Changing Emotions With Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)

There is no doubt that the quality of your life is directly related to your emotional health. The basic premise of Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is that the cause of all negative emotions is a disruption in the body’s energy system. Treating emotional problems by tapping on the body’s meridian system was first used by Roger Callahan, a psychiatrist, in the 1970’s. The technique was called “thought field therapy”. The process was a bit complicated for the average person to learn and use. Gary Craig is credited with further developing this technique in the 1990’s. He refined it, simplified it and made it easier to learn and use.

Like acupuncture and acupressure, EFT consists of a set of techniques that utilize the body’s energy meridian points. Building on the premise that mind and body are one intelligent and fully communicating system, EFT involves tapping on emotion-specific energy meridians in the body. By tapping on specific points with your fingertips, you can stimulate the meridian, restore the energy flow and resolve emotional problems.

The basics of EFT are that you focus on a negative emotion such as a fear, an anxiety, or an unresolved problem; basically anything that is causing you stress or is bothering you. While focusing on this issue, you tap several times on each of eight specific meridian points. Tapping on these specific meridian points while concentrating and accepting the negative emotion works to restore the body and mind to a balanced state and provides relief from the negative emotion.

EFT is simple to learn and easy to use. Using EFT you acknowledge and confront the anxiety or negative feelings that you are experiencing while at the same time accepting those feelings as well as your self. It isn’t the physical tapping in and of itself that changes the energy but the combination of the tapping and the attention and intention of the mind as you go through the sequence of tapping that creates change. There is a verbal component to EFT that uses elements of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy.

EFT is grounded in science. Rigorous evidence based research methods have been used to establish the efficacy of EFT. It has met the standards of the American Psychological Association (APA) for an “efficacious” treatment for numerous psychological problems such as phobias, anxiety, depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It can effectively be used to address a variety of common conditions including, fears, cravings, weight issues, guilt and self-confidence.

It is extremely easy to learn the basics of EFT. It requires no special equipment and can be used anytime and anywhere. When done properly, it allows the underlying emotional factors that are contributing to a problem to be released along with the energy blocks. Working with a therapist trained in EFT can quickly give you the skills you need to experience the emotional wellbeing that you deserve.

For additional information and help, please contact info@centerforlifestrategies.com or call/text 703-437-6311