All children have unique needs when it comes to experiencing something stressful, uncomfortable, or painful. By helping your child develop healthy coping skills (tools to help them manage their feelings and reduce stress), you’re supporting their development of resiliency and their ability to better handle life’s ups and downs. You may already be familiar with tools such as yoga, breathwork, meditation, guided imagery, etc. However, one form of somatic work that is not as commonly known or understood is Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) or “tapping”. Tapping is a mind-body method that combines gentle tapping on acupressure points while becoming mindful and vocal of thoughts and feelings stored in the psyche. Mind-body methods mean we can use our mind, body, and thoughts as we tap to connect to our body to create that felt sense of safety with our nervous system!
Anytime our body or mind is unable to process or release something, it gets stored in the body and if we don’t have the ability to move through it, our body can hold onto it as trauma. Tapping works with the energy meridians in the body and channels that have been used in acupuncture for thousands of years. When energy can flow smoothly through the body, a person can feel peaceful and safe in their body. And when a body feels safe it is better able to heal itself. The body is negatively affected when the energy system becomes bogged down with blocks and disruptions. This can create disease in the body and a system that is constantly on alert and looking for danger. The amygdala (a region of the brain involved in processing emotions, especially fear) is then overworked. Tapping helps to “turn off” the amygdala and therefore helps the body and mind deactivate emotions like fear, anger, and anxiety.
Children are not always able to express their feelings and thoughts, therefore tapping can help create a sense of safety and lessens the sense of threat a child faces when trying to communicate or process their emotions. When the nervous system is calmed through tapping, a person can review an issue that is causing the stress or anxiety without the body becoming activated by the uncomfortable or difficult emotion(s). It allows the brain and body to:
1. release stress and negative emotions
2. calm and regulate the central nervous system
3. decrease cortisol levels
4. process difficult situations
5. release attachment to old thought patterns
For educational purposes and awareness, we are including basic information below regarding the meridian points used in tapping. However, it is not imperative for children to know or understand these to receive the benefits of tapping or complete the somatic process effectively. Children are also not expected to tap on the exact points or follow the exact sequence of points. They will still experience the benefits of tapping.
EFT – Meridian Points
KC – Karate Chop or Side of Hand – Small Intestines Meridian
Release: Sadness, grief, feeling of emptiness
Allows: Joy, peace, ability to play, presence
EB – Eyebrow – Bladder Meridian
Release: Trauma, hurt, sadness, impatience
Allows: Inner peace, emotional healing, restlessness
SE – Side of Eye – Gallbladder Meridian
Release: Rage, anger, fear of change, cloudy thinking
Allows: Clarity, compassion, open heart, understanding
UE – Under Eye – Stomach Meridian
Release: Fear, worry, nervousness, anxiety, craving
Allows: Peace, feeling safe, contentment, settled
UN – Under Nose – Governing Meridian
Releases: shame, guilt, grief, embarrassment
Allows: Self-love, compassion, empowerment, confidence
CH – Chin – Central Meridian
Releases: Confusion, uncertainty, second guessing self
Allows: Clarity, certainty, ability to move forward
CB – Collarbone – Kidney Meridian
Releases: Feeling stuck, general stress, criticism, failure
Allows: Ease in moving forward, clarity, insight, inner knowing
UA – Under Arm – Spleen Meridian
Release: Obsessing, Worry, hopelessness, insecurity
Allows: Relaxation, Compassion for self and others, Self-esteem
TH – Top of Head – ‘Hundred Meeting Points’ Meridian
Release: Inner critic, lack of focus, ‘monkey mind’ overthinking
Allows: Insight, Intuition, spiritual connection, clarity
Tapping is not a way to avoid or repress uncomfortable emotions, rather, a way to support a person so they can move through them and regulate (like you holding your child’s hand or hugging them when they are crying). Tapping is supporting a person through these releases and the responses; having a response means the tapping is working! Know that you cannot cause dysregulation from tapping, and essentially, no harm can come from your child trying tapping. Teach tapping in calm environment and be sure a child is a willing participant. Tapping can also be adapted to be more child friendly and fun if needed. For example, naming the points “magic buttons” “silly spot” etc. For many children the idea of tapping or the act of tapping can be strange, so match what the child thinks of it and acknowledge their feelings! A great approach could be saying something like: “Would you like to learn something that looks silly and even feels a little strange, but has really helped me feel calm?” And if they still do not want to try tapping, you can always tap on yourself near them (there is a lot to be said about co-regulation and secondary gains).
There are so many benefits to tapping and it is a great technique to teach your child and add to their toolkit of coping skills to help them navigate the stressors and difficulties in life. Tapping is quick and easy to use, free and accessible to all, can’t be done “wrong”, can be done anytime and anywhere without any equipment, and is a tool a child can learn and eventually use independently as they grow!
If you would like to learn more about tapping or other ways to teach your child coping techniques and strategies to deal with stress and anxiety, or other emotions, schedule a free call with us here. Our team of mental health providers are here to support you and your family on the journey to find which individualized techniques help your child to live resiliently!