Learn EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) By Home Study
back to Articles Index

I Tried Tapping Once Before: Tips for Those Coming Back to EFT

Advice for those who gave up tapping some time ago - and for their helpers/ practitioners

If you tried tapping ages ago and it didn’t work for you, and you’d like to give it another go, here are some of the things to bear in mind:

Tapping is a very forgiving system and many people say it still works if you get some of the points wrong or leave something out.  However, for best results, revise the locations of the points and the basic instructions before you start, from a book, video, handout or article.

This revision is especially important if you learnt tapping from a friend who learnt it from a friend who watched one video on-line…  People do get the procedure confused, and, unless you learned properly and tapped regularly, you may not be using the techniques in the recommended way.

Before each tapping session, take a SUD (subjective unit of distress/disturbance) measurement.  Judge the intensity of the issue that you want to go away from 0 to 10 – 10 means the worst ever possible, and 0 means completely gone. At the end of the session, sense or feel by how many points it has reduced.

Persistence pays.  Do the set-up statement tapping routine 3 times (as given in most instructions).   If you don’t feel an immediate shift, do the whole tapping round 3 times.   Continue several times a day.  Many “one-minute wonders” are reported, but many other people need more time for tapping to work. 

Is the normal self-acceptance statement OK for you?  Some people find it hard to say “I deeply and completely love and accept myself” or a similar phrase. You don’t have to use that phrase. Just “I’m OK” or “I’m basically a good person” will do for now.  You can even tap on “Even though I find it hard to say that I deeply love and accept myself, I’m still a decent human being.”   

Make your set-up statements as precise and specific as possible. Focus on specific incidents, specific memories, specific feelings, specific changes that you want. If something hurts, focus on exactly where and what it feels like. If any of those is complex, break it down into parts and tap on the most important parts, or the parts that stand out in your mind, first.

If you are doing a lot of tapping, vary the set-up statements to concentrate on different parts of the problem, or even on different issues if you have a lot.  Often tapping successfully on one area can produce a benefit in another.

If you remember something else that’s relevant to the issue while you tap – or even if a persistent unrelated issue comes up – do another round on the memory or thought that arose.

Tap on negative beliefs related to the issue. For example, “Even though I believe that nobody likes me…” or “Even though I believe that nobody will ever offer me a job…”  Take a SUD measurement before and after to tell whether the negative belief is shifting its grip.

Maybe you don’t think it’s a belief – you think it’s real.  If you are convinced of something concerning yourself, then it’s a belief.   You can tap on a statement like “Even though I am convinced that I will never find a partner, I deeply and completely accept myself.” 

If you have a thought or belief that you want to change, and you know it’s not rational yet it still persists, treat it as something that a part of you believes. Use a set-up like this: “Even though a part of me believes that I’m no good, I completely and deeply accept myself.”   You can also use a variation like this:

“Even though a part of me believes that I’m no good, I completely and deeply accept that part of me.”  

Do a round of each variation of the above statements, since we don’t know which can be most effective for you.

There are plenty of free tapping videos on YouTube and other sites. Look for EFT or Meridian tapping.  Find some and tap along – it does not matter what for. This will refine your technique, make tapping effortless, and you will find it easier to work on your own issues by yourself.

Keep learning, whether from YouTube or other free resources or from books or DVDs. There are a lot of extra tips and techniques you can pick up.

How long do the results of tapping last?  Some people give up because the problem came back again. That’s rather like not cleaning your house because it always gets dirty again.  Phobias and fears very often disappear quickly with EFT.  Other things may come back.  However, you can use tapping when you need to, to manage the thoughts and feelings that get in the way of living a harmonious life. The same applies to issues such as pain.  Make tapping part of your routines and use it when you need to.  It’s as if you were to take an aspirin for a headache.  Just because aspirin works, it doesn’t mean you’ll never get another headache. Tapping is a tool and like any tool, it’s there to be used when needed.

If you are not getting the results you want, or if you just don’t know where to start, what to say or where to tap, consult a professional EFT practitioner. An EFT practitioner can help you explore much more with tapping than you thought possible, and many practitioners also combine tapping with other useful self-help techniques.

Remember that tapping is not a substitute for medical attention – if you have a medical problem, see a doctor.  If you have a serious psychological problem, consult an appropriate professional.

About the author

Morris Berg is an EFT Practitioner and Meridian Psychotherapist and is the owner of this site (see the about us page for more information). 

This article is copyright Morris Berg © 2010 and must not be reproduced without written permission.

Apply for the EFT 1 & 2 course now

Join our Mailing List

See terms and conditions

  email: kadcourses@tiscali.co.uk

Copyright © UK College of Holistic Training 2010.