Where It All Began

EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques), often known simply as tapping, may seem modern, but its roots go back much further. While EFT in its current form was developed in the late 1980s and early 1990s, it builds on the ancient understanding that energy flows through the body — and that gentle stimulation of certain points can help restore balance.

A Brief Journey Through Its Origins:

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  Ancient Foundations
  The idea of stimulating points on the body for emotional or physical healing dates back thousands of years. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, meridians are considered energy channels that connect various organs and systems. Acupoints — specific spots along these meridians — have long been used in practices like acupuncture and acupressure to support health and emotional balance.
  
  

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  Thought Field Therapy (TFT)
  In the 1980s, psychologist Dr. Roger Callahan developed Thought Field Therapy, which combined tapping on acupoints with focused thought to reduce emotional distress. TFT marked a key turning point — and sparked new ways of approaching healing.
  
  

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  The Birth of EFT
  In the early 1990s, Gary Craig, a Stanford-trained engineer and personal performance coach, simplified Callahan’s technique. He made it more accessible, easy to learn, and applicable to a wide range of issues. He called it EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) — and from there, it began to spread around the world.
  
  

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  EFT Today
  Over the past few decades, EFT has grown into a widely used self-help and therapeutic tool, backed by a growing body of scientific research. It's now practiced by therapists, coaches, and individuals alike — and continues to evolve with the support of modern psychology and neuroscience.