My Kids Roll Their Eyes at This!
I’ve had many comments and eye rolls from my family about Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) or Tapping (see my demonstration) when I share how powerful a tool it is for calming our bodies and minds. As I write this, I can hear them, a note of sarcasm embedded in their voices - “yah, Ok Mom”, “no one wants to tap with you”, or “you’re the only one who thinks its a good idea!”
As a side note, for the most part, my children take me seriously - except for the “energy” tools I use and have used throughout my social work and coaching life. I sometimes catch myself thinking “if only they’d listen to me, they’d feel so much better!” Twas ever thus between parents and children!
A walk in the forest with our youngest son and our grandson - three generations together.
And, I agree EFT is not for everyone - some of my clients are opposed to using it in our sessions and that’s Ok. I have other tools in my toolbox!
But I will say that when a client is willing to give it a try or has some experience with Tapping, it’s effective and powerful. And, when combined with other tools, like therapeutic/reflective writing, it’s usefulness and effectiveness doubles and can be even more profound and transformative.
I found EFT training quite by chance in 2019. With about 10 days to myself while on holiday in the UK, I decided to register for Level 1&2. I admit I didn’t know much about it then, but had a feeling it was exactly what I needed, both personally and professionally.
What I learned spurred me on to complete the Advanced (Level 3) training two years ago, and then to create The Tap and Write Studio last year. There are so many things I’ve learned from this unique or “odd” approach to growth and change. Odd, I say, because one wouldn’t think tapping gently on acupressure points on our bodies would make any kind of difference in how we feel or perceive things.
I describe EFT as a mind/body technique that allows us to calm our bodies, lower cortisol, and help us think more clearly. I was taught to describe it as acupuncture without needles - instead we use our fingers to tap on the points that help us shift our energy. After all, we are just energy and if our energy gets stalled or stuck within our bodies without us shifting it, we can think all we want but change and growth becomes harder.
Tapping is now widely accepted in the world as a credible tool to reduce our stress response to triggers, thoughts, events and is used to help deal with and release trauma (all kinds). As our bodies relax from tapping, our minds are freer to explore the issues we’re addressing, often at a deeper, more subconscious level.
I can’t tell you how often I’ve experienced (with myself and clients) thinking I’ll just tap on a feeling or thought that’s popped up and doesn’t feel great, and the next thing I know, I’ve uncovered a memory, had an “aha” moment, or pulled a thread from something I had no idea was percolating under the surface.
If you’re skeptical of EFT actually working, Peta Stapleton from Australia is one of the leading EFT researchers and offers evidence of EFTs efficacy. In this video, she shares an update of the latest (2024) science of clinical EFT - I invite you to watch it and check out her work.
Tapping is a viable tool used in a variety of populations, including with students and teachers, victims of war (current and past), in prisons, with police & EMT’s, seniors, and, of course with clients in therapy and coaching.
If you’re interested in how EFT came about, it’s origins and history, you can read more HERE.
Why Write? was a post I wrote about the power of writing to soothe our souls and explore life’s challenges, record events, and help manage our mental health.
What I love about combining EFT with therapeutic/reflective writing is that these two powerhouse tools fit so beautifully together by allowing us to explore deeply our inner world.
Life as an experiment allowed me to create this unique process and The Tap and Write Studio!
Each Tap and Write Circle begins with a round of Tapping - I combine that with grounding and breathing. As we Tap we invite the subconscious mind to emerge and support us throughout our session.
Participants have said how relaxed and open they feel afterwards, as if a message has been relayed to the body that we’re about to dive in, allowing our thinking brain to relax, to take a break from the million thoughts that dominate our day and keep us out of our bodies.
There’s been surprise at how easily words seem to flow after tapping, even though each bit of writing is timed. Instead of limiting creative flow, we find ourselves writing easily and more deeply than we expected.
For each Tap and Write theme, I carefully create tapping scripts and writing prompts that help the writer open to new possibilities, see things from a different perspective, or uncover a layer of resistance that’s been lurking below the surface.
The goal of a 90 minute Tap and Write session is to invite openness, curiosity, and a willingness to pull a thread from the beautiful, messy, challenging tapestry we’ve been weaving and creating, sometimes for decades.
My grandmother’s - she drew the picture first before creating this life like needlepoint. This picture doesn’t do it justice.
The Tap and Write Studio is a safe place to learn more about ourselves. Combined tapping and writing can be profoundly therapeutic but, as I remind participants before and during each session, it isn’t therapy. If a critical piece of information emerges from a Tap and Write session, it’s a good idea to follow up with someone trained to help you work it through.
Thank you for reading and learning more about Tap and Write. If you haven’t experienced a session with me, either in a small group of amazing women or in a private 1:1 Tap and Write session, this is your invitation! But, don’t take my word at the power of a session - here’s what one participant said:
Feeling restored, spacious, and hopeful after my first Tap and Write session. Grateful for the opportunity to connect with myself and others in this welcoming and transformative space Joan has created. (JC)
I’d love it if you shared my writing widely and spread the word about Tap and Write! Thank you!
Join me in The W.I.S.E.R. Woman’s Guide where you’re invited to explore themes and write from carefully crafted prompts - and you’ll be the first to know about upcoming Tap and Write Circles.
Won’t you join me? Sign up HERE!
Joan
Whenever you are ready, there are three ways I can support you:
1. Empowerment Coaching 1-1 with Joan
Join me for 1-1 coaching designed to meet you where you’re at in your personal journey to resolving anxiety & stress, updating old beliefs no longer serving you, taking action to move forward, learning who you are as relationships change, navigating change and finding meaning in the messy middle, and more.
2. Tap and Write Circles Designed for Women
As an EFT tapping practitioner and therapeutic/reflective writing guide, I offer specially crafted writing circles that help you transform your stories, invite exploration into your inner world, events, challenges, beliefs and feelings, change perspectives and look at things differently. Won’t you join me?
3. Private 1:1 Tap and Write Session for Women Work with me one-to-one in a personalized Tap and Write session designed to help you navigate transitions and changes with more ease and clarity. Join me online in a safe space as we explore and transform your inner thoughts, beliefs and stories so you can move forward with more ease and compassion.
4. Tap, Write and Transform: The W.I.S.E.R. Woman’s Journey
Coming in 2025! A 6 week Tap and Write journey designed for women who are navigating through mid-life and beyond and seeking meaningful change, clarity, calm and confidence as they explore, expand, and strengthen their inner wisdom, intuition, self-compassion, energy and self-responsibility.
