What is EFT ?

EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) is a type of Energy Psychology that can be described as “emotional acupressure.”  It involves tapping on acupuncture points while using affirmations.  A nice introduction to EFT is given in a video by Gary Craig , the founder of EFT.    

In my own practice, I blend many techniques with EFT, such as reframing and suggestive languaging, and often inter-weave guided imagery.  Many of the emotional issues are underlain by traumatic experiences.  EFT is highly effectie for resolving trauma, as shown in the EFT video about war veterans .

EFT is easy to learn and can be self applied (click here for one-page directions for using EFT) . 

The discovery statement for EFT is

"All negative emotion is due to a disruption in the body’s energy system."

One of the most powerful aspects of EFT is the use of an affirmation to eliminate psychological reversal (self sabotage).  Psychological reversal results from unconscious desires that conflict with our conscious desire. 

EFT has also been found to be effective for symptoms of many physical conditions, which led Gary Craig, the founder of EFT, to conclude that  

“Our unresolved negative emotions are major contributors to
most physical pains and diseases.”

This statement is consistent with what is now well known about the link between emotions, thoughts, and physiology (for example, Molecules of Emotion by Candice Pert, and the movie “What the ‘bleep’ Do We Know?”).  Impressive results for even serious physical issues are documented on two of the DVD sets for EFT.

I became an EFT practitioner because of the many astounding, and often rapid, results I observed for both clients and myself.   That, and a very high success rate -- with hundreds of individual and group sessions, my success rate is over 85% for a wide variety of presenting issues including anxiety, phobia, traumatic memories, pain (including migraines), fear of public speaking, writer’s block, anger, and grief (see testimonials).  Very often, issues are cleared in only one a few sessions.  

One of the most impressive uses of EFT is for trauma, which is one of my specialty areas.  Successful resolution of phobias and trauma with EFT (click here for video).  Veterans who still had severe symptoms of PTSD after more than 20 years of conventional therapy are often free of symptoms related to specific memories, some being able to sleep through the night for the first time since the war.  I have experienced the same type of success with traumatic memories for clients, including war, rape, assault, car accidents, and child abuse.  If a person has many traumatic memories, it has been found that there is a generalizing effect in which PTSD resolves after perhaps 10% to 20% of the memories are neutralized.  If the trauma is from only one event, it often resolves in only one or two sessions. 

So why hasn’t EFT yet been embraced by the mental health and medical professions?   First, EFT is still quite new.  Second, even though there is a vast number of clinical reports showing the efficacy of EFT over the past 10 years, scientific research studies documenting the effectiveness of EFT are relatively few (click here or here  for summary).  Third, new discoveries are often slow to make it into the mainstream of the professional world, especially when they originate outside of the mainstream health care system, as is the case for EFT.  Nevertheless, more and more doctors, dentists, scientific researchers, and healers are endorsing and using EFT, as evident from the following comments:
  

"EFT offers great healing benefits."
Deepak Chopra, MD, Author of Quantum Healing

"EFT is at the forefront of the new healing movement."
Candace Pert, PhD, Author of Molecules of Emotion

“Meridian-based therapies such as EFT...can have effects out of all proportion to their cost and complexity”
Norm Shealy, MD, Author of Soul Medicine

"EFT is a simple, powerful process that can profoundly influence gene activity, health and behavior."
Bruce Lipton, PhD, Author of The Biology of Belief

“I frequently use EFT for my patients with great results.”
Eric Robins, MD, Author of Your Hands Can Heal You

"EFT is easy, effective, and produces amazing results."  
Donna Eden, Co-Author of The Promise of Energy Psychology

EFT limitations
       EFT doesn't provide 100% results.  But it usually works well and the results are sometimes spectacular.
It often works where nothing else will. You will find that EFT is usually quite gentle and you can often
achieve substantial relief with little or no pain.