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EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUES (EFT)

“The cause of all negative emotions is a disruption in the body's energy system.” 

- Gary Craig, Founder of EFT -

What is EFT (also known as Tapping)?

EFT is, quite simply, an incredibly effective self-help method!

It's scientific and evidence-based, you can learn it quickly, and most people find that even the very first time they try it, they get great results.
 

EFT means "Emotional Freedom Techniques" and is a powerful self-help method based on research showing that emotional trauma contributes greatly to disease. Clinical trials have shown that EFT tapping is able to rapidly reduce the emotional impact of memories and incidents that trigger emotional distress.
 

Once the distress is reduced or removed, the body can often rebalance itself, and accelerate healing.
 

EFT uses elements of Cognitive Therapy and Exposure Therapy, and combines them with Acupressure, in the form of fingertip tapping on 12 acupuncture points.
 

Over 100 papers published in peer-reviewed medical and psychology journals, including dozens of clinical trials, have demonstrated that EFT is effective for phobias, anxiety, depression, post traumatic stress disorder, pain, and other problems. 

APA Standards for Empirically Validated Treatments

EFT Universe supports the evidence-based standards defined by the American Psychological Association (APA) Division 12 (Clinical Psychology) Task Force ("APA standards" for short). These define an "empirically validated treatment" as one for which there are two different controlled trials conducted by independent research teams.

For a treatment to be designated as "efficacious," the studies must demonstrate that the treatment is better than a wait list, placebo, or established efficacious treatment. To be designated as "probably efficacious," a treatment must have been shown to be better than a wait list in two studies that meet these criteria or are conducted by the same research team rather than two independent teams. 

 

The APA standards advocate that studies contain sufficient subjects to achieve a level of statistical significance of p < .05 or greater, which means that there is only one possibility in 20 that the results are due to chance. The status of EFT as an evidence-based practice is summarized in this statement published in the APA journal Review of General Psychology: 
 

"A literature search identified 51 peer-reviewed papers that report or investigate clinical outcomes following the tapping of acupuncture points to address psychological issues. The 18 randomized controlled trials in this sample were critically evaluated for design quality, leading to the conclusion that they consistently demonstrated strong effect sizes and other positive statistical results that far exceed chance after relatively few treatment sessions. Criteria for evidence-based treatments proposed by Division 12 of the American Psychological Association were also applied and found to be met for a number of conditions, including PTSD." (Feinstein, 2012)

How does it work?

After the client establishes a healing goal, EFT (also known as Natural Bio-Destressing or NBD) provides a step-by-step process to follow. This process can be used on its own or it can be incorporated with HBLU™ Methods.

See the picture for guidance to the step by step process. 

What can EFT do for me?

Studies have been published in top medical and psychology journals such as the American Psychological Association journals Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, Review of General Psychology, Traumatology, and Archives of Scientific Psychology. They have demonstrated that tapping is effective for:

 

  • Phobias

  • Anxiety

  • Depression

  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

  • Pain management

  • Addiction

  • Weight loss and management

  • Relationship satisfaction

  • Sports Performance

  • Teenage challenges like anxiety, depression, and eating disorders

  • Resolution of childhood trauma

  • And much more

 

Try it on everything! According to the founder Gary Craig, there is no limit to the emotional and physical problems that can be addressed by EFT.

 

EFT is a simple tool that anyone can learn and do by him or herself. I regularly incorporate it with HBLU.


It is also a great way to treat issues between sessions.

 

Keep in mind, however, that EFT must still be used in accordance with common sense. Use of this technique is not a license to be irresponsible. Be aware of your limitations. EFT should not be used on serious mental illnesses UNLESS one is specifically qualified in that area.

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