EFT wasn't designed for the workplace - it's a therapeutic self-help technique. But peer-reviewed research shows it is effective for stress reduction, emotional regulation, and performance under pressure. Those are the exact capacities workplace performance requires. So we use it.
This page curates the key research behind our use of EFT in coaching programmes. All links go directly to original peer-reviewed studies or academic publishers - not aggregator databases or promotional sites.
If you spot anything outdated or have questions about the research, get in touch on [email protected]
EFT's most robust evidence is in stress reduction, with measurable physiological changes (not just self-reported feelings).
Study: Church, D., Yount, G., & Brooks, A. J. (2012). The Effect of Emotional Freedom Techniques on Stress Biochemistry: A Randomised Controlled Trial. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 200(10), 891-896.
What they found: EFT group showed 24% average cortisol reduction (43% in high-stress participants). Talk therapy and rest groups showed no significant reduction. 43% reduction in cortisol after a single one-hour EFT session. They also found significant improvements in anxiety, depression, happiness, pain, cravings, and physical symptoms. Most improvements maintained at 90 days.
Why this matters for workplace coaching: Lower cortisol means better stress regulation capacity - the foundation for cognitive clarity, emotional composure, and sustained performance under pressure. Emotional regulation isn't about suppressing feelings - it's about processing them effectively so you can think clearly and respond strategically rather than reactively.
Study: Church, D., Stapleton, P., Yang, A., & Gallo, F. (2018). Is Tapping on Acupuncture Points an Active Ingredient in Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT)? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Comparative Studies. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 206(10), 783-793.
What they found: EFT treatment using actual acupoints showed large effect sizes. When compared to control conditions, the acupressure component produced moderately stronger outcomes. The analysis concluded that the acupressure tapping is an active ingredient producing specific therapeutic effects - not placebo, not general relaxation, not just the cognitive/talking component.
Why this matters for workplace coaching: This addresses the natural skepticism: "Is this just relaxation? Could you tap anywhere and get the same effect?" The answer is no. The somatic (body-based) component produces measurable, specific effects beyond what cognitive techniques or general stress reduction achieve alone. For workplace applications, this means EFT's dual mechanism - cognitive reframing plus somatic regulation - offers a more comprehensive intervention than traditional talk-based approaches. You're not just thinking differently about pressure; you're physiologically regulating your stress response while you do it.
Emotional regulation - staying composed when stakes are high - is critical for leadership effectiveness and performance under pressure.
Study: Clond, M. (2016). Emotional Freedom Techniques for Anxiety: A Systematic Review With Meta-analysis. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 204(5), 388-395.
What they found: Large pre-post effect size for EFT treatment (d = 1.23, 95% CI 0.82-1.64, p < 0.001) compared to combined controls (d = 0.41, p = 0.001). EFT demonstrated significant anxiety reduction even when accounting for control treatment effects.
Why this matters: Meta-analysis represents the highest level of research evidence. Demonstrates robust anxiety regulation capacity across contexts - the emotional regulation foundation essential for workplace performance under pressure.
Study: Bach, D., Groesbeck, G., Stapleton, P., Sims, R., Blickheuser, K., & Church, D. (2019). Clinical EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) Improves Multiple Physiological Markers of Health. Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine, 24, 1-12.
What they found: Participants at a 4-day EFT training workshops showed significant reductions in anxiety (-40%), depression (-35%), PTSD (-32%), pain (-57%), and cravings (-74%), all statistically significant. Happiness increased +31%. Physiological improvements included resting heart rate , cortisol (-37%), systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure (-8%). Immune function (salivary immunoglobulin A) increased +113%. Gains were maintained at follow-up.
Why this matters: Demonstrates both psychological and physiological improvements simultaneously - not just emotional regulation, but measurable changes across multiple body systems. The combination of mental well-being gains and physical health markers shows EFT's comprehensive impact on stress response regulation - exactly what workplace performance under pressure requires.
Several studies show EFT improves performance in high-pressure situations - particularly useful for leadership contexts where composure under scrutiny matters.
Competition Anxiety & Cortisol:
Mollazadeh, Mahdi & Zandi, Hassan & Ghorbanzadeh, Behrouz & Soori, Rahman. (2025). Effectiveness of emotional freedom technique on competition anxiety and salivary cortisol of elite taekwondo athletes. Sports medicine: research and practice. 14. 40-48. 10.47529/2223-2524.2024.4.6.
