Picture Tapping

Tap some colour into your life

What is

Picture Tapping?

Picture Tapping Technique (PTT) is a therapeutic modality that merges Art Therapy and EFT Tapping (Emotional Freedom Technique) - find out more about EFT here

Through drawing, you intuitively use symbols and metaphors to access and release subconscious emotions and beliefs that may be difficult to articulate. Art as a therapy alone has astounding effects, but when paired with EFT shifts can begin to happen so much quicker.

In this technique you sketch a series of quick doodles to express a certain issue, whilst using EFT to process subconscious feelings and thoughts associated with the art. It requires no previous art experience and is suitable for all ages. It’s a gentle, non-verbal, and effective way to resolve emotional issues, trauma, and stress.

It doesn’t matter what your drawings look like, they may even surprise you, especially if you’re used to drawing in a certain style or rarely draw at all! They may be a full detailed image, or just abstract colours and shapes. We are letting the subconscious lead the way here, and witnessing the issue process in real time through the drawings until you reach a resolution and feel a positive shift.

Abstract drawing featuring yellow wavy lines and purple circular shapes on a white background.

Transmute emotions with art

Release them with EFT

No art experience necessary

What happens?

Sessions are 90 or 60 minutes over Zoom

I recommend choosing 90 minutes for your first session

You will need to provide your own drawing materials (10 sheets of plain paper + markers or pencils)

★ TUNE IN: You write down your Focus Area for the session & tune into how it feels

★ DOODLE: You will draw a series of quick 2-3 minute pictures around the issue (see examples below)

★ TAP: After each drawing we will use EFT Tapping on the image

★ PROCESS: We will continue to draw and tap until you feel a positive shift on the issue

★ VISUALISE: There will be a guided visualisation at the end to anchor in the shifts you’ve made

A hand-drawn diagram showing rain droplets falling from clouds with blue arrows indicating downward direction, and the word 'Down' written at the bottom right.
Drawing of three gray zigzag lines with blue dots scattered around and below, and the word Slinky in the bottom right corner.
Colorful curly streamers in red, yellow, and blue hang above a purple balloon, with handwritten text 'Party Time' in the bottom right corner.
A pink heart with yellow stars inside and around it, labeled 'Sparkles' in the bottom right corner.

Picture Tapping could be especially helpful if:

★ You find it hard to talk about your emotions

★ You’re an over-thinker, aware of your patterns but still stuck in the same loop

★ You want to connect with your creativity in a new therapeutic way

Is it for me?

★ You struggle with perfectionism

★ You’ve hit a block on an issue you’ve been working through that won’t shift

★ You want the option to work through an issue without having to disclose info about it

I am a Certified Picture Tapping Practitioner, who endeavours to create a safe, yet playful space for you to explore and process your own emotions at your own pace, as well as allowing you to connect to your inner child through art to heal deep rooted issues, habits or blocks holding you back.

I have a background in art & design and am really passionate about using art as therapy. Connecting to creativity is at the forefront of my work. I’m a visual thinker and my strengths lie in intuitively working with symbols and metaphors that come up in client sessions to create big shifts. I hold the space for you to explore the imagery of your drawings, prompting you to dig deeper when I intuitively feel what will help lead you to a positive shift.

I see Picture Tapping as like having a direct phone call with the subconscious, where you’re able to have a chat in it’s primary language of images. I’m always amazed with the results that come out of this technique and it’s something I personally use in my day-to-day.

I am also a certified Clinical EFT Practitioner. If you are working with PTSD or severe trauma I recommend doing some sessions of EFT first before starting Picture Tapping - Find out more here.

My Approach

Close-up of a wall decorated with shiny pink, red, and white square tiles arranged in a grid pattern.
A woman with long brown hair, a rainbow streak in her hair, freckles, and a nose ring, holds two paint brushes, standing against a plain off-white background, wearing a pink shirt with red hearts.

How to start your journey

1. Choose your Focus

PTT works on both general & specific issues. It can help to choose from a Focus Area below. It’s entirely up to you if you want to disclose what your focus is.

2. Book your Intro Call

FREE 15 minute chat via Zoom.

Discuss what you want to work on, chat about your goals & ask any questions you have before booking.

‍ ‍

Book Here

3. Let’s get tapping!

We will get a date booked in for your first session and decide how many sessions are best for you.

Choose your Focus

  • Monochrome eye crying 2 pink tears

    Emotion Focus

    Bring down intensity on any emotion

    Anxiety

    Depression

    Anger

    Grief

  • Monochrome skeleton doing a headstand with a pink star

    Body Focus

    Relieve aches, pains & body issues

    Chronic Pain

    Brain Fog

    Teeth Grinding

    Fatigue

  • Monochrome hand holding a smart phone with a pink star on screen and small hearts floating above

    Bad Habit Focus

    Habits you can’t seem to shake

    Doomscrolling

    Procrastinating

    Mindless Snacking

    Bad Sleep Routine

  • Monochrome megaphone with pink zig zag lines coming out of it

    Limiting Belief Focus

    These sound like this & usually underly your blocks

    “I’m not smart enough to start a business”

    “I can’t earn more than £30k”

    “I’m not attractive enough to get a date”

    “I could never be a successful artist”

  • Monochrome crystal ball with 3 pink outlined stars coming out of the centre

    Future Focus

    Upcoming events that have you spiralling

    Nervous about a work presentation

    Anxiety about flying

    Social anxiety

    Worries about a family gathering

  • Monochrome lop-eared rabbit laying down crying a single blue tear and a thought bubble above with a squiggle inside

    Deep Focus

    A safe way to work with deeper issues

    Phobias

    Limerence

    Dreams & Nightmares

    Traumatic Memories*

    *If you are working with PTSD, I recommend doing some sessions of EFT first

  • “I particularly enjoyed exploring Picture Tapping as I don't always find it easy to articulate my feelings. Ciara has helped me ease symptoms of anxiety I was experiencing.”

