EFT

What is EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique®)?

Emotional Freedom Technique (or “tapping”) is a combination of tapping on acupressure points (meridians) and the use of phrases to effect change. It is a form of Energy PsychologyWhat is Energy Psychology?
Energy psychology involves the tapping of acupressure points or working with meridians in combination with psychological techniques. This process calms down the limbic system, allowing greater access your inner wisdom..What is Energy Psychology?
Energy psychology involves the tapping of acupressure points or working with meridians in combination with psychological techniques.   This process calms down the limbic system, allowing greater access your inner wisdom.”Energy Psychology

Do you want to be able to overcome  any of the following?

• Pain
• Eating disorders
• Headaches
• Procrastination
• Fear of success
• Phobias
• Addictions
• Fear of failure
• PTSD/Traumas
• Anger
• Grief
• Anxiety

Or achieve….?

• Your goals
• Weight loss
• Confidence
• Peak performance
• Abundance
• Motivation

Why EFT?

Admittedly, if someone were to were to have told me years ago that there is a simple, powerful and safe tool, that works much faster and more effectively than other known therapies that exist, I probably would not have taken the person seriously.  However, when I started using EFT, I realized I’d found a transformational tool that finally gave me hope for positive change and has produced miracles in my life and those of others on a regular basis.

So what do others say about EFT?  Here are some testimonials:

“In my 50 years as a practicing psychiatrist, EFT has proven to be one of the most rapid and effective techniques I’ve ever used.”  Henry Altenberg, MD, USA

“The Emotional Freedom Technique, or EFT, is the psychological acupressure technique I routinely use in my practice and most highly recommend to optimize your emotional health” Dr. Joseph Mercola

“The only advice I would have for somebody thinking about EFT would be to do it.  There’s nothing to lose. It’s so fast.  It’s such a powerfully quick process.” Jack Canfield, author of Chicken Soup for the Soul

“Based on impressive new discoveries regarding the body’s subtle energies, Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) has been proven successful in thousands of clinical cases. It applies to just about every emotional, health and performance issue you can name and it often works where nothing else will.” Bruce Lipton, Ph.D., author of the Biology of Belief

How long do benefits last?

Benefits from EFT can last indefinitely from just one session, or may require persistent tapping several times a day depending on the issue, the number of aspects of the issue that need to be overcome, and how well we are able to find all the aspects involved. Regardless, EFT works much faster than conventional therapy, and is something you will be able to use whenever you need it!

Is it safe?

Reports of negative side effects are extremely rare.   On the flip side, reports of additional positive effects are common — such as greater feelings of well being, self-acceptance, self-care, or more resilience and a general reduction in anxiety.

How does it work?

The most common explanation given by its founder, Gary Craig, is that our body has an energy system (called meridians by the Chinese), which are disrupted when a trauma occurs. Tapping along the meridians is thought to realign the energy system to allow energy to move freely through the body.

An alternate explanation offered by Dr. Feinstein (2008) says that tapping the acupressure points sends signals to the part of the brain involved in emotion. These signals quickly reduce negative emotions that we are working to address.

Has any research been conducted?

Yes! Here are just a few highlights:

Phobias:

Steve Wells conducted a randomized control trial comparing EFT to diaphragmatic breathing in people with high phobic responses to small creatures (ie bats, spiders and snakes). The EFT group was able to get much closer to the feared creature and the effect remained 3-6 months later(1). The effects of EFT on fear of small creatures and heights have been confirmed in two additional studies (2).

PTSD:

Three studies have been conducted that show dramatic effects of EFT on symptoms of PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder)(3-5).

Anxiety:

EFT has been shown to be faster in helping people overcome test anxiety in comparison with cognitive behavioral therapy(6), and public speaking anxiety(7).

Stress:

EFT has been shown to show greater reduction in the stress hormone cortisol (24% reduction) than traditional talk therapy (15% reduction)(8).

Other studies have shown benefits of EFT in people with fibromyalgia(9), depression, pain, cravings(10, 11), and addictions, as well as helping with weight loss(11), and  sports performance(12)!

You can find a more extensive resource of research articles from www.eftuniverse.com, but the most efficient way to determine if it works, is to just try it!

Want to learn EFT with a group?   Join us at the Healthy Mind Meetup in the Seattle area!

References:

1. Wells S, Polglase K, Andrews HB, Carrington P, Baker AH. Evaluation of a Meridian-Based Intervention, Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), for Reducing Specific Phobias of Small Animals. Journal of Clinical Psychology 2003;59:942-966.
2. Baker AH, PhD, , Siegel LS, MA. Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) Reduces Intense Fears: A Partial Replication and Extension of Wells et al. (2003). Energy Psychology: Theory, Research, & Treatment 2010;2:13-30.
3. Church D. The Treatment of Combat Trauma in Veterans Using EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques): A Pilot Protocol. Traumatology 2010;10:55-65.
4. Church D, Piña O, Reategui C, Brooks A. Single-Session Reduction of the Intensity of Traumatic Memories in Abused Adolescents After EFT: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study. Traumatology 2011.
5. Stein PK, Brooks A. Efficacy of EFT Provided by Coaches Versus Licensed Therapists in Veterans With PTSD. Energy Psychology Journal 2011;3.
6. Benor DJ, Ledger K, Toussaint L, Hett G, Zaccaro D. Pilot Study of EFT, WHEE and CBT for Treatment of Test Anxiety in University Students. Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing 2009;5:338-340.
7. Jones SJ, Thornton JA, PhD, , Andrews HB, PhD. Efficacy of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) in Reducing Public Speaking Anxiety: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Energy Psychology: Theory, Research, & Treatment, 2011;3:33-42.
8. Church D, Yount G, Brooks A. The Effect of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) on Stress Biochemistry: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease 2011;in press.
9. Brattberg G, MD. Self-administered EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) in Individuals with Fibromyalgia: A Randomized Trial
10. . Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal 2008:30-35.
11. Church D. The Effect of a Brief EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) Self-Intervention on Anxiety, Depression, Pain and Cravings in Healthcare Workers. Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal 2010;Oct/Nov:40-44.
12. Stapleton P, Sheldon T, Porter B, Whitty J. A Randomized Clinical Trial of a Meridian-Based Intervention for Food Cravings with Six Month Follow-up. Behavior Change 2011;28:1-16.
13. Church D. The Effect of EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) on Athletic Performance:
14. A Randomized Controlled Blind Trial. Open Sports Sciences journal 2009;2:94-99.