What they found: 29 elite male taekwondo athletes were randomly divided into intervention group (13 participants, 10 sessions of EFT training) and control group (16 participants, physical training only). The EFT intervention group showed significant decreases in cognitive anxiety, somatic anxiety, and salivary cortisol levels, plus increased self-confidence compared to the control group. These changes occurred specifically in competitive contexts (measured during actual competitions).
Workplace relevance: High-stakes presentations, board meetings, client pitches - workplace performance requires the same composure under pressure that athletes need in competition. EFT reduced both psychological anxiety and physiological stress markers (cortisol) while increasing confidence - the exact combination needed for professional performance under scrutiny.
Llewellyn-Edwards, T., & Edwards, D. J. (2012). The Effect of EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) on Soccer Performance. Fidelity: Journal for the National Council of Psychotherapists, 46, 14-19.
What they found: Basketball players improved free-throw shooting performance after EFT intervention addressing performance anxiety.
Workplace relevance: High-stakes presentations, board meetings, client pitches - workplace performance requires freedom from anxiety.
This is where EFT research intersects most directly with workplace application - several studies specifically examine EFT's effectiveness for job-related stress and burnout.
Review of workplace stress research:
Study: Putri, B.N., Mardjan, M., & Trisnawati, E. (2025). EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) Method Intervention in Reducing the Risk of Work Stress in Female Health Workers. Media Publikasi Promosi Kesehatan Indonesia, 8(1), 11-19.
What they found: Work stress scores decreased significantly from 88.56 to 56.80 (31.76-point reduction, p = 0.000). Key workplace stressors included unpredictable shift scheduling (52%), insufficient time for patient care (60%), workload exceeding capacity, and fear of making mistakes. The intervention was effective despite being brief and self-administered.
Why this matters: Demonstrates EFT effectiveness for shift workers experiencing irregular schedules and high workplace demands - common stressors in demanding professional environments. The brief, self-administered format shows practical workplace application potential.
Rizzo A, Laachi S, Ait Ali D, Khabbache H, Güler Öztekin G, Aksoy Ş, Mohammed Abdullah Alkhulayfi A, Yıldırım M, Chirico F (2025), The efficacy of emotional freedom techniques and tapping in reducing job stress and burnout: a review of research. Mental Health and Social Inclusion, Vol. 29 No. 6 pp. 782–799
What they did: Systematic review of EFT studies across healthcare, education, and corporate workplace settings. Analysed randomised controlled trials and observational studies measuring EFT's impact on job stress and burnout.
What they found: EFT effectively reduces job-related psychological distress and improves wellbeing. The dual mechanism (cognitive reframing + somatic stimulation) provides more comprehensive stress relief than conventional methods. However, existing research has limitations: small sample sizes, reliance on self-reported data, and lack of long-term follow-up.
Why this matters for workplace coaching: Recent evidence (December 2025) confirms EFT's effectiveness specifically in occupational settings - not just clinical contexts. Most effective when integrated with organisational approaches like workload management and social support, which is exactly how we use it: EFT for individual capacity building + organisational insight through RII.
Study: Shahzadi, S., Mahar, S., Mahar, A. Q., & Ali, L. (2024). The Efficacy of Emotional Freedom Technique in Reducing Workplace Stress Among Healthcare Professionals: A Quasi-Experimental Study. International Journal of Social Sciences Bulletin, 2(4), 390-399.
What they found: 46 healthcare professionals underwent four 45-minute EFT sessions. Workplace stress scores decreased significantly from 26.58 to 21.17 (p < 0.001), with effect sizes ranging from moderate to large (Cohen's d = 0.359 to 0.843). Reductions were consistent across participants with different initial stress levels.
Why this matters: Recent evidence (October 2024) from healthcare settings showing EFT effectively reduces workplace stress with measurable, statistically significant results. The study specifically examined healthcare professionals in high-pressure environments, demonstrating EFT's applicability in demanding workplace contexts.
Study: Dincer, B., & Inangil, D. (2021). The Effect of Emotional Freedom Techniques on Nurses' Stress, Anxiety, and Burnout Levels During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Explore, 17(2), 109-114.
What they found: 72 nurses treating COVID-19 patients were randomized to either a single 20-minute online group EFT session (n=35) or no-treatment control (n=37). The intervention group showed highly significant reductions in stress (p < 0.001), anxiety (p < 0.001), and burnout (p < 0.001). The control group showed no significant changes.
Why this matters: First randomized controlled trial demonstrating EFT's effectiveness for workplace burnout in healthcare professionals during a high-stress crisis. Shows that even a single brief online session can produce measurable stress and burnout reduction - particularly relevant for time-pressured workplace contexts.
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Performance Coaching for High Pressure Environments
