Eden Method: We'd love to hear how your background as both a clinical psychologist and an Energy Medicine Advanced Practitioner gives you a special lens on combining EFT with Eden Energy Medicine. What insights has this dual perspective given you?
João Pestana: My background as a clinical psychologist gave me a strong foundation in understanding emotional and mental health, but it was through Energy Medicine -- especially Eden Energy Medicine (EEM) -- that I gained access to the body’s deeper energetic patterns that often underlie psychological symptoms.
Combining EFT with EEM has made my clinical work not only more effective, especially in complex or trauma-related cases, but also more holistic.
With EFT and EEM, I can offer clients simple techniques they can use between sessions to continue their healing process -- this not only accelerates outcomes but also empowers them to take ownership of their wellbeing. This integration has shown me that healing happens more fully when we address the mind, the body, and the energy system together.
EM: Working with cancer patients for over a decade must have been such a meaningful experience. How did it help you understand the connection between our emotions and physical health?
JP: I've been interested in the bidirectional relationship between mind and body since my university years, but working with cancer patients and their families was truly transformative -- both personally and professionally. It confirmed what research has long shown: that emotional distress directly impacts physical health through immune, endocrine, and other physiological mechanisms.
Chronic emotional distress -- especially unresolved trauma -- is a major and often overlooked risk factor in the onset and progression of many diseases, including cancer. For me, it’s perhaps the most widespread and underrecognized contributor to the health challenges we face today.
A cancer diagnosis itself, along with the medical treatments and the profound changes it brings to every area of life, is often a traumatic experience. So, if we don’t address both the pre-existing emotional wounds and the emotional impact of the cancer journey itself, what happens after the treatments end? The risk factors for recurrence remain -- or may even increase.
That’s why combining EFT and Eden Energy Medicine has been so powerful in my work. These approaches allow us to safely and gently address the emotional dimensions of illness, helping clients to heal more fully -- not just physically, but emotionally and energetically as well.
Dr. João Pestana is co-teaching his breakthrough EFT approach with world-class EFT expert Dr. David Feinstein at the EEM Practitioner's Conference, but anyone can join via livestream from home. Get your ticket at the lowest price (limited time only!)
EM: Do you have a story you can share around bringing EEM and EFT together to create a real breakthrough moment?
JP: There have been several cases where applying EEM and/or EFT brought powerful results. I’ve seen these techniques relieve intense emotional distress, as well as chemotherapy-related pain and nausea, sometimes within minutes -- even when medications provided no relief.
One story that stays with me involves a radiation oncologist who was experiencing a severe episode of bruxism. She was in so much pain that she couldn’t concentrate and had decided to cancel her day at the radiation clinic which meant several cancer patients, some of whom had traveled long distances, would have their treatments delayed. Painkillers hadn’t helped, and she was about to leave to see a dentist.
A member of the staff told me about her situation, so I approached her gently and offered to try a few relaxation techniques. At that time, I was still relatively new to using EFT in my practice and hesitant to “come out of the closet” with it, especially with medical colleagues but I felt I might be able to help.
She could barely open her mouth or speak; the jaw was locked, and she was visibly upset. She explained that the pain had started the day before, shortly after she had covered a colleague’s shift. After already completing a 24-hour shift, she had to work an additional two hours because her colleague didn’t answer the phone or offer any explanation. The colleague arrived late, gave no apology or thanks, and the oncologist was furious… but had nowhere to express that emotion.
I suggested that the jaw pain might be connected to the unexpressed emotional tension from that experience. She was skeptical but desperate, so she agreed to try tapping. I kept the session light and used her own words about her frustration, the unfairness, and how upset she was about leaving patients unattended. In less than 10 minutes of tapping, her pain had almost completely disappeared. Her jaw relaxed, she could open her mouth and speak normally.
Her expression of disbelief is something I’ll never forget. She said, "This is sorcery! What did you do?" We tapped a little more, just for fun -- using her words again -- and she became completely pain-free.
In Portuguese, the word for “sorcerer” is bruxo, which sounds almost identical to bruxismo, the condition she had. So, in her mind, the “sorcerer” --me -- provided some “sorcery” -- EFT -- that healed her “bruxismo.” That magical coincidence made the moment even more memorable and deeply healing.
EM: Lots of people are curious about tapping but not sure where to begin. What advice would you give someone looking to take their first steps with this technique?
JP: My main advice is: don’t overcomplicate it. At its core, tapping is simply stimulating acupressure points to help restore balance in the energy system. You don’t need to know everything to begin using it effectively.
A great starting point is to use tapping as a relaxation technique -- something I call Tap & Breathe. It’s simple, calming, and immediately accessible, even for beginners. I often teach this as a first step, because it helps clients feel grounded and safe, and it gives practitioners a gentle way to introduce the method.
I’ll be demonstrating this technique during the Practitioner’s Conference, so if you're curious, that’s a perfect opportunity to experience it in action.
