A Skeptic’s Take On Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT)

Is EFT tapping placebo or proven methodology?

Photo by Simon Rae on Unsplash

I enjoy exploring new practice and techniques that can help with emotional health, clarity of thought, and overall well-being. This is an exploration of my experience with Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) or sometimes referred to as EFT tapping.

I. A Brief Overview of EFT

EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) is “a brief intervention combining elements of exposure, cognitive therapy, and somatic stimulation of acupressure points on the face and body.”¹

It is often simply referred to as “tapping” because it involves a process of physically tapping on specified points on the body associated with the body’s meridian points. The claim is that tapping on these points while cognitively processing certain limiting beliefs can release one’s attachment to those beliefs and lead to an improved state of emotional freedom.

A 2017 clinical study summarizes it this way:

Participants typically identify a concern or issue they wish to address with the technique and rate their level of distress . . . Participants then state their concern in a “Setup Statement,” which assists in turning them into their level of distress. This is typically stated in this format “Even though I have this problem (eg, anger), I deeply and completely accept myself.” The first half of the setup statement emphasizes exposure, while the second half frames the traumatizing event in the context of self-acceptance. The participant then engages in the somatic tapping process on acupoints on the body while they repeat a shortened phrase to stay engaged (eg, feel angry). This is called the “Reminder Phrase.” The tapping sequence uses 8 acupoints on the face and upper body and is normally repeated until the SUDS [Subjective Unit of Distress] rating is very low (1 or 0).¹

It is a unique combination of cognitive therapy, physical tapping, and an underlying belief that the body’s meridian network can be influenced to aid in emotional well-being.

II. Why I Am Skeptical

I feel like a bit of an outlier when it comes to alternative therapies and treatment. I definitely lean more…