What is Emotional Freedom Techniques?

Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT, Meridian tapping, “tapping”) is the most widely used modality in a field called Energy Psychology that dates back to the mid-1990’s.  It is a self-administered healing technique based on modern psychology (specifically exposure-based and cognitive reconditioning therapies) and 5000 year old acupuncture, but without needles.  It uses the Eastern medicine meridian system with a gentle tapping procedure that stimulates certain meridian points on the face and body while focusing on emotional memories and/or physical pains.

Dumbing it down

Everything is energy.  It is the blueprint, the infrastructure, the invisible foundation for the health of your body.  Your body is composed of energy pathways, called “meridians”, and energy centers that are in a dynamic interplay with your cells, organs, moods, and thoughts.  If you can shift these energies, you can influence your health, emotions, and state of mind.

The mind-body approach has become increasingly popular in recent years, but for centuries before that, traditional Western medicine acted as if the mind and body were completely separate entities and could successfully be treated without reference to each other.  “Physical” ailments were the province of internists, surgeons and other medical specialists, while “mental” illnesses were treated by psychiatrists, psychologists and psychotherapists.

We’re all aware of ways in which our mental and emotional processes affect our physical being.  The fact is that every mental event (thought, feeling, perception, etc.) that you experience is registered in the form of physical (biochemical and electrical) changes in your brain.  These changes in turn may trigger a whole sequence of changes in the rest of the body.  For example, have you ever experienced the distinctive feeling of an adrenaline rush after being suddenly frightened?  And, did you have actual body sensations like butterflies in your stomach, tension in your chest, sweaty palms, etc.?

What about sadness causing tears and a lump in your throat?  All of these are simple examples of mental/emotional events having physical consequences.

So just as traditional medicine is learning that it’s possible to affect the physical level by treating the emotional level and vice versa, energy therapies seek to alleviate problems at the physical and emotional levels by effecting changes in the energy field.

So what does this mean for you?  When we use EFT, because it combines modern psychology and your energy field, it can literally “clear” a painful memory so that the “emotional charge” is completely removed.  You can still remember what happened, but the event has no more hurt or fear or anger connected with it.  And, once a memory is cleared of its emotional charge using energy psychology methods (like EFT), it often stays cleared.

What is so special about EFT?

EFT is non-invasive

It’s flexible enough to adapt to any situation or issue

Faster and more effective than most other techniques

Simple enough that anyone can learn and do it, even children

Requires no special equipment

There are no negative side effects

It be done anytime and anywhere

EFT will work even if you are skeptical and don’t believe in it.  Just try it for yourself!

The Downside

It looks and sounds unusual, even a little “silly”.  Who cares?  It works!