Five things to know before choosing EFT

You may have heard people talking about Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT or Tapping) as a way of relieving stress, releasing limiting beliefs, removing physical ailments and improving overall wellbeing. Perhaps this left you with more questions than answers and you have been wondering exactly what it is and if it could help you.

If you’re interested in finding an EFT therapist, it’s important to do your research to find someone qualified and experienced. It’s also a good idea to have a short initial consultation to see if EFT is right for you.

In this blog, I answer a few key questions you should consider before working with an EFT practitioner.

1. What is EFT and how does it work?

EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques, also known as Tapping) is a simple yet powerful tool. It is used to alleviate a wide variety of issues, including physical ailments, stress, anxiety, fear, negative emotions and limiting beliefs.  The technique involves tapping on specific acupressure points while focusing on a particular issue or concern.

This helps to balance the body’s energy system, remove blockages and promote feelings of calm. EFT is based on the premise that negative emotions are caused by disruptions in the body’s energy field. By tapping on the meridians (energy pathways), EFT can help to clear these blockages and restore balance.

Although it may sound complicated, EFT is actually simple to learn and can be practised by almost anyone. Best of all, it is a completely natural approach that is drug-free and has no side effects. For these reasons, EFT is an increasingly popular method for managing stress, anxiety and other emotional issues.

The source of all negative emotion is a disruption in the body’s energy system

Gary Craig, EFT Founder

2. What are the benefits of EFT?

EFT is a type of energy psychology effective in treating a variety of psychological and physical issues. It is based on the idea that all humans have an energy field containing information about our thoughts and emotions. By tapping specific points on the body, we access and release negative emotions that are stored in the energy field. This can reduce or eliminate negative beliefs and behaviours limiting our ability to live our lives to the fullest.

Numerous studies have shown that EFT is an effective treatment for anxiety, depression, trauma, and pain. People also use EFT to improve performance in areas such as sports, work, and relationships. If you are looking for a safe, effective way to address emotional or physical issues, you could consider EFT.

Tapping is one of the most directed and powerful ways to peel those layers away of chronic stress.

Dr Mark Hyman, New York Times best-selling author

3. Does EFT really work?

A number of studies have shown that EFT can help to reduce stress, anxiety, and negative emotions, and can also be effective in treating physical pain.

Its effectiveness has been established for phobias and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. A meta-analysis of 20 studies found that EFT led to significant reductions in anxiety, depression, and pain (Stapleton, et al., 2019). Another study found that PTSD symptoms were significantly reduced after just eight sessions of EFT (Bromfield, 2008).

One of the main reasons for EFT’s effectiveness is that it helps people to identify and release limiting beliefs. These are the negative thoughts and ideas that keep us stuck in unhealthy patterns of behaviour. By focusing on the issue you would like to address with an acceptance statement, along with a simple tapping technique, EFT can help to release these beliefs.

4. What can you expect during your first EFT session?

If you are considering trying EFT for the first time, you may be wondering what to expect from a session. The first thing to know is that EFT is a very flexible technique, and each practitioner may have a slightly different way of doing things.

You should ideally have an initial consultation so that you and the practitioner can get to know each other. The practitioner can ask you about yourself and what you would like to achieve from the sessions.

During the first session, the practitioner will ask what you would like to focus on and then ask you to rate the intensity of your emotions on a scale of 0-10. You will then begin the tapping process. The practitioner guides you through the tapping points while you repeat statements suggested by them.

After a few rounds of tapping, we check in and see how you are feeling and whether the intensity has changed. This process continues until you reach a level of 0 or 1 on the emotional intensity scale. You may experience a range of emotions during the session, and that is perfectly normal.

Please bear in mind that some practitioners integrate other modalities into their practice, so the above description is a basic outline only.

5. How can you find an EFT practitioner?

There are a few ways to find an EFT practitioner. One way is to ask for referrals from friends or family members who have tried EFT. Another is to search online directories. You can also try searching for practitioners in your area, although most practitioners work via Zoom or Skype, so geographic location is less important than finding someone you resonate with.

Once you’ve found a few practitioners, you can research them further to see if they are a good fit for you. For example, you can look at their website, look for testimonials, check that they have completed a training programme with a recognised organisation, and contact them to ask any questions. Taking the time to find a qualified, reputable practitioner maximises the chances of having a positive experience with EFT.

Finally, make sure you feel comfortable with the practitioner. If you don’t feel comfortable with a practitioner, trust your instincts and keep looking. This will allow you to find an EFT practitioner who is qualified and experienced and can help you achieve your goals.

What next?

If you’d like to have a chat to see if I can help you on your EFT journey, please send me a message or book a free call and we can talk about working together. It would be a pleasure to work with you!