The ISEFT (International Society for Emotion Focused Therapy) Board has created minimum standards for training programs.

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1. There are 5 levels of recognition and also the possibility of certification.

   • Level A: Completion of Basic EFT Training

   • Level B: Completion of EFT Supervised Practice

   • Level C: Certified EFT Therapist

   • Level D:  Supervisor

   • Level E: Trainer 

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Level A: Completion of Basic EFT Training

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1. Participants should have a minimum prior training: Must have a professional training in some form of therapy and be an accredited practitioner. 

2. Basic didactic/experiential workshop training (=Levels 1 & 2): Minimum 8 days, run by certified or approved EFT trainers,

3. Initial Supervisory Experience:

   • (a) At least 3 days group supervision (with presentation of at least one client for 1 hour); or

   • (b) five hours of individual supervision of own work with at least 2 clients,

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Level B: Completion of EFT Supervised Practice

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Trainees who have completed this level of training will be listed on the training program website and in the ISEFT website as Completion of EFT Supervised Practice Requirement.  Completing Supervised Practice does not guarantee competence.

1. Completion of Basic EFT Training [Level A]  

2. Direct Personal Supervision of own work (review of recordings of sessions): minimum 16 hours, with at least 2 clients, in group or individual format​

3. Recommended Practice: See at least two individual clients for a total of at least 60 sessions of EFT including empathy, deepening, tasks, and case formulation. 

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Level C: Certified EFT Therapist

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1. EFT Level B: Completion of EFT Supervised Practice

2. Evaluation of EFT Therapist Skills

   • Certification attests to the fact that a therapist’s practice has been evaluated and judged to be competent by an EFT supervisor

   • Trainees who have completed this certification process will be listed on the training program website and in the ISEFT website as Certified EFT Therapist

   • Evaluation of EFT skills is based on demonstration in at least:

• • (a) Two videotaped sessions (involving two different clients) with competent active task work in them 

  • (b) Brief case description, including a competent case formulation

  • (c) One certified EFT supervisor listens to and rates for competence on the EFT Therapist Evaluation Form 

EFT Therapist Evaluation Form Items 
Demonstration of EFT Skills in:

1. Empathy

2. Marker identification

3. Emotional deepening

4. Appropriate use of EFT tasks, such as focusing, reprocessing, enactment/active expression work, alliance/interpersonal/relational work  

5. Ability to think about clients in EFT terms (case formulation, process identification, marker identification, use of experiential formulation responses)

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Level D: Certified EFT Supervisor

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The local programs will approve supervisors.  ISEFT will list supervisors on its website.

1. Level C: Certified EFT Therapist 

2. Prior accreditation as a supervisor; or supervision of supervision; or one or more rounds as assistant trainer (facilitator for skill practice) for level A (EFT 1 or 2) 

3. Accreditation/approval by an approved EFT Trainer per their judgement

Level E: Certified EFT Trainer

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• Anyone wishing to become a trainer or an Institute Based Trainer will need to apply to the board member most known to them through training who will make a recommendation to the ISEFT board for its approval. The ISEFT Board will certify trainers.

• The following are the criteria for becoming a trainer:

  1. Level D: Certified EFT supervisor

  2. Recommendation by an approved EFT Trainer per their judgement on the basis of supervision (planning, review and/or observation) of at least two different half-day EFT training modules 

  3. Attend at least three days of discussion-based supervisor/trainer training workshop; or equivalent supervision or consultation on training.