EFT Tapping
John Cottrell

EFT Tapping: A Life Coach’s Guide to Emotional Release

More people than ever are seeking practical, accessible ways to manage emotional distress. One increasingly popular method is Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), commonly known as “tapping.” As a life coach, integrating EFT into your toolkit can empower your clients to experience emotional breakthroughs, release long-held traumas, and cultivate a sense of calm and clarity. In this guide, we’ll explore what EFT tapping is, how it works, and how you can use it to facilitate emotional healing and transformation.

What is EFT Tapping?

EFT tapping is a mind-body technique that involves gently tapping on specific meridian points of the body – similar to acupuncture points – while focusing on a particular emotional issue. Developed by Gary Craig in the 1990s, EFT is rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine and aims to rebalance the body’s energy system to relieve emotional and physical stress.

EFT is sometimes called “psychological acupressure,” and its applications range from stress reduction and anxiety management to phobia relief and trauma healing. It’s safe, non-invasive, and can be practiced independently or with the guidance of a trained coach or therapist.

How EFT Works

The process of EFT involves tapping on nine primary acupressure points while voicing a specific concern and affirming self-acceptance. These points are located on the face, hands, and upper body, including:

  • Karate chop point (side of the hand)
  • Eyebrow
  • Side of the eye
  • Under the eye
  • Under the nose
  • Chin
  • Collarbone
  • Under the arm
  • Top of the head

As the client taps on each point, they repeat a setup statement like: “Even though I feel anxious about this presentation, I deeply and completely accept myself.” This phrase acknowledges the emotion while affirming self-acceptance, creating a powerful shift in the client’s emotional state.

The Science Behind EFT

While research into EFT is still developing, numerous studies have shown its effectiveness in reducing cortisol levels (the body’s stress hormone) and alleviating symptoms of anxiety, PTSD, and depression. According to a study published in the Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, participants who underwent EFT tapping showed a 24% reduction in cortisol levels after a single session.

The combination of somatic stimulation (tapping) and cognitive awareness (speaking the issue aloud) appears to help deactivate the brain’s fight-or-flight response, allowing the body to return to a state of balance and calm.

Why Life Coaches Should Use EFT

As a life coach, your role is to help clients identify limiting beliefs, process emotions, and move toward their goals with confidence and clarity. EFT provides a rapid, effective tool for clearing emotional blocks that traditional talk-based methods may not always reach.

Here are a few reasons EFT can enhance your coaching practice:

  • Fast Results: Clients often report feeling immediate relief after just one session.
  • Self-Empowering: Clients can learn to use tapping on their own between sessions.
  • Versatile: EFT can be used for stress, anxiety, fears, cravings, confidence, and even chronic pain.
  • Trauma-Sensitive: EFT allows for gentle, non-retraumatising release of emotional pain.

Step-by-Step: The Basic EFT Tapping Sequence

  1. Identify the Issue: Ask the client to focus on a specific emotion or problem.
  2. Rate the Intensity: On a scale of 0–10, how intense is the emotion?
  3. Create a Setup Statement: Use the format: “Even though I [feel emotion], I deeply and completely accept myself.”
  4. Tap the Points: Tap 5–7 times on each of the nine points while repeating a reminder phrase like “this anxiety.”
  5. Reassess: Ask the client to rate the emotion again. Repeat if necessary, adjusting the phrase as the emotion shifts.

Real-Life Example

Let’s say a client is struggling with procrastination due to fear of failure. Here’s how a tapping round might go:

Setup Statement: “Even though I’m afraid I’ll mess up this project, I deeply and completely accept myself.”

Reminder Phrase: “This fear of failure.”

As the tapping progresses, the emotion might shift to sadness or anger. You can guide the client through additional rounds using the updated emotional cues. Often, clients uncover core beliefs such as “I’m not good enough,” which you can work on in future sessions.

Tips for Coaches Using EFT

  • Always create a safe, supportive space for emotional expression.
  • Encourage clients to stay hydrated—emotional release can be physically draining.
  • Use your intuition to guide the tapping process rather than rigid scripts.
  • Respect boundaries—don’t push too hard on deeply rooted traumas unless you are trained in trauma recovery.

Conclusion

EFT tapping is a powerful and flexible tool for emotional release and transformation. As a life coach, adding EFT to your practice can amplify your impact, support your clients on a deeper level, and empower them to navigate life’s challenges with greater ease and resilience. Whether you use it as part of a session or teach clients how to tap on their own, EFT opens the door to healing that’s both practical and profound.

If you’re new to EFT, consider taking a certified training or working with an experienced practitioner before offering it professionally. The more skillfully you guide this technique, the more life-changing it can become for the people you serve.

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