EP 140 – The Science of EFT Tapping: Addiction, Cravings & Nervous System Regulation with Dr. Peta StapletonEP 140 – The Science of EFT Tapping: Addiction, Cravings & Nervous System Regulation with Dr. Peta Stapleton
Kaleidoscope of Possibilities
Dr. Adriana Popescu and Dr. Peta Stapleton discuss how EFT tapping can help with addiction, cravings and trauma by calming the nervous system and shifting stress responses. They cover research findings, the role of shame and childhood experiences, and how EFT is being used in clinical settings and recovery work.
55:11•7 Sept 2026
EFT Tapping, Addiction and the Nervous System with Dr. Peta Stapleton
Episode Overview
- EFT tapping calms the body’s stress response by stimulating acupressure points, affecting brain activity, hormones and physiological arousal.
- Addictive behaviours are framed as attempts to soothe a dysregulated nervous system rather than moral failings or simple lack of willpower.
- Long-term clinical work suggests that addressing cravings, triggers and past stressors with EFT can reduce or even prevent withdrawal symptoms for some people.
- Shame, guilt and trauma are highlighted as major drivers of addiction, and EFT is used to safely process these experiences and update old beliefs and memories.
- Despite strong research results, EFT still faces resistance from some professional bodies, yet newer generations of clinicians are increasingly adopting it.
“It gives you the ability to change the way that you're thinking and feeling and even what's happening in your body.”
How do different strategies aid in addiction recovery? This conversation between psychologist and host Dr. Adriana Popescu and leading EFT researcher Dr. Peta Stapleton dives straight into that question through the lens of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) tapping. You’ll hear how Peta went from dismissing tapping as a “weird, strange thing” to running a food-craving trial that attracted 4,500 volunteers and sparked 25 years of research.
She explains EFT in plain language: gently tapping on acupressure points while focusing on a problem to calm the stress response throughout the body. Rather than just talking about feelings, EFT works at a psychophysiological level, affecting the amygdala, cortisol, blood pressure, and brain activity. For anyone dealing with addiction, cravings, or compulsive behaviours, this episode is especially relevant.
The pair talk about how many people use substances or behaviours as a solution to soothe a dysregulated nervous system, and how tapping can “give you choice” in those intense moments instead of relying on willpower alone. Peta shares striking clinical observations: when people consistently tap on cravings, triggers, and the roots of their distress, some report tapering off substances without noticeable withdrawal symptoms. They also tackle the heavy hitters behind addiction: shame, guilt, childhood trauma and identity.
You’ll hear how guilt can drive self-punishment, why adverse childhood experiences dramatically raise addiction risk, and how EFT is used to address traumatic memories safely and gradually. The discussion even touches on resistance within professional bodies, including the American Psychological Association’s refusal to classify EFT as a psychological therapy despite strong research outcomes. Dr. Popescu introduces her upcoming book on EFT for addiction, which aims to support both professionals and people in recovery with practical tapping tools.
If you’re curious about evidence-based methods that work with the body as well as the mind, this episode might spark some fresh possibilities for your recovery toolkit. What could change for you if calming your nervous system was just a few taps away?
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