Understanding Tapping: How This Technique Can Boost Your Mental Well-Being

Tapping, also known as Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), is gaining attention as a simple method that involves tapping specific points on the body to reduce stress and anxiety. Many people are turning to this practice to support their mental well-being.

A Technique Under Scrutiny: The Rise of Tapping

Over the last decade and a half, the self-help method known as tapping—or Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT)—has carved out a striking presence across social networks. On platforms like TikTok, videos abound of individuals tapping their fingertips on key acupressure points while reciting reassuring phrases. One such video features a woman affirming, « Je suis en sécurité dans ma voiture », tapping the crown of her head, the edge of her eyebrow, then her chin, in an effort to manage driving anxiety.

Anecdotes like these are everywhere. With endorsements from wellness podcasts and appearances on television, EFT has built a devoted following and even become big business—professional certifications can cost hundreds of dollars. Yet this growing mainstream appeal is shadowed by mounting skepticism among mental health professionals.

The Origins: From Thought Field Therapy to EFT

The story of tapping begins in the 1980s with psychologist Roger Callahan, who created what he called Thought Field Therapy (TFT). Inspired by traditional Chinese medicine’s concept of energy meridians, Callahan instructed a patient suffering from severe water phobia to tap beneath her eye—a point linked to the stomach meridian. Reportedly, within minutes, her stomach pain and fear vanished. This experience prompted Callahan to refine TFT further, developing sequences for various issues.

However, experts in psychology soon discredited TFT due to its unprovable assumptions about energy meridians. In the 1990s, Gary Craig, a Stanford graduate turned minister, streamlined Callahan’s approach and popularized it as EFT. Proponents now claim EFT eases not just anxiety or stress but also symptoms tied to depression, PTSD, addiction and chronic pain.

Efficacy in Question: What Does Science Say?

Scrutiny from the scientific community remains intense. While more than 200 studies have examined EFT or meridian tapping techniques, their findings are far from conclusive. The main criticisms include small sample sizes, questionable statistical methods and clear conflicts of interest. Several high-profile psychologists affiliated with the American Psychological Association have dismissed its popularity as rooted in pseudoscience rather than robust evidence.

As professor Cassandra L. Boness put it: « Lorsque l’on examine vraiment les preuves, elles s’effondrent ». Yet even critics acknowledge some possible benefits—not so much because of tapping itself but due to elements it shares with established therapies:

• A focus on confronting uncomfortable thoughts (similar to exposure therapy).
• An emphasis on mindful reflection about one’s feelings.

But crucially, no rigorous research confirms that tapping is the key ingredient at work.

A Cautious Perspective: Potential Benefits and Risks

Despite these doubts, both patients and some therapists report quick relief—a calmer mind or newfound clarity—after practicing tapping. For instance, psychotherapist Melissa Lester became certified in EFT seeking alternatives for clients unhelped by cognitive-behavioral approaches. Even so, critics like Boness raise ethical questions about recommending techniques with scant scientific backing. Her concern is that vulnerable people might turn to EFT only to discover later it does not address their needs.

In summary: While tapping may bring comfort for some, calling it an established psychological treatment would be premature—at least until higher-quality evidence emerges.