EFT tapping, or Emotional Freedom Techniques, is a tool you can use whenever life challenges you.  But can we use for grieving?  If a loved one dies?

Right after someone dies, you have to consider some important thing.  Here are some things to consider about when and how to use tapping therapy for grief.

Don'ts
1.  Only use EFT right after death if someone requests it

2. Typically, we're given the advice to be very specific with EFT, but, don't be specific when death has just happened.  Use instead, general tapping phrases like, "This grief."

3. Don't expect anyone to "just get over it" with a few sessions of EFT.  There are stages of grieving that people transition through. Months or even years can be necessary to process the grief.

4. Don't try to do formal EFT unless the grieving person already knows it and asks for your help.

EFT for Grief Do's
1. It's fine to do surrogate tapping for a grieving person.  What you do is simple tap on yourself as if you are grieving.

2. If you're invited, or if you know it would be good, gently move into doing EFT with the person who's grieving.  When the person is feeling the emotion strongly, words aren't needed.

3. Tapping can help integrate and soften the highly painful emotions of shock and horror.  If you are given permission, tapping on the fingertip points works well while they express their thoughts and feelings.

4. Let the grieving person know that all thoughts and feelings are normal, healthy and OK.  They may feel guilt or anger or resentment at the person who left them behind.  These feelings are just as normal as feeling sadness and loneliness.

5.  Be willing to wait weeks, months or even years before the grieving person is open to your tapping help.

6. Avoid too much leading and directing in your EFT phrases.  Unless the person tells you they want to let go of their grief, it's better to stick with venting.  Choosing to be happy and let it go at this stage is not reasonable.

I trust that the above EFT techniques useful if you ever use Emotional Freedom Techniques for grief and grieving.

Tags: eft emotional freedom techniques, eft tapping, eft techniques, tapping therapy