Brain Changes After Emotional Freedom Techniques ('Tapping') for Chronic Pain

In this course, Dr. Peta Stapleton, Professor, School of Psychology, Bond University (Australia) shares the results of clinical trials which demonstrate that Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT, or tapping) creates changes in the brain which reduce chronic pain. Reviewing the tapping points and sequence, Stapleton first summarises the results of an EFT study published in 2017 with adults who had chronic pain. She then goes on to discuss a series of recent EFT trials with chronic pain patients. The latter, which included a pre- and post- fMRI scan, showed a series of positive results from EFT, including changes in the parts of the brain that modulate pain. Tips for tapping are offered, along with an injunction for patients to acknowledge anger about pain, or anything else. Late in an EFT program, participants can be helpfully asked if there is an upside to continuing to have their pain.