Tapping Meditation: What is it and should I try it?
I am excited to say that this year I completed a certification in Tapping Meditation so that I can better help my clients and continue to grow as a clinician. While I am still learning how tapping best fits into my practice, there is no question I have been recommending Tapping (also known as Emotional Freedom Technique) for a while now! Not only is it an “empirically supported treatment” (aka a treatment research says is effective), but I also use it myself in my personal self-care routine. In therapy sessions, I encourage experimentation with any sort of meditation, but I openly admit a bias to this particular form of meditation! Check out this article for more info about what the research says.
So what the heck is it?
So what the heck is it?
Tapping is a form of meditation where one taps certain acupressure points at the same time as they perform deep breathing and positive affirmation centered on acceptance. By tapping these points, one is able to stimulate these acupressure points, which according to Eastern Medicine helps to spread energy in the body in a more healthy manner.
Eastern Medicine discusses how stuck energy can be the cause of a variety of health concerns, including mental health concerns such as depression, anxiety, and more. Energy Psychology is a school of thought that began to incorporate some of these Eastern Medicine practices into talk therapy use. Here is some more information about how it works.
The reality is, just because tapping is shown to be effective, does not mean we know WHY it is. So if this explanation of how it works does not resonate with you, do not let that hold you back. I also like to bring up that this is one of the few types of meditation that incorporates some light movement. I suspect that the simple aspect of engaging the body can be another reason why this meditation style is helpful. The focus on acceptance of what we can not control, and sitting with difficult emotions, is also something that I find to be very much helpful and is part of my therapeutic approach. Of course, Tapping might be shown as effective simply because we know meditation to be effective. That topic could be reason for a whole other blog so I will simply provide a link here.
So who is this type of meditation helpful for?
I tend to think it is helpful for anyone, but I encourage people to get in touch with their own instincts and trust what they are telling them. If you find this meditation (or any type for that matter), is distressing to you, then by all means stop or make the necessary adjustments for you to be careful. There is research to suggest that meditation can be triggering to some people, and thus should not be attempted on your own if you are noticing distressing symptoms. I do find, however, that people tend to find this meditation less distressing than others, because closing eyes is not one of the main requirements, and because the tapping keeps one grounded in their body. Often times people describe meditation as an altered state, which can be frightening to those with trauma or with history of dissociation. If that has been your experience and you are wanting to revisit meditation, then Tapping could be a different angle to try. Check out this article for more information on meditation and trauma.
How do I start?
The good news is that it is very easy and accessible to start. You don’t need to be in therapy with me or anyone else to try it out. Youtube is full of free tapping exercises for you try, but there is also the Tapping Solution app free and paid version. While this sounds like an ad, I assure you I have no sponsorships or affiliation with them. I just actually use it and love it! If this article has you thinking “I will stick with the type of meditation I already do,” then wonderful! I think it is great that you have found a self-care routine that is working for you! If you are still uncertain or have never tried meditation of any kind before, I encourage you to embrace that mindset of experimentation. Even if you do like not all forms of self-care, the good news is that information is useful in leading you forward!
