Emotional Freedom Techniques

Emotional Freedom Techniques ( German technique (s ) of Emotional Freedom ) is the name of a therapeutic concept in the field of " energy psychology " and is, according to its users a method of relieving and treating stress and mental disorders by stimulating acupressure points ( tsubo ) represents the efficiency is currently being studied scientifically. In the meantime, are studies that suggest efficacy (see section " research position "). What is certain, however, these findings are not yet effective.

Background

EFT takes claim for themselves, as a technique from the growing field of so-called " Energy Psychology ", in contrast to traditional psychotherapeutic methods with the " energy system " of the human body to work while Neuro- Linguistic Programming ( NLP) to connect meridian science and kinesiology.

EFT was developed in its present form and with the same name by Gary Craig in the U.S., where the basic assumptions of this method of treatment in the origin of the ideas of traditional Chinese medicine on an existing in the body 's energy system ( meridian system ) and the ideas of applied kinesiology reference take.

Craig, who was originally an engineer and as a " personal development coach " when he learned of the Americans Roger Callahan, a method called Thought Field Therapy (TFT) with which to treat phobias esp. within a short time left, according to their representatives. Craig simplified and shortened the treatment process, linked him with elements of NLP and applied kinesiology and called this method "emotional freedom techniques" (EFT ).

Methodology

The "Emotional Freedom Techniques " are based on the assumption that the origin of all negative emotions in a break (fault) lies the body's energy system.

This idea is in contrast to the findings of scientific psychology, neurology and psychiatry a completely different etiological and therapeutic concept dar. If the cause were to search for all negative emotions in an interrupt, a fault in a power system of the body, would result in a other therapeutic access. Aim and method of treatment would therefore a restoration of the undisturbed flow of energy in the body. To achieve this, specific meridian points on the head, torso and hand are knocked or massaged while the patient concentrates on his problem with the fingers of the EFT users.

Additional items are special matching rates and supplements from Brain Gym and the so-called Applied Kinesiology. One representative of the EFT, the American clinical psychologist Patricia Carrington, who works at the UMDNJ- Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, New Jersey as a clinical professor, some studies on the effect of EFT and publications in the trade press are indebted to.

Stated indications

EFT is applied by different users in a large number of mental and physical ailments. According to the EFT practitioner are opinions, inter alia, for the following topics:

• Stress, acute agitation
• Fears, phobias, panic
• Stressful memories, trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder
• Sadness, anger, guilt
• Physical symptoms such as chronic pain
• Allergies and some psychosomatic reactions.

These experiences can so far only claim the status of retrospective " case studies " and personal experiences. First, worthy of discussion and unreplicated clinical studies seem to confirm the effectiveness of EFT.

Research position

Since the postulated Meridian systems are not compatible with the concepts of scientific psychology, kinesiology are classified by critics as a pseudoscience the Emotional Freedom Techniques such as TFT, meridian theory and applied their predecessors. By 2005, there were no randomized controlled trials or controlled design and acceptable sample size (as of 2005; see psychotherapy research). In the U.S., run since 2011 studies with control groups in New Jersey, Indiana and New York (2011 ). There is even a study that looked at a biomarker, the cortisol levels in the blood, refers. This was measured in three comparison groups, of which the first one hours talk therapy received, the second rested an hour while the third one hours EFT practiced. In the first two groups in cortisol levels dropped by 14 %, while the group that had received EFT, lower by 24% cortisol levels exhibited.