If you are completely new to EFT, this page will give you an introduction to the history of EFT and find out some basic information about the technique to help you decide if it’s something you want to try.

How does EFT work?

Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) works by calming the nervous system, either generally or in relation to a specific issue.

It achieves this through stimulation (tapping) of the meridian system while focusing on the feeling, memory or issue.

However, although EFT has been proven to be clinically effective in many peer reviewed studies, the scientific basis for EFT is not yet fully understood. 

What are the origins of EFT?

EFT is one of many techniques that make use of the 14 energy meridians that run throughout the body. These energy pathways have been known to the eastern traditions (e.g. Indian Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine systems) for over 4000 years and are the basis for Acupuncture, a therapy which is receiving increasing acceptance from the western medical community and is included in the UK’s NICE Guidelines for relief of chronic pain.  Other physical therapies which make use of the meridian system include Acupressure (Acupuncture without needles), Shiatsu (a form of massage), Touch for Health (a self-help system used for a wide variety of ailments) and Kinesiology.

The basic idea behind all meridian techniques is that health problems (including emotional issues) arise when the flow of energy round the body is blocked or disrupted in some way. Meridian techniques work by restoring the energy flow.

In modern times, the use of meridian techniques goes back to the 60’s and resulted in the development of Applied Kinesiology.  In the 70’s, a few psychiatrists began experimenting with using muscle testing as a diagnostic tool for psychotherapy.  In the 80’s Dr Roger Callahan developed TFT (Thought Field Therapy) which involved tapping on specific meridian points while the client focussed on the issue at hand. Callahan specialised in phobia cures and was so successful (treating people in one or two sessions) he went out of business for a time!

In 1995, one of Callahan’s students, Gary Craig, developed EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques). Craig was a Stanford engineer by training and wanted a procedure which did not require lots of diagnostic work to decide which points to tap and which was easy to learn and remember. He took the “100% overhaul” approach, which means tapping all the points, every time and for every issue. Several other related techniques have since been developed by other people in the field and the area is growing fast.  But because EFT is so user-friendly it remains the mainstay for many practitioners in this area and for individuals looking for easy to learn self-help techniques. Gary Craig sadly died in 2026 but his website at www.palaceofpossibilities.com remains the definitive place to look for up to date information about EFT and its uses.

What can it help with?

EFT can help with any form of negative emotion including fear, anger, grief, anxiety, painful memories, negative thoughts and limiting beliefs.  However this short list does not do justice to the huge variety of specific issues which have been relieved using EFT.  Gary Craig’s manual and video training demonstrates EFT successfully used on the following conditions amongst others:

  • Post-traumatic stress in war veterans, car crash victims and others
  • Grief about childhood memories
  • Anger towards parents and others
  • Fear of public speaking, heights, flying, animals etc
  • Cravings and addictions to food and cigarettes
  • Guilt about childhood or relationships
  • Inability to forgive self and others
  • Self-blame and low self-esteem

In my previous work as a general EFT Practitioner and Life Coach, I have personally successfully used EFT on the following issues with myself, family members and clients:

  • Painful memories
  • Smoking cravings
  • Chocolate cravings
  • Jumpy legs
  • Pre-interview nerves and confidence
  • Fear of flying
  • Fear of heights
  • Fear of dentists
  • Fear of injections
  • Fear of snakes
  • Headaches
  • Insomnia
  • Anger towards others
  • Frustration and anger over unemployment
  • Inner turmoil
  • Painful feet
  • Stiff necks, arms, back and joints
  • Itching
  • Distress regarding a pet’s health
  • Work-related stress
  • Driving test nerves
  • Panic attacks
  • Getting over past relationships
  • Relationship with food
  • Increasing confidence
  • Parental fears (“Am I a good mother”)
  • ….and many more.

What are the main advantages of EFT?

The key advantage of EFT is it’s simplicity.  The EFT procedure is the same whatever the issue and whoever the person – all points are tapped on every time and for every issue.  This means:

  • It’s easy to learn and remember for beginners and clients.
  • Once people are familiar with the procedure they can use it wherever and whenever they like.
  • People often don’t need to see a practitioner, especially for straightforward cases, unless they CHOOSE to. This puts choice and power back in the hands of the person.
  • There is no need to perform diagnosis using muscle testing or other methods which require additional training – the “diagnosis” is simply what the person perceives to be the problem.
  • A complete sequence takes around a minute, so you can see results quickly, or try out different Setup phrases with minimum effort.
  • EFT does NOT involve having to talk in detail about upsetting issues. In fact it is possible to achieve results without the client ever explicitly saying what the issue is. This means it is possible to make progress with a traumatic issue without the client having to “relive” the trauma.
  • EFT engages both the conscious mind (by saying setup statements) AND the physical/energy system (by tapping). This acknowledges the close relationship between body and mind and involves both in the healing process. Often the EFT process uncovers insights and realisations, further bringing body and mind in alignment, which is often appealing to those clients who want to understand the issue on a conscious level.
  • EFT can deal with blocks or resistance to healing. For instance, if someone is experiencing stress but has a belief that “I need stress in order to motivate me” then this belief could undermine the effectiveness of any stress-reduction technique the person may try. EFT is able to undo these limiting beliefs as part of the process.

If EFT is so easy, why would I need to see a practitioner?

