What is EFT Tapping?

EFT tapping is a practice where you’re tapping on specific meridian points in the body to relieve emotional and physical pain. It is often used to supplement other healing modalities and mindset work. It stands for Emotional Freedom Technique.

While tapping, you’re using the tips of your fingers to gently, and repeatedly, rap on specific parts of the body while reciting affirmation-adjacent phrases with the intention of releasing stagnant energy, harmful thoughts, bad habits, and whatever else that doesn’t serve you, through stimulating the meridians. 

Meridians are like energy highways in the body. There are countless meridians in our bodies! They are like a channel where your energy moves through your body. The points that get tapped on during EFT are meridian points that are connected with emotion. 

Emotional Freedom Technique

EFT was created by Gary Craig in the 1980-1990s, who was actually inspired by a very similar practice called TFT, which stands for Thought Field Therapy. TFT was created by Dr. Roger Callahan.

The concept is very similar, but in TFT, you’re using specific algorithms depending on what you’re working to release without speaking. In EFT, you’re repeating the same tapping sequences, and it is your words that help you release. 

Craig believed that TFT could be simplified and made easier. He developed EFT based on where his clients were feeling emotions within the body, combined with his knowledge of Chinese medicine and the meridian points. 

So he recorded audio versions of his tapping sessions, sent them off to various therapists for free, and 30 years later, it’s starting to catch on! 

Tapping Therapy

The phrases we speak during an EFT session aren’t necessarily affirmations. For example, you might say, “Even though this doesn’t feel good right now, I am willing to release it” while tapping on a particular meridian. 

There’s an element of honesty in this style of phrasing. You’re fully acknowledging how you feel at this moment. This helps bring what is in the subconscious mind to the conscious mind for releasing. The phrasing is very intentional. 

Because EFT is so new, and there are many meridians in the body, there’s so much room for development! It’s so young and there’s so many other things in our energy body that can be added to deepen the practice even more. 

While tapping, you can work through your limiting beliefs, fears, emotions, or anything else you’d like to let go of.

EFT Tapping Points

Currently, there are nine main EFT tapping points that are used during an EFT tapping session. The side of the hand, top of the head, the third eye, the temple, under the eye, above the lip, on the chin, on the collar bone, and under the arm. 

Most EFT tapping sessions will follow the same order for tapping sequences. You start with tapping the side of your hand, then the head, then the temple, under the eye, above the lip, on the chin, on the collar bone, under the arm, then back to the head again. 

Starting on your hand helps open up your energy channels and gets your energy flowing more freely. Often, practitioners will tap through a whole round without adding words to get the energy flowing. 

Top of the head is the first tapping point. It is the governing vessel, the very first meridian, is emphasized in EFT tapping. This is the one at the top of your head. 

It’s like a pillar of energy for your entire being. It’s the first meridian that is formed after being conceived. This is tied to feelings like and similar to embarrassment, trust issues, dishonesty, depression, etc. 

Next is the eyebrow point, then the side of the eye, then under the eye, then under the nose, then the chin, then the collarbone, then under the arm, and then back to the top of the head to repeat the sequence. 

Here is a quick rundown of the tapping points and their corresponding meridians: 

• Top of the head: governing vessel, main meridian
• Eyebrow point: third eye chakra
• Side of the eye: the gallbladder meridian
• Under the eye: the stomach meridian
• Upper lip: central vessel
• Chin: central vessel
• Collarbone: kidney meridian
• Under the arm: spleen meridian

Tapping Technique

Often, tapping will cause a sort of buzzing feeling in the body as our energy gets moving. A quick tapping session would result in a burst of energy and an emotional boost.

Because EFT tapping is so new, we don’t really cognitively understand all the nuances of it. But intuitively, we feel differently and know how to make it work for ourselves. 

Our bodies hold a lot of trauma and shame. Tapping on meridian points can help bring those traumas to the surface so we can let them go with a conscious thought. Active life force energy moving through our meridians can help release it physically as well. 

But how long do I tap for with a particular phrase? To find this out, check in with yourself first. On a one to ten scale, rate your current energetic, emotional, and physical state. Once you tap for a bit and get to about the halfway point to being better, you can move onto a new phase. 

It’s just a matter of being patient with yourself and not judging yourself and really allowing it to work for you. 

EFT Therapy

One of the benefits to EFT is just being more self aware. Because you’re connecting with the truth of how you really feel. That’s why, when we say something out loud, it’s not like an affirmation of, “I am confident.” You’re actually being honest about how you feel.

Energy is everything; energy is that layer behind mindset and between emotions. Mindset is so important, but I feel like mindset is like a little layer that’s on top of your energy. 

In the words of our lovely guest EFT tapping coach: “EFT really helped me the most with two things: money mindset and confidence. 

Another reason why I love EFT is because it includes the body. I fully believe that your mind can believe something, but once your body is behind that thought and your body believes it, that is when it’s going to manifest for you. And only then is when it’s going to manifest.”

If you want to learn more about EFT tapping, Cilia has a free resource for you! Beginner’s Guide to EFT: Learn what you need to start practicing EFT on yourself. With tapping points, phrasing, and tips to get the most out of your sessions.