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Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) is a form of counseling intervention that draws on various theories of alternative medicine including acupuncture, neuro-linguistic programming, energy medicine, and Thought Field Therapy. During an EFT session, the client will focus on a specific issue while tapping on "end points of the body's energy meridians".

Process

According to the EFT manual, the procedure consists of the participant rating the emotional intensity of their reaction on a Subjective Units of Distress Scale (SUDS) (a Likert scale for subjective measures of distress, calibrated 0-10) then repeating an orienting affirmation while rubbing or tapping specific points on the body. Some practitioners incorporate eye movements or other tasks. The emotional intensity is then rescored and repeated until no changes are noted in the emotional intensity.

Research

A review found that claims about efficacy of EFT may be attributable to the well known techniques used with EFT rather than manipulation of energy and encouraged psychologists to be wary of such energy techniques. Writing in The Skeptical Inquirer, Brandon Gaudiano and James Herbert argued that there is no plausible mechanism to explain how the specifics of EFT could add to its effectiveness, and they have been described as unfalsifiable and therefore pseudoscientific. EFT is widely dismissed by skeptics, along with its predecessor, Thought Field Therapy and has been described in the mainstream press as "probably nonsense." Evidence has not been found for the existence of acupuncture points, meridians or other concepts involved in traditional Chinese medicine.

Additionally, a 2009 review found "methodological flaws" in some research studies that had reported "small successes" for EFT and the related Tapas Acupressure Technique. The review concluded that positive results may be "attributable to well-known cognitive and behavioral techniques that are included with the energy manipulation. Psychologists and researchers should be wary of using such techniques, and make efforts to inform the public about the ill effects of therapies that advertise miraculous claims."

Reception

A Delphi poll of an expert panel of psychologists rated EFT, on average, with a score of 3.8 on a scale from 1.0 to 5.0, with 3.0 meaning "possibly discredited" and a 4.0 meaning "probably discredited". A book examining pseudoscientific practices in psychology characterized EFT as one of a number of "fringe psychotherapeutic practices" and a psychiatry handbook states EFT has "all the hallmarks of pseudoscience."

References

1. ^ Craig, G (nd). EFT Manual (pdf). Retrieved 2011-05-03.
2. ^ Oliver Burkeman (2007-02-10). "Help yourself". The Guardian. Retrieved 2009-06-29.
3. ^ McCaslin DL (2009 Jun). "A review of efficacy claims in energy psychology". Psychotherapy (Chicago). 46 (2): 249–56. PMID 22122622. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
4. Gaudiano BA; Herbert JD (2000). "Can we really tap our problems away?". Skeptical Inquirer. 24 (4). Retrieved 2011-12-12.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
5. Emotional Freedom Techniques, The Skeptic's Dictionary
6. Singh, S (2008). "The Truth about Acupuncture". Trick or treatment: The undeniable facts about alternative medicine. W. W. Norton & Company. pp. 39–90. ISBN 978-0-393-06661-6. "Scientists are still unable to find a shred of evidence to support the existence of meridians or Ch'i" (p72), "The traditional principles of acupuncture are deeply flawed, as there is no evidence at all to demonstrate the existence of Ch'i or meridians" (p107), "Acupuncture points and meridians are not a reality, but merely the product of an ancient Chinese philosophy" (p387). {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
7. Norcross, John C. (1 January 2006). "Discredited psychological treatments and tests: A Delphi poll". Professional Psychology: Research and Practice. 37 (5): 515–522. doi:10.1037/0735-7028.37.5.515. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
8. Lilienfeld, Scott O. (2003). Science and pseudoscience in clinical psychology (Paperback ed. ed.). New York : Guilford Press. p. 2. ISBN 1-57230-828-1. {{cite book}}: |edition= has extra text (help)
9. Semple, David (2013). Oxford Handbook of Psychiatry. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. p. 393. ISBN 978-0-19-969388-7.

• Energy therapies
• Manipulative therapy
• Emotional issues
• Pseudoscience