EFT stands for Emotional Freedom techniques, a set of mind-body self healing techniques. It is an energy based psycho-therapeutic tool.
EFT has two important parts:
1. Tapping: It uses some easily accessible points on the body (taken from acupuncture/acupressure) that can be stimulated by touch.
2. Affirmations: Affirmations have been around for many years and they are used in a unique way in EFT.
A combination of these - tapping and affirmations - brings relief from various emotional and physical problems. The affirmations used in EFT along with tapping are very important and shape the journey towards healing. Employing affirmations with the physical tapping is a unique method to diffuse stress and other alarm based responses.
Techniques in EFT
The techniques in EFT are based on modern psycho-therapeutic tools like TA (Transaction Analysis), NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), EMDR (Eye movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and BT (Behavior Therapy).
EFT Tapping Points
Tapping in EFT is based on acupuncture which is the oldest form of Chinese Therapy. However, it does not require needles but involves a gentle tapping procedure with our fingers. EFT tapping points are the points that lie on the meridians. Read more here
In essence, EFT does not erase traumatic memories. It erases the negative emotions associated with these memories.
Positive Effects of EFT (Based on Research)
1. Down-regulation of cortisol (Dawson)
2. Reduction in Hyper-arousal state (Feinstein)
3. Increased regulation of sympathetic and parasympathetic interaction (Lane)
4. Increased expression of the stress-regulatory Immediate Early Genes (Church)
Advantages Of Using EFT
No Surgery
No Drugs
Zero Side effects
Faster than traditional methods
No pain
Low Cost
Gary Craig - EFT Founder
EFT has been developed by Gary Craig, a Stanford Engineer.
He says - "It applies to a wide variety of emotional, health and performance issues and it often works where nothing else will"
How does EFT work
Scientific Explanation for EFT
This is an excerpt from the article published in APA's Journal of General Psychology. This explains how EFT works.
"Bringing to mind an emotional trigger, problematic scene, or unresolved traumatic memory activates the amygdala, arousing a
threat response. Stimulating selected acupoints, according to the Harvard studies, simultaneously sends deactivating signals to the amygdala. Repetition of the physical intervention resolves these opposing signals by reducing the arousal while the trigger is still mentally active. The hippocampus records that the memory or trigger is being safely engaged without a stress response, and the neural pathways that initiate the associated stress response are permanently altered. Being able to encounter the memory or trigger without limbic arousal becomes the new normal."
You can download the article here.
Published on Aug 20th 2012.
By Feinstein, David
Review of General Psychology