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What is Clinical EFT?

Clinical EFT is evidence-based and reduces the symptoms of anxiety, depression, PTSD and other stress-related diseases. It is easily integrated with traditional psychosocial therapies for faster, more effective results and has been shown to be extremely effective and successful as a community trauma intervention tool around the world.

EFT has been formally recognised by a number of bodies worldwide including Veterans Affairs (USA), The Canadian Psychotherapy Association, and The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (UK).

Closer to home, the National Disability Insurance Scheme approved EFT under self managed plans for patients to access. The National Institute of Integrative Medicine has been a research partner with Bond University in delivering EFT for cancer support studies during 2020-21. A range of private hospitals in Australia have approved the use of EFT with their programs.

In 2018 two international EFT training organisations made a joint submission of the research evidence for EFT and TFT as treatments for PTSD to NICE (the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) in the UK. NICE has created a specific category for EFT, TFT and Somatic Experiencing called “CSACTS” (Combined Somatic and Cognitive Therapies), and acknowledged that they are “worthy of further research.”

Several studies show a substantial reduction in PTSD / trauma symptoms and often an absence of diagnosis after just six hours of Clinical EFT. Gold standard approaches recommend 12 to 18 sessions, and Clinical EFT achieves the same outcomes in considerably less time. If you’d like a deep dive on research, click here.

Clinical EFT is a tool that carers and service providers can use to enhance their own resilience and use in their clinical practice and in the field, to boost their clients’ ability to deal with trauma. It is also a tool that can underpin a community’s capacity for resilience as the technique is highly effective in group settings – putting the power back into the hands of the community.

For example, in 2018 and 2019 MHCF ran four training programs in Broome, WA, with close to 100 participants. Counsellors report a decline in stress levels and an increase in resiliency through the use of Clinical EFT. More recently, with our online and in person EFT/Tapping First Aid programs, we have trained 300+ participants in WA, NT, SA, QLD, NSW and Victoria, all reporting similar outcomes.

Here's how EFT works

Education and training – online and face to face

To play its part in creating heart-centred, resilient communities, MHCF provides education, training and mentoring in Clinical EFT for carers and service providers, including allied health professionals and educators working in traumatised communities. It also provides resiliency support for community leaders and other professionals involved in community trauma intervention. This can include a trained cluster of professionals embedding Clinical EFT in the community development framework of vulnerable trauma affected communities.

Traditionally, this training and mentoring has been provided in person. However, the increased need for Clinical EFT in our community now means that MHCF has developed an online learning platform.

Our Programs

The Foundation’s programs have been developed by two internationally renowned leaders in Clinical EFT, with over 25 years of combined experience both in the field and at a research level. Dr Peta Stapleton’s programs are tailored specifically for health professionals and educators, having drawn on her experience of delivering trainings in Clinical EFT for over 12 years. Dr Lori Leyden’s programs have been facilitated worldwide for the past 13 years, with her key focus on trauma focused trainings, which are skills based and replicable in a Train-The-Trainer model.

Evidence Based EFT Field Training for Traumatised Communities – EFT/Tapping First Aid Training for Rapid Trauma Relief & Resiliency – In person and online training (7 hrs) for allied health professionals, educators, individuals and service providers working with indigenous and refugee communities.

This signature online and in person EFT First Aid training program continues as we extend the reach of our services. Our next online training is on Friday 20th October – Full details and registration here. Full scholarships are available upon request – email [email protected]

If you would like a brochure to circulate, you can download here.

Bespoke ‘in-house’ training is also available for teams, with a minimum of 12 participants, in-person and online. Please email [email protected] for further details.

EFT/Tapping First Aid Wellbeing Sessions

This training is designed for teams. Is your team experiencing overwhelm, exhaustion, compassion fatigue and burnout? Online training (1.5hrs) for allied health professionals, educators, individuals and service providers working in traumatised communities. Participants are introduced to proven stress reduction tools in an interactive format and experience the benefits first-hand. It’s a nourishing immersion, like a ‘re-boot’ for your team! Email enquiries to [email protected] are welcome. If you would like a brochure to circulate you can download here.

