Hand tapping

Hand tapping is a simple technique that uses the self-stimulation of acupressure points to help reduce distress.

It draws on the broad principle used in acupressure tapping techniques, including Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), that stimulating the physical body can influence our psychological state.

Why hand tapping?

Many tapping techniques use facial tapping however, similar to the Physiological Sigh, this is not the most discreet technique to suddenly introduce halfway through a meeting.

However, hand tapping uses the same principles but using the thumb of your hand to gently tap on your fingers of the same hand, which is mch less noticeable

How to do it?

Rest your hands by your sides or wherever is comfortable. You can use one hand or both.
Using your thumb, tap each fingertip in turn: thumbnail, index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and little finger.
Tap the spots in any order, for as long as feels useful.
If it helps, silently repeat a phrase as you tap, such as “let it go” or “it’s safe to let it go.”
You can also combine this with the physiological sigh or drop your energy for an extra layer of calm.

When might this help?

Before or during a meeting, when you want to settle without anyone noticing
Mid-conversation, when a face-tapping pause isn’t an option
Waiting rooms, public transport, or anywhere else six-step tapping would stand out
Any time you want to try tapping and find which points and phrasing work best for you, somewhere private, first

It only takes a couple of minutes so experiment and see if it helps!!

A note on safety?

You stay in control the whole way through, and can slow down, pause, or stop at any point.

If something feels too big to work through alone, that’s a good sign to bring it to a session rather than working through it by yourself.

The evidence behind tapping

Tapping approaches like Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) work on the idea that stimulating certain points on the body can influence how we feel. The rhythmic, physical input is thought to help calm the brain’s threat response and support a shift toward a calmer, more settled state.

This approach has been studied for more than two decades, with over 300 peer-reviewed papers published, including 125 clinical trials. The large majority, 123 of the 125, reported a statistically significant improvement, with benefits reported across stress, anxiety, emotional distress, pain and other physical symptoms.

More recent reviews back this up. A 2025 review of seven randomised trials on tapping for anxiety found it performed as well as, or better than, breathing exercises and progressive muscle relaxation. A 2026 review of 17 randomised trials found significant reductions in both reported stress and physical stress markers.

References: Feinstein (2023), Journal of Psychotherapy Integration; Choi, Sung & Lee (2025), Healthcare; Stapleton & van Elst (2026), Explore.

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