How Somatic Tapping Helped Me Recenter After a Smear Campaign
When I discovered that a smear campaign was being spread about me—initiated by a former employer and quietly reinforced by others—it shook me deeply.
Not just emotionally. Somatically.
My body registered the betrayal before my mind could make sense of it. My chest tightened, my breath grew shallow, and my thoughts started spiraling. It was the moment when nervous system regulation wasn't a luxury—it was a necessity.
And yet, I still had clients to support.
I couldn't carry that weight into a space meant for care and presence. So, I turned to something I deeply trusted:
Somatic Tapping, also known as the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT).
What Is Somatic Tapping?
Somatic Tapping is a body-based technique that involves rhythmically tapping specific acupressure points—like the collarbone, side of the eye, or top of the head—while staying connected to what's present in your body.
It's not about "getting over" a feeling.
It's about giving your nervous system a rhythm to follow, a pattern to regulate, and a signal of safety when everything feels uncertain.
Studies have shown that tapping can reduce cortisol (the body's main stress hormone), ease anxiety, and support emotional processing.¹
Tap by tap, I found my breath again.
Tap by tap, I returned to myself—not ignoring the pain, but making space around it.
Why I Use and Teach Tapping
I've used tapping to:
Regulate after intense emotional reactions
The ground between difficult sessions or conversations
Clear the stress after being misunderstood or misrepresented
Reconnect with myself after burnout
And I teach it for the same reasons. Because it's accessible.
Because it's empowering.
And because in moments when words fail—your body still knows how to come home to itself.
📍 Healing Arts Center – Virginia Beach
💻 Book a session or learn more: https://www.vagaro.com/healingartscenter
¹ Church, D., et al. (2012). "Cortisol levels decrease after emotional freedom technique treatment for veterans with PTSD: A randomized controlled trial." Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease.
