Many therapists and academics in the trauma field believe that people suffering from trauma experiences simply have to live with the intense emotions, intrusive thoughts and limiting behaviours that result.
Ulf Sandstrom and Gunilla Hamne from Peaceful Heart network know differently.
They have brought their simple, elegant technique they call the Trauma Tapping Technique to thousands of communities deeply in need of healing. From its start in Rwanda in 2006, then rippling out through Uganda, Kenya and many other African communities they operate on a train-the-trainer basis. They train a small number of community leaders, who in turn, train many others resulting in lasting decreases in trauma symptoms and an astounding increase in hope.
Peaceful Heart is also bringing its message of reducing suffering and preventing violence to prisons in both Africa and the United States. These are high traumatized communities that are finding great value in EFT/tapping as an Emergency First Aid technique.
In the video interview below, I ask Ulf and Gunilla about their work, the results and what motivates them to continue. Gunilla speaks about the vital need to work in communities that have invited them. Ufl shares his knowing that anybody can provide first aid for traumatic experiences using EFT/tapping, just like anyone can do mouth to mouth resuscitation.
Ulf also shares two meaningful quotes from Dr. Bessel Van Der Kolk, author of The Body Keeps the Score:
“Without tapping I wouldn’t be able to work with trauma.’
and
“If you take trauma out of the DSM 5 what you’d have is a pamphlet.”
Ulf adds his own powerful statement:
“EFT/tapping is something that can be easily spread to many at very low cost and makes a very big difference, often a life or death difference.”