“Tapping on specific meridian points while focusing on emotional issues allows individuals to release negative emotions and restore a sense of balance." Dr Peta Stapleton, Professor and Clinical Health Psychologist, Bond University Australia

EFT (stands for Emotional Freedom Techniques) Tapping - safe, gentle and effective stress reduction techniques designed to address unresolved emotional issues while simultaneously rewiring your brain and energy system for greater health, happiness and success.

EFT Tapping is often called “psychological acupuncture” because it blends gentle cognitive focus with the stimulation of traditional acupressure points on the body. In acupuncture, it is understood that the body has energy pathways (meridians), and that when these pathways become blocked or disrupted, it can affect both physical and emotional wellbeing. By stimulating specific points along these meridians, acupuncture aims to restore balance, improve the flow of energy, and support the body’s natural ability to regulate and heal.

EFT Tapping works in a similar way, but without needles. Instead, you gently tap on specific meridian points while bringing attention to thoughts, emotions, or memories that are creating stress or emotional intensity. This combination of physical stimulation and focused awareness helps signal safety to the nervous system, reducing the activation of the body’s stress response.

As the emotional charge around a thought or feeling begins to decrease, people often experience a sense of relief, calm, and greater clarity. Over time, this can support improved emotional regulation, reduced anxiety or overwhelm, and a stronger sense of internal balance.

In simple terms, EFT Tapping helps the body and mind process emotional stress in a way that feels gentle and contained, allowing the system to shift out of survival mode and back toward a more regulated and grounded state.

EFT Tapping supports emotional regulation and mental clarity by helping calm the brain’s stress response system. When we experience strong emotions or stress, the amygdala — often referred to as the brain’s “fight, flight, freeze” centre — becomes highly activated. In this state, the body reacts as if it is in danger, even when there is no immediate threat.

This triggers the sympathetic nervous system, leading to common survival responses such as a racing heart, tight chest, shallow breathing, sweaty palms, and a sense of urgency or overwhelm. Blood flow is redirected to the muscles to prepare the body to fight, flee, or freeze, while the thinking part of the brain becomes less accessible. As a result, it can feel difficult to think clearly, pause, or respond calmly.

EFT Tapping helps interrupt this stress cycle by sending calming signals to the amygdala and the nervous system. This can reduce emotional intensity, lower physiological arousal, and help the body shift out of survival mode. As the system settles, people often experience greater clarity, steadier emotions, and a stronger ability to think and respond rather than react.

EFT Tapping is often referred to as ‘Tapping’ because we physically tap with our finger tips on end points of meridians on the face and upper body. Tapping can be used as a self-help tool to help calm ourselves in the moment. The full EFT Tapping technique involves a more structured protocol facilitated by certified professionals and is beneficial for deeper issues.

EFT Tapping has been extensively researched to assess its effectiveness and the research is growing exponentially. To date it has been researched in more than 10 countries, by 60 investigators, whose results have been published in professional, peer-reviewed journals and its effectiveness has been documented in over 300 studies.

For a detailed infographic about how tapping works please click here:

https://energytapping.com/how-tapping-works-infographic/