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What is Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT)?
Summary: EFT is intervention technique. The practice is described below. Also described are several theories.
What is Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT)?
EFT, also known as tapping therapy, sometimes just referred to as tapping, is a tool or an intervention technique people use and practice. EFT consists of tuning in to an issue, naming it out loud while tapping on the body. The intention of using EFT as an intervention technique is to desensitize a target feeling or emotion, memory, physical issue, etc.
EFT can be used by practitioners in medicine and mental health (psychologists, psychiatirists, psychotherapists, hypnotherapists, doctors, nurses, dentists, physical therapists, ocupational therapists, speech therapists), but also coaches, including sports performance coaches, (remedial) teachers, managers, trainers, etc. It can also be used for personal development and self help. (Please see limitations.) Please see the whole range of issues that can be treated.
EFT is a very practical tool.
EFT can be considered a (therapeutic) treatment intervention tool.
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Psychotherapy knows several other tools like EMDR used for trauma. NLP also consist of a bunch of tools, tricks, that can be used to improve communication and in therapy. The NLP-tools are very versatile and can be applied in lots of situations. EFT is even more versatile, and this one tool, EFT, can be applied to very, very many situations. |
EFT is an intervention technique.
Although EFT, - out of the box - tends to work very robustly, it is still an intervention technique. Intervention techniques like EMDR and EFT have to be applied systematically with knowledge and with skill.
Practice of EFT
EFT is also body of knowledge that is bundled from the practice of hundreds of EFT-practitioners. This practical knowledge that works grows without regard to theory, with lots of different variations.
A basic assumption is that emotions, feelings and memories are stored (in the body or subconsciousness) and can be retrieved by thinking about them or tuning in to them.
The working knowledge is a complition of tidbits that work or are included because of assumptions and belief in several of the Classical Energy Psychology theories.
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EFT has practical knowledge about how to approach feelings and emotions, how they are stored or held, and how to let go of emotions most effectively using variations of EFT. EFT has practical knowledge of the self sabotaging mechanism called psychological reversal, and how to resolve psychological reversal. |
Theories on What EFT is:
Western Scientific Explanations:
EFT is one of a number of Brief Multi Sensory Activation Interventions (BMSA). According to Joaquim Andrade, Christine Sutherland and Maarten Aalberse, EFT is a form of Brief Multi Sensory Stimulation (BMSA) as they state on their website bmsa-int.com.
Together, they explain that scientific research does not support the classical energy psychology model of meridians and energy disturbances. The explain clearly where current acupuncture research is being focussed, drawing us away from the old theories to newer ones involving neurochemistry and neurological pathways and structures. They dare to ask hard questions and challange myths.
The paper of Ronald Ruden (pdf) gives an neuroanatomical and neurophysiological idea of Why Tapping Works.
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First, thinking of the issue (affect activation) causes glutamate to be released. Glutamate encodes fear in the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala. Tapping, a form of sensory stimulation, stimulates the release of GABA and serotonin. |
GABA and serotonin prevent glutamate from encoding the fear recently activated by thinking of the issue.
Classical Energy Psychology theories:
Classical Energy Psychology theories explain EFT using the energy paradigm: belief in meridians and energy flowing through them. According to most of the teachers like Gary Craig, Fred Gallo, etc. EFT is a Merdian Based Therapy (MBT), or Meridian Energy Therapy (MET). According to Steven Wells, EFT is meridian based desensitization. Roger Callahan talks about tapping removing pertubations in thought fields, referring to theories by Bohm. EFT is said to be a Power Therapy, most often EFT is called a form of an Energy Psychology.
Gary Craig says in his discovery statement: "the cause of negative emotions is a disturbance in the energy system."
EFT is a very impressive tool, a very effective tool, a very robust tool. In the authors experience and opinion the practical knowledge does not match either above mentioned theoretical postulates. But you know what, EFT still rocks.
Results
Whether we believe EFT is a form of a brief multi sensory activation intervention or a form of Energy Psychology, the results are still the same, and the results are:
EFT is impressive. Statements like Gary Craig's: Often works where nothing else works! are not exagerated.
EFT yields very fast results. A simple phobia can be cured in 1 to 3 sessions.
EFT means immediate results.
EFT is safe.
EFT is very effective. Although a guestimate, Gary Craig refers to 85% effective for phobias.
EFT results last, are durable.
EFT is mostly very gentle.
But can it work for me?
You probably came because somebody tipped you that EFT can be a cure for your issue, your problem.
Can it?
Out of the box results by an average practitioner/therapist can probably cure you, even if your phobia is older than your children, or if your trauma has been around since the second world war. Even if everybody says you are incurable. But if you are not helped by the first therapist, please realize results are also dependent on the quality and experience of the therapist, advanced general therapeutical skills, and their command of this beautifull tool.
Jump directly to How to do EFT
Go to What EFT is not or the Limitations of EFT
