What is Tapping All About?

There are a number of ways people describe EFT, Emotional Freedom Techniques or Tapping. When snorkeling around the internet, you can find all sorts of definitions:

"A self-help technique, similar to acupuncture, except we don't use needles"

"A Westernized form of Chinese Medicine"

"Tapping on acupoints while talking or tuning-in to the problem at-hand...  It helps restore balance to the body's energy system"

"A somatic (body-centered) form of talk-therapy"

"An evidence-based, somatic intervention for the effects of trauma, similar to EMDR"

As someone who's been practicing EFT (for myself and to help others) for over 13 years, I personally believe tapping helps us hold space for ourselves in new ways – ways that allow the energy of difficult thoughts and feelings to naturally shift. When we allow ourselves to have what we are having (e.g. the negative thoughts, "bad" feelings, memories or symptoms we've been avoiding or pushing away), we can feel better, often in a matter of minutes. In other words, tapping is a somatic (body-centered) and systematic approach we can use to experience the benefits of being present – to ourselves.

Everyone has had negative or painful experiences, and each of us deals with these in our own way. Some of us self-medicate (with food, alcohol, drugs or shopping, for example) others externalize (scream, abuse, blame, etc.) and still many more internalize the pain in the form of self-blame, anxiety, physical symptoms or negative thinking. Sometimes it's a combination of all of these. In essence, we humans can get in the habit of pushing away or trying to bury difficult thoughts and emotions.

Bodies Under Stress

When we are stressed out and feeling poorly – even at a so-called low level – our bodies are in a state of high alert. There is a sense of being under threat that can continue for hours, days, weeks or months, depending upon our unique orientation to life. We might be quite used to this, or simply accept it as a part of living – even as we struggle under the weight of it.

This pressure can seem to come from outside of us, but consider that it actually comes from within us - from our own negative thoughts, unexpressed feelings, or as a response to the early troubling experiences we still carry.

EFT Helps

With EFT, we can begin allowing ourselves to gently have our pain, and find and clear the roots of our present painful circumstances. For example, this may mean noticing our thinking that we're not doing or being enough or otherwise pushing ourselves too hard. When we tap and allow what's most present for us, a trail can open up back to the early times in life when we developed our strategies and coping skills. By being present to the feelings, images, or memories that arise while we tap – we create the space for our discomfort (or "stress") to naturally change or evolve. In this way, tapping brings relief...

When we're stuck in a cycle of stress or struggle, a program of personal EFT sessions can help. How often do you really give yourself the opportunity to be present to yourself or notice what's going on under the surface of your current situation?

If you're new to EFT/Tapping, I've co-written a free introductory manual (available from AAMET/EFT International). Download it here to get started exploring how tapping can help you.

Are you interested in the science behind EFT or the research that's been done? There are 35+ Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs, the gold-standard for research) involving EFT and EFT-related modalities. Head over to AAMET/EFT International to explore the research archive.

Finally, if you've heard about EFT, experienced it, or sense that it might be the right tool to help you better assist your clients, consider an EFT training course. Together we practice the ins and outs of tapping with other students in a fun, engaging and cooperative group environment – a fantastic way to learn this life-long skill.