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Can Tapping Therapy Help Us?

What is it and how does the technique that promises to help in managing emotions work

Can Tapping Therapy Help Us? What is it and how does the technique that promises to help in managing emotions work

Also known as somatic therapy, tapping therapy—a term derived from the English word "to tap"—takes advantage of the connection between mind and body. The roots of this practice date back thousands of years to ancient Chinese medicine. It was reintroduced in its modern form in the late 1980s by American engineer Gary Craig, who, after a life-changing spiritual experience, developed a method aimed at eliminating negative emotions.

How Tapping Therapy Works and Its Effects on the Body

Related to acupuncture, this technique—also known as Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)—uses fingertips instead of needles to stimulate the nine main meridians, the energy networks running through the body where vital energy, or Qi, flows. Blockages or imbalances in these meridians can lead to feelings of stress, anxiety, or emotional challenges. The method, through the pressure applied to these critical points, helps release traumatic experiences trapped in the body, relieve tension, and enhance a sense of peace and calm. Studies of electroencephalograms (ECGs) have shown that during stressful situations, the brain emits disordered waves, causing a range of disturbances. These blockages can affect physical and mental health, as confirmed by Gary Craig.

A Simple Technique for Everyone

The real revelation of this technique is its accessibility: it is brief, simple, immediate, and most importantly, a form of self-treatment that can be practiced at various times throughout the day. Although there are 361 acupressure points in the body, EFT focuses on the main ones located on the hands, face, neck, torso, and head. Each point is tapped 5 to 7 times while repeating aloud, like a mantra, a phrase aligned with your flow of thoughts, such as: "Even though I feel this emotion/am in a state of stress, I completely accept myself/choose to be at peace." This process works on the subconscious, altering negative beliefs about oneself and one’s abilities. According to Chinese medicine, the meridians are connected to internal organs, including the brain.

Experts' Opinions: Enthusiasm and Skepticism

The method has gained wide acceptance among doctors and psychotherapists as a tool for managing anxiety and stress, but also for addressing lack of motivation, insecurity, and emotional eating. Its benefits are endorsed by several experts, including Dr. Mark Hyman, founder of the UltraWellness Center, who states, "Tapping therapy is one of the most powerful ways to remove chronic stress." However, skeptics argue that there is no scientific evidence supporting its efficacy. Gary Bakker, clinical psychologist and lecturer at the University of Tasmania, dismisses the method as pseudoscience, calling it a purple hat therapy, a placebo effect relying on an unverified element followed by the claim that its efficacy stems from this new addition. In an interview with the New York Times’ HTSI insert, he confirmed, "There is no proof that tapping on your imaginary meridians does anything for a clinical psychological issue."

Neuroscientist and psychiatrist Dr. Tara Swart, however, suggests giving it a try: "At the very least, you are resetting your nervous system to a parasympathetic state—from fight or flight to rest and relaxation." She adds, "Those unaccustomed to being in a state of calm alertness may end up feeling drowsy." Kloss Knight, an English psychotherapist and CEO of Therapy Guide, tested it on patients and expressed enthusiasm for its impact: "It is a powerful neuroscientific tool, and it clearly works," he explained. "It affects the brain. It’s simple, but also extremely powerful and an excellent way to reduce anxiety." Among its supporters are Prince Harry and Lady Gaga, who claim the therapy has had a strong healing effect on them.

Tapping Therapy: A Passing Trend or a Helpful Tool?

Tapping therapy does not aim to be another practice of toxic positivity that denies any emotions outside the realm of positivity, pushing us into a state of reality denial. Instead, its goal is to identify the blockages limiting the expression of our talents. The recommendation is to start each session by expressing honest feelings, even negative ones, and repeat them until they feel less acute and distant. Is this one of the latest micro trends destined to be forgotten, or should we give tapping therapy a chance to face winter, perhaps with the guidance of an expert?