EFT Emotional Freedom Techniques Emotional Freedom Techniques - commonly abbreviated to EFT - is a modern and growing form of personal development and therapy. Its purpose is to return the mind, body and feelings to a state of balance and harmony so you are not limited by negative emotions. EFT can be effective for various purposes, including personal and self-development, attitude and behaviour development, resolving personal problems, reducing stress, and restoring life balance.   EFT generates passionate debate as to its scientific validity - especially among the scientific community and conventionally-minded therapists. Jo does not seek to judge how or why EFT works but has shown in her work with some clients that it does. As with all the therapies she uses she decides whether it is appropriate to the particular needs of each client. (or 'each person with whom she is working.') Even though we are 'designed' to recover from unpleasant experiences or thought patterns, nevertheless we can be affected by recurring emotions from past events such as relationships, trauma or loss. We can also be affected by ongoing or future events such as work-related stress, interpersonal problems, depression and various kinds of anxieties. EFT is a gentle and effective way of directly balancing the body's energy system for the feelings that you want to change and for freeing a stuck emotion in your stream of energy. It involves 'tuning into' the issue - without having to relive it - and then tapping with your fingers on specific acupressure points with your fingers. The person is shown which acupressure points to tap, and what words to repeat as they do so. The objective is to reduce the intesisty of the negative feeling. EFT can help to reduce physical pain and allergies as well as emotional problems and dependencies like smoking. The Emotional Freedom Techniques concept was developed in the US in the 1990’s by Gary Craig. Its roots are in acupuncture, kinesiology and psychology and it is now spreading very rapidly in the UK where the concept is now used in some specialist areas of the National Health Service.