Is EFT Right for me and What are the Risks?
Is EFT Right for Me?
EFT tapping is generally considered a safe and effective therapy for many people. You can use it to help reduce everyday stress and anxiety, improve mental focus at work and in sports, get a handle on food cravings, and more. It can also be used in a clinical setting, with a licensed practitioner, to help address and resolve PTSD and trauma.
The risks typically come with doing EFT tapping on your own, versus working with a certified professional.
I recommend people use EFT on their own for everyday stress, such as anxiety before a dentist appointment, job interview or feeling overwhelmed looking at your email inbox. However, I don’t recommend that people who are traumatized try this on their own.
If you try tapping on your own and you begin to feel overwhelmed by the feelings or thoughts that arise, or you sense that your issues are too complex to address on your own, consult an experienced EFT practitioner for support.
What are the Risks using EFT?
Dr. Peta Stapleton a world leading expert on EFT research out of Bond University says, “Studies indicate there are very few if any adverse side effects when EFT is used properly, that is, when EFT is done with a trained practitioner, she adds. There are also few if any risks associated with standard EFT tapping for most healthy people who turn to this self-administered approach to manage everyday stressors.”
If someone with PTSD or past big “T” trauma discovers EFT tapping on their own and tries tapping along with a tutorial, they may become distressed as they remember past events without the guidance of a licensed healthcare professional. The risks are emotional flooding and retraumatization.
Retraumatization is the return of trauma-related thoughts and feelings, which cause you to relive the events that led to your PTSD, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (PDF).
