Virtual EFT Therapy for PTSD: Tapping into Healing

April 10, 2025

Emotional Freedom Technique: A Virtual Approach to Managing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. This disorder often manifests in symptoms that significantly disrupt daily functioning and overall quality of life. Fortunately, various treatment options exist for managing PTSD symptoms, including the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), also known as “tapping therapy.”

At ReachLink, we recognize the potential benefits of incorporating EFT into comprehensive PTSD treatment plans. This virtual therapy technique involves systematically tapping specific points on the body while focusing on traumatic memories or negative emotions, potentially helping to reduce stress and anxiety. Research suggests that EFT may provide relief from depressive symptoms associated with PTSD.

Understanding Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

PTSD can develop following exposure to traumatic events such as physical or sexual abuse, violent crime, natural disasters, serious accidents, or combat experience. The condition is characterized by persistent emotional distress that continues long after the traumatic event has passed.

Common symptoms of PTSD include:

Intrusive memories or flashbacks of the traumatic event
Nightmares and sleep disturbances
Emotional numbness or detachment
Avoidance of triggers that remind one of the trauma
Heightened reactivity and hypervigilance
Persistent negative thoughts about oneself or the world
Irritability, anger outbursts, or reckless behavior
Difficulty concentrating or completing tasks

Physical manifestations of PTSD may include:

Exaggerated startle responses
Chronic fatigue
Gastrointestinal distress
Muscle tension and pain
Headaches

For a formal PTSD diagnosis according to the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5), symptoms must persist for a minimum of one month. When symptoms last less than one month, the condition may be classified as Acute Stress Disorder (ASD).

Without appropriate treatment, PTSD can significantly impair occupational functioning, strain relationships, and increase the risk of developing other mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety disorders, or substance use disorders.

The Emotional Freedom Technique: A Telehealth Approach to Trauma Treatment

EFT is considered a form of energy psychology that can be effectively delivered through telehealth platforms like ReachLink. This technique combines elements of cognitive therapy with physical tapping on meridian points—energy pathways recognized in traditional Chinese medicine—to address psychological distress.

At ReachLink, EFT is one of several evidence-based approaches we offer for treating PTSD through our virtual platform. Other treatment modalities in our comprehensive care approach include:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PET)
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Mindfulness-based interventions
Medication management (in collaboration with psychiatric providers)

EFT tapping follows a structured protocol that can be easily guided through our secure video sessions. The process typically involves:

1. Identifying the issue: During your telehealth session, your ReachLink therapist will help you identify a specific traumatic memory, trigger, or emotional response that’s causing distress.

2. Rating distress levels: You’ll be asked to rate your current distress about this issue on a scale from 0-10, with 10 being the most intense distress.

3. Creating affirmation statements: Together with your therapist, you’ll develop personalized statements that acknowledge the problem while affirming self-acceptance. For example: “Even though I feel anxious when thinking about my accident, I deeply and completely accept myself.”

4. Systematic tapping sequence: Your therapist will guide you through tapping on specific meridian points while repeating your chosen statements. These points include:

Side of the hand (karate chop point)
Crown of the head
Beginning of the eyebrow
Side of the eye
Under the eye
Under the nose
Chin point
Beginning of the collarbone
Under the arm

5. Reassessment: After completing the tapping sequence, you’ll reassess your distress level to determine if additional rounds are needed.

While EFT can be learned as a self-help tool, our ReachLink therapists provide professional guidance to maximize its effectiveness and ensure proper integration with other therapeutic approaches. For optimal results in treating clinical PTSD, research suggests a series of 10 EFT sessions with a qualified practitioner.