EFT WITH CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

What happens when a simple, brief self-regulation technique is brought into the school setting? This presentation explores findings from trials of Clinical Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) Tapping with students, examining its potential to support students’ emotional wellbeing, reduce distress, and enhance their capacity to manage everyday challenges.

Drawing on findings from primary, secondary school and university contexts, the presentation will highlight key outcomes, similarities and differences across age groups, and what the research suggests about implementing Clinical EFT within schools. Attention will also be given to practical considerations involved in delivering a brief, accessible, school-based approach. Participants will leave with an understanding of the current evidence for school-based EFT Tapping, insights into its potential benefits and limitations, and considerations for future research and practice.

Blending psychological, somatic and neurological practices to support children in response to emotional struggle; understanding how child development safely guides the use of EFT with young people; hands-on, child-appropriate tools drawn from shared experience using EFT with children.

Drawing on 20+ years’ experience using EFT with teenagers and in schools, George covers how EFT can support stress, anxiety, behaviour, emotional regulation, self-harm and trauma; why supporting school staff matters as much as supporting students; how to introduce EFT into schools and pitch its value to decision-makers; and overcoming your own fears and blocks when bringing EFT into schools, plus practical energy exercises.

Cathy shares three big ideas: EFT for teacher self-regulation and how this ‘uplevels the field’; integrating EFT tapping into music and early childhood activities; and EFT tapping as a self-regulation and learning-readiness tool for children – exploring safety, self-efficacy and creativity as key benefits of tapping with children.

Drawing on her work taking EFT into schools, private practice and online, Inger shares what has worked — and what hasn’t — when introducing EFT to parents, teenagers and school communities, and how to reach and engage families who might otherwise be wary, unsure, or simply too stretched to try something new.

This session introduces Picture Tapping Technique (PTT) — combining tapping with drawing, imagination and metaphor to give children a simple, creative and indirect way to explore difficult thoughts and feelings. The session covers PTT across different age groups, relevant art-therapy research, and real examples, and is intended as an introduction rather than a replacement for full PTT training.