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Michelle D DiLauro, Expanding the Social Work Toolbox: Utilizing Emotional Freedom Techniques in Practice, Health & Social Work, Volume 47, Issue 1, February 2022, Pages 63–67, https://doi.org/10.1093/hsw/hlab026
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Energy psychology practices—most notably Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) or tapping—are noninvasive, client-friendly methods of therapy that should be included in the social worker’s toolbox. EFT is an evidence-based practice that has been recognized as an effective treatment for a range of physical and emotional conditions including PTSD, anger, anxiety, stress, test anxiety, phobias, weight control, chronic pain, addiction, and other disruptive habits, behaviors, and limiting beliefs (Feinstein, 2012, 2018; Rowe, 2005; Stapleton, 2019). The technique has been used both nationally and internationally by organizations to aid in trauma relief for veterans, survivors of national disasters, war-related trauma, and mass shooting tragedies such as in Newtown and Pacific Grove (Ortner, 2013).
Clinical EFT tapping protocols have been validated by research, with over 100 research studies, review articles, and meta-analyses published in professional, peer-reviewed journals (Stapleton, 2019). EFT also meets the requirements of the APA Division 12 Task Force on Empirically Validated Treatments (Church et al., 2014; Stapleton, 2019). In addition, in 2017 the U.S. Veterans Administration approved EFT for treatment, noting its safety and efficacy (Stapleton, 2019). Through their initiative, The Veterans Stress Project, the National Institute for Integrative Healthcare not only offers veterans EFT sessions but also links individuals to veterans who have successfully used EFT in their recovery (Veterans Stress Project, 2017).