EFT for Addictions and Cravings

Presentation

Addictions and compulsive behaviors represent one of the most complex therapeutic challenges in contemporary mental health, with high relapse rates for most conventional approaches. EFT for addictions and cravings is based on a pioneering research program conducted primarily by Peta Stapleton (Bond University, Australia), who has published several randomized controlled trials examining EFT efficacy on food cravings, tobacco, alcohol, and substances.

The central mechanism of action of EFT in addictions operates at multiple simultaneous levels. On the neurobiological level, functional MRI (fMRI) brain imaging studies have documented measurable changes in the activity of brain reward circuits (nucleus accumbens, ventral prefrontal cortex, limbic system) after EFT treatment, suggesting EFT does not merely manage symptoms but effectively modifies the neural substrates of addiction. On the psychological level, EFT treats the underlying emotional triggers maintaining addictive behavior — boredom, stress, loneliness, shame — as well as childhood traumas (ACEs: Adverse Childhood Experiences) constituting a major risk factor for all forms of addiction.

The most striking characteristic of the EFT protocol for addictions is its ability to dissolve the craving or compulsive urge in real time during the session, using the addiction object as an efficacy test tool rather than a stimulus to avoid. Published clinical results are among the most impressive in the EFT literature: a single-session workshop study (N=39) documented an average 83% reduction in food cravings measured immediately after the session. The Stapleton et al. RCT demonstrated a 28.2% craving reduction maintained at 2-year follow-up.

Core Principles

1. Deliberate Craving Activation: Unlike addiction management approaches encouraging trigger avoidance, the EFT addiction protocol rests on intentional, controlled craving activation in session. This activation is essential to create the therapeutic target.

2. Precise Sensory Description of the Craving: Like Chasing the Pain for pain, the addiction protocol requires the most precise possible sensory description of the craving: body location, physical perception, intensity 0–10, accompanying images and sensations.

3. Dual Target: Craving AND Emotional Triggers: The protocol treats not just the surface craving. Once immediate craving is reduced, the practitioner systematically explores underlying emotional triggers.

4. Childhood Trauma Exploration (ACEs): Addiction research has clearly established that adverse childhood experiences constitute the most predictive risk factor for adult addiction development. The complete EFT addiction protocol includes systematic ACE exploration and treatment.

5. In-situ Behavioral Testing: For food addictions, the trigger food is placed before the patient as a behavioral test tool at session end. This test deeply anchors desensitization and creates a new behavioral memory.

Technical Details

Primary researcher

Peta Stapleton, Ph.D. — Bond University, Australia (research program 2010–present)

Reference studies

Stapleton et al. (2011) RCT food cravings; Stapleton et al. (2016, 2019) long-term effects; fMRI studies on reward circuits

Evidence level

High — published RCTs, 2-year follow-up, functional neuroimaging documenting brain changes

Validated program format

4 sessions of 2 hours (Stapleton original format for food cravings)

Individual session duration

60 to 90 minutes

Recommended individual sessions

4 to 12 depending on addiction type, severity and comorbidities

Validated workshop format

1-day intensive workshop (6 hours) — 83% craving reduction documented

Treated addictions

Food cravings (sugar, chocolate, fats), tobacco, alcohol (problematic non-physically-dependent use), cannabis, behavioral addictions

Recommended assessment tools

YFAS (Yale Food Addiction Scale), Craving Scale 0–10, AUDIT (alcohol), FTND (tobacco), CAGE

Main Indications

• Food cravings and compulsive eating — irresistible urges for sugar, chocolate, fatty foods; binge eating; emotional eating
• Tobacco addiction — active smoking with cessation motivation
• Problematic alcohol use — mild to moderate alcoholism without severe physical dependence
• Cannabis — daily use as emotional regulation
• Behavioral addictions — screen/video game addiction, compulsive shopping, gambling, social media, pornography
• Substance withdrawal with medical supervision — EFT as complement to treat psychological and emotional dimensions

Session Overview

An EFT session for addictions and cravings proceeds through seven interdependent phases:

1. Preparation and craving activation (10–15 min): Practitioner explains deliberate activation principle and obtains informed consent. Patient visualizes the substance with high sensory detail. SUDS assessed on craving intensity (0–10).
2. Precise sensory craving description (5–10 min): Craving localized in body and described precisely: "This irresistible urge for chocolate, this sensation in the mouth, this imagined smell, this creamy texture..."
3. Tapping rounds on sensory craving (15–20 min): 3–5 tapping round series directly on sensory craving formulations. SUDS reassessed after each series. Rapid craving reduction often seen from 8–9/10 to 3–4/10 in early rounds.
4. Emotional trigger exploration (15–20 min): "What emotion typically precedes this craving?" Identified triggers (boredom, stress, loneliness, shame) treated individually.
5. Childhood memories associated with the substance (10–20 min): First memories related to the substance explored: "What is your earliest chocolate memory?" Origin memories treated with Movie Technique.
6. Treatment of identified ACEs (variable, 0–30 min): Adverse childhood experiences treated with EFT trauma protocol.
7. In-situ behavioral test and positive rounds (10–15 min): For food addictions, trigger food placed before patient as test tool. When SUDS ≤ 2, positive rounds anchoring health goal performed.

Variations and Sub-Techniques

Collective workshop format (Stapleton): Original 1-day 6-hour collective workshop with 6–15 participants. 83% craving reduction documented (N=39).

4-session biweekly program: 4 sessions of 2 hours, twice weekly over 2 weeks for complex addictions. Superior results vs spaced weekly approaches for highly motivated patients.

EFT combined with ACT: ACT (cognitive defusion, mindfulness, values clarification) combined with EFT for synergistic intervention.

Relapse prevention protocol: Booster sessions at 1, 3, and 6 months to treat emerging emotional and situational triggers.

Emergency self-EFT for unexpected cravings: Abbreviated 5–7 minute protocol for real-life use during intense unexpected cravings.

Contraindications

• Severe physical alcohol dependence — medical withdrawal required before psychological work
• Opioid dependence — medically supervised withdrawal with substitution protocols first
• Active anorexia nervosa — nutritional and psychiatric management takes priority
• Active psychiatric decompensation — refer to urgent psychiatric care
• Severe dissociative disorders — deliberate craving activation may trigger dissociation in patients with severe untreated trauma history