Let’s Talk EFT!

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), sometimes referred to as “tapping therapy,” incorporates elements of both exposure therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). “Tapping” is a key technique in EFT and involves the somatic stimulation of pressure points located on the body. Simply, tapping on these pressure points can help in times of anxiety and distress and can get us through uncomfortable emotions.

Benefits of Tapping Therapy

Tapping certain pressure points in the body works by syncing our physical sensations with our emotions. The benefits of tapping therapy include:

• Decreased cortisol levels (stress hormones)
• Decreased pain symptoms
• Improved blood pressure and resting heart rate levels
• Decreased symptoms of PTSD, general anxiety, and depression

To practice tapping, you use your fingertips to tap on certain points located on your head, upper torso, and hands. When experiencing or reflecting on a distressing event, you can tap on these points while expressing positive thoughts, affirmations, and feelings internally or out loud. Together these actions can help build new neural pathways and remind your nervous system that you are in the present and that you are safe. Tapping therapy also helps regulate your nervous system to help you feel calmer.

The great thing about tapping is that you can use it on your own with no harmful side effects. You can also use tapping during therapy while processing trauma and sources of anxiety. You can tap while not in distress to remind your body that you are in the present.