How EFT Tapping Can Complement Traditional Therapy: A Case Study

February 10, 2023 Acupoints and Meridian Therapy, Anxiety, Articles, Stress , anxiety, CBT, panic attacls, stress

Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) is a powerful and effective tool for addressing a wide range of emotional and physical issues. Also referred to as “tapping” or as “meridian tapping,” EFT involves the stimulation of repetitive finger point tapping on specific acupressure points on the body while focusing on a specific situation and/or emotion in one’s life. Research published in peer reviewed journals and in clinical trials has shown that EFT can be an effective approach for relief from anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, and a variety of other conditions.

In this case study, we’ll explore how EFT tapping can be used to complement traditional more cognitive therapy, and how it can be a valuable addition to a mental healthcare professional’s toolkit.

The Case:

Jane is a 35-year-old woman who has been struggling with anxiety and panic attacks for several years. She has tried a variety of treatments, including medication and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), but has not found lasting relief. Frustrated and feeling stuck, Jane turns to a licensed mental healthcare professional for additional support.

The Approach:

The mental healthcare professional begins by using traditional therapy techniques, such as CBT, to help Jane identify and challenge negative thought patterns that contribute to her anxiety. She is able to become more aware of subtle triggers and earlier experiences that might be related to her panic attacks but finds the cognitive approaches of talk therapy to be only partially effective in reducing her anxiety symptoms.

The therapist then suggests incorporating EFT tapping into the treatment plan as a complementary approach. She had studied and become certified in EFT and brings a trauma informed approach and skillset to her therapy practice. By teaching her client how to apply EFT as a self-regulation technique between sessions, Jane can learn to use EFT on her own to address her anxiety symptoms as she experienced them when she wasn’t at her therapist’s office. With practice she finds applications for self-regulation tapping for multiple ways in which anxiousness shows up for her such as her fear of public speaking or worries about her health. While in sessions, her therapist uses advanced EFT techniques to work on the traumas that lie at the core of Jane’s anxiety. By tapping on the relevant acupressure points and verbalizing her thoughts and feelings, Jane is able to release the emotional charge associated with these adverse experiences, find resolution with the relevant issues and gain a greater sense of emotional freedom.

The Results:

After incorporating EFT tapping into her treatment plan, Jane experiences a significant reduction in her anxiety symptoms. She is able to better manage her panic attacks on her own and feels more in control of her emotions. She also reports a greater sense of self-awareness and an increased ability to cope with stress.

Conclusion:

This case study illustrates how EFT tapping can be used to complement traditional therapy, and how it can be a valuable addition to a mental healthcare professional’s toolkit. By focusing on specific issues and emotions, EFT tapping can help individuals release the emotional charge associated with these issues and gain a greater sense of emotional freedom. As a result, individuals may experience a significant reduction in symptoms and an improved ability to cope with stress and difficult emotions.