From EFT Skeptic to EFT Believer

If you’re sceptical about EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), you’re not alone… so was I...

... And so, I thought I’d share my story because, well..., if someone with a 40-year NHS career who was duty bound to ensure interventions are evidence-based, can come around, maybe you’ll find it worth a second look too.

Years ago, therapy played a pivotal role in helping me unravel my past and build a better future. I won’t bare my soul here, but let’s just say I was stuck in a toxic work environment and couldn’t seem to “rise above” the drama.

It triggered something deep in me that I didn’t yet understand, and it took a wonderfully compassionate therapist… and a few years of hard work, to help me piece it all together. That experience changed my life.

But as the years rolled on; happy ones, I’m grateful to say, some stubborn patterns and limiting beliefs remained.

No matter how much I wanted to take the leap into self-employment, something kept holding me back. As a trained coach I knew I had to dig deeper, so I sought out coaching for myself.

This coach, as it turned out, also practiced EFT.

Initially, I was hesitant.

Years earlier, I’d encountered tapping at a yoga retreat and thought, “Really? Tapping your face is supposed to help you relax?!” Let’s just say I wasn’t convinced. But this time felt different.

I trusted my coach… she modelled confidence, self-belief, and the kind of brave vulnerability that makes you think, “maybe I could try that too.” So I gave EFT a go.

What happened next felt like magic.

We went deeper, combining EFT with Matrix Reimprinting to safely explore and heal emotional beliefs rooted in old memories.

It was transformative.

Suddenly, those triggers and self-limiting beliefs lost their power. I could see things with fresh clarity and finally make the leap I’d been yearning for.

But was I completely sold? Not quite.

As someone grounded in evidence-based practice, I needed to understand the science.

What I found surprised me, actually leading me to train as an EFT practitioner and incorporate it into my coaching offer for those that want to try it.

There’s a growing body of research supporting EFT’s effectiveness across a range of conditions, from anxiety and PTSD to chronic pain. Here are just a few highlights:

1. Broad Effectiveness: EFT has been shown in randomised controlled trials (RCT’s) and meta-analyses to significantly reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, PTSD, and chronic pain.

2. Physiological Effects: Studies show that EFT can lower cortisol levels after just one session and impact brain areas involved in emotional regulation, like the amygdala and prefrontal cortex.

3. Trauma Healing: EFT has been found to compare favourably with trauma-focused therapies like CBT, offering lasting improvements even when other treatments fall short.

4. Emerging Science: Early research into epigenetics suggests EFT might influence stress-related pathways at a genetic level, although more studies are needed to confirm this.

Wrapping It Up: So…Is EFT for You?

EFT isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay. We all find different paths to growth and healing.

But if you’re curious, even a little, why not try it? You might just surprise yourself, as I did.

If tapping really isn’t your thing, don’t worry! I also offer traditional coaching, helping people uncover insights and move forward in their lives.

Whether you’re navigating self-doubt, big life decisions, or workplace challenges, there’s more than one way to unlock your potential.

And finally… being sceptical isn’t a bad thing.

It means you’re discerning, which is a great quality in any personal growth journey. But sometimes, being open can lead to the breakthroughs you didn’t know you needed.