What is EFT Tapping?

As a Holistic Therapist, I lean on many tools to support repetitive pain patterns; EFT is a great way to do this. It can lift the mind, body and soul out of any emotional charge and also clear, repeated patterns of pain to find a sense of inner peace and contentment in life.

I also blend modalities such as Flower Essence Therapy and Bowen Therapy. 

Treating holistically means we’re looking at the integration of the whole person. This includes body, mind and spirit. This includes our feelings and our connection to our inner world, each plays a considerable part. 

A migraine may be linked to the quality of relationships with the self and others. It can show repressed anger.

Back pain can be linked to our inner and outer sense of support. The spine is the structure that supports us. Having pain in the lower part of our spine may be linked to not feeling supported.

Shoulder and neck pain may be related to back ergonomics and also the relationships in our life. Left – female. Right male.

EFT is short for the Emotional Freedom Technique.  It helps move and lessen the charge of repressed or negative emotional energy. These can be feelings connected to a person and event or pain.

The goal is to support clients to develop and deeper understanding of themselves. Encouraging an improved sense of being, self-esteem and self-confidence.

If you keep reading, you will gain a deeper understanding of what EFT Tapping is and how it can support you. It’s very effective and, once learned – you can use it anytime, anywhere. It is a tool of personal empowerment.

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Tap Tap Tap | What is EFT tapping?

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Emotional Freedom Technique or EFT tapping helps to relieve physical or emotional pain. By tapping specific acupressure points in a regular sequence. This releases underlying issues prevalent within your system at any given moment.

Using this technique can create balance and relief emotionally, physically and mentally.

EFT is used to treat a range of issues. It is proven to support and release old mindset stories and beliefs. It also relieves emotional and mental distress.

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EFT Tapping Works Like This

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EFT works by tapping specific points on the body. These points are called meridians. Based on traditional Chinese Medicine, meridian points are energy veins of the system. These pathways help keep a sense of a balanced energy flow through the body.

Tapping these meridian points that will relieve symptoms. This lessens the emotional charge around a negative feeling. 

Tapping sends signals to the brain to calm and control stress.

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EFT – A Series of Specific Steps

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EFT tapping can be divided into specific steps.

Sometimes, when you release, attune, and tap out a core issue, a deeper layer reveals itself. You then repeat the process and tap on this issue until any intensity subsides. This aligns the mind, body and soul.

Before you get to this place, you must identify your feeling and issue first.

Sometimes it can be tricky or elusive to identify what the underlying issues might be. If you cannot attune to an emotion, you can adjust to the colour or object that sits in your immediate environment or on your body.

If you can feel into the issue, start with the most predominant feeling.

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Measure for Intensity

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After you have identified your core feeling, you need to “rate” this in the level of intensity. Setting this benchmark is necessary so you can recognise when you have released the feeling or need to tap again or even tune in to another emotion until the core issue is released.

This is rated on a scale from 0 to 10.

A 10 indicates a strong in intensity, and one is minimal. 

If your initial intensity was an eight before tapping and ended at 4. You are halfway there. You can keep tapping until you feel no emotional charge; the benchmark is 0.

This is the primary outcome, though; you may find a lingering feeling – and this is ok. You can give the practice a break and return to it when feelings become more evident.

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Let’s Setup It Up

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 Start by naming the issue you’re addressing. Before tapping, you must create a phrase or statement that sets an intention.

This comes through one sentence of acknowledging your issue. Accepting yourself despite this “problem” is part of the healing process.

The setup phrase usually sounds like this:

“Even though I have this [fear or problem], I deeply and completely love and accept myself.”

You can change this phrase to suit your needs and wants.

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This Is The EFT Tapping Sequence

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The EFT tapping sequence is the methodic tapping of nine meridian points.

There are twelve significant meridians throughout our entire body. Each is found on the right and left sides of the body and corresponds to an organ. EFT tapping taps on these 9 of these points. 

1. Karate chop (KC): small intestine meridian

The small intestine clears heat and inflammation from the body and is associated with feelings of happiness and joy

      2. Top of the head (TH): governing vessel.

The governing vessel runs up the centre of your body from the coccyx to the top of your head and beneath your nose.

It supports body and energy functions, that strengthen the body, clear the mind and ground your spirit.

      3. Eyebrow (EB): bladder meridian

The meridian when unbalanced holds fear, anxiety, dread, terror, panic, restlessness and frustration.

And when balanced we feel secure and inner harmony.

    4. Side of the eye (SE): gallbladder meridian

The gallbladder meridian is a pear-shaped organ found beneath your liver and runs from your foot to your shoulder. This meridian supports our muscles and connective tissue.

It influences feelings of courage, judgment, and decision-making. Acceptance of self and others.

    5. Under the eye (UE): stomach meridian

The meridian that connects to the vagus nerve, influences the first stage of digestion, and how we digest emotions. This can be the place where anxiety sits also sadness, anger, fear, and worry stopping us from feeling happy.

    6. Under the nose (UN): governing vessel

This is a grounding vessel and supports us to feel grounded in our bodies.

    7. Chin (Ch): central vessel

The central flow upward from the centre of the body in the centre and ends approximately just below the lower lip.

Heart and kidneys are also influenced and supported by emotions of overwhelmed, shyness, shame, confusion and disconnectedness.

    8. Top of the collarbone (CB): Kidney Meridian

The kidney meridian and our kidneys are related to your energy.

Fear runs through the kidney as does anxiety, phobias, superstition, paranoia, cautiousness, carelessness and recklessness.

Positive emotion to align is the connection to self and others, as this meridian influences our adrenal energy – self-care to avoid burnout starts here.

  9. Under the arm (UA): Spleen meridian

The spleen the meridian runs up and down the medial side of the body starting at the bit toe and ending in the abdomen.

Energetically, the Spleen transforms and transports. It strengthens immunity.

It’s where feelings of rejection, disapproval, anxiety about the future, alienation, cynicism and envy can reside. We can’t see the good in life when this is out of whack.

The Tapping Sequence

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You start by tapping on the karate chop point, side of the hand and recite your statement three times. 

Then you begin tapping.

Tapping these points with a semi-closed fist of your opposite hand and with even pressure, tapping each point at least three times.

The sequence to follow is first the eyebrow, then the side of the eye, under the eye, under the nose, chin, top of the collarbone, under the arm and completing at the top of the head. 

When Tapping, you can recite a script;  Ad lib within the moment can work best. Any feelings that may arise when thinking and feeling into the issue are the best ones to start with.

You can check out the video here to get an idea of how to tap and how it works.

I swear a lot when I tap; there’s something about swearing that really helps to get to the nitty-gritty parts of the issue.

Feelings shift as you tap. You can change the phrase each time you tap on a different point.

Sometimes your mind finds sensations arise in the body; this is the energy moving and coming to the surface. 

It might start in the stomach and then move across the chest – trust that the more you tap and own the emotion, feelings and sensations will eventually disappear.

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The Final Check In

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When you feel you’ve completed the sequence. You can repeat if you wish. You can tune in again and check the level of intensity.

If there’s still an emotional charge prevalent – you may need to tap again until you feel there is a sense of resolution and no emotional charge.

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How Does Tapping Work?

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EFT has been tested and scientifically proven. It is an excellent tool for treating trauma. As I mentioned previously, EFT is an empowerment tool, which means once learnt – you can use it any time and anywhere.

EFT tapping is used to restore balance and gift relief from many issues.

EFT calms the central nervous system and disarms senses for anxiety and panic. It brings balance by influencing and balancing associated meridian points to release emotional and mental blocks within the system. 

This is an excellent tool if you feel some feelings are constantly on repeat. You can use EFT to treat insomnia, anger issues, creativity blocks, fear issues and more.

Consult your doctor before you seek any alternative therapy options such as EFT. EFT can work well if you use it in conjunction with other therapies.

EFT tapping may give some benefits to those who suffer chronic pain. It can change the relationship to how we deal and engage with pain.

EFT is an excellent stress reliever. It allows one to move through and lighten the load. EFT acts as a circuit breaker so you can find the relief and solutions you need.

If you find that you’re having to constantly navigate and deal with feelings and issues that feel like they are on constant repeat – EFT supports the inner release of these feelings. It is not meant to be used as a replacement for therapy, it is complementary.

I have experienced many of my clients who have found relief and support through using EFT, and I have no doubt you will feel and find the freedom and liberation this brings. 

I’d love for you to keep in touch. I email weekly. You can sign up for my e-letter, Wildflower Musings, below. I share further insights and information that can help you channel negative emotions, find clarity and feel content in your own skin.