Clinical EFT is the manualized and standardized version developed by Dawson Church for scientific research. Integrating CBT elements and removing the 9 Gamut Procedure, it is recognized by the APA as an evidence-based practice for anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
Fundamental conceptual framework of EFT developed by Gary Craig, using the table metaphor to structure therapeutic work: global problems (anxiety, low self-esteem) are the tabletop, specific supporting memories are the legs β you never tap on the tabletop, you treat each leg individually.
EFT double dissociation protocol for extremely severe traumas or highly reactive patients: the patient imagines a box containing the memory without opening it, evaluates an estimated SUD on the idea of looking at the box, and taps progressively until able to glimpse the contents without emotional flooding.
Mind-body approach validated by Stapleton et al. RCTs (2013β2019) for weight management and dysfunctional eating behaviors. Weight and BMI reduction, depression β12.3%, anxiety β23.3%, effects maintained at 12 months and 2 years. Treatment of cravings, limiting beliefs, and emotional eating.
Complementary EFT technique used after negative emotion reduction to install and anchor positive states, inner resources, and helpful beliefs through meridian tapping combined with positive affirmations and mental imagery.
EFT technique for severe traumas, very sensitive subjects or therapy beginners: starting with extremely vague formulations ('something difficult happened') and progressively introducing increasingly specific details, never advancing if intensity exceeds 4-5, thus building safety and trust before approaching the core of the problem.
Technique where a practitioner or caregiver taps on themselves with intention for a person unable to practice EFT directly: infants, young children, sedated patients, animals, or distant persons.
Group protocol where each participant taps simultaneously on their own problem while a volunteer works with the therapist, generating shared therapeutic benefits through resonance effect.
EFT protocols specifically adapted by age group β from tapping games with 4-7 year olds to adolescent empowerment β to reduce school anxiety, phobias, trauma, and improve self-esteem.
Advanced EFT protocol combining guided visualization and meridian tapping to access the wounded inner child, establish a therapeutic dialogue and integrate unresolved early emotional wounds.
Spiritual and meditative evolution of EFT developed by Gary Craig since 2014, in which physical tapping is abandoned in favor of a meditative connection with the Unseen Therapist β a universal inner spiritual resource β to heal at a deeper level than technique.
Advanced EFT-derived technique developed by Karl Dawson, allowing the practitioner to enter traumatic memories and interact with the past self (ECHO) to rewrite limiting beliefs anchored in the energy field.
Systematic long-term protocol designed by Gary Craig to methodically resolve all of life's disturbing memories, treating each specific memory with standard EFT until lasting and complete emotional peace is achieved.
The EFT Gold Standard protocol is Gary Craig's original complete version (1990s): SUDS assessment, setup statement on the Karate Chop point, 9-meridian-point tapping sequence, 9 Gamut Procedure, and reassessment. The foundation of all modern EFT variants.
The Emergency EFT protocol is an ultra-simplified version immediately applicable in acute crisis situations: panic attacks, emotional shock, acute pain, intense distress. Continuous tapping on the least intrusive points until stabilization, without formal setup or prior SUDS assessment.
EFT protocol validated by Peta Stapleton's RCTs for treating food cravings, tobacco, alcohol, and substance addiction. 83% craving reduction in workshop format and 28.2% maintained at 2 years. Documented fMRI changes in brain reward circuits.
Specialized EFT protocol for chronic pain using the Chasing the Pain technique. Stapleton et al. (2025, European Journal of Pain) RCT demonstrating significant reduction in pain severity and interference, maintained at 6 months, with measurable neural changes.
EFT protocol adapted for sports performance enhancement: pre-competition anxiety management, mental block clearing, post-injury psychological recovery and mental preparation. Church (2009) study demonstrating 38% improvement in basketball free throw accuracy. Significant cortisol reduction (d=1.12) supporting athletic recovery.
Structured EFT protocol for treating specific phobias in one to two sessions of 60 to 120 minutes. Phobias of spiders, heights, flying, blood, injections and other simple phobias. Large effect sizes confirmed by independent studies.
Structured clinical protocol based on Church, Stapleton et al. (2018) guidelines for post-traumatic stress disorder treatment. Three intervention levels adapted to PTSD severity, with an 86% remission rate in veterans after 6 sessions.
Gary Craig's advanced EFT protocol for moderate to severe traumas, where the patient assigns a movie title to their traumatic memory and processes it progressively as a film watched from the outside, stopping to tap whenever intensity rises.
EFT protocol where the patient narrates their story aloud while the therapist watches for activation signs β voice changes, hesitations, gestures β and immediately stops the narration to tap on the last spoken phrase, until the entire story can be told without distress.