Based on ancient methods, this modern approach targets the root of trauma, phobias and anxiety

Have you ever had an anxious thought or troubling memory and felt it pulse through your body? Perhaps it made your arms tingle, your stomach uncomfortable or your head fuzzy. That’s because it’s believed there are certain points in the body where emotional energy is stored. Emotional freedom technique (EFT), also known as tapping, targets these areas and aims to restore the balance of energy.

What is tapping?

EFT is a self-applied technique that involves putting gentle pressure on energy centres in the body using two fingers in a tapping sequence. The practice draws on the connection between body and mind, and it’s common to recite statements of self-acceptance while you tap.

‘Often, your body will go into fight, flight or freeze mode when it experiences stress,’ says Rebecca Francesca, an accredited EFT practitioner and trauma specialist based in the UK. ‘Affirming acceptance of your emotion and completing the tapping sequence reminds your body that it’s safe to feel the emotion and it’s safe to let it go.’ The method has been used to treat phobias, grief, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and physical pain – but it’s also an accessible method for dealing with the ups and downs of everyday life.