EFT/Tapping First Aid Post Disaster Support – Tools for effective stress reduction, self-care and resiliency.

This FREE training is designed for allied health professionals and educators in  communities impacted by a disaster. Online training (1 hr). These interactive sessions focus on the “practical education” on how to personally use basic trauma-informed approaches and strategies in acute and early recovery stages. If your community has been impacted, please email our team.

EBEFT – Evidence Based EFT – In person and online training.

This training for allied health professionals equips the practitioner with effective stress management skill sets, that can be taught to clients in group settings or one on one. This technique is research based and proven to reduce the symptoms of anxiety, depression, PTSD and other stress-related diseases. (Limited scholarships are available to service providers via an application process.) In-person training programs have now resumed.

TITC – Tapping in the Classroom – Online training program for educators only.

This online training program is designed to give teachers, school guidance counsellors and psychologists an effective tool to help children overcome stress, anxiety and behavioural challenges. The program delivers resources to ensure the educator is equipped with necessary handouts, video/audio files to streamline the teaching process and implementation of this technique in the classroom. As students experience the technique they have immediate access to their own emotional self-regulation tool. (Full scholarships are provided to eligible educators on the completion of the EFT FirstAid training.)

Our Work

Kimberley Region, Western Australia.

In early 2018 Kate Helder and Dr Lori Leyden were privileged to be invited by the Yiriman Women to go ‘on country’ for a week. The Yiriman Project is an intergenerational, ‘on-country’ cultural program, conceived and developed directly by Elders from four Kimberley language groups. While they were ‘on country’ Kate and Lori provided introductory Clinical EFT training workshops to the communities of the Yiriman Women, including service providers from the region, and were able to assess how best to establish programs for trauma healing to assist these communities moving forward.

This experience gave MHCF a deeper sense of understanding of day to day challenges in these communities. In particular, it highlighted that trauma response therapies were needed not only by community members but particularly by the service providers who care for them. As a result, MHCF returned in November 2018 and delivered an in-depth training for service providers – “Evidence-Based EFT Field Training for Traumatised Communities”. This training was attended by 22 mental health professionals and educators from organisations including, but not limited to, Australian Red Cross, BOAB Health, Kimberley Mental Health & Drug Service and Kimberley Rural Health Alliance. The success of this training has led to further training and follow up sessions in May and October 2019. Demand for ongoing training from the region is strong and has led to the development of online programs in 2020 to meet this demand and to broaden MHCF’s reach at a time when travel is not possible.

The technique has increased the capacity to offer counselling as it is easy on me and gives immediate relief to clients experiencing the effects of trauma. I am able to easily see 5 or 6 clients a day during periods of heavy demand and crisis in the community. Previously I did not have the resilience to see traumatised person after traumatised person during the week.

Brenda KingSexual Assault Counsellor, East Kimberley, Anglicare WA.

Really excellent, so relevant and presented in a way that made me feel comfortable to use it immediately. Thanks so much for coming to Broome. Please come back.

M.T.Psychologist

This workshop exceeded my expectations and is very relevant to my workplace. This technique will be incorporated into session from now!

M.L.Mental Health Worker

Thorough knowledge was brought to life by the heartfelt compassion and universal human qualities brought to training, bringing life and positive energy to the learning and helping me feel privileged to be a part of this.

M.C.Mental Health Professional

Refugee Communities

MHCF also provides its Clinical EFT training program “Evidence-Based EFT Field Training for Traumatised Communities” to service providers, educators and health care professionals working in refugee communities. Over the past four years MHCF has worked with organisations that provide service to refugee communities throughout Australia, including Foundation House, Sacred Heart Mission, Anglicare, First Step Legal, City of Yarra, Staughton College, Department of Families Fairness and Housing, AGECS and STARTTS.

MHCF recognises the importance of measuring its Field Training model and conducts surveys with training participants. MHCF is also aiming to partner with a tertiary institution or other evaluation body to ensure quality and outcomes are measured and reflect assumptions. The goals and objectives of MHCF will be considered when determining the metrics for program evaluation, in conjunction with specific needs of different communities and reasonable outcome and impact measures.

Click here for results from a recent survey with our training participants.