Emotional Freedom Technique – EFT

on September 3 | in Therapy Issues | by Rachel Cooke | with No Comments

The Energy Approach

Overview

Ever felt like talking through a problem just isn’t enough to really be able to process it and move on?

Maybe you’ve had some experience of talking therapy and felt disappointed by the lack of progress you made, or you just don’t feel ready or able to verbalise what’s going on for you. In cases like these, Emotional Freedom Technique or EFT can be the perfect answer.

EFT is a modern form of energy therapy which is also known as “acupuncture without needles”. It is a combination of emotional awareness and a balancing of the body’s energy. It draws from the Eastern principles behind acupuncture as well as Western therapies like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, and EMDR.

EFT is a powerful, drug-free, easy-to-learn and easy-to-use technique that can reduce and eliminate the distress and painful emotions associated with certain thoughts, behaviours, memories and past experiences.

How does it work?

EFT involves techniques that combine cognitive restructuring, exposure and a degree of hypnosis or physical relaxation. It works by getting you to stimulate specific “meridian” or energy points on your head and body by tapping them with your fingertips, whilst focussing on the issue at hand and repeating key phrases out loud. It begins with the EFT Discovery Statement which says that

“The cause of all negative emotions is an imbalance in the body’s energy system.”

Using tapping, you access your brain’s amygdala, which is responsible for regulating your body’s stress response. This process can be initiated by a physical craving or an emotional trigger, like a painful memory. With tapping, you quickly disrupt the body’s stress response, prompting your body to release less “stress hormones” like cortisol and adrenaline, which flood your body during moments of high anxiety. With these hormones at healthier levels, your body and mind relax much quicker.

EFT can be learnt in under 5 minutes and practiced on your own at no cost. EFT  is safe, easy, requires no equipment, and can be done anywhere for any length of time. It is often seen as being most effective when clients also practice EFT on their own between sessions, and this tool can be utilised for as long as you want after ending therapy sessions with a practitioner.

What issues does it treat?

While EFT has been found helpful for a great range of psychological concerns from grief to anger to phobias, it has gained popularity in recent years as catalyst for recovery of those suffering from trauma.

If you think you’re suffering from the after-effects of a traumatic event or very painful experience, or you have been diagnosed with trauma-related psychological conditions like PTSD, consider EFT as a treatment intervention. EFT can produce positive results in remarkably short periods of time. More so, EFT is not a talking therapy. If talking about your experience is distressing for you, EFT is a gentle and effective alternative.

Because EFT accesses the fear and stress centers in your brain on physical and emotional levels simultaneously, EFT can effectively treat conditions such as addictions, eating disorders which often can’t be resolved successfully with psychotherapy alone.

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