What is EFT? An introduction to “tapping” from a Florida therapist

Feeling stuck, like you cannot get past whatever is holding you down, is exhausting, and EFT tapping is one practical tool that can help you move through it. As a licensed mental health counselor at Therapy with Enid, I share tapping as a coping skill with the high-achieving, sensitive women I work with, and this post explains what EFT is, how it works, and where it fits alongside therapy. If tears come up when you tap, Part 2 covers crying during EFT tapping and what to do about it.

Processing trauma and stress is hard. It can be mentally exhausting and emotionally taxing, and it often takes a lot of therapy appointments with a trained professional to work through the heavy things. As a therapist, I always recommend finding the right fit for you. I also encourage my clients to build a whole toolbox of coping skills and strategies to process their feelings and experiences, and tapping is one more tool for that toolbox. You can find more tools like it on the blog.

EFT: Emotional Freedom Technique, or Tapping

This technique for managing stress, anxiety, and trauma triggers is not new, but it has gained popularity in recent years. Stress is a worldwide epidemic and people are looking for solutions they can use in real life. I encourage you to check out The Tapping Solution for in-depth information about EFT, and this post will help frame EFT for those of you who want more information before diving in.

Can EFT replace my medication?

No, and that is an important place to start. Some of my clients need medication to balance chemicals and hormones in order to live their best lives, and tapping is not a substitute for that care. Early research on EFT is encouraging for stress, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms, although many of the studies are small and more high-quality research is needed. Many people find tapping helpful in anxious moments, and it works best as a tool alongside your treatment, not instead of it.

Please do not diagnose yourself or stop any medication on your own. Talk with your prescriber and your mental health team before making changes, and ask how tapping might fit into your care.

Why EFT? Why Tapping?

I would like you to consider tapping as a possible tool to add to your box of coping skills. It works as a calming technique to help you ground yourself in a stressful moment, and it allows you to process heavy information and accept it for what it is and where you are. You can even use it while talking with a therapist, especially if you are doing online therapy in the comfort and familiarity of your own space. EFT helps you take control of your therapy sessions and feel empowered about your mental health.

Emotional Freedom Tapping is a series of taps that you can perform on yourself.

EFT is used when you are feeling anxious or emotionally distressed. When practicing EFT, you tap on meridian points, or pressure points, on your face and body to release tension. While tapping, you repeat a phrase of acceptance about your current situation. For example, you may say, “Even though I have PTSD, I deeply and completely accept myself.” Statements like this give your brain space to sit with and process that information, and over time they can help you build calmer responses to hard circumstances. Additionally, it can help you come to terms with your past trauma and your current progress.

Tapping works as a therapeutic technique in a structured setting with a therapist, and it also works as a coping skill to use in times of stress. It can help you recenter and reconnect.

Have Questions? Reach Out!

Research suggests EFT may help with stress reduction, PTSD symptoms, trauma response, grief and loss, and depression, though more high-quality studies are still needed. I would love to write more about EFT for specific issues and concerns, so tell me what you want to know more about and what would be most helpful for you to hear. If you want to talk more about stress, anxiety, imposter syndrome, and more, let’s get connected.

Begin Therapy for Women in Florida

If you are a woman in Florida who is ready to quiet stress and feel steadier, I would love to support you. I am a licensed therapist, and I offer online therapy in Florida for high-achieving, highly sensitive women. Contact me to schedule a free 20-minute consultation on a video platform, and we can talk about what you are carrying and whether tapping could be a good tool for you.

Enid DeJesus is a licensed mental health counselor who provides online therapy in Florida for high-achieving, highly sensitive women. She helps women calm stress and anxiety, and she shares practical tools like tapping, journaling, and mindfulness that fit into a busy life. Her approach is warm and solution-focused, and her work centers on helping capable women quiet the inner critic and build steadier confidence. If you are ready for steady support, she would love to hear from you.