Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) is psychotherapeutic alternative medicine based on a theory that negative emotions are caused by disturbances in the body's energy field and that tapping on the meridians while thinking of a negative emotion alters the body's energy field, restoring it to “balance.” There are two studies which appear to show positive outcomes from use of the techniques, but another study has suggested that it is indistinguishable from the placebo effect[citation needed] Critics have described the theory behind EFT as pseudoscientific and have suggested that any utility stems from its more traditional cognitive components, such as distraction from negative thoughts, rather than from manipulation of supposed “energy meridians”.
EFT was created by Gary Craig in the mid 1990s, and is meant to be a simplification and improvement of Roger Callahan's Thought Field Therapy (TFT) techniques. Craig trained with Callahan in the early 1990s. In 1993, Craig was the first person Callahan trained in his most advanced procedure, a proprietary procedure known as Voice Technology. Craig found through his experience that the sequence of tapping points did not matter and that special proprietary procedures were therefore unnecessary, so by the mid 1990s he had simplified Callahan's procedures.
The basis of EFT is the belief that negative emotions are caused by disturbances in the body's energy field. EFT theory derives from similar beliefs held by those who practice acupuncture.
EFT theorists claim that thinking upon disturbing memory or emotion and simultaneously tapping on a series of 12 specific pressure points on the body helps the person to free himself or herself from such disturbing thoughts through altering the body's energy field, thus restoring it to “balance.”
EFT theorists hold that correcting the energy imbalance must happen in conjunction with removing the negative feelings.
EFT theorists claim that no a sequence of tapping points exists and that not all points need get tapped. Therefore, EFT practice does not need precise algorithms to cure different problems. Instead, a comprehensive algorithm gets used for all problems.
EFT theorists claim that negative emotions arise through the following stages:
1) A negative experience happens
2) negative feelings get felt in response to this negative experience leading to inappropriate programming inside the body
3) the body's energy system gets disrupted due to these negative emotions
EFT theorists claim that 15 points exist in the body useful to for EFT treatment.
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Author's Bio
This definition is part of a series that covers the topic of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT). The Official Guide to Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) is Gary Craig. Gary Craig developed the Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), the core of which he learned as a student of Dr. Roger Callahan, a psychologist who devised Thought Field Therapy. Born in 1940, Gary has been interested in personal improvement via psychology since age 13. He recognized that the quality of his thoughts was mirrored in the quality of his life.
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