EFT Tapping for Depression and Anxiety: How Emotional Freedom Technique Reduces Stress and Boosts Hope

In this special episode of Giving Voice to Depression, hosts Terry McGuire and her sister and former co-host Bridget Shore introduce a simple, science-backed tool that anyone can use to calm their nervous system and ease symptoms of depression or anxiety — EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), also known as tapping.

They’re joined by Brad Yates, one of the world’s most recognized EFT practitioners, who guides listeners through a powerful step-by-step tapping session designed specifically for people living with depression.

Brad explains how tapping works by lowering cortisol (the body’s main stress hormone), interrupting negative thought loops, and helping people release stuck emotional energy. He walks listeners through the basic tapping points, offers guidance on self-acceptance and gratitude, and reminds us that even small reductions in distress can reignite hope.

If you’ve ever felt “stuck” in depression, this episode offers a free, accessible way to start feeling lighter — no special equipment, therapist, or medication required.

💬 Primary Topics Covered

• What EFT Tapping is and how it helps reduce stress and depression
• The science behind tapping: lowering cortisol and calming the nervous system
• Step-by-step guide through the tapping points and technique
• Why acknowledging your negative feelings is essential for healing
• How tapping can help shift emotional patterns linked to past trauma
• The connection between self-acceptance and emotional recovery
• How small progress (even from a “9” to an “8.75”) builds hope
• Using tapping as a portable, no-cost self-help tool for mental health
• Encouragement for practicing regularly for stronger results
• How to pair tapping with gratitude and mindfulness for long-term relief

⏱ Timestamps

00:00 – Intro: Why self-help tools like EFT belong in your mental health toolbox
01:11 – What EFT Tapping is and how it helps manage depression and anxiety
02:23 – The science of tapping: lowering cortisol and reducing stress
03:02 – Brad Yates joins to explain how tapping works
04:08 – Why tapping provides both emotional and physical relief
05:03 – How small stress reductions create momentum for hope
06:08 – Step-by-step EFT demonstration: tapping points and phrases
09:23 – How tapping helps release old programming and trauma
10:13 – Shifting identity from “I have depression” to “I experience depression”
10:30 – Guided tapping session for depression and self-acceptance
14:21 – Focusing on gratitude, breathing, and small joys
17:19 – Checking progress: from low mood to calm awareness
17:57 – Why EFT works even for skeptics
18:13 – A tool that requires no cost, insurance, or therapist
19:13 – Why saying affirmations out loud makes tapping more powerful
19:50 – Call to action: try EFT, share your results, and suggest future topics

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