Tapping, Acupressure, and Mindfulness.

How Mind–Body Practices May Support Emotional Regulation.

By Dr. Gregory Lyons, PsyD, LCPC.
12/3/2025.

Across many therapeutic settings, somatic practices such as tapping (EFT), acupressure, and holistic-based practices have gained increasing attention as supportive tools for managing emotional distress. Their appeal may have to do with accessibility or the ability to afford health insurance. Most of these practices require no equipment, no medication adjustments, and very little training to begin. More importantly, they encourage individuals to engage both mental awareness and physical regulation, offering a structured way to interrupt patterns of anxiety, rumination, or overwhelm. Although research varies in strength, favorable data have been collected suggesting these practices may support stress reduction and emotional balance (Keng et al., 2011; Creswell, 2017).

EFT (Tapping): Engaging Rhythm, Cognition, and Emotional Honesty.

Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), often referred to as “tapping,” combine elements of cognitive reframing with rhythmic stimulation of specific acupressure points. The technique typically involves tapping with two or three fingertips on areas of the face, upper body, and hands while acknowledging emotions or stressful thoughts. Clinically, EFT may act as a somatic anchor, redirecting the nervous system away from acute fight-or-flight activation. Research shows positive effects in reducing anxiety and stress (Church et al., 2018; Bach et al., 2019).

Acupressure as a Sensory Anchor.

Acupressure involves applying gentle pressure to specific points on the body traditionally associated with physical and emotional well-being. In therapeutic settings, acupressure serves as a sensory focal point—a way to shift attention from overwhelming internal noise toward grounding physical sensation.

Many studies report positive effects, but several reviews emphasize that effect sizes are modest and methodological heterogeneity is significant. Findings should be interpreted with caution, particularly for moderate-to-severe depression, where evidence is less consistent (Chen et al., 2022; Su et al., 2024). Acupressure is often used alongside other treatments, making it difficult to isolate its unique effects. Mechanisms remain unclear, though acupuncture research suggests possible neuroendocrine and HPA-axis influences (Huang et al., 2020; Zhao, 2021).

Mindfulness: The Integrating Thread.

Mindfulness invites individuals to observe internal experiences with curiosity rather than reaction. One grounding mindfulness gesture involves identifying Chakras in the body, which is a concept that can be found in Hinduism and Buddhism, and how they correspond to the belief that these areas of the body may hold energy that can be released to dispel some of the experiences that an individual is feeling. Placing a hand over the heart or resting both hands on the center of the chest. Some describe this area symbolically as a center of peace or emotional resonance. Even without spiritual framing, touch can create a sense of warmth and safety. When combined with tapping or acupressure, mindfulness adds emotional clarity and intentional presence.

A Gentle Clinical Perspective.

Mind–body practices are not meant to replace psychotherapy or medical care but can complement established treatments when introduced thoughtfully. For individuals with trauma histories, dissociative symptoms, or heightened sensitivity, these practices may need careful adaptation. Still, for many, tapping, acupressure, and mindfulness offer a moment of pause, a sense of agency, and a way back into the body during emotionally difficult experiences.

References

Bach, D. R., Groesbeck, G., & Sabounchi, N. (2019). Clinical efficacy of Emotional Freedom Techniques on stress, anxiety, and mood symptoms: A meta-analysis. Explore, 15(1), 13–19.

Chen, X., Shang, Y., Liu, X., & Luo, H. (2022). Impacts of acupressure treatment on depression: A meta-analysis. World Journal of Psychiatry, 12(1), 169–184.

Church, D., Stapleton, P., & Yang, A. (2018). Is tapping effective? A systematic review of Emotional Freedom Techniques for anxiety. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 206(6), 430–437.

Creswell, J. D. (2017). Mindfulness interventions. Annual Review of Psychology, 68, 491–516.

Ernst, E. (2006). Acupressure: An overview of clinical evidence. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 32(5), 467–469.

Huang, W., Pach, D., Napadow, V., & Langevin, H. (2020). Mechanisms of acupuncture: Emerging understanding and clinical relevance. Neural Plasticity, 2020, 1–15.

Keng, S. L., Smoski, M. J., & Robins, C. J. (2011). Effects of mindfulness on psychological health: A review. Clinical Psychology Review, 31(6), 1041–1056.

Rosted, P., et al. (2021). Acupressure for anxiety: A review. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 44, 101387.

Su, M., Chen, P., Li, A., & Wang, Y. (2024). Efficacy of acupressure for depressive symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders Reports, 17, 100567.

Zhao, Z. Q. (2021). Neural mechanisms of acupuncture analgesia. Neuroscience Bulletin, 37(2), 193–204.