What is Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)?

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is based on the Traditional Chinese Medicine system and involves tapping lightly on meridian points with your fingers and is sometimes described as an emotional version of Acupuncture without the needles. By tapping on these points you are sending a message to the amygdala which triggers the fight or flight response in your brain to relax.

Tapping is easy to learn and you can easily work on yourself to promote a feeling of calm or change your perspective of a situation e.g. if you are feeling anxious, stressed, overwhelmed, have fears or phobias.

How does EFT work?

EFT works on a subconscious level, allowing you to bring to mind physical symptoms or negative emotional issues and allows you to access memories that can be worked on helping to clear negative thought patterns and behaviours which may be repeating throughout your life. It helps to create healthy responses to current life experiences.

EFT appears to affect the amygdala (stress centre in the brain) and hippocampus (memory centre), both of which play a role in the decision process when you decide whether something is a threat. EFT has also been shown to lower cortisol levels, which is the stress hormone. Too much cortisol can result in lowered immune function and ultimately affect our physical health (e.g. fatigue illnesses). Stimulation of acupoints like those used in EFT is believed to send a signal to the limbic or emotion system in the body and reduce its arousal. This is why you tend to feel calmer after tapping. It is also why some people yawn while tapping! EFT can also decrease activity in the amygdala, which is part of the brain’s arousal pathway.

Tapping is a stress-management tool—a way of calming the body and brain. This may then allow for clearer thoughts and better decision making.

What are the benefits of EFT?

Decreased anxiety or depression
Improved symptoms of chronic pain
Reduced headache frequency and intensity
Increased weight loss
Improved mood
Reduced stress and levels of the stress hormone cortisol

What is the science behind EFT?

Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT – often called Tapping) is an evidence-based self-help therapeutic method and over 100 studies demonstrate its efficacy. EFT can also simultaneously improve a broad range of health markers across multiple physiological systems.

See “Why Tapping Works – Six Evidence-Based Premises That Demonstrate the Power of Tapping – https://edenmethod.com/ep-articles/why-tapping-works/

Why do we state the negative?

This is a common question as many therapies seek to reframe a person’s issue, or simply learn to accept it. Tapping doesn’t affirm or implant a problem; however, on the surface it may look like that. The process does have someone state the truth of what is happening for them and acknowledge it. We are engaging the amygdala (stress centre) and the limbic system (emotions) in the brain and body with this technique.

It is as though we are engaging these negative feelings or sensations just long enough to feel them, then we hit the delete button through the tapping. It is the tapping process that calms the physiological response from the body. Once this is released, cognitive shifts (or reframes) may surface naturally.

If we tap with a positive affirmation first (attempting to take our mind off our problem), it may only result in a minor shift. It is like spraying air freshener when the garbage is still there. We need to tap on the real problem and reduce the intensity before tapping on anything positive. The key in EFT is to do the tapping when you acknowledge your problem and state it out loud. It is the somatic aspect that changes the response, not just stating the problem.

Does EFT work for anxiety?

EFT has been demonstrated to improve the symptoms of several mental health disorders, including anxiety and depression. EFT tapping for anxiety is an effective way to reduce anxiety symptoms such as excessive worry, irritability, sleeping difficulties and difficulty concentrating.

What is Matrix Reimprinting?

Matrix Reimprinting is a technique developed by Karl Dawson which connects you with your past traumas whether big or small and your core beliefs and enables you to transform them to support you in your current journey of life. Changing beliefs such as I am bad, not good enough, no one wants to listen to me, I’m responsible, I don’t deserve etc. and transforming them into positive beliefs and thoughts which you send out via your vibration into the world. You become the director of your own movie.

Samantha Hardwick is an Emotional & Physical Wellbeing Practitioner, Reiki Master Teacher, EFT Master Trainer and Practitioner with a passion for mental and emotional wellbeing. She works one to one with clients and offers support and coaching to EFT Trainees and Practitioners through monthly Supervision sessions and one to one coaching.

EFT Level 1 Foundation Day

During this introductory day, you will discover what EFT is and gain sufficient knowledge to be able to use EFT for yourself for everyday issues. Find out more here>>