Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)
Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is a powerful tool that has been clinically proven to help with psychological and emotional issues.
Our lived experience practitioners look forward to sharing this wonderfully gentle and non-invasive emotional regulation tool with you.
EFT for Kids
A Positive Start only use EFT courses that have been written by Helena Fone, one of the world's experts in EFT who uses EFT in her clinical practice. She pioneered the first professionally accepted and certified face to face training programme in EFT. The programme is based on Gary Craig's original teachings with some additions around safeguarding and legal obligations. She wrote the best selling book 'EFT for Dummies' in 4 languages. Helena also wrote the training programme for an EFT Association which was accepted by the National Council for Higher Education at Level 5.
The EFT & Mindfulness Centres international team of Trainers has solid experience in the field of working with children and we are supported and endorsed by reputable organizations who value our ethos
What is EFT?
Emotional Freedom Technique (or EFT) is a non-invasive, easy to learn tapping therapy which can be self-applied. When being used in a therapeutic manner, it should be administered by a competently trained EFT Practitioner in regular supervision, ideally with a background in mental health, counselling etc.
You may hear EFT being referred to as ‘meridian therapy’, ‘tapping therapy’ or ‘energy psychology’. It is often described as being similar to acupuncture but instead of using needles, the meridian points are gently tapped with the fingertips. EFT is a relatively new branch of complementary therapy that also utilises the mind/body* energy system to bring about positive changes in emotions, thoughts, and behaviours.
What is the history?
EFT in its present form has only been around for about 20 years, but its origins go back 1000’s of years to acupuncture, acupressure and shiatsu. The earliest signs of acupuncture being used on humans can be traced back to 3,200 years BC.
What can EFT help with?
EFT has been known to help with a range of psychological, emotional problems including physical symptoms. Below are some examples:
Pain Relief
Anger
Fears & Phobias
Allergies
Depression
Anxiety
Trauma
Low self esteem
Sexual performance
Sleeping disorders (insomnia/sleep apnea)
Blood pressure
Eating disorders
Migraines
Side effects of cancer treatment
Sport/academic performance
Addictions
How can EFT help with physical issues?
It is well known that psychological and emotional stress in itself is linked to a variety of health problems, such as increased heart disease, compromised immune system functioning, and premature cellular and cognitive aging. Numerous studies published since 1960 demonstrate the efficacy of mind-body medicine techniques in lowering blood pressure and stress hormone levels, relieving pain and improving immune functioning, as well as improvements in clinical conditions such as HIV, cancer, insomnia, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex post-traumatic stress disorder(CPTSD).
How does EFT work?
No-one can actually prove how EFT works as many scientists differ in their theories. What has been demonstrated is that by gently tapping on certain meridian points whilst focusing on negative emotions such as fear, anxiety, cravings, anger is that they either disappear or significantly lessen. Unhealthy negative beliefs such as low self- esteem, negative body image or irrational thoughts are replaced with logical understanding.
EFT is particularly helpful for traumatic memories as there are gentle techniques that ensure the process is relatively pain free. EFT allows the memory to exist but removes the previous automatic emotion.
If the memory or event is particularly uncomfortable to recall, there are gentle techniques within EFT to ensure the process is as pain free as possible. This would be undertaken with a suitably trained EFT Practitioner (please see a list of our Practitioners).
What is the science behind EFT?
Although clinical trials and studies have shown EFT to be effective for trauma, cravings, phobias, stress, and to alleviate pain and the side effects of cancer treatment, it has not yet passed the gold standard threshold to be regarded as an evidence-based therapy. That does not stop medical professionals using it in their clinical practices,
Research has been carried out by professionals including Robert Scaer, M.D. Lawrence LeShan, Ph.D., Richard E. Worthington, Ph.D. Claus Bahne Bahnson, Ph.D, to name but a few; where we see more and more evidence that emotional trauma contributes greatly to disease.
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprogramming (EMDR) is a similar technique to EFT. Deborah has completed CPD certified training in EMDR, which has reached the minimum threshold for being designated as an evidence-based treatment. The latest NHS-based clinical trial (published in the Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease [2011]) compared EMDR to EFT for post- traumatic stress and EFT was shown to be as effective. It must be borne in mind that because there is still limited scientific evidence and differing theories as to how EFT works, there will still be some skepticism and resistance from those who need gold standard evidence. However, this doesn’t deter some medical/mental health professionals and complementary therapists from using EFT in their practice.