The Tapping Evidence Base
Other Physical Conditions · Depression

Borrowing Benefits: Clinical EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) as an immediate stress reduction skill in the workplace

Church, D., David, I. · Psychology · 2019

Outcome study👥 39 participantsPreliminary✓ Source-checked📍 United States
In plain English. 39 business executives attended a one-day seminar using a group tapping method called Borrowing Benefits, where everyone taps along while watching a certified practitioner work with one person. Afterward, their stress-related symptoms, pain, and cravings all dropped substantially. There was no control group and no follow-up, so this shows an immediate effect in a workplace-like setting rather than lasting change.

What they found

39
people took part

After a daylong seminar combining psychoeducation with group-format Clinical EFT (Borrowing Benefits protocol), severity of anxiety/depression symptoms declined 34% (p<0.0008), pain declined 41%, and cravings for problem food and drink declined 50% (both p<0.0001).

How the study worked

Who took partbusiness owners over 50 years old whose companies grossed US$9 million or more annually (n=39)
What they didParticipants received tapping and were measured before and after, without a separate comparison group.
Measured withpsychological symptom severity (anxiety/depression), pain rating, cravings for problem food and drink

💡 Where this could help

If findings like these hold up in larger trials, the promise is simple: a low-cost, self-administered tool that could reach people struggling with other physical conditions who can't easily access traditional care — at home, between appointments, or where there aren't enough clinicians to go around.

🔬 What to study next

The natural next step: a head-to-head trial against an established treatment like CBT, and a larger sample to confirm the effect.

The full record

DesignOutcome study
Participants39 people
Populationbusiness owners over 50 years old whose companies grossed US$9 million or more annually
Outcome measurespsychological symptom severity (anxiety/depression), pain rating, cravings for problem food and drink
JournalPsychology
Year2019
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
MethodEFT / tapping
Publication typeStudy / trial
Verification✓ Confirmed against the primary source

Read the original study →

Cite this study

APA

Church, D., & David, I. (2019). Borrowing Benefits: Clinical EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) as an immediate stress reduction skill in the workplace. Psychology. https://doi.org/10.4236/psych.2019.107061

This record is part of the Tapping Evidence Base — an openly-sourced, fully-referenced directory of the research on EFT/tapping. Explore more studies on Other Physical Conditions · Depression

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THE TAPPING EVIDENCE BASE Other Physical Conditions 39 participants WHAT THEY FOUND After a daylong seminar combiningpsychoeducation with group-format ClinicalEFT (Borrowing Benefits protocol)… Outcome study · 39 participants Church · 2019 · evidence.thetappingsolution.com