Brain Coherence in Sports

Clinical EFT Therapy Validated as Evidence-Based Practice for Psychological and Physiological Conditions2

A comprehensive scientific review of a therapy called Clinical EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) has been published in a top peer-reviewed journal, Frontiers in Psychology.

It compared the evidence for EFT against criteria published by the American Psychological Association (APA) Division 12 Task Force on Empirically Validated Therapies. Summarizing the results of 56 randomized controlled trials, it found that EFT is highly effective for anxiety, depression, phobias, PTSD, and stress symptoms.

EFT, also known as acupoint tapping or simply “tapping,” is a practice that combines acupressure (tapping on acupuncture points) with elements of conventional psychological methods like cognitive processing and exposure therapy (focusing on distressing memories). Studies show that the addition of acupressure rapidly reduces the emotional triggering that results from disturbing events.

In the past decade, research in EFT has increasingly focused on objective biological markers such as cortisol levels, immune function, brain activity, and gene expression. It has also been used to successfully treat physical conditions including pain, insomnia, and autoimmune diseases.

The results of randomized controlled trials, the gold standard of research, showed EFTs effects to extend beyond the subjective perceptions of stress measured in psychology. The paper’s coauthor and EFT pioneer Dr. Dawson Church observed that, “Self-reporting and subjective change is one thing, but objective change means that independent of what you think or report, there are external positive changes that are measurable.”

The review concludes that Clinical EFT is “efficacious for a range of psychological and physiological conditions. Treatment is associated with measurable biological effects in the dimensions of gene expression, brain synchrony, hormonal synthesis, and a wide range of biomarkers.”

The paper noted several other characteristics of the treatment method. Comparatively few treatment sessions are required, treatment is effective whether delivered in person or virtually, and symptom improvements persist over time. Also, EFT works well as group therapy, which makes it cost effective to administer.

EFT is also unusually safe, with no reports of adverse events in the more than 2,000 study participants. This has led to it being characterized by the US Veterans Administration as a “generally safe therapy.” The paper notes the prevalence of “simultaneous symptom reduction,” where multiple psychological conditions (such as depression and anxiety) and physiological diagnoses (such as pain and insomnia) decline at the same time.

With over 125 studies now published in peer-reviewed journals, Clinical EFT is one of the most-researched treatment methods in the field of psychology. The review paper found it to be a stable and mature method with an extensive evidence base, capable of being used in primary care settings as a safe, rapid, reliable, and effective treatment for both psychological and medical diagnoses.

In collaboration with Greg, we conducted tests with the men’s and women’s basketball teams, the renowned OSU Beavers (Church, 2009). Our objective was to measure their success rate in free throws, with one group receiving EFT treatment while the other received a placebo.

Following the treatment, the EFT group demonstrated a remarkable 38% improvement compared to the control group. As I observed them on the court, one notable aspect caught my attention—the consistency among the players. Some of them could effortlessly sink 10 balls into the hoop, time after time, while others consistently achieved only three or four successful shots.

What set the athletes apart who struggled to score consistently? Their athletic abilities were unquestionable, as they displayed their prowess intermittently. The key difference lay in their mental coherence.

I closely observed one player in the attempt to score consistently. Despite his efforts to concentrate, distractions surrounded him. The noise in the stadium, the heat, along with the cacophony of thoughts inside his own head hindered his focus. If I were to visualize his brain waves on an imaginary EEG, I could observe this internal chaos and disarray. In contrast, the champion shooters maintained brain coherence, even under immense pressure.

Greg’s work with the golf, baseball, and basketball teams yielded unprecedented success for the Beavers. Soon after he started coaching, the baseball team secured consecutive league victories. In 2018, they once again triumphed in the College World Series. When athletes possess the ability to regulate their emotions (a specialty of EFT) and maintain brain coherence, anxiety and stress no longer impede their innate athletic abilities.

Those who excel in activities like long-term meditation, achieving flow states, and practicing qigong or tai chi are masters of focus. They possess the remarkable skill of performing consistently at the highest level. For competitive athletes at the pinnacle of their game, it becomes evident that it is not just physical ability that matters.

Coherent mental focus can often be even more crucial than physical strength and coordination in determining successful outcomes.

Reference

Church, D. (2009). The effect of EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) on athletic performance: A randomized controlled blind trial. Open Sports Sciences, 2, 94-99.

Top Career in Energy Healing!

Ultimate EFT Certification Open for Enrollment Until Novemberr 1st

Brain Coherence in Sports

Clinical EFT Therapy Validated as Evidence-Based Practice for Psychological and Physiological Conditions2

Purpose

Vision

Mission