Emotional freedom technique (EFT), which people often refer to as EFT tapping, is an alternative therapy for anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and some other conditions.
EFT, also known as tapping or psychological acupressure, first came to prominence in the 1990s when developer Gary Craig published information about the therapy on his website.
It involves tapping specific points on the body, primarily on the head and the face, in a particular sequence. While doing this, the person focuses on the issue that they wish to treat.
According to EFT International, the technique can be helpful for people with:
- anxiety
- depression
- chronic pain
- stress
- weight loss issues
- other problems
How does Emotional Freedom Technique work?
As with acupuncture and acupressure, tapping involves the body’s energy meridian points, which are a concept in Chinese medicine. Proponents believe them to be areas of the body through which energy flows.
In this theory, blocks or imbalances in the flow of energy lead to ill health. According to EFT advocates, tapping on these meridian points with the fingertips restores the balance of energy to resolve physical and emotional issues.
It can also work in a similar way to mindfulness, as it can draw a person’s attention to their body and breathing. It may serve as a mental distraction from the issues that are causing anxiety or stress.
How to do Emotional Freedom Technique tapping
People often use EFT tapping when they are feeling anxious or stressed or when they have a specific issue that they would like to resolve. However, it may also be beneficial for a person before an event that they expect to cause stress or anxiety.
To use EFT tapping, follow these five steps:
1. Identify the issue
During this step, the person thinks about the problem that they wish to resolve. They should only choose one issue to focus on at a time.
2. Test the initial intensity
A person should rank the intensity of the issue on a scale of 0–10, with 10 being the worst the issue has ever been. This ranking system allows the person to assess the effectiveness of the tapping at the end of the treatment.
3. The setup
Before beginning each round of tapping, the person should decide on a simple reminder phrase to repeat while tapping the karate chop point. This point is at the center of the fleshy part of the outer hand.
The reminder phrase should acknowledge the issue and convey self-acceptance in spite of it. For example, a person might choose to say:
“Even though I have [issue], I deeply and completely accept myself.”
4. The sequence
During this step, the individual taps on specific points on the body while repeating the phrase that they have chosen. If a practitioner is performing the treatment, they will carry out the tapping.
The tapping points, in sequence, are as follows:
- top of the head (TOH) — directly in the center of the top of the head
- beginning of the eyebrow (EB) — the beginning of the brow, just above and to the side of the nose
- side of the eye (SE) — on the bone at the outside corner of the eye
- under the eye (UE) — on the bone under the eye, approximately 1 inch (in) below the pupil
- under the nose (UN) — the point between the nose and upper lip
- chin point (CH) — halfway between the underside of the lower lip and the bottom of the chin
- beginning of the collarbone (CB) — the point where the breastbone (sternum), collarbone, and first rib intersect
- under the arm (UA) — at the side of the body, approximately 4 in below the armpit
When tapping, use two or more fingertips and repeat the tap approximately five times on each point.
While some points — for example, the EB, SE, and UE — have a “twin point” on the other side of the body, it is only necessary to tap on one side. However, individuals can tap these points on both sides if both of their hands are free.
5. Test the intensity again
Again, rank the intensity of the issue on a scale of 0–10. Ideally, this will have improved. Repeat the process until the intensity reaches 0 or plateaus.
Author: Mandy Kloppers
Mandy is a qualified therapist who treats depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, trauma, and many other types of mental health issues. She provides online therapy around the world for those needing support and also provides relationship counselling.
