What is EFT?
Tapping, also known as Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), is backed by growing scientific evidence showing its effectiveness for trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and more. It’s a simple yet powerful technique that involves gently tapping on specific acupuncture points on the face and body while focusing on emotional memories or physical discomfort. At the same time, you acknowledge your thoughts, feelings, and sensations in both your body and mind.
What is the research saying?
EFT combines elements of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with acupressure, as participants tap on specific meridian points while focusing on their emotional or physical concerns. Research published in reputable journals, including studies on veterans with PTSD, has shown remarkable improvements, often with sustained results over time.
As more research is conducted, the body of evidence continues to grow, reinforcing EFT as an effective, evidence-based approach for addressing trauma, anxiety, and other emotional challenges.
How does EFT work?
EFT, or Emotional Freedom Technique, is a blend of various methods, including cognitive therapy and exposure therapy. With EFT, we don’t try to think our way out of a problem; instead, we focus on the body. Our body keeps the score, storing difficult, painful, or traumatic experiences from the past, along with anything connected to them, as dangerous. Our wise bodies develop strategies to keep us safe by helping us navigate through threatening events. Hiding away, playing small, and not expressing our needs may have helped us survive a dysfunctional upbringing, but these strategies no longer serve us when we try to live life to the fullest. Being seen and heard may feel too scary, and retreating feels safer, more familiar—and perhaps even like who we believe we are.
By using EFT and signalling to our body that it is safe to feel the emotions attached to past events, we can cut the cord and free ourselves from the connections our bodies have formed. We can release the intensity surrounding one or many events and allow them to become just memories—like countless other memories that don’t define us or the beliefs we hold about ourselves or the world. This gives us the freedom to create new beliefs, find unconditional self-love, and move through life in a different way—because that’s what we deserve.