Emotional freedom techniques: Stress and anxiety management for students and staff in school settings

Gaesser, A. H. (2020). Emotional freedom techniques: Stress and anxiety management for students and staff in school settings. In C. Maykel & M. A. Bray (Eds.), Applying psychology in the schools. Promoting mind–body health in schools: Interventions for mental health professionals (p. 283–297). American Psychological Association.

HIGHLIGHTS

Review of EFT research finds it effective for stress and anxiety management for students and school personnel. Suggests that there are links between EFT and CBT citing allied techniques eg “EFT uses cognitive behaviour therapy techniques, such as awareness building, imaginal exposure, reframing of interpretation, and systematic desensitization, while teaching the individual to self-stimulate protocol-identified acupoints”.

The chapter suggests that studies over the last 10 years have indicated that EFT assists students in reducing anxiety and the fear of failure and in improving self-esteem and compassion within a few sessions. The focus is on school aged children and adolescents and it also discusses the relevance of training in EFT for school practitioners and the ethics surrounding its use in schools.

Link to study: Not available

Date published: January 2020