EM: You’ve talked about how emotional factors can sometimes block healing. How does bringing together EEM and EFT help unlock those emotional doors?
JP: Emotions are an essential and vital part of being human. They provide valuable information about our inner and outer experience but it’s up to us to process and respond to that information. When we don’t, or can’t, that emotional energy can become stuck or dysregulated, creating imbalances in the energy system.
These imbalances often manifest in the body as dysregulation of the peripheral nervous system, which in turn affects immune function, hormonal balance, and many other physiological systems.
EFT and Eden Energy Medicine are powerful tools because they work directly with the body’s energy systems helping to release blocked emotions, restore energetic flow, and rebalance both mind and body. When used together, they offer a truly integrative and embodied approach to healing. In many ways, they represent the essence of mind-body medicine.
EM: It's fascinating that you practice in beautiful Portugal! Have you noticed any cultural differences shape a client’s experience around energy work?
JP: Thank you! I really enjoy living in Portugal 🙂 One of the wonderful things about being based here -- especially in the Algarve -- is the diversity. It’s a very multicultural region, with people from all over the world choosing to live here, which gives me the opportunity to work with individuals from many different cultural backgrounds.
In my experience, regardless of background or beliefs, people ultimately want the same thing: to feel better and live more fully. What changes is how each person understands and relates to healing especially when it comes to energy work.
That’s where the role of therapists and practitioners becomes essential. We need to explain what we do in a way that resonates with each client’s worldview, using language and metaphors that feel accessible and meaningful to them. Building those bridges of understanding is not just helpful -- it’s often a key part of the healing process itself. When clients feel safe and seen, they’re more likely to engage deeply with the work.
EM: We'd love to hear the story of your personal journey in discovering how these 2 modalities -- EEM & EFT -- work together. What was that like for you?
JP: I first started with EFT, and it absolutely blew my mind! I was searching for effective tools to help my clients heal, and EFT allowed me, for the first time, to really do that. But the journey wasn’t easy.I had to overcome personal insecurities about using a non-conventional approach, fearing ridicule from my peers and judgment from my patients, who might see me as unprofessional or even a charlatan.
To my surprise, all those fears were just in my head. My patients embraced EFT, and some of my peers did too. From that moment, I was hooked -- I dove down the rabbit hole like Alice in Wonderland!
The bridge to Eden Energy Medicine wasn’t immediate. At first, Donna’s joyful style felt a bit overwhelming for me (I’ve shared this story with Donna, and she always laughs!). It was actually David’s approach and writings that encouraged me to take the leap of faith and enroll in the EEM program here in Europe.
That experience was transformative both personally and professionally -- so much so that I eventually became a teacher on the EEM Faculty. I love this work, and I truly see its potential to reach so many people worldwide who need easy, effective, and natural ways to balance their physical and psychological health.
EM: What's one fascinating insight about combining EEM and EFT that you're particularly excited to share at the Practitioner’s Conference?
JP: One of the greatest gifts of Eden Energy Medicine that has truly been a game changer in my practice is the role that Triple Warmer plays in the healing process. Personally, I believe this is one of Donna’s most significant contributions to the entire healing community. I’m really excited to revisit this topic and share some insights and practical tools I’ve been using with my clients. It’s a powerful area that can unlock new levels of balance and well-being when combined with EFT.
EM: You’re co-teaching “Bridging Energy Medicine & EFT: Integrating Tapping into Your EEM Practice” at the Practitioner’s Conference. with David Feinstein, who brings his own wealth of experience in Energy Psychology. What's something valuable you've learned from working with David that has influenced how you approach combining EFT with Energy Medicine?
JP: David is truly a giant in Energy Psychology, and it’s an honor and privilege to share the stage with such a leading figure in our field. One of David’s greatest gifts is his ability to distill complex concepts into clear, accessible pieces that help both practitioners and clients better understand the work.
David has a strong grounding in science, and this has been invaluable for me in bridging the gap between Clinical Psychology, EFT and Eden Energy Medicine. What really helped me make that transition was how David explains energy work using scientific language, and how he connects a client’s psychological and physiological issues with disruptions in the energy systems.
I believe it’s crucial to use whatever language, metaphors, analogies, or scientific research a client needs to truly grasp the work. David does this beautifully, and it has deeply influenced how I introduce and combine these modalities in my practice.
EM: Any parting thoughts about your workshop or energy medicine wisdom you'd like to share? We’d love to know 🙂
JP: I’m truly excited to share this work with our community because I’ve seen firsthand how combining EFT tapping and Eden Energy Medicine has made a real difference in my clients’ lives over the years. I look forward to connecting with everyone at the Conference and continuing to build a strong, supportive community around these powerful healing modalities. The world truly needs this work now more than ever!
Ready to breakthrough stubborn health challenges with Dr. João Pestana's powerful EFT + energy medicine approach to healing? He’s co-teaching with Dr. David Feinstein at the EEM Practitioner's Conference but you don’t have to leave home to learn from the best of the best! Get your livestream ticket at the lowest price (limited time only!)
