Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT Tapping) FAQ
- Bailey Levis
- Jun 22, 2022
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 11
Learn how you can reduce your anxiety and worry less about your stuttering using this safe and effective approach.
What is EFT Tapping?
Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) also called “Tapping” or “EFT Tapping” is a safe and gentle method to reduce stress, and increase comfort and confidence. It’s a self-help therapeutic tool that incorporates established counseling components of behavioral therapy, cognitive therapy, and exposure therapy (which are commonly used in stuttering therapy) with traditional chinese medicine (e.g. acupressure). There are currently approximately 400 published papers in peer reviewed journals, including 70 randomized controlled trials demonstrating its efficacy. Bailey incorporates the same form of EFT, known as Clinical EFT, that is used in these studies.
How does EFT Tapping work?
EFT works in part through a gentle yet effective form of exposure therapy. In EFT, this is accomplished by identifying and discussing past and/or future events that were/are distressing or uncomfortable while the clinician instructs the client in gently tapping on clinically established acupoints on the client’s own head and torso. These acupoints fall on what ancient Chinese medicine calls meridians.
Studies have shown that Clinical EFT helps to reduce the brain’s response to stress in a relatively short amount of time. The situation that the brain once perceived as threatening or stressful, is no longer perceived in that way. The result? Less fear, worry, anxiety, and nervousness when speaking or thinking about speaking situations.
Will EFT cure or stop stuttering?
EFT is not designed to treat or cure any disease or disorder. Clinical EFT may, however, help to reduce anxiety associated with speaking and help increase one’s comfort, confidence, positive thinking and participation in life activities. As nearly every person who stutters knows, generally, the more comfortable we are in a speaking situation, the less we stutter. So, EFT Tapping may help you stutter less often and and with less tension, struggle, and pushing. Of course everyone is unique and no guarantees are made as to your individual results / experiences. There is currently no known cure for stuttering. There is no evidence that Clinical EFT will cure or stop you or your child from stuttering. No claims are being made to suggest that Clinical EFT will stop, cure, or reduce physical stuttering behaviors.
I take a neurodiverse, mind-body approach to stuttering therapy. Meaning that I believe that it is OK to stutter. My goal with incorporating Clinical EFT as part of a holistic approach to stuttering therapy is to support you or your child to say what you want, when you want, with confidence, regardless of whether or not you stutter.
How can EFT Tapping be incorporated into stuttering therapy?
Check out this Tap-Along video ---->
When used in conjunction with evidence based practices in stuttering therapy, Clinical EFT may help to improve confidence, comfort, and positive self-image:
Speaking in public (including in work meetings or other professional situations, or at school – asking and answering questions in class, speaking or presenting in front of the class, etc.)
Speaking in small and large groups
Making phone calls
Ordering food and/or drinks
Speaking in social situations
At job interviews
Can EFT Tapping be used with children and adolescents?
Yes! EFT tapping has been used to successfully reduce phobias and anxiety in children and adolescents. See this Google Scholar Search for links to studies. Fear and anxiety related to speaking is common among people who stutter, and these components of stuttering therapy have been addressed using other counseling based approaches (see this article). Although no studies exist yet demonstrating the efficacy of EFT for reducing fears and anxieties related to stuttering, it is a safe and promising approach.
Is there evidence that EFT/Tapping is effective for stuttering?
As of this time there are no peer reviewed studies that have researched the use of clinical Emotional Freedom Techniques with stuttering. However, here are some of the ways that EFT has benefitted my clients:
Level of nervousness about taking an important, professional oral exam went from a 9 out of 10 to a 0. This client had failed the exam 3 times before coming to see me and had felt hopeless and like, "What's the point?". I also helped the client identify and connect with other professionals to get the support needed to pass the exam and pursue the career of their life-long dreams.
Within 3 sessions, going from fear of speaking during lunch with colleagues to talking with them and having, "the best lunch I've ever had", and even having moments of forgetting that they stutter.
From stuttering being too emotional to work on, to speech that's the "best it's ever been".
Difficulty completing weekly speech assignments to nearly 100% success rate completing weekly assignments.
Helped to take a client from feeling deep sadness about never being able to have the career they dreamed of because of their stutter to deep satisfaction and enjoyment of now working in that career.
Evidence exists for the use of other counseling based approaches that form the basis of EFT in stuttering therapy (Google Scholar Link). There is also considerable evidence for the use of EFT in reducing the impact of distressing emotions in a variety of populations – emotions that people who stutter regularly experience and are commonly addressed in a holistic approach to stuttering therapy.
What Training have you had?
Currently I have completed advanced training from accredited and certified master EFT Trainers. I am an Accredited and Certified EFT practitioner by EFT International, the world’s leading professional EFT association.
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