Emotional Freedom
Techniques (EFT)
EFT Gold Coast
Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) is an evidenced-based therapy that adopts the basic principle that the underlying cause of all negative emotions, is an imbalance in the body’s energy system. EFT relieves many psychological and physical conditions, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, general stress, addictions and phobias.
The basic EFT technique involves holding a disturbing memory, issue or emotion in mental focus and simultaneously using the fingers to tap on a series of specific points on the body, that correspond to meridians used in Chinese medicine. Based on the ancient principles of acupuncture, and with more recent advances of kinesiology, EFT is a tapping procedure that gently realigns the body’s energy system without the discomfort of needles. The understanding behind EFT is that negative emotions are caused by disturbances in the body’s energy field. Tapping on these meridians whilst thinking of a negative emotion, alters the body’s energy field, restoring it back to “balance.”
Negative emotions are built in the following stages:
- A negative experience occurs;
- Negative emotions are felt in response to this negative experience, leading to inappropriate programming inside the body;
- Then the body’s energy system becomes disrupted due to these negative emotions.
In order to eliminate these negative responses, dealing with the negative experience itself is generally not enough, as that cannot correct the energy imbalance. Instead, the energy imbalance needs to be restored along with dealing with the negative emotions themselves.
Negative emotional experiences will disrupt the energy meridians running through our body. The physical changes that we feel from these disruptions then become attached to the memory of that experience. This affects the way we perceive things, until we heal that disruption. EFT can realign the energy meridians with respect to those negative memories, disconnects the physical discomfort that we attached to it, and consequently removes the resulting symptoms. This allows healing to take place on both a conscious and a sub-conscious level.
The fields of Energy Psychology and Energy Medicine are rapidly advancing, and EFT is one of the most popular and fastest growing techniques of these fields.
How EFT Can Help You
EFT has been shown to support:
- Anxiety, stress, and panic attacks
- Depression and low mood
- Trauma and post-traumatic stress (PTSD)
- Phobias and fears
- Cravings and emotional eating
- Pain management and physical tension
- Sleep difficulties
- Self-confidence and performance anxiety
Benefits of EFT
With EFT, you may experience:
- Reduced anxiety, worry, or panic
- Relief from trauma-related distress
- Greater control over cravings and habits
- Improved sleep and relaxation
- Improved management of pain
- More confidence in managing stress
- Greater calm and emotional balance
What to Expect in EFT Sessions
In a typical session, you’ll:
- Identify an issue or emotional difficulty to focus on
- Learn how to tap on a series of acupressure points (face, hands, and body)
- Use guided phrases while tapping to process emotions safely
- Notice shifts in how your body and mind respond
Many clients report a sense of calm, relief, and clarity even after their first session!
The Evidence for EFT
EFT has increasing scientific evidence supporting its effectiveness for a range of psychological issues like anxiety, depression, PTSD, and phobias, as well as physiological symptoms such as pain and cravings.
EFT International maintains and updates a comprehensive EFT research database, that summarises and provides links to extensive EFT research.
Evidence Based EFT is another large resource of research, education and professional development in Clinical EFT.
Would you like a gentle, practical way to manage stress, anxiety, or unhelpful habits?
CONTACT US to find out how EFT can help you find calm and balance in daily life!
Michelle van Namen is a registered Psychologist, Clinical Hypnotherapist, Life Coach and Integrative Health Practitioner with over 30 years of experience working with human behaviour and improving mental health. Michelle has been trained in a broad range of evidence-based therapies. She has worked in a variety of roles within private practice, corporate organisations, education, research, and community crisis support. Established in 2006, Integrated Health Specialists is her psychology practice located on the Gold Coast, providing individual and couples therapy for adults. Michelle focuses on providing a warm, authentic and non-judgemental therapeutic space to support clients and facilitate healing and personal growth. Read more about Michelle.
BA (Hons) in Psychology: University of Wollongong, 1995
Registered Psychologist with the Psychology Board (AHPRA) PSY0001395059
Member of the Australian Association of Psychologists Inc (AAPI) 15525
Qualifications verified by Psychology Today
Medicare and Health Insurance Provider.