EFT - Emotional Freedom Techniques (Tapping)
What is EFT?
Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), often known as Tapping, is a simple but effective technique for removing emotional blocks and addressing physical or spiritual issues. Tapping is one of the new energy psychologies developed from the ancient Chinese meridian energy system. It combines modern psychology (talking therapies) with our bodies own energy system allowing both the body and the brain to release limitations from negative experiences, thoughts, and feelings. You could think of it as emotional acupuncture without any needles!
How Does EFT Work?
EFT or Tapping is a scientifically proven technique that works by sending calming signals to the amygdala, the stress centre of the brain. This effectively reduces anxiety and the stress response in a measurable physiological way even within minutes of use.
It involves tapping with the fingertips on the ends of meridians in the upper body while recalling specific experiences. The tapping acts like a switch turning down the body’s fight-flight-freeze response, interrupting patterns of negative thoughts and feelings, reducing tension, and rebalancing unwanted emotions so they can be released.
What Can EFT Be Used For?
Research shows that emotional stress is linked to most physical and emotional health problems. Stress disrupts the body’s ability to heal by causing chemical and energy imbalances.
A rising number of clinical trials published in peer-reviewed medical and psychology journals have shown EFT to be effective for;
* anxiety and depression
* tension/stress
* minimize food cravings
* addictive/unwanted habits
* aid in weight
* core issues or our limiting beliefs
* procrastination
* physical pain
* insomnia
* fears and phobias
* help with academic performance
* Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
* bereavement and loss
* alleviate fears around events like doctor visits, public speaking
The Scientific Evidence For EFT.
According to recent research, when you use EFT Tapping to change your unconscious beliefs and emotions, you also change the chemicals that are released in your body. By doing this you are literally rewiring your nervous system, as well as your digestive and endocrine system, and improving energy levels.
The most notable study on Tapping and stress hormones was a landmark study published in 2012 by Dr. Dawson Church, in the respected Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. This study showed EFT Tapping reduced cortisol levels much more than standard talking therapy or resting.
Dr. Peta Stapleton’s replication study in 2020 found comparable results, including a 43 percent reduction in cortisol levels, often known as the “stress hormone.” Paper here- https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Ftra0000563
There is enough evidence to make strong claims regarding the effectiveness of acupoint tapping in delivering significant and lasting outcomes. The following six premises show that tapping:
- Is effective in treating a range of clinical conditions
- Can produce rapid results compared to conventional treatments
- Leads to durable benefits
- Creates changes in biological markers as well as in subjective self-reports
- Is the critical ingredient that produces results – it’s not just a placebo or suggestion
- Sends signals to specific areas of the brain, making it possible to target outcomes with unusual precision
These findings were presented by David Feinstein, Ph.D. (The full paper is published in the journal Advances in Mind-Body Medicine.)
Continuing studies show that when our underlying emotional concerns are addressed, and the body is brought back into balance, the results are; emotional well-being, greater levels of happiness, weight loss, better attention and productivity, improved immune system function, and more.
Why You Need A Practitioner.
Eft can be extremely effective, very quickly but there are many times when it is not so simple.
While tapping along with YouTube videos can sometimes be beneficial it is not personalized, so often you cannot uncover the root of the issue. The problem is, if the words are not resonating with you, they will not have the same impact.
Using scripts can give some value but the true breakthroughs come from using a practitioner that uses their skills and intuition to elicit the many parts of an issue the client is often not consciously aware of.
The number of sessions required will be determined by the issue’s complexity, and it’s important to remember that while some problems, or parts of a problem, will clear up quickly, there may be deeper aspects that will take time, patience, and the expert skills of an experienced, intuitive practitioner to resolve.
One other thing, it’s called Emotional Freedom Techniques, EFT is a collection of techniques, the nuances of which can’t always be picked up in a broad spectrum video.
