When people ask me what makes an EFT session truly powerful, I often say that it’s not just the main techniques — it’s also the little things. The subtle, intentional choices you make during a session. Sometimes, it’s these things that we overlook.
Whether you’re just starting with EFT or have already completed EFT training, these three aspects are worth understanding. They might sound small, but they can profoundly shift the quality of your sessions — and your confidence.
1. Tap on the points — and tap gently.
EFT is based on acupuncture points — and those points matter. If you tap a little off-centre, it’s important to remember the correct position. We don’t have to be perfect, but we do want to be accurate enough to activate the nervous system effectively.
The pressure of the tapping should be firm but not hard. That’s the kind of pressure we’re going for. If someone is hammering away at their face like they’re trying to crack a safe, it’s important to change your approach to be more gentle. Tapping too hard can be agitating and upset the nervous system. Gentle is powerful.
2. Honour the quiet.
I often end sessions by inviting the client to close their eyes and take a few slow breaths — in through the nose, out through the mouth — and just notice what comes up.
The other day, a client sat in silence for about five minutes. Every now and then, they opened their eyes, then closed them again. A little frown. A yawn. The signs were subtle, but the work was still happening.
When they finally opened their eyes and said, “Okay,” I knew something had shifted. This is such an important reminder: don’t rush to fill the space. Stillness is not nothing, it’s often when the body integrates the most. In fact, giving space for silence helps regulate the nervous system and allows emotional shifts to settle more deeply.
3. Be thoughtful about storytelling.
One of the things I love about EFT is that you don’t have to relive every painful detail to experience healing. In fact, we often dive straight into the “feelings” while tapping, and that alone begins to detraumatise the memory.
But sometimes, we want — or need — to tell the story, and that’s okay. We just need to check that we’re still emotionally connected to it, or are we now reciting a list of facts with no feeling.
If a client is clearly needing to express something, it may be important to let them speak for a while — provided they’re still connected to the emotional thread of the story. But if it starts to feel like a “data dump,” or if they begin to dissociate, gently bring them back: “Take a deep breath. How did that make you feel?” From there, we tap on the feeling — and the healing deepens.
Why does any of this matter?
Because EFT is more than just a script or a sequence. It’s a relationship — with the client, with their nervous system, and with your own presence. Learning to work this way isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being attuned.
And there’s science to support it. Research led by Dr Peta Stapleton shows that EFT can significantly reduce cortisol — the stress hormone — by up to 43% in a single session. That’s not just impressive. It’s transformational.
If this resonates with you — whether you’re brand new to EFT or looking for a structured, supported way to revisit the basics — I’d love to invite you to join me for my upcoming Level 1 EFT Training in June.
Over two immersive days, you’ll learn:
Ready to Learn EFT the Right Way?
- The origins and science behind EFT (including the research that supports it)
- How and where to tap — including demonstration and practice
- How to identify what to tap on, and how to measure progress
- What to say while you tap — and why less is often more
- How to work with trauma safely, respectfully, and gently
- How to handle emotional overwhelm, dissociation, and resistance
- How to use EFT for your own growth, resilience, and healing
Whether you want to deepen your personal transformation or begin the journey towards supporting others, this training will give you the tools, confidence, and clarity to start tapping with skill and heart.
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