter where you go there you are” aptly describes this phenomenon. This process is unconscious. We address unwanted memories by uncovering these limiting beliefs hiding in the subconscious. We address the unpleasant memories by neutralizing them with EFT. Our body is an amazing reservoir of our life experiences which we can tap into for healing. The Body Keeps the Score, by Bessel van der Kolk describes how this happens.
Individuals with chronic illnesses like Lyme disease can experience emotional and psychological struggles. How do you tailor your therapeutic approach to address the unique challenges faced by these individuals?
Because of my nursing background, having had Lyme & other TBDs, and co-authored The Lyme Disease Workbook: Tapping into a Wellness State of Mind I explain the effect the chemical changes related to these diseases have on our whole body, the stress response that ensues, exacerbated by feeling so alone in their illness. People often are very ill for years with Lyme, going from practitioner to practitioner only to being told it’s all in their head! The Covid long-haulers are experiencing similar emotional trauma from their traumatic encounters with uniformed healthcare providers.
What are the core principles of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT)?
A core principle is that “all illness is caused by a disruption in the body’s energy system.” This is based on the principles of ancient Chinese acupressure and modern psychology. Tapping is often referred to as acupuncture for the emotions without the needles. The basic technique requires one to focus on a negative emotion such as anger, worry, or stress and tap on the acupressure points while maintaining focus on the initial problem.
How do you guide clients through the process of using tapping to address emotional distress or negative feelings?
After the person identifies the problem, they maintain focus on the problem while tapping on the acupressure points. This sends a calming message to the brain as well as to the body. Stress is experienced in the body and is a major source of many serious illnesses worldwide. My clients receive a handout with the tapping points, and I tap along with them and receive benefits as well.
Can you describe a situation where you’ve seen significant improvements in a client’s emotional well-being through the use of EFT?
A veteran of the Iraq war had PTSD from a very traumatic war memory. After one session his emotional reaction to that event decreased from a 10 to 0. He said he was unusually calm when thinking about that memory. He described it like “I’m walking down a grocery aisle” as far as his emotional response to the memory.” Another person’s shoulder pain of 20 years just disappeared. This change was still present six months later.
How do you explain the process and benefits of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to clients who might be unfamiliar with this therapeutic approach?
EMDR is similar to EFT in that it changes the perception and emotional response to a traumatic memory. Clients are asked to recall a memory they wished they did not have. They are asked to focus on the upsetting event, noticing any images, thoughts, or physical sensations while they observe sets of side-to-side eye movements, sounds, or taps. This bilateral stimulation neutralizes the event. The original negative memory is naturally replaced with a positive interpretation. This happens easily and naturally.