    - Moira

  • "The most amazing experience. I was very skeptical going into both EFT & Picture Tapping for the first time, but the experience with Ciara was exceptional. She has the most calming presence and takes you through the session in the most professional way."

    - Avanti

  • "Picture Tapping helped me with my needle anxiety (I have to inject myself every 2 weeks) and some traumatic events, it’s perfect for the times when one doesn’t want to talk about things too much but still get the most of tapping relief!"

    - Marta

A woman with long brown hair and wearing a colorful blouse and bright green dress, sitting on a wooden post at the beach, holding a sketchbook and tapping the side of her right eye, under a clear blue sky.

Ready to tap into your subconscious?

Every client’s Picture Tapping session is slightly different, and that’s because we are unique human beings.

This is why working 1:1 with a practitioner will get you further. Everything in your session is tailored exactly to your wants and needs to become the perfect container for healing.

Ready to go?

Have more questions?

Want to see if we vibe together before booking?

Book a call with me and we can create a plan that’s made for you.

Book a FREE Intro Call

A picture says a thousand words

 FAQs

  • It really depends on the issue you’re working on, for example, working on feeling nervous about an interview will likely be worked through in less sessions than a traumatic memory.  

    This is where booking a free Intro Call is helpful as we can decide between us what works best for you. 

    Generally I would allow for approx 3-4 EFT sessions or 2-3 Picture Tapping Sessions to see a substantial shift in your issue. 

  • Nope! The beauty of Picture Tapping is that it’s for everyone regardless of artistic skills. It doesn’t matter how a picture looks, some drawings may even just be scribbles or abstract shapes, and that’s perfect! This technique gives you the scope to reconnect with and indulge your inner child in judgement-free way.

    If you are an artist, and are struggling with creative block or want to explore a new style of drawing whilst processing your emotions, this can be a really transformative practice. It often leads to clarity, new inspiration and physically learning to let go of perfectionism which can hinder a lot of the creative process.

  • 10 sheets of plain A4 paper, if you want to use a sketchbook this is fine but just be aware we will need to rip the pages out so they are separate from one another.

    Coloured markers or pencils in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, pink, brown, black (and optionally gold & silver)

    I advise not to use paints as we won’t have time to let them dry in this process.

    You are welcome to use other materials such as chalks, oil pastels etc if you feel drawn to them but just be aware it may be more difficult to draw in detail.

  • Yes, Picture Tapping is a very gentle, safe and dissociative technique. There is always the chance of an emotional response to a drawing without consciously understanding why, and this is nothing to be worried about. If this happens there are several ways we can explore this. If the reaction is too strong and feels like it’s related to underlying trauma we will go into using specific trauma techniques with EFT Tapping for the rest of the session.

    Whilst Picture Tapping can be really helpful to use on traumatic memories to give it more distance, I don’t recommend using it if you are working with PTSD or a high intensity trauma. I would encourage you to start with an EFT Tapping session first to bring down some intensity to make the Picture Tapping feel more approachable.

    EFT is renowned for a being a safe trauma-informed practice and has seen amazing results working with PTSD in particular. 

    We take everything at your own pace. I am trained in working with trauma and we have several methods in EFT that allow you to work with traumatic memories without even having to say it out loud or visualise it.

    I am also required to be in regular supervision by EFT International to ensure I’m giving you the best care. If I ever feel like you need extra support that goes beyond my current training you will get referred out to a more specialist practitioner with your consent.

  • I am mostly online for now, but I am planning on doing some group Picture Tapping sessions in London very soon. You can sign up to my newsletter below if you’d like to receive updates on this.

    At the moment, I can do 1:1 in-person sessions on special request based in a therapy space in East Dulwich, London. There will be an extra £15 charge for this option. Email me directly or book a free Intro Call to discuss.

  • Yes! The magic of Picture Tapping is that if you don’t want to tell me what you’re working on you don’t have to, this doesn’t impact the process or results at all. You may find by the end that you do want to share what your issue was and what shifted for you, but that is always optional. 

    My only caveat to this is that if you choose not to tell me your issue then you must confirm that you are NOT working with PTSD or a high intensity trauma. Picture Tapping is not suitable for this unless previous EFT work has been done on it. 

  • Picture Tapping is a very safe and gentle practice, but you may temporarily experience some of the following during or after your tapping session: yawning, crying, burping, sneezing, feeling tired or lightheaded.

    This is just due to energy moving in the body and is nothing to worry about, in fact we embrace seeing these come up as it means something is shifting. It is recommended to keep well hydrated before & after your session to help with the flow of any of these mild affects.

  • Nope! I will be guiding you the whole time, and if you do miss a point it won’t affect the process or the result.

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