Therapists offering EFT to their clients began to report that their issues resolved as well. They would conduct sessions with others, and suddenly discover than an illness or phobia from which they’d previously suffered had disappeared. We then began to put this phenomenon, called Borrowing Benefits, to an experimental test. Several studies were performed, which found that just watching someone else’s session while tapping along produced substantial reductions in anxiety, depression, phobias, and other psychological problems (Church & Brooks, 2010; PalmerHoffman & Brooks, 2011; Rowe, 2005).
As you tap along with the real-life people featured on our videos, a part of your brain called the hippocampus finds similarities between your issues and the ones being addressed in the session. We also have “mirror neurons” in our brains that fire as we watch a similar experience being enacted by someone else. Mirror neurons mimic the other person’s experience in our own brains.
Yes. We’re empathetically wired to other human beings; the ability to recognize and respond to the emotions of others is a valuable evolutionary skill. You needn’t have the same experience to benefit. Just the way you laugh or cry (have an emotional reaction) during a movie in which the characters are having experiences nothing like yours, your brain responds to the emotions of those you watch. You know if you are making progress by recording your SUD score regularly.
Your results may be dramatic improvement, incremental improvement, or no improvement. Studies suggest that substantial improvement, though not complete remission, is the norm.
While Easy EFT is relatively gentle and most people experience benefits, you might feel emotional or physical stress. With EFT as with any other healing method, you should always consult your primary care provider in advance.