What Is EFT Tapping — And Why Do I Use It for Grief?

When I first mention EFT tapping to clients, I often get a slightly puzzled look. Tapping? What on earth has tapping got to do with grief?

It's a fair question — and once I explain it, most people are surprised by how much sense it makes.

What Is EFT?

EFT stands for Emotional Freedom Techniques. It is sometimes called "tapping" because it involves gently tapping on specific acupressure points on the face, hands and upper body while focusing on an emotional issue.

It draws on the same meridian points used in traditional acupuncture — but instead of needles, you simply use your fingertips. As you tap, you focus on the feeling, the memory, or the belief that is causing distress, and gradually the emotional charge around it begins to reduce.

EFT is now recognised by a growing body of clinical research as an effective approach for anxiety, trauma, PTSD and emotional distress. Many practitioners — myself included — use it regularly for grief work.

Why Does It Work?

When we experience a deeply painful emotion like grief, the body's stress response is activated. The amygdala — the brain's alarm system — signals danger, flooding the body with cortisol and adrenaline. Over time, if this response is repeatedly triggered, it can become the body's default setting in relation to that memory or emotion.

Tapping on acupressure points whilst holding the painful feeling in mind sends a calming signal to the amygdala — in effect, telling the nervous system: this is safe, you can release now. Over the course of a session, the emotional intensity of the memory or feeling reduces, sometimes quite dramatically.

What EFT Can Do for Grief

In grief recovery, EFT is particularly powerful for:

• Releasing guilt — the "I should have said..." or "I should have done..." thoughts that torment so many bereaved people
• Processing anger — at the person who died, at circumstances, at healthcare systems, at God, at life itself
• Clearing regret — things left unresolved, conversations that never happened
• Reducing the intensity of painful memories — so that you can remember your loved one without being overwhelmed
• Creating space for softer feelings — gratitude, love, warmth — that grief can crowd out

What to Expect in a Session

When I use EFT within a Grief Recovery session, it is always done gently and with your full guidance. You remain in control at every moment. We work only on what feels safe and right for you on that day.

Many clients tell me that they came in carrying something they had been holding for years — and left feeling lighter. Not that the grief was gone, but that the weight of it had shifted. That there was more room to breathe.

If you'd like to know more about how EFT might support your own grief journey, I'd love to talk with you.

Get in touch or book a free call here.