Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) is a kind of psychological acupressure. Designed to be quick and easy to learn, EFT is a very user-friendly self-help tool. It involves self-tapping on some of the same points used in acupressure. (In acupuncture the same points are also used, but instead of applying pressure, treatment needles are put in those points).
According to foundational EFT theory, “The cause of all negative emotions is a disruption in the body’s energy system.” When you focus your thoughts on a negative emotional issue while tapping on the acupoints, you calm your body’s energy meridian system. As a result, the impact of the negative emotional issue tends to lessen – or disappear completely.
EFT was created to be a quick, easy to learn … and easy to do self-help tool. Adults and children report that this is indeed the case.
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EFT was born from a series of events.
* Chiropractor, George Goodheart, D.C. discovered that if a patient thought of something that made him anxious a muscle that previously tested strong would test weak (kinesiology).
* A psychiatrist, John Diamond, M.D., took a class with Goodheart and found when he used muscle testing with his patients he could reach the core of emotional problems faster than using traditional psychotherapy.
* Dr. Goodheart gave a talk to a medical group about the phenomena and demonstrated his muscle testing technique where the muscle would weaken when the person felt anxiety or was making a false statement.
* A physician in attendance, Harvey Ross, demonstrated the muscle testing technique to a group of friends. One friend watched with fascination. Dr. Roger Callahan, a psychologist, became intrigued and began experiments with muscle testing and emotional issues.
Dr. Roger Callahan believed that emotional discomfort is caused by a disruption in the mind/body energy system. Dr. Callahan incorporated ancient Chinese wisdom (acupuncture) with modern techniques (kinesiology) and developed Thought Field Therapy (TFT). Combining kinesiology and acupressure, Dr Callahan used the fingertips to tap acupuncture points in order to treat emotional problems.
EFT Founder Gary Craig, a Stanford trained engineer, studied Callahan’s ideas and streamlined them. He discovered that by tapping on a basic and easy to remember set of acupoints, he could address any problem or issue. He called his simplified discovery Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT).
Thousands of EFT practitioners all over the world have witnessed EFT’s effectiveness in resolving multiple emotional issues and countless medical cases. Examples of problems resolved by EFT include fears, phobias, anger, grief, anxiety, depression, trauma, and guilt, along with many other emotional and physical issues.
Countless people have improved their general physical health by tapping on their emotional issues. It has become clear to EFT enthusiasts that our unresolved emotional issues are major contributors to most physical pains and diseases, making EFT not only an appropriate technique but a very important one. EFT not only addresses the symptoms of physical pains and ailments, but also addresses the underlying emotional contributors to such physical problems, making the results truly remarkable … and in many cases permanent. (Important: While EFT has achieved excellent results with physical and psychological conditions the EFT techniques should not be seen as a substitute for appropriate medical and psychiatric care and should always be used in conjunction with medical consultation and intervention.
Perhaps the most exciting thing about EFT is that anyone can learn this simple tool and effectively use it to help him or herself. For more than a decade, ordinary people have been learning EFT and successfully applying it to the general problems and stresses of living.
Of course some problems require the persistent application of EFT over time. With the correct and repeated application of EFT, even serious issues can be resolved. Sometimes it is preferable to work with a skilled EFT practitioner who can help address more complex issues.
EFT has proven to be a simple and effective approach to emotional and physical healing thereby contributing to the wellbeing of countless EFT users.