top of page

What is Emotionally-Focused Therapy?

Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is a type of psychotherapy that aims to help couples and individuals improve their emotional connections with each other. It was developed by Dr. Sue Johnson and Dr. Les Greenberg in the 1980s and is based on the idea that emotional connection is a basic human need and that emotionally focused interactions are key to creating and maintaining secure and healthy relationships.


EFT focuses on helping couples identify and express their emotions, and create a deeper understanding and connection with each other. It helps couples understand how their emotional interactions with each other may be contributing to problems in their relationship and teaches them new ways to communicate and interact that promote emotional safety and connection.


Couple holding pinkies

What to Expect During Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) Sessions

During EFT sessions, the therapist helps couples identify negative patterns in their interactions, such as criticism or avoidance, and then encourages them to express their emotions and needs in a more vulnerable and open way. The therapist also helps couples to understand and validate each other's feelings, and to develop more positive and secure ways of interacting.


EFT has been found to be highly effective in treating a wide range of relationship problems, such as marital distress, communication issues, and emotional distance. It is also effective for individuals who want to improve their relationships and emotional connections with others, such as in parent-child relationships.


It's important to note that EFT requires a commitment from both partners in a relationship to actively participate in therapy sessions and be willing to work on their relationship dynamics.

Overall, EFT is a powerful tool for helping couples and individuals improve their emotional connections and create more secure, healthy relationships. It can help to reduce distress and increase satisfaction in relationships by promoting emotional safety and connection.

Kommentare


bottom of page