In many cases you wouldn’t.  When I was starting to learn EFT (long before I got my practitioner certificate) I achieved success on many issues simply by following the basic procedure as described in Gary Craig’s manual.  Many other people have had success with EFT just working by themselves and you may want to get started on your own using the EFT QuickStart Manual.  But there are some situations where working with a trained practitioner is recommended:

  • Some issues by their very nature involve strong feelings and painful memories. Examples might be extreme trauma or upsetting childhood memories. For issues like this, even thinking about the possibility of working on them can provoke distress. However, working with an experienced practitioner will ensure that the session is paced in a way that ensures your emotional safety and well-being without resulting in overwhelming levels of emotion. A trained practitioner will be able to ensure that you complete each session in a positive and calm emotional state, even if there is more work to be done later.
  • Some people just prefer working with someone else.  Reading manuals and getting started CAN be a barrier to some people, especially if they are busy. By going to a practitioner you can be sure of learning the procedure correctly as well as quickly.
  • There are a set of common reasons for EFT not to work first time, or to achieve only partial success. A practitioner will be familiar with these and know what to do to correct them and make progress. 
  • Some issues are not straightforward.  Sometimes the reason for an issue is hidden below the surface and it is helpful to have a practitioner to ask questions and get to the root of what’s going on, using the right language and so on.

Think of it like DIY. While there may be many DIY tasks around the home that you feel confident about doing yourself, there will always be some jobs that are too big or too complicated to handle by yourself. For these tasks you will be saving time and stress in the long run by getting professional help.
 

Does it always work?

No-one has claimed 100% success rates for all people at all times and for all issues.

It is estimated that beginners can achieve 50-80% success just using the basic mechanical procedure and without additional training.

Increased success rates can be achieved by trained practitioners who have experience in how to work with a client to identify the root of a problem and formulate effective language to help the client “tune in” to the issue.  With this type of training, success rates are estimated to be well over 80%.

In general, success rates for physical issues appear to be lower than for emotional ones, simply because, of course, many physical issues also have a physical root that requires physical treatment.  

EFT does not claim to cure particular diseases, but it can be very helpful in managing symptoms (e.g. pain, itching) and in reducing negative feelings about having the disease (fear, stress, anger, guilt etc).  And of course, relieving the burden of pain and negativity can assist the overall physical healing process.

How do I know if it will work for me?

I am often asked this by clients, especially if they have tried other methods for their problem before with only limited success. It’s natural to want some assurance about the likelihood of success before handing over yet more money.

The honest answer to this question is that we don’t know until we try!

As part of my Discovery Call with new clients I will include a short EFT tutorial and demo where we will apply EFT to a simple issue unrelated to your main problem. This will tell me (and, more importantly, you) whether your nervous system is responsive to EFT in a general way. A Discovery Call is free and without obligation, so it’s an ideal opportunity to find out if EFT is likely to work for you.

If you want to test your own receptivity before making an appointment, you can have a go at using EFT yourself by using one or more of the resources in the How do I get started? section below.

What is the EFT procedure?

To apply EFT, the person repeats phrases describing the issue involved (Anger, Grief etc), while gently tapping on a sequence of meridian points on the face and (optionally) hands.

The full procedure is described in my EFT QuickStart Tutorial on this website (coming soon).
 

Can I do EFT on my own?

Yes.

Once you are familiar with the technique you are completely empowered to apply EFT to any emotional issue you wish.

However, there are a few people who are advised not to use EFT by themselves without practitioner support…
 

Is there anyone who should not use EFT?

Although EFT has no known negative side effects, it can bring memories and feelings to the surface which some people may find hard to handle. In a practitioner supervised session, these can be managed and neutralised without causing undue distress i.e. you might experience strong emotions momentarily, but I take great care to ensure that clients are brought into a calm state within a minute or two if this does happen. But if you are a beginner working alone, you may not want to bring up strong feelings unless you feel confident that you can cope with them.

In particular, people with diagnosed psychiatric conditions where a severe emotional reaction could occur (such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, disassociative disorder, clinical OCD or PTSD) are advised not to use EFT without the knowledge and supervision of their doctor or therapist.

People with epilepsy may also prefer not to use the tapping form of EFT since the rhythmic nature of the tapping may in theory be an epileptic trigger. Touching or gently massaging the points is a safe alternative for people with a risk of epilepsy.

How can I get started learning EFT?

You do not have to learn EFT before booking a session with me. I will introduce you to all the necessary elements of EFT within our sessions.

However, there are a number of free and low cost resources available for those who would like to learn EFT in their own time.

  • My Online EFT Tutorial – coming soon

This will be a step by step guide which you can follow on screen or print out to use offline. My guide is designed to be the absolutely quickest way to try out EFT. No screeds of theory and history to read, no

  • Gary Craig’s original EFT Manual (free PDF)

Gary’s original 80 page pdf manual is no longer available from his website and has been replaced by his book (see below). However, it can currently (as of November 2026) be downloaded here: https://dn760103.eu.archive.org/0/items/EftManual/eftmanual.pdf

(In case you are wondering, there is no legal issue with downloading this manual from any site, as Gary gave express permission for this manual to be shared freely.)

Please note that any links in the manual to resources on emofree.com will no longer work as that site is no longer functioning. However, the manual contains all the information that you will need to learn the basic EFT procedure.

I also have a copy of this manual, so if you have any difficulty downloading from the above link, please send me a message through the Contact form and I’ll be happy to send you a copy.

  • The EFT International Free Tapping Manual

This is a free pdf guide put together by EFT International, an international EFT training organisation, of which I am a member. The guide is free but requires you to provide your email so that download links can be emailed to you. To obtain this manual please visit this page.

  • Official EFT from A to Z

This is the most up to date, official EFT manual, jointly authored by Gary Craig and Gabriëlle Rutten. It is available from Amazon in Paperback, Hardback and Kindle formats. For your convenience, these are the links to the book listings on different Amazon sites worldwide:

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

Amazon.ca

Amazon.fr

Amazon.de

Amazon.in

Amazon.au

Amazon.jp

Amazon.mx