Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), often called ‘tapping’, is a mind–body technique that combines gentle tapping on specific acupuncture points, combined with both mental and verbal methods too. EFT is used to reduce emotional intensity around issues such as anxiety, trauma, stress, phobias, limiting beliefs, chronic pain, and emotional blocks, and sits at the intersection of energy psychology, somatic therapy, and cognitive reframing.

During an EFT session, the person focuses on a specific problem that may have brought them to the session. They will be encouraged to begin repeating positive statements regarding their worry or situation, whilst they then begin tapping on a sequence of acupuncture points (face, upper body, hands) using their fingertips. The EFT practitioner will guide their client through these rounds of ‘tapping’, and will assist their journey between and within these physical, mental and verbal techniques.

The EFT technique addresses a range of calming techniques such as nervous system regulation, memory reconsolidation (accessing memories within a calm state), somatic processing (helps release emotions stored in the physical body), body meridian work (through accessing acupuncture points).