Energy psychology, also known as the emotional freedom technique or tapping, is a standardized procedure where the patient taps on various key body energy points while visualizing a negative situation, replacing negative thoughts with positive counter-thoughts. This approach has been used as both a standalone and adjudicative treatment for anxiety. Preliminary studies suggests tapping is a viable means to treat anxiety, although further research is needed.
Theory Behind Tapping
Tapping is a kind of exposure therapy, which has been shown to be effective in the treatment of anxiety. While the patient is not actually exposed to the situation arousing the anxiety, he physically stimulates himself while imagining the situation. David Feinstein, Ph.D. believes this method works because the acupressure sends signals to the brain that decrease negative arousal patterns.He cites a number of studies that found stimulation of pressure points in the body lead to arousal in the area of the brain known as the amygdala.
Treatment of Accident Victims
A team of researchers led by Alexander Kober, M.D. in 2002 studied the effect of tapping on treating anxiety in accident victims. Paramedics introduced tapping to a group of accident victims who employed this method on their way to the hospital. This group of patients reported significantly less anxiety upon arrival to the hospital than did a similar group of controls who did not employ the tapping method.
Treatment of Phobias
Tapping has been used to effectively treat a form of anxiety known as a phobia, which is an irrational fear of an animal or object. Patients either practiced tapping or an alternative treatment for anxiety, known as diaphragmatic breathing for 30 minutes. While there was not a significant difference between the two group in terms of heart rate, patients treated with tapping were able to get significantly closer to the animals that were the source of their phobia, than did the comparison group.
Treatment of PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD is a type of anxiety disorder that is triggered by a traumatic events with symptoms including hyper-vigilance, obsessive recall of the event, fear and anxiety. A research team lead by Church in January 2009 found that 46 percent of veterans who completed six-sessions of tapping significantly reduced their anxiety following the treatment and continued to show significant improvement after 90 days.
References
- Energy Psychology; A Review of the Preliminary Evidence; David Feinstein, Ph.D., 2008
- International Anesthesia Research Society; Prehospital Analgesia with Acupressure in Victims of Minor Trauma: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blinded Trial; A. Kober, et al.; May 2002
- "Journal Clinical Psychology"; Evaluation of a Meridian-Based Intervention, Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), for Reducing Specific Phobias of Small Animals; S. Wells, et al.; 2003
- Life Script Counseling; Psychological Symptom Change In Veterans After Six Sessions Of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT); D. Church, PhD; January 2009
