Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
What is Emotionally Focused Therapy?
Emotionally focused therapy (EFT) is an evidence-based therapy model that helps individuals and couples identify and adjust emotional cycles that contribute to disconnection and confusion. When individuals and couples engage in EFT, they’re able to explore what’s beyond the surface of their challenges. This modality identifies the emotional and physical needs (e.