Making Good EFT Therapy Session Recordings

EFT therapy session recordings are one of the richest learning tools in EFT. They let us slow down and notice the small moments, like a softening in a partner’s voice or a glance away, that are easy to miss in the flow of a session. They also show the good work you may not realize you’re doing.

For many therapists, though, recording feels intimidating at first. How do I bring it up with clients? What equipment do I need? Where do I keep the files? This post gathers some tips that have worked well for me and for the therapists I supervise. As always, take what’s helpful and adapt it to your own practice.

1. Start with consent and a caring conversation

Good recordings begin long before you press record. Clients need to understand what they’re agreeing to and feel genuinely free to say no. How you introduce the idea often shapes how comfortable they feel.

It can help to present recording as something that serves them. You might say something like: “I sometimes record sessions so I can review them with my supervisor. It helps me be a better therapist for you. Only my supervisor and I will see it, and it’s completely your choice.”

A written consent form is essential. It’s worth making sure it covers:

• Purpose. That the recording is for supervision and professional development.
• Who will see it. Your supervisor, and a consultation group if that applies.
• How it’s stored. Where the file lives and how it’s protected.
• How long it’s kept. When and how it will be deleted.
• The right to decline or stop. Clients can say no, stop a recording mid-session, or withdraw consent later, with no effect on their care.

With couples, both partners need to consent. In family work, you’ll want guardian consent along with the child’s own assent, explained in words they can understand. It’s also wise to check your state’s regulations and your licensing board’s guidance, since requirements can vary.

Consent is also an ongoing conversation, not a one-time signature. A quick check-in now and then, like “Is it still okay if we record today?”, keeps the door open. If a session turns especially vulnerable, clients may appreciate knowing they can ask for a recording to be deleted.

2. Set up the room for clear video and audio

In EFT, so much of the work lives in faces, voices, and bodies. A recording where you can see both partners’ expressions and hear their softer moments is far more useful than a perfect-looking one that misses them.

Camera placement

• Position the camera so both partners are clearly in frame, ideally with their faces and upper bodies visible.
• Try to place it at roughly the seated clients’ eye level rather than looking up or down at them.
• It’s helpful, though not essential, for your voice to be clearly audible even if you’re off camera.

Lighting

• Light coming from in front of the clients works best. A window behind them tends to turn faces into silhouettes.
• Soft, even lighting from a lamp or overhead fixture is usually plenty.

Audio

• Audio often matters more than video. In EFT, the quiet, tender moments are frequently the most important.
• A quieter room helps. Closing doors and using a white noise machine outside the office can reduce distractions.
• Soft furnishings like rugs, curtains, and cushions cut down on echo.
• A built-in laptop microphone often works well in a small room. If clients speak softly or the room is large, an inexpensive external USB microphone can make a noticeable difference.

Resolution

• HD video (720p or 1080p) is plenty for supervision. Higher resolutions mostly create larger files without adding much.
• If your recording software has an HD setting, it’s worth checking that it’s turned on.

3. A setup that works well for me

There are many ways to record a session, and finding what works in your space can take some experimenting. Here’s the approach I’ve settled on, which consistently gives me clear, useful recordings.

A HIPAA-compliant Zoom meeting. I use a HIPAA-compliant version of Zoom, which includes a Business Associate Agreement (BAA). I start a meeting on my own, with no one else joining, and set it to record. Zoom handles the video and audio well, and the software is familiar to most therapists. I record to my computer rather than to the cloud, so the file never leaves my control.

A laptop positioned to capture the clients. I place my laptop where its camera clearly captures both clients. A laptop is easy to move and adjust, and its built-in camera and microphone do a good job in a typical office.

The screen turned all the way down. Before the session begins, I lower the screen brightness all the way, so the screen goes dark. This small step makes a big difference. There’s no glowing screen or video of themselves to distract clients.

In my experience, clients almost always forget about the recording shortly after the session begins. Once the screen is dark and the conversation gets going, the laptop simply fades into the background.

A few small things help, too. Plug the laptop into power, silence notifications, and make sure there’s enough free storage for a full session.

4. Store recordings securely

A session recording is protected health information, so where it lives matters as much as how it looks. My practice is to move each recording to a secure, non-networked drive, meaning one that isn’t connected to the internet or a shared network. That keeps the file out of reach of cloud breaches and accidental syncing.

It also helps to know that a supervision recording is not part of the clinical record. Its purpose is training and professional development, not documenting care. So if you’re ever asked to provide a client’s clinical record, the recording wouldn’t be included. Your progress notes remain the official record of treatment. Because of this, it’s worth saying so in your consent form and deleting recordings once they’ve served their supervision purpose. Practices can vary by state and setting, so a quick check with your licensing board or agency policy is always wise.

Some practices worth considering:

• Move files promptly. Transfer the recording from your laptop to the secure drive soon after the session, then delete the copy on your computer.
• Use encryption. An encrypted external drive adds another layer of protection if it’s ever lost or stolen.
• Keep the drive physically secure. A locked drawer or cabinet works well.
• Name files carefully. Use initials or a code rather than full client names.
• Share thoughtfully. Play clips during supervision rather than emailing or uploading files, unless you’re using a secure, HIPAA-compliant platform.
• Delete on schedule. Remove recordings once they’ve served their purpose, in line with what you told clients in the consent form.

5. Give yourself room to experiment

Every office is different, and your first recordings may not be perfect. That’s normal. Getting good audio and video often takes a bit of trial and error.

A simple way to start is to do a test recording on your own. Sit where your clients usually sit, speak at a normal and then a soft volume, and play it back. You’ll quickly notice whether the framing, lighting, or sound needs adjusting. Small changes, like moving the laptop a foot or turning on a lamp, can make a surprising difference.

A gentle recording checklist

☐ Signed consent from every client in the room

☐ A quick verbal check-in that recording is still okay today

☐ Camera framed to show both clients clearly

☐ Lighting in front of clients, not behind them

☐ Quiet room, notifications silenced, laptop plugged in

☐ Screen brightness turned down once recording starts

☐ Recording moved to a secure, non-networked drive afterward

Recording as an act of care

It’s easy to think of recording as a technical chore. But at its heart, it’s a way of caring for our clients. It lets us look more closely at our work, receive support, and keep growing as therapists. With thoughtful consent and a simple setup, it quickly becomes a natural part of the process for both you and your clients.

If you’d like support with EFT, EFIT, or EFFT supervision, I’d be glad to hear from you. Contact me and/or visit my EFT supervision page to learn about individual and group supervision options.

Cornelius Sheehan, LCSW