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The Healf Source
‘You Are What You Think’: Everything You Need To Know About EFT
Written by: Pippa Thackeray
Written on: October 8, 2024
Ever feel overwhelmed and hopeless in the midst of a very normal day?
We welcomes you to explore the world of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT). More famously known as ‘Tapping’, it’s an area gaining traction both in the media and in a modern environment whereby overstimulation, chronic pain and mental health issues like anxiety seem to be all too easy to come by.
Chances are, you might have heard about it in the news. Mind-body techniques are becoming ever-popularised. EFT Tapping techniques are being taught in schools, online and in one-on-one therapy consultations. We ask the opinion of the experts and get deep into the origins of this practice and just why so many people are finding relief through Tapping on a global scale.
What does EFT stand for?
Why was the practice of EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) developed?
Passionate about his own spirituality and self-taught in the field of psychology, EFT founder Gary Craig sought out methods that produced tangible results in personal development. The core basis of EFT he learned from Dr. Roger Callahan. It was a significant jump toward formulating his infamous toolkit.
In You Are What You Think, David Stoop explains how the way we talk to ourselves directly impacts our beliefs. This book was significant in Gary’s journey because, to him, it opened up a world of possibilities for innovation in the mind-body connection and emotional regulation.
Gary did not train as a psychotherapist. And for many, it's a testament that therapies developed away from the more orthodox schools of psychotherapy have a place in deep emotional growth and physical healing.
However, in an interview, Gary did stress how his EFT Tapping technique is very powerful, and should always be practised in the company or under the diligent guidance of a licensed practitioner, particularly in cases of physical fragility or severe psychological conditions, to prevent harm.
The goal here is to stimulate the body's energy pathways while focusing on an emotional or physical issue. Whether you're dealing with stress, chronic pain, or past trauma, EFT Tapping is designed to facilitate a dialogue between the mind and body, allowing you to release the emotional weight tied to the problem.
What does an EFT session look like?
Typically, a session involves focusing on the problem at hand, assigning it an intensity rating (on a scale from 0 to 10), and then tapping through specific points such as the eyebrow, side of the eye, under the nose, and collarbone while repeating phrases that acknowledge the issue and open yourself up to releasing it.
This process is said to help inform the brain’s amygdala, an area of the brain responsible for the fight-or-flight response — that it is safe to ‘let go’, reducing anxiety and the associated feelings of emotional overwhelm.
“Studies have shown that EFT significantly increased happiness, quality of life, and satisfaction with life
Journal of Interprofessional Education & Practice
In what areas has EFT proven to be effective?
Perhaps the reason that there is so much noise around this topic in the mainstream media is directly related to its efficacy as a practice. It is documented that there is a rise in reported cases of anxiety and depression and Tapping, for its many worldwide proponents, offers a simple solution.
Tapping is said to offer relief by reducing emotional intensity and allowing the body’s energy to flow more freely. Furthermore, it does not require any special equipment or medication, and once learned, the exercises can be performed by an individual at any time and in the comfort of an environment of their choosing.
There are so many conditions that may be addressed with this technique. People often turn to EFT Tapping to manage emotional distress such as overcoming feelings of anger or sadness, dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or breaking free from cravings and addictions.
Can 5 minutes a day change your life?
One of the greatest appeals of EFT Tapping is just how quickly it can bring about noticeable results. Many practitioners and fans of the practice online say even as little as five minutes of tapping a day can help calm anxiety, reduce stress, and bring more balance into your life.
As you tap, your body receives a message that it’s safe to relax, and the stress begins to dissipate. By focusing on the issue and tapping through it, you can physically rewire your brain’s response to pain and emotional distress. This way it can offer long-term relief from symptoms.
You may not need to dedicate hours to tapping to see results. It’s a small daily commitment with significant potential for life-changing outcomes.
A typical EFT Tapping session involves identifying a specific personal issue you want to work on. It could be a physical sensation of pain, a fear, or a long-standing emotional challenge. The problem in hand will be addressed through the activation of different points on the body while repeating phrases that acknowledge the issue and express your willingness to release it.
Can you do EFT Tapping on your own?
One of the biggest appeals of EFT Tapping is that it’s easy to learn and can be applied once you understand the technique. Many people start using tapping as a daily practice in the comfort of their own spaces.
However, for deeper emotional issues or trauma, working with a certified EFT Tapping practitioner is recommended. A practitioner can guide you through the tapping sequence, ensuring it’s applied correctly and helping you direct your focus in a way that is most effective.
Nick Ortner, CEO of The Tapping Solution and NY Times Bestselling Author, features in a youtube video to demo a typical example of an EFT exercise.
“Starting at the side of the hand (below the pinky), you tap and say, “Even though I have this stress in my body, I choose to relax now.” The process continues through points like the eyebrow, side of the eye, under the nose, and collarbone, each time tapping gently while tuning in to the specific problem. As you move through these points, you focus on the stress or emotion you want to let go of, while opening yourself up to feeling calm and at peace.
Then, as you complete the tapping sequence, you may re-evaluate the intensity of the issue you pinpointed initially and repeat the process until you feel the stress or discomfort beginning to subside.”
EFT Tapping with a practitioner
Sonya Hudson is a highly experienced hypnotherapist and psychotherapist, Master NLP Coach, EFT Practitioner and Reiki Master Teacher. She explains her preference for using this technique in her own practice:
“As a Hypnotherapist and NLP Master for over 20 years now, I have found EFT to be an amazing tool in helping people to move on with their lives. I incorporate EFT into my therapy sessions now and I’ve found it exceptionally useful with anxious children, who seem to respond well to something that is a physical exercise, they can have fun with it too. Besides kids, it is a great solution and a simple tool for many people I see, particularly for stress and anxiety.”
EFT Tapping is more than just a buzzword, and it should be treated as such. For some, it's an anchorpoint to many who attempt to lighten the burdens of their daily stresses and emotional blockages. For others, it provides a solution to more severe issues, where other methods have fallen short.
You may choose to focus on our MIND pillar, for which we have hundreds of products dedicated to the health of the mind. But as we have discussed through exploring this mind-body technique, no pillar can truly be treated in isolation.
This article is for informational purposes only, even if and regardless of whether it features the advice of physicians and medical practitioners. This article is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and should never be relied upon for specific medical advice. The views expressed in this article are the views of the expert and do not necessarily represent the views of Healf
This article is for informational purposes only, even if and regardless of whether it features the advice of physicians and medical practitioners. This article is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and should never be relied upon for specific medical advice. The views expressed in this article are the views of the expert and do not necessarily represent the views of Healf
Pippa is a content writer and qualified Nutritional Therapist (DipNT) creating research-based content with a passion for many areas of wellbeing, including hormonal health, mental health and digestive health.
As a contributor to The Healf Source, she regularly attends seminars and programmes on a plethora of contemporary health issues and modern research insights with a drive to never stop learning. In addition, interviewing experts and specialists across The Four Pillars: EAT, MOVE, MIND, SLEEP.
In her spare time, she is an avid swimmer, mindfulness and yoga lover, occasionally bringing a raw, honest approach to the topics she faces. You may also discover some personal accounts of eye-opening wellbeing experiences amidst the reality of a disorientating, and often conflicting, modern wellbeing space.
