Clinical EFT and EMDR Tapping: Two Essential Tools in the Modern Therapist’s Toolkit

Stacy Ruse, LPC
5 days ago
4 min read

For clients carrying years of emotional distress, trauma therapy offers paths to healing. Among these, Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) tapping are gaining recognition for their ability to facilitate rapid change and unlock a client's innate healing potential. This blog post delves into the workings of EFT and EMDR, comparing their methods and advantages, and exploring how they can be used separately or together to achieve emotional freedom — the capacity to feel and express emotions without fear.

What are EFT and EMDR Tapping?

EFT and EMDR tapping are both therapeutic interventions that involve physical stimulation to address emotional distress. EFT combines elements of cognitive therapy with acupressure, which involves tapping specific points on the body while focusing on particular thoughts or emotions. EMDR, on the other hand, typically uses bilateral stimulation (which can include tapping, eye movements, or auditory cues) to process traumatic memories.

While distinct in their approaches, both techniques aim to address the mental and physical aspects of emotional distress, offering a unique blend of ancient wisdom and modern psychology in the treatment of trauma and related issues, creating a sacred space for transformation.

Alt text: Tapping, image of a young woman outside in front of a concrete building, looking up at the sky with her eyes closed and her fingers on her right hand touching the front of her neck.

How Tapping Works

At first glance, tapping might seem too simple to be effective. However, with roots in traditional acupuncture and ancestral healing practices, and backed by a growing body of scientific research supporting its efficacy, tapping is highly effective at reducing emotional distress and promoting nervous system healing, allowing your clients to connect with their innate wisdom.

Let’s take a look at the mechanisms behind why it works:

Stress Reduction: Tapping on acupressure points has been shown to decrease cortisol levels, the body's primary stress hormone. This physiological change allows for a rapid reduction in feelings of anxiety and overwhelm, creating space for inner calm.
Nervous System Regulation: The rhythmic nature of tapping, combined with focused attention on emotional issues, helps activate the body's relaxation response. This gentle shift from "fight or flight" to "rest and digest" mode allows the nervous system to recalibrate and heal, reconnecting you to your body's innate wisdom.
Neuroplasticity: As clients tap while addressing traumatic memories or negative beliefs, they create new neural pathways. This rewiring process can lead to lasting changes in thought patterns and emotional responses, allowing clients to step into a more authentic expression of Self.

Alt text: Tapping, image of a woman wearing a dark gray t-shirt holding another woman’s left hand and touching her the fingers.

Benefits of Tapping Techniques

As healers, we are called to honor both ancient wisdom and scientific innovation in our practice. The integration of tapping techniques into trauma therapy represents a beautiful synthesis of these elements, offering our clients a path to transformation as they access their authentic Self-energy, gently and powerfully. Its benefits include:

Rapid Relief: Many clients report a noticeable reduction in emotional intensity within a single session, encouraging them to fully engage in their transformative healing journey.
Empowerment: Tapping techniques can be easily taught and practiced at home, giving clients a tangible sense of control over their healing process and connection to their innate wisdom.
Mind-Body Integration: By addressing both psychological and physical aspects of trauma, tapping promotes holistic healing and creates space for the integration of mind, body, and spirit.
Gentle Approach: Unlike some trauma therapies that risk retraumatization, tapping allows for a gentler exploration of difficult emotions and memories, honoring each client's unique journey toward wholeness.
Versatility: Tapping can be combined with other therapeutic modalities, enhancing their effectiveness and creating a more expansive path toward transformation.

Alt text: Tapping, image of a man wearing multiple silver rings on his fingers, holds his hands in prayer position while touching his face with them, eyes closed.

EFT vs. EMDR Tapping: Understanding the Differences

While both EFT and EMDR involve tapping (or other physical stimuli) and are used to address emotional distress, they have distinct differences in methodology and application. Understanding these differences can help you choose the most appropriate technique for your clients at each stage of their journey.

EFT tapping involves focusing on negative emotions or beliefs while tapping on specific acupressure points, often incorporating verbal affirmations. A key advantage of EFT is that it can be self-administered after learning the technique, making it a go-to choice for immediate stress relief, managing day-to-day anxieties, addressing specific phobias or fears, and enhancing positive affirmations and self-talk.

In contrast, EMDR typically employs bilateral stimulation, such as tapping, eye movements, or auditory cues, and focuses primarily on processing specific traumatic memories. Due to its focus on trauma and the need for careful processing, EMDR is administered by a trained professional in a clinical setting and is typically used for processing deep-seated traumatic memories, treating complex PTSD, addressing severe anxiety disorders, and working through childhood trauma.

Alt text: Tapping, image of a woman’s green eyes with her dark hair slightly covering her right eye.

Combining EFT and EMDR:

While EFT and EMDR are distinct techniques, some therapists have found success in combining elements of both approaches. It's important to note that while combining these techniques can be beneficial, it should only be done by a trained professional who is well-versed in both modalities.

Here are a few examples of how they can complement each other:

Preparation: Use EFT as a gentle prelude to EMDR sessions, helping clients connect with their inner calm and creating a more receptive space for processing.
Resource Installation: Infuse the resource development phase of EMDR with the empowering positive affirmations of EFT, helping clients tap into their innate wisdom.
Between-Session Support: Encourage clients to use EFT as a self-soothing practice between EMDR sessions to manage any arising emotions or stress.
Post-EMDR Integration: After processing traumatic memories with EMDR, EFT can help reinforce positive beliefs and emotions.

By understanding the unique strengths of both EMDR and EFT tapping, therapists can offer a more comprehensive approach to healing, addressing both immediate emotional relief and deep-seated trauma processing. This integrated approach allows for a flexible, client-centered treatment plan that can adapt to the ever-evolving needs of those on their healing journey.

Alt text: Tapping, image of a man facing away from the camera with gray hair, dark green t-shirt and gray shorts sits in a yoga pose on a black yoga mat on a grassy lawn.

Ready to expand your therapeutic toolkit?

It’s time to offer your clients a way to tap into their innate healing potential! If you're ready to expand your therapeutic toolkit, I encourage you to become certified in these healing modalities. I invite you to explore my course: Clinical EFT and EMDR Tapping, where you’ll learn how to integrate these powerful techniques effectively into your practice, delivering the best possible outcomes for your clients.

Remember, as healing professionals, we too deserve support to shine brightly in our work. By embracing these innovative techniques and expanding our skills, we not only serve our clients better but also nurture our own growth and authenticity in the sacred space of therapy.