Reaching out for support can feel like a big step - especially if you’re not sure what the process will look like. If you’re considering EFT tapping, this guide will help you understand what an online session feels like, so you can approach it with more clarity and confidence.
Jump to the section you'd like to explore: What is EFT tapping? | What happens when we tap? | How an online session works | The benefits of an online session | Can I use tapping on my own?
What to expect from an online EFT tapping session
If you’ve been curious about EFT tapping but aren’t quite sure what happens in a session, you’re not alone. Many people discover Emotional Freedom Techniques when they’re feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or stuck - and want something gentle, practical, and effective they can do from home.
Online EFT tapping sessions are becoming increasingly popular because they offer exactly that: a way to work through emotions in a safe, supported space, without needing to travel anywhere.
In this guide, we will cover what EFT tapping is, how it works, and what you can expect from an online session - so you can decide if it feels right for you.
What is EFT tapping?
EFT stands for Emotional Freedom Techniques. It’s often simply called “tapping” because you use your fingertips to gently tap on specific acupressure points on your face and upper body.
These points are connected to the body’s energy system, based on meridian lines used in traditional Chinese medicine. That’s why EFT is sometimes described as “acupuncture without needles.”
What makes EFT unique is that it combines two powerful approaches:
- Cognitive – you stay focused on a specific thought, feeling, or situation
- Somatic (body-based) – you physically tap on the body connecting your physiology in the process
This combination helps you process emotions in a way that feels safe, grounded, and often surprisingly calming.
What happens when we tap?
When you tap on these acupressure points, you’re gently stimulating the body’s energy pathways (and Primo Vascular System). This can help regulate your nervous system and send calming signals to the brain - particularly to the amygdala, which is involved in the stress response.
At the same time, you’re bringing awareness to what you’re feeling or thinking. Instead of avoiding or suppressing emotions, you’re allowing them to be processed.
In simple terms, EFT helps you:
- feel your emotions without becoming overwhelmed
- reduce the intensity of stress or anxiety - or any other emotions that are no longer serving you
- create a sense of safety in your body
It’s this combination ‘body + mind’ that makes tapping such a powerful self-regulation technique.
How does an online EFT tapping session work?
One of the most reassuring things about EFT is that you don’t need any previous experience to begin.
1. A gentle conversation
At the start of your first online EFT session, you’ll usually have a longer chat. This is your space to share:
- what’s currently going on in your life
- what you’d like to feel instead
- any challenges, patterns, or emotional blocks you’ve noticed
There’s no pressure to 'have the right words' - you simply start where you are. Together, you and your practitioner will identify a focus for the session.
If you have already been working together, the topic may naturally emerge from the flow of the previous sessions.
2. Guided tapping
Once you’re ready, you’ll begin tapping. Your practitioner will guide you by tapping on specific points and saying simple phrases related to what you’ve shared. You’ll follow along - tapping on the same points and repeating the words (or adapting them so they feel true to you).
This creates a kind of flow or rhythm. As you continue, new thoughts, emotions, or memories may arise - and that’s a really valuable part of the process.
You’re always encouraged to pause, change the wording and share what’s coming up. The session is flexible and shaped around you.
Note: Many EFT practitioners are also trained in additional therapeutic approaches and may integrate elements of these into their work.
Personally, alongside EFT, I am also trained in NLP and Time Line Therapy, and bring this broader knowledge to support and complement the EFT process.
3. Processing emotions safely
It’s completely normal to feel emotional during a session. In fact, that often means your body is processing something that’s been held for a while.
You might experience a wave of emotion, a sense of relief, or even physical sensations (like a yawning, deep breath or softening).
And sometimes, you might not feel much at all - and that’s okay too. Even if it doesn’t feel dramatic, your nervous system is still responding. The unconscious mind is always working in the background, and shifts can continue after the session.
4. Closing the session safely
As your session comes to an end, your therapist will gently guide you towards a calmer, more settled state so you can finish feeling safe and grounded. While it’s still possible to feel some emotion, you’re unlikely to feel overwhelmed.
EFT is a deeply transformative process, so it’s normal for thoughts, emotions, and shifts to continue unfolding after your session. Your mind and body have a natural ability to integrate what’s been explored, often leading to new perspectives and a greater sense of ease.
Throughout the entire process - including the closing - you’ll be held in a supportive space, so you never feel left on your own with what’s come up.
What are the benefits of an online EFT tapping session?
Working with a practitioner online offers a few unique advantages:
- Comfort – you’re in your own familiar space
- Accessibility – no travel required
- Privacy – easier to relax and open up
- Consistency – simpler to fit into your routine
- Effectiveness – an online session is just as effective as a session in-person
Many people may find it easier to go deeper emotionally when they’re at home.
Can I use EFT tapping on your own? Or only with a practitioner?
EFT is a tool you can absolutely use by yourself. That’s one of its biggest strengths. Once you’ve learned the basics, you can tap at any time or place.
Working with a practitioner, however, offers something different. A trained EFT therapist can:
- hold a safe, supportive space
- help you navigate deeper or more complex emotions
- ask questions that bring new insights
- guide you when you feel stuck
Remember, they are not mutually exclusive - you can do both approaches: they complement each other beautifully.
Try it for yourself
I offer a free 30-minute online session where you can gently explore tapping and see how it feels for you.