What is the butterfly hug technique?
The butterfly hug is usually performed by crossing your arms over your upper chest and placing each hand near the opposite collarbone, shoulder or upper arm. You then tap gently from side to side: left, right, left, right. The crossed hands resemble a butterfly and the alternating taps resemble its wings.
The exact instructions vary between resources. An NHS butterfly-hug guide places the hands below the collarbones and suggests slow, rhythmic alternating taps. The technique was developed by Lucina Artigas as a self-administered form of bilateral stimulation, and the EMDR International Association has published a peer-reviewed account of the method.
A simple way to approach the physical exercise
- Choose a steady position. Sit or stand somewhere you feel physically safe and supported. Keep your eyes open if that feels more comfortable.
- Cross your arms comfortably. Rest each hand on the opposite upper chest, shoulder or upper arm. Do not force a position that hurts.
- Alternate gentle taps. Tap one side and then the other at an unhurried pace. The touch should feel comfortable, never painful.
- Pause and notice. Stop after a short set. If the exercise feels unpleasant, increases distress or brings up difficult memories, stop rather than pushing through.
Some people pair the movement with slower breathing or a grounding statement, but those additions are optional. A self-soothing exercise should remain under your control: you can slow down, change hand position or stop at any time.
What would a butterfly hug technique app do?
An app might provide a pace, a visual left-right cue or a short timer while you perform the physical taps yourself. It cannot create the crossed-arm touch or decide whether the exercise is appropriate for you. Look for clear controls, an easy way to stop, adjustable speed and honest wording that does not promise to treat anxiety, trauma or PTSD.
A visual cue can be useful for attention and timing, but it remains a visual cue. It should not be presented as proof that a particular therapeutic process is happening.
How TapTap is different
Two softly glowing shapes rest on opposite sides of the screen in TapTap. Tap each as it appears, or choose a guided routine to simply watch the rhythm — the aim is a steady, customisable place for your attention to rest.
Watching the orbs is a different experience from the tactile butterfly hug — sight rather than touch — and TapTap is a wellness tool, not EMDR or a treatment. It does not ask you to recall trauma, assess symptoms or follow a clinical protocol. If you specifically want the physical butterfly hug, follow an appropriate hands-on guide or ask a trained professional—not the TapTap screen.
Sources and further reading
- Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust: The Butterfly Hug — practical instructions for the physical exercise.
- EMDR International Association: The EMDR Therapy Butterfly Hug Method — a professional resource linking to the creators’ peer-reviewed paper.
- US Department of Veterans Affairs: EMDR for PTSD — an explanation of EMDR as structured individual therapy.