Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) tapping heals the mind & body

Mind-body healing therapy with proven results

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), also known as tapping, is a powerful mind-body therapy that blends elements of cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure therapy and acupressure (without the use of needles).¹

EFT’s therapeutic benefit comes from its dual action of cognitive reframing (via affirmations) and somatic stimulation (tapping) on specific points on the body. This unique combination helps bypass common barriers like denial or avoidance often encountered in traditional talk therapy.²

As Dr. David Feinstein describes it, “EFT tapping can address neurological roots of emotional and psychological issues.”³ Backed by a growing body of scientific research, EFT tapping has been shown to deliver rapid relief for a range of mental, emotional and physical challenges, with benefits that often persist over time.⁴

What Are the Key Benefits of EFT?

EFT tapping is recognised as an evidence-based method, with over 100 peer-reviewed studies demonstrating its effectiveness in promoting positive health outcomes and enhancing mental and emotional well-being.⁵

Specific studies reveal impressive improvements in health outcomes:

•  43% reduction in stress hormones, cortisol ⁶

•  41% reduction in anxiety symptoms ⁶

•  35% reduction in depression symptoms ⁶

•  32% reduction in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) ⁷

•  31% increase in happiness ⁶

EFT tapping Proven to Be Effective in Alleviating Stress

EFT tapping has proven particularly effective in alleviating stress. A re-examined study found a 43% decrease in cortisol levels—a key stress hormone—after just one hour of EFT tapping.⁸ Another pilot study at a New York hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic tested the short-term effects of 10-minute EFT tapping sessions on paediatric emergency department staff. Participants experienced statistically significant reductions in stress, obsessive and intrusive thoughts, feelings of pressure, loneliness, emotional and physical symptoms tied to stress. ⁹

While EFT tapping is not a cure-all, it excels at reducing distress and, for more complex trauma, it is most effective when integrated with other professional treatments.¹⁰

How Does EFT tapping Help?

EFT tapping reduces emotional distress, rewires stress responses and fosters healing from conditions such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, and stress-related physical symptoms. Whether delivered in person or virtually, its benefits often persist over time. ⁴

Here’s how it works:

1.  Regulates the Brain’s Fear Center, Amygdala
Stress or trauma can keep the amygdala—the brain’s fear center—in a constant “on” state, triggering fight-or-flight responses even without real danger. EFT tapping sends calming signals through the body’s meridian system directly to the amygdala, helping to switch it “off” and restore emotional balance. Functional MRI (fMRI) studies show EFT reduces activity in fear-processing brain regions while boosting prefrontal cortex control for rational thinking.¹¹

2.  Promotes Neuroplasticity and Rewires Neural Pathways
Neural plasticity, or “brain plasticity,” is the brain’s remarkable ability to adapt and rewire throughout life. EFT tapping facilitates this by reorganising connections formed by negative experiences. By combining focused exposure (acknowledging the issue) with acupressure stimulation, it disrupts harmful patterns and encourages healthier responses. Over sessions, triggers lose their power to evoke the fight-or-flight alarm response, and new, neutral memories are stored in the hippocampus, the part of the brain that plays a key role in memory.¹²

3.  Induces Epigenetic and Physiological Shifts
Chronic stress can alter gene expression, increase inflammation, and weaken immunity. Research from 2020 indicates EFT tapping improves indicators like cortisol levels, immunity and heart rate variability.¹³

4.  Aligns with Energy Psychology
Drawing from biofield research, EFT tapping restores disrupted energy flows caused by emotions or stressors. EFT tapping recalibrates the body’s subtle energy systems, releasing built-up mental/ emotional blocks and stressors.¹⁴

What Does EFT Therapy Involve?

EFT tapping sessions involve guided tapping on specific acupressure points while focusing on stressors, negative emotions, thoughts, or physical sensations to neutralise distress. It’s a bridge between talk-based and body-based therapies, using a sequence of taps on specific points of the body. The therapy is personalised, gentle, non-invasive and natural with sessions typically lasting 30–60 minutes, and noticeable relief is often felt after a few consultations.¹⁵ Backed by science, EFT therapy can be delivered in person or online with maximum efficacy.⁴

Take the first step to mind & body healing, start your healing journey with me.

EFT’s Credibility in Research and Medicine

EFT tapping has been rigorously reviewed in top-tier journals, including the Journal of Clinical Psychology, APA’s Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training and Review of General Psychology, and the Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease—North America’s oldest psychiatric journal.

Research spans institutions worldwide, including Harvard Medical School, University of California at Berkeley, City University of New York, Walter Reed Military Medical Center, Texas A&M University, and JFK University in the US, as well as Staffordshire University (United Kingdom), Lund University (Sweden), Ankara University (Turkey), Santo Tomas University (Philippines), Lister Hospital (England), Cesar Vallejo University (Peru), Bond University (Australia), and Griffith University (Australia).

EFT tapping meets APA standards for empirically validated treatments and is poised for recognition by bodies like the US National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices.¹⁶

For more details on studies, visit EFT Universe Research: https://eftuniverse.com/research-studies/

References

¹ Church, D. (2013). The EFT Manual (3rd ed.). Energy Psychology Press.
² Feinstein, D. (2010). Energy psychology: A review of the preliminary evidence. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 45(2), 199–213.
³ Feinstein, D. (2012). Acupoint stimulation in treating psychological disorders: Evidence of efficacy. Review of General Psychology, 16(4), 364–380.
⁴ Church, D. (2013). Clinical EFT as an evidence-based practice for the treatment of psychological and physiological conditions. Psychology, 4(8), 645–654.
⁵ Feinstein, D. (2012). Acupoint stimulation in treating psychological disorders: Evidence of efficacy. Review of General Psychology, 16(4), 364–380.
⁶ Church, D., & Brooks, A. J. (2010). The effect of EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) on psychological symptoms in addiction treatment: A pilot study. Journal of Addictive Behaviors, Therapy & Rehabilitation, 2(2), 1–6.
⁷ Church, D., Hawk, C., Brooks, A. J., et al. (2013). Psychological trauma symptom improvement in veterans using Emotional Freedom Techniques: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 201(2), 153–160.
⁸ Church, D., Yount, G., & Brooks, A. J. (2012). The effect of Emotional Freedom Techniques on stress biochemistry: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 200(10), 891–896.
⁹ Dincer, B., & Inangil, D. (2021). The effect of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) on stress and anxiety among nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic: A pilot study. Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing, 17(5), 468–474.
¹⁰ Church, D. (2014). The EFT Manual (3rd ed.). Energy Psychology Press.
¹¹ Swingle, P. G., Pulos, L., & Swingle, M. K. (2004). Neurophysiological indicators of EFT treatment of post-traumatic stress. Subtle Energies & Energy Medicine Journal Archives, 15(1), 75–86.
¹² Feinstein, D. (2010). Energy psychology: A review of the preliminary evidence. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 45(2), 199–213.
¹³ Bach, D., Groesbeck, G., Stapleton, P., Sims, R., Blickheuser, K., & Church, D. (2020). Clinical EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) improves multiple physiological markers of health. Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine, 25, 1–12.
¹⁴ Feinstein, D. (2012). Acupoint stimulation in treating psychological disorders: Evidence of efficacy. Review of General Psychology, 16(4), 364–380.
¹⁵ Church, D. (2013). Clinical EFT as an evidence-based practice for the treatment of psychological and physiological conditions. Psychology, 4(8), 645–654.
¹⁶ Church, D. (2014). The EFT Manual (3rd ed.). Energy Psychology Press.