Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)

What is EFT?

Emotional Freedom Technique® (EFT) is one of the new energy therapies, also known as ‘Energy Psychology’. EFT can be thought of as the psychological use of the acupuncture meridians. It is a body-energy technique that can have profound psychological benefits. It also positively influences body symptoms of distress, pain and suffering from disease states.

EFT is simple to learn and very easy to blend with other therapies and approaches. EFT has been successfully applied to treat a wide range of emotional problems and issues, including anxiety, fears, phobias, trauma, post traumatic stress disorder, grief, anger, guilt, etc. It has also been applied to enhance performance and improve relationships.

Background of EFT

EFT has developed from the ancient Chinese meridian energy system. It is a form of emotional acupuncture without the needles, and is based on the premise that all negative emotions are the result of a disruption in the body’s energy system. EFT works by clearing the blockage by tapping on the end points of the body’s energy meridians, while tuning the mind to the issue in question, and thus rebalancing the body’s energy system.

How can EFT help?

EFT offers you the opportunity to take an active part in your own healing process, whatever that may be. It is an excellent way of supporting your medical treatment by helping to reduce fear and other negative emotions, which may otherwise be an additional obstacle. Undergoing breast cancer treatment you can often feel a loss of control with things being ‘done to you’. EFT can help give you back some feeling of control.

As well as addressing the emotional aspects of breast cancer diagnosis, EFT also seems able to support and strengthen the body’s healing mode. For instance, we have many examples of Visitors using EFT to strengthen their veins when they have been affected during chemotherapy, and also to reduce the skin reactions resulting from radiotherapy. EFT can also be very effective in pain management.

How is EFT taught?

EFT also helps Visitors to accept their medical treatment and work with it rather than fighting it, thereby helping the body to do what it needs to do to heal.
EFT can be delivered in a number of ways:

EFT in groups is an extremely effective way of teaching EFT. It is possible to work at many different levels and resolve very intense emotional responses and memories without ever sharing the content. We recommend that you attend a group first to learn the technique.

Individual face-to-face sessions In these it is usual for the therapist to tap on you whilst helping you to access the areas you want to work with safely and gently. One of the aims of the work is to teach you how to use EFT for yourself so that you can continue your own healing process in between sessions.

For a pdf factsheet, please click here.