EFT stands for Emotional Freedom Techniques commonly referred to as “Tapping”. It is a highly effective, evidence-based stress reduction protocol that combines elements of Western cognitive behaviour therapy with Eastern acupressure. The process involves lightly tapping specific acupressure points on the face, hands and upper body while paying careful attention to a stressful emotional situation you wish to resolve.

EFT Tapping helps to take the body from a state of fight, flight, fright or freeze into a state of emotional calm from where we can more easily connect with feelings of peace and harmony.

When we are stressed and experiencing strong emotions the amygdalae in the brain (responsible for emotional and behavioral regulation) become highly activated and we can’t think clearly. The body becomes activated (i.e. racing heart, sweaty palms, tight chest, shallow breathing and more) and we go into survival mode; into a reactive fight-fright-flight-freeze-response and we feel a strong need to protect ourselves from perceived threats. We become dysregulated and dysfunctional.

When we tap, a calming signal is sent to the amygdalae. We feel less emotionally reactive and more able to think clearly. We can more easily access the prefrontal cortex (the evolved part of our brain responsible for such things as consciousness, higher-order thinking, decision making,  and social-emotional behaviour) and are more able to make wise rational choices that support our best intentions.