My Favorite Tool for Change is EFT Tapping

Because it’s so effective at calming the nervous system, I incorporate tapping into just about everything I do.

Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), or tapping, is a self-applied stress reduction practice. It combines elements of exposure therapy, cognitive focus, and gentle tapping of acupressure points on your head and torso. I am certified in clinical EFT tapping, the form of tapping used in western medical research.

The idea behind tapping is to become compassionately aware of your discomfort while sending a gentle signal to your body that you are safe. This triggers your relaxation response, and allows your body to rest and heal.

What Does Tapping Look Like?

This is a snapshot of the clinical EFT “Basic Recipe”:

• First state what’s going on, emotionally, physically, where you’re stuck, etc.
• Next, write down your level of discomfort (so you can measure the change later).
• With two fingers of one or both hands, gently tap on acupressure points while you restate the issue from step one.
• Repeat the last step until your level of discomfort has decreased.

That’s it!

There are many variations of this process in clinical EFT designed to help with all kinds of situations and issues. You can also add tapping to other therapeutic modalities. You can tap and talk with your therapist or a friend. You can tap while you watch a movie or read a book. You can tap alone, in a group, with a recording, or with a coach.

Does Tapping Work?

Over 250 studies confirm that clinical EFT tapping can reduce suffering and increase quality of life. Tapping has been shown to relieve discomfort or suffering from:

• stress
• trauma
• anxiety
• depression
• physical pain
• phobias
• food cravings
• and more.

Also, tapping can improve multiple markers of physical and mental health, including blood pressure, sleep, and lower the side effects of chemotherapy treatment. (See References below and my EFT Resources page.)

My EFT Experience

When I started using EFT tapping daily in early 2021, I tapped along with YouTube videos. My goal was to recover from emotional issues caused by past trauma. I tapped with three or four short videos pretty much every day for four months. At the end of those sessions, I practiced EcoMeditation with a recording.

After three months, I no longer needed my power wheelchair – though that hadn’t been my goal. 

I’ve spend much of my adult life searching out simple, effective tools to help me recover and reclaim my physical, emotional, and mental health. While I’ve been lucky to find a handful in the past four decades. EFT tapping is the most powerful.

For more information on EFT tapping research, see https://serenamiraasta.com/eft-resources/

References