Gern , M. (2021). How do clients perceive Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) and its procedures? A phenomenological study [Unpublished Master’s thesis]. Alef Trust & Middlesex University.

Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) is a healing energy psychology (EP) technique based on the stimulation of determined acupressure points through soft tapping, alongside the repetition of certain words and phrases. Whilst the efficiency of EFT is reasonably substantiated by more than 200 publications, of which 100 are research studies, five are meta-analyses and 12 are review articles which have been published on EP methods in peer-reviewed journals. No research which explores the lived experience of EFT clients was found. This study sought to elicit the clients’ lived experiences using EFT and its procedures, through a phenomenological enquiry. Based on an interpretative phenomenological analysis approach (IPA), nine participants were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire protocol. All interview transcripts were carefully explored, from which five major themes emerged. The results indicated that the clients’ lived experiences with EFT go beyond the healing of a specific physical or psychological health challenge, with results constituting important life milestones or being even completely lifechanging and, as one interview strongly suggests, lifesaving. Further research is necessary to understand a wider spectrum of EFT users and their experiences. Nevertheless, the insight provided by this study may assist EFT practitioners and other health professionals showcase the possible impact that EFT can have on a person’s mental and psychological wellbeing, to achieve long-term results, which is in alignment with the findings of several studies.