Gary Craig has popularized energy psychology with EFT or "Emotional Freedom Techniques." But Fred Gallo's more complex system, EDxTM, is more specific and customizable.

Energy psychology is an approach to mental and emotional health that draws on healing techniques from energy medicine, the Chinese meridians, and chakra healing. There are many schools of energy psychology. Two of the most popular, EFT and EDxTM, are often compared to each other because they are similar in many ways, but offer different approaches in how the techniques are used.

What is EFT?

"EFT" stands for "Emotional Freedom Technique", developed by Gary Craig. EFT has been widely promoted, and is endorsed by many of the big names in healing, from Dr. Joseph Mercola to Deepak Chopra.

What is EDxTM?

"EDxTM" is an acronym of "Energy Diagnostic & Treatment Methods". EDxTM was developed by Fred Gallo, the man who first coined the phrase energy psychology. It is less well known but has a devoted following who believe it is much more specific and adaptable than EFT.

EFT and EDxTM: What's the Same?

EFT and EDxTM are more similar than they are different. Both are based on the Chinese meridian system, the set of energy channels that form the basis of acupuncture, Energy Medicine, and Touch for Health. EDxTM and EFT involve many of the same "accupressure" points, and use the same "tapping" technique to treat those points.

Both techniques are highly effective for treating PTSD, trauma, fears and phobias, anxiety, and even helping with emotionally-based physical issues such as back or neck pain and weight loss.

EFT versus EDxTM: What's Different?

The biggest difference between EFT and EDxTM – if not the only difference – is in their complexity.

EFT involves one basic treatment protocol - one series of points to tap on the hands, face, and body - that is used and adapted in almost every circumstance.

In EDxTM, every patient receives a different protocol – a unique set of points to tap that are found by muscle testing. Specific points are "diagnosed" to be related to the phobia, trauma, or other issue that the client wishes to work on, and only those points are used in treatment. This approach takes longer than EFT because of the process involved in identifying the relevant points – but the treatment itself is much faster.

While EFT is famous for helping people break through lifelong fears and chronic psychological issues, some say that EDxTM's specificity makes it more effective.

"EDxTM is an art," said one practitioner at a 2008 EDxTM training course in Toronto, Canada. "It is more specific and works better," because each protocol is determined, at the time of treatment, for the individual patient.

Advantages of EFT:

• it is easy to learn and easy to start using
• the points are always the same, so there's very little to memorize or forget!
• works on most situations

Advantages of EDxTM:

• highly effective
• treatment is uniquely fitted to every person and situation, during the session
• series of treatment points is shorter (easier for the patient to remember) and more interesting for the practitioner

Disadvantages of EFT:

• boring and repetitive
• same points are not always effective for every person and situation

Disadvantages of EDxTM:

• more complex: requires more time and training to learn and become proficient
• sometimes offers more choices than needed, making more work for the practitioner

Choosing Which Energy Psychology to Use

As with most forms of energy work, success seems to depend not so much on which approach you use as on the patient's desire and will to be healed as well as the energy and skill of the practitioner.

There are advantages and flaws in each method. Ultimately, most people will see results with any form of energy psychology so long as it is done properly and with good intent.