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Most coaches have met this client. They know exactly what they want to change, they have a clear goal, and they still cannot seem to act on it. Something underneath keeps getting in the way. That gap is where energy psychology in coaching comes in.
Energy psychology pairs a normal coaching conversation with simple body-based techniques, most famously tapping on acupressure points, to help clients settle strong emotions and shift limiting beliefs.
At Soul Awakening Academy, we teach it as part of an ethical, trauma-aware approach within our accredited life coaching courses.
If you want to learn it professionally, our Level 7 Master Spiritual Life Coach & Energy Psychology Certification trains you in EFT, meditation, and the coaching skills to use them safely, and you can read the full course overview before you decide.
First, let’s look at what energy psychology is, what the research really says, and where the limits sit.
Energy psychology is a family of mind-body approaches that combine psychological techniques, such as focusing on a distressing thought or memory, with the physical stimulation of points on the body. The Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology (ACEP), a professional body formed in 1999, describes it as a set of integrative approaches used across psychotherapy, coaching, and healthcare.
Practitioners draw on ideas from traditional Chinese medicine, where acupuncture points and meridians play a central role. Proponents suggest that emotional distress is linked to disruptions in the body’s energy system, and that stimulating certain points while thinking about a problem can help restore balance.
It is worth being honest about one thing here. The energy meridians themselves have not been scientifically demonstrated, which is why researchers tend to study outcomes rather than the energy theory.
The story begins in 1964, when chiropractor George Goodheart developed applied kinesiology. Clinical psychologist Roger Callahan later built on that work and, around 1980, developed Thought Field Therapy (TFT) after tapping helped a patient with a severe water phobia. One of his students, Gary Craig, simplified TFT in the mid 1990s into Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT). In 1998, clinical psychologist Fred Gallo gave the whole group of methods its name in a book called Energy Psychology.
In a coaching setting, energy psychology becomes a practical tool inside a goal-focused conversation. The coach still listens, asks powerful questions, and keeps the client accountable. The difference is that when a client hits an emotional wall, such as fear of being seen, procrastination, or a belief like “I am not good enough”, the coach can offer a short tapping or breathing exercise to help them settle the reaction and keep moving.
Put simply, coaching helps a client set clear goals, while energy psychology techniques help address the emotional and subconscious blocks standing in the way. Many coaches find this stops sessions from circling the same problem.
This distinction matters, especially in the UK, where coaching is not a regulated profession. Coaching assumes the client is capable and whole, and it focuses on growth and future goals. Therapy diagnoses and treats mental health conditions. A coach using energy psychology must never diagnose, treat, or promise to cure anything.
| Traditional Coaching | Energy Psychology Coaching | Energy Psychotherapy |
|---|---|---|---|
Led by | Trained coach | Coach with energy psychology training | Licensed mental health professional |
Main focus | Goals, habits, performance | Goals plus emotional and subconscious blocks | Treating psychological conditions |
Common tools | GROW, SMART, Wheel of Life | The same tools plus EFT tapping and meditation | EFT, TFT and other methods within clinical care |
Diagnosis or treatment | No | No | Yes, within professional scope |
Coaches usually work with a small toolkit rather than every method available. Some techniques stimulate meridian points, while others rely on breath or meditation. Here are the ones you will meet most often.
Technique | What It Involves | How Coaches Use It |
|---|---|---|
Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) | Tapping acupressure points with the fingertips while naming a stressor | Calming reactions, easing limiting beliefs, self-help between sessions |
Thought Field Therapy (TFT) | Tapping set sequences of points for particular issues | Less common today, mostly seen as the root of EFT |
Tapas Acupressure Technique (TAT) | Gently holding specific points while focusing on an issue | A quieter option for clients who dislike tapping |
Chakra-based methods | Working with the body’s energy centres and the human energy field through meditation and affirmations | Spiritual coaching and self-awareness work |
Meditation and breathwork | Guided focus, visualisation, and slow breathing | Grounding and self-regulation |
A basic EFT round is simple enough to teach in a single session:
The client names the issue and rates its intensity from 0 to 10.
They say a setup statement that acknowledges the problem while accepting themselves.
They tap through a series of points, such as the eyebrow, side of the eye, under the eye, chin, and collarbone, repeating a short reminder phrase.
They re-rate the intensity and repeat until it eases.
Because clients can learn the basics quickly, it works well as a self-management tool between sessions. Our guide on how to use EFT to balance emotions walks through the technique in more detail.
Energy psychology works by combining a cognitive step with a somatic one. The client brings a stressful thought or feeling to mind while tapping acupuncture points on the body.
Researchers suggest this pairing may calm the nervous system and support self-regulation, which is why studies often measure cortisol levels. The exact mechanism is still being studied, so coaches should describe it as a theory, not a fact.
Because this is a health-adjacent topic, it deserves a straight answer rather than hype. Most research focuses on EFT, the best-studied method in the family.
A 2022 systematic review in Frontiers in Psychology identified 56 randomised controlled trials of Clinical EFT, involving 2,013 participants, plus eight meta-analyses. It described the effects as moderate to large for anxiety, depression, phobias, and PTSD.
A meta-analysis of 14 randomised trials on anxiety (658 participants) found an effect size of 1.23, compared with 0.41 for the control treatments.
A 2023 meta-analysis on PTSD found large effects against waiting list and usual care groups. Against active treatments, results were similar to other evidence-based therapies.
One trial found cortisol, the stress hormone, fell after a single EFT session, while talk therapy showed no significant change. A smaller trial was too small to confirm the finding.
Not everyone is convinced. Researchers who reviewed the field, including the authors of a 2024 paper, argue that many studies use small samples, carry conflicts of interest, or have methodological flaws. Clinicians also note that the evidence is thinner than for established therapies such as CBT. There is an ongoing debate over whether tapping adds anything beyond the exposure, attention, and relaxation involved, although one meta-analysis found the acupressure component did contribute to results.
NICE’s guideline on PTSD (NG116) recommends trauma-focused CBT and EMDR as psychological treatments, and EFT is not among them. So for a diagnosed condition, clients should speak to their GP or a registered clinician first. Energy psychology in coaching is best seen as a complementary tool for personal development, not a replacement for clinical care.
Within coaching, the focus is on everyday emotional blocks rather than clinical conditions. Clients most often bring:
Limiting beliefs about worth, money, success, or visibility
Stress and overwhelm that make it hard to focus
Tension and physical sensations that show up when they feel under pressure
Fear of change, rejection, or judgement
Procrastination around goals they genuinely want
Strong emotional reactions that feel bigger than the situation
Clients often report feeling calmer and clearer after a round of tapping, which makes the next coaching conversation easier. That is a personal experience, though, not a guaranteed result.
It suits people who are functioning well but feel held back by stress or self-doubt, and who want to learn self-help methods they can use in everyday life.
It is not suited to anyone seeking treatment for a diagnosed condition. They should see a licensed clinician first.
Using energy psychology responsibly comes down to a few firm habits:
Never diagnose, treat, or promise a cure. Describe it honestly as a self-development technique.
Gain informed consent. Explain what tapping involves and be open that the research is debated.
Work in a trauma-informed way. Keep to present-moment feelings rather than asking clients to relive traumatic memories in detail.
Know when to refer. Signs of a clinical condition or any risk of harm mean a prompt referral to licensed mental health professionals.
Our guides on what trauma-informed spiritual coaching is, and ethics in trauma-aware spiritual coaching cover these boundaries in more depth.
There is no legal requirement to qualify to coach in the UK, so quality varies widely. A strong energy psychology coaching course should offer:
Accreditation from a recognised professional body
Supervised or peer practice, with documented coaching hours
Clear teaching on ethics, scope of practice, and referral
Trauma-informed training
An honest account of the evidence rather than miracle claims
A route to professional insurance after certification
Our Level 7 Master Spiritual Life Coach & Energy Psychology Certification is built around those standards. It is accredited by the IAPC&M and IPHM, runs across 22 modules and around 300 hours, and most students finish in 6 to 12 months at their own pace.
Module 20 covers energy psychology directly, including meditation and EFT, and how energy systems relate to emotion and behaviour. Module 22 teaches counselling skills for professional coaching, including boundaries, scope of practice, safeguarding, and referral. Certification involves 60 hours of practical coaching, submitted sessions, reflective assignments, and a final video assessment. Graduates are eligible to apply for professional insurance, subject to country and provider.
You will learn from founder Anne-Marie Mayers, who is trained in positive psychology, NLP, hypnotherapy, EFT, and acupuncture. Payment plans are available, and you can book a free call with Anne-Marie to check the course is right for you. If you are comparing routes, our guides to Level 7 coach training and how to become a spiritual life coach explain the wider picture.
It is the use of body-based techniques, such as EFT tapping, within a coaching conversation to help clients ease emotional blocks and limiting beliefs while working toward their goals.
No. EFT is one method within energy psychology, alongside others such as Thought Field Therapy and the Tapas Acupressure Technique.
The evidence is promising, especially for EFT and anxiety, but it is still debated. Critics point to small studies and methodological flaws, so it should be presented honestly as a complementary tool.
Yes, with proper training. A coach must stay within coaching scope, avoid diagnosing or treating conditions, and refer clients to licensed professionals when needed.
No. Emotion-focused and emotionally focused therapies are talk-based psychotherapies that simply share similar initials with EFT tapping.
There is no legal requirement in the UK, but accredited training and professional insurance are what clients and insurers expect.
Energy psychology gives coaches a practical way to help clients move past the emotional blocks that goals alone cannot fix. Used ethically and within scope, it can deepen your coaching and set your practice apart.
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