Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT)

Gentle, Yet Powerful Approach to Emotional Wellbeing

Short History of EFT

How EFT Works

the Science Behind EFT

Areas EFT Can Support You With

What Clients Often Notice

Is EFT Right for You?

Often, we carry old stories, stress or emotions in our bodies without even realising it. They can quietly shape how we feel, how we see ourselves and how we show up in the world. EFT, also known as “tapping”, offers a gentle way to release those layers, reconnect with yourself and create lasting change.

By lightly tapping on specific acupressure points while tuning into thoughts or feelings that matter to you, we invite the nervous system to calm down, allowing the body and mind to let go of what no longer serves you.

Think of EFT as combining the best of talking through what’s on your mind with a body-based tool that signals safety to your system. It’s simple, surprisingly effective and can lead to profound shifts.

EFT was developed in the 1990s by Gary Craig, who drew on earlier techniques rooted in acupuncture and energy psychology. His vision was to make a simple, practical tool anyone could use. Since then, EFT has grown into a well-established, evidence-based approach practised worldwide — and is supported here in the UK by EFT International, the leading professional organisation for accredited practitioners.

Over the years, EFT has been used in a wide range of settings — from private sessions and workshops to schools, healthcare and humanitarian projects supporting trauma recovery. Its versatility and gentleness make it suitable for people of all ages and backgrounds.

When something stressful or upsetting happens, our body holds onto that experience — not just as a memory, but often as a physical and emotional “charge”. Even years later, a sound, word or feeling can trigger the same emotional response as if it’s happening again.

EFT gently interrupts this stress response. Here’s how:

  • We tune into the thought, memory or feeling that’s calling for attention.

  • We use a calming, compassionate phrase that acknowledges what’s there.

  • We tap on specific acupressure points, which helps calm the nervous system and send signals of safety to the body.

As we do this, the emotional “intensity” often softens and new insights or perspectives naturally emerge. It’s a process that’s both gentle and deeply empowering — you remain in control at every step.

Although EFT began as a personal development tool, it has gained growing recognition as an evidence-based approach. Research has shown its benefits for a range of concerns, including:

  • Stress and anxiety reduction

  • Releasing the effects of past trauma

  • Improving mood and emotional resilience

  • Supporting physical symptoms influenced by stress

Clinical studies, including randomised controlled trials, have found that EFT can bring about significant and lasting change. Researchers continue to expand our understanding of why EFT works — from its impact on stress hormones like cortisol to measurable changes in brain activity associated with safety and calm.

EFT can be helpful across many areas of life — whether you want to release emotional burdens or create space for something new. People often seek EFT support for:

  • Feeling stuck, blocked or held back by repeating patterns

  • Stress, overwhelm and anxiety in daily life

  • Low self-esteem or challenges around self-worth

  • Unresolved experiences from the past

  • Shifting limiting beliefs and creating new possibilities

  • Physical symptoms connected to emotional stress

  • Navigating life transitions or times of uncertainty

  • Building a deeper sense of self-connection and confidence

This isn’t a full list, and you don’t need to know exactly why you’re drawn to EFT — sometimes, simply noticing where you feel stuck is the perfect place to begin.

Because every session is unique, no two journeys look the same — but people often describe EFT as:

  • Feeling lighter and more at ease, as though a weight has lifted

  • Gaining clarity about patterns, triggers and next steps

  • Finding a sense of inner calm, even when life feels challenging

  • Feeling more connected to themselves and their ability to choose differently

These shifts can be subtle and profound at the same time — like planting seeds of change that continue to grow long after the session has ended.

EFT can be used for many areas of life — from calming day-to-day stress and anxiety to working with deeper patterns and past experiences. What I love most about EFT is its flexibility: we can use it gently for the “here and now,” or we can go deeper when you feel ready, always at your pace.

If you’d like to explore EFT and see how it can support you, you can read more about my approach or book a free 15-minutes call to see if this is the right fit for you.