What is EFT?

Emotional Freedom Techniques^® (EFT) is often called “emotional acupuncture” or “acupuncture without needles” that uses the ancient Chinese meridian system to heal emotional and physical problems. EFT uses a standardized tapping procedure which stimulates certain meridian endpoints on the face and body. How and why it works is unknown, but the tapping eliminates emotional issues at their source, which then allows the body and mind to perform their natural healing abilities. EFT is safe, user-friendly, and is totally non-invasive.

EFT was developed20 years ago by  Gary Craig, a Stanford engineer and personal performance coach, based on The Callahan Method. EFT belongs to a new class of healing modalities called as Energy Psychology or Energy Medicine.  Gary, now retired, has dedicated his work and life to teaching people how to overcome emotional and physical blocks to success. He still considers spreading the word of EFT to the world as his life’s mission, and has been incredibly generous with his discoveries.

In an article Gary published on his web site (www.emofree.com) several years ago, he stated that scientists now agree that the body is an “energy configuration” made up of positive and negative electrical charges in the form of atoms, the basic “building blocks of all matter.” Einstein discovered this truth in the Theory of Relativity (E=MC) which states that all matter lies somewhere on the same energy continuum. Even though all Western physicians know and accept that the body runs on chemical exchanges and electrical charges, they have been slow to embrace the concept of “energy.”   Yet more physicians do recognize the emotional basis for many physical maladies.

“Unresolved emotional issues are the main cause of 85% of all illnesses.” Eric Robins, MD

If we view the human body as a total body/mind system, rather than a bunch of separate organs and chemical reactions, it allows us to see how using EFT on an apparent emotional issue often also results in healing physical symptoms.
“EFT is a remarkable healing aid…use it on everything!”

—Gary Craig, Founder of EFT

EFT is a form of emotional acupressure, based on the same energy meridians used in traditional acupuncture which has been used by Chinese medicine to treat physical and emotional difficulties for thousands of years. It is a safe and effective treatment choice for a large range of common problems. Experienced EFT’ers follow Founder Gar Craig’s advice to “Try it on Everything,” but there are some problems that EFT is especially known for helping, as you can see below.

Weight Loss and Eating Disorders
The most commonly used drug in this country is food.  You may use it to calm anxiety and emotional pain, or food may be your loyal friend that never lets you down. EFT can help you heal the deeply held beliefs about yourself that drive those irresistible cravings and compulsive overeating. In addition, EFT is highly effective at helping you integrate a new, more realistic body image before and after weight loss.  Once you learn EFT, you have an extremely effective tool to help you manage your weight and prevent weight regain.

Fear of Public Speaking
One of the most dreaded tasks for most people is standing in front of an audience to give a talk.  Whether you’re afraid to speak up in a staff meeting or terrified to give a Power Point presentation to a Senate committee, EFT will help you eliminate that paralyzing stage fright that keeps you from stepping out.

Generalized Anxiety and Panic Attacks
EFT can reduce or eliminate acute anxiety or panic attacks, generalized anxiety, and performance anxiety, like the fear of public speaking. It doesn’t seem to matter how long you’ve had the problem when it comes to EFT’s effectiveness. Some anxiety disorders dissolve fairly quickly while others are more complicated. Still, with persistence, you can work through the many layers to achieve complete relief.

Specific Phobias
In addition to reducing panic attacks and generalized anxiety, EFT has an impressive record when it comes to eliminating specific phobias such as claustrophobia, fear of needles, heights, spiders, dogs, etc. I (Judith) was introduced to EFT by eliminating my life-long dental phobia in a single session. As with any serious condition, there’s no way to know in advance whether your problem will be taken care of in a single session or multiple sessions.

Cancer
EFT may not be able to cure cancer, but it makes living with it a lot easier! Once you’re diagnosed with cancer, if you’re like most people, you live with anxiety and fear that prevents you from enjoying your daytime hours and keeps you awake worrying at night.  EFT is highly effective at relieving that “cancer fear” as well as helping you prevent or reduce most of the side effects of cancer treatment including fatigue. EFT is also extremely helpful for loved ones who are struggling to cope with your diagnosis.

Self-Esteem Issues
EFT relieves helps you diminish guilt and shame, which are major components of low self esteem, by targeting the specific events and beliefs underlying these feelings. With EFT treatment you are more able to integrate lessons learned rather than hold onto the unconscious .perception of being “bad.”  The destructive, limiting beliefs you hold about yourself (“I’m not worthy, I don’t deserve to succeed, nobody loves me”) that lead to low self-esteem can be transformed with EFT.

Pain Control and Chronic Illness Symptom Relief
EFT is quite helpful in reducing pain and symptoms of physical illness, regardless of the evidence seen in x-rays, MRI’s or blood tests. EFT seems to accelerate the healing process, reduce muscle tension and calm anxiety associated with pain. It is especially useful in healing the painful emotions associated with the chronic illness. EFT success stories include reduction of symptoms associated with migraines, multiple sclerosis, chronic back pain, post-surgical pain, fibromyalgia, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, PMS, allergies, and many more. As with other situations, it seems that EFT can be effective no matter how long the condition has been in place.

Sports Performance
Both professional and amateur athletes use EFT to deal with performance anxiety, and eliminate the psychological blocks that get in the way of consistently giving an optimum performance. Athletes refer to this as the “inner game,” which can either enhance or impede performance in any sport. Stress, fears of failure or fear of success can interfere with your performance.  EFT can help any athlete improve performance and enjoyment of their sport.