This case study illustrates how a treatment plan based on Clinical Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) may be used to support a client with burnout.
Disclaimer: This case study contains fictional names to protect the privacy and confidentiality of individuals and entities involved.
Related article: Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) for Chronic Pain.
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Background
Ms. A, a 42-year-old female executive in a high-pressure corporate environment, had been experiencing severe burnout symptoms. Despite her attempts to manage stress through meditation, dietary changes, and regular exercise, she found herself overwhelmed by persistent fatigue, anxiety, and emotional exhaustion. While these efforts provided temporary relief and moments of respite, they were insufficient to address the deep-rooted emotional distress and mental fatigue that Ms. A was experiencing. Ms. A’s demanding work schedule and personal responsibilities left her feeling depleted and struggling to cope with the daily challenges she faced. She had come across Clinical EFT (Tapping) through an online summit. She signed up to watch the presentations and found some relief, so following the presentations, she found a local practitioner and made an appointment.
The practitioner used a range of measures to assess Ms. A.’s psychological profile and determined her experience of burnout was characterised by a range of symptoms that extended beyond mere stress, reflecting a deeper state of emotional and physical exhaustion. The symptoms she exhibited included:
- Persistent fatigue and low energy levels
- Emotional exhaustion and feeling drained
- Increased irritability and mood swings
- Difficulty concentrating and making decisions
- Insomnia or disrupted sleep patterns
- Physical symptoms like headaches or muscle tension
- Loss of motivation and decreased productivity
- Feelings of detachment towards work
- Reduced sense of accomplishment and satisfaction in her achievements
Ms. A. was encouraged to continue with her existing strategies (diet, exercise, and meditation), with the added benefit of some sleep hygiene strategies, which were suggested by the practitioner.
Introduction of EFT Tapping
After the assessment session, Ms. A was introduced to the practice of EFT Tapping as an adjunct therapy for burnout management. EFT Tapping involves gentle tapping on specific acupressure points while focusing on distressing emotions or thoughts to promote emotional regulation and stress reduction.
The most pressing (presenting) issue Ms. A. wanted to address was a negative work event involving her boss and a missed deadline. Ms. A reported this was a challenging situation that triggered significant stress and emotional turmoil. The pressure to meet the deadline set by her boss, and an unforeseen obstacle (which was a personal family matter where she needed to have sick leave from work for a few days), exacerbated her feelings of inadequacy, fear of failure, and heightened anxiety for Ms. A.
The Initial EFT Tapping Intervention
The initial Tapping used by the practitioner focused directly on Ms. A.’s distressed state relating to the work incident. The setup statements that were used included:
- “Even though I was overwhelmed by the deadline I couldn’t meet, I accept this is how I felt.”
- “Even though I feared disappointing my boss, I accept this is what was happening for me.”
Several rounds of tapping helped Ms. A. feel more regulated in her body, and she was able to feel calmer. The practitioner then asked her about the words she had used when describing the interaction with her boss: “inadequacy and fear of failure”
Ms. A. became distressed while mentioning that this was a common theme in her work and personal life; a feeling that she let people down. The practitioner queried through Socratic questioning what it meant for her when she “failed” or felt inadequate (Downward Arrow Technique from CBT). This led to a discussion about other past memories that had involved other people, but similar content (letting people down).
Over the next few sessions, the practitioner used EFT to help Ms. A. work through these significant events. One example was that Ms. A vividly recalled the experience of failing a math test in school and being humiliated in front of her classmates when she was 8 years old. This event left her feeling inadequate, incompetent, and labelled as a failure, triggering deep-seated emotions of shame and self-doubt that lingered into her adult life.
Drawing upon this primary experience, the EFT Setup Statements that were used as part of the Tell the Story Technique in EFT were:
- “Even though I failed that math test and felt humiliated in class, I deeply and completely accept myself.”
- “Even though the memory of that moment makes me feel inadequate and like a failure, I choose to release these negative beliefs about myself.”
- “Even though I carry the weight of that past experience, I choose now to embrace my worthiness and capabilities.”
Results and Outcomes
Over several weeks of EFT Tapping sessions, Ms. A reported significant improvements in her overall well-being and resilience. She noticed a reduction in anxiety levels, increased energy levels, and enhanced emotional stability. The combination of traditional self-care practices (particularly the sleep hygiene strategies suggested by the practitioner) with the targeted intervention of EFT Tapping – including addressing the earlier, foundational childhood memories – proved instrumental in helping Ms. A regain a sense of balance and vitality in both her professional and personal life.
Conclusion
This case study illustrates the potential efficacy of integrating Clinical EFT (Tapping) into the treatment plan for burnout in high-functioning individuals like female executives, and as an adjunct to other therapeutic approaches (such as CBT). EFT Tapping may complement traditional self-care strategies and gold-standard therapies and promote sustainable recovery from burnout-related symptoms.
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About the author
Dr. Peta Stapleton, Ph.D, has 25 years of experience as a registered clinical and health psychologist in Queensland, Australia. Peta has also spent the last 15 years in academia and is associate professor in psychology at Bond University. She is a published author, certified practitioner of Neuro-linguistic Programming, Timeline Therapy, and Emotional Freedom Techniques (and an EFT Trainer). Peta is the Hay House author of The Science Behind Tapping: A Proven Stress Management Technique for the Mind and Body, and is Australasia’s leading EFT researcher and academic.
For more details, visit Dr. Stapleton’s MHA Expert Profile.