The short answer to the question if belief in EFT is needed in order for it to be effectice is clearly, no.

I have found few people who started doing EFT therapy with me who possessed enough understanding of the process or the concept to believe in it. Most people simply start doing it based on the hope and expectation because of what other people reported. Most admit to a healthy skepticism about whether EFT or any other energy psychology method is actually effective, yet soon learn from personal experience that it can achieve fantastic results.

Very few people start out using EFT with any belief what so ever. Reasonable people only give to EFT the enthusiasm and confidence it has earned in their lives based on results; results that are often earned after other traditional and standard forms of medical psychology have been ineffective.

However, when skepticism and disbelief advance to a strong determination that EFT will not help a particular person, this can result in a problem that has been described as a reverse placebo effect. Now, a placebo is a particular substance or procedure a patient accepts as an effective medicine or therapy, but which actually has no proven therapeutic value. The placebo effect, or placebo response, is the psychological therapeutic effect or benefit that follows administration of a placebo. The placebo efffect appears to occur in about 30% of people and is only active for some conditions. The placebo effect is used to explain the phenomenon when a patient's symptoms improve after using a drug or procedure during a medical trial of an inert substance for which there is no therapeutic value, such as the classic sugar pill.

With that in mind, it can be said that the opposite or reverse of the placebo effect is the nocebo effect. The nocebo effect is described as the occurrence when a patient's symptoms become worse after taking an inert substance for which there is no detrimental or harmful ability; again, the classic sugar pill.

Thus, if someone has a deep, active and determined disbelief that EFT will not work for them, this situation can work against their own healing and actually result in a nocebo effect. By definition, the nocebo effect shows that any untoward response is not as a result of EFT, but is caused by the psychological impact of the client's belief system.

After millions of applications of EFT around the world during the last 15 years, there is indication for very few, even rare, side effects associated with EFT. This statement is based on an informal 1997 study in which an informal questionnaire was given to 250 therapists who use EFT frequently in their practice. They were asked for descriptions of significant side effects and abreactions associated with EFT. Out of an estimated 10,000 reported applications of EFT, only 20 cases of abreaction were reported, or 1/5 of 1%. This informal questionnaire cited is not an official study and therefore does not suggest that there is minimal risk involved with EFT. Anyone employing EFT must always assume full responsibility for their results. Anyone doing EFT for others must mention the possibility of abreaction or other negative effects. It is necessary to evaluate EFT and other forms of energy psychology by the results you experience.

For those just beginning to use EFT and have reasonable and healthy skepticism because of the unknown and unfamiliar, there is a way in which EFT can be used to deal with those doubts.

Examples of EFT set up phrases to use to address doubts and skepticism about EFT:

• Even though I do feel sure I believe in EFT, I deeply and completely accept myself.'
• Even though part of me wants to believe EFT will help me, a part of me feels afraid of it and another part of me is afraid of being disappointed again if it does not work, yet I deeply and completely accept all parts of me concerning EFT.'
• Even though I'm not sure what I should really believe about EFT, or if it will really work for me, I choose to keep an open mind, pay close attention to any changes I might feel, and only then judge EFT by the results I receive.'

Skepticism and caution are necessary survival traits and qualities; they are good. Do not deny healthy and reasonable caution that is felt in regard to something that is new and unknown. Use EFT in a healthy and positive way when first learning the mechanics of Emotional Freedom Technique and your results will not disappoint you. Theodore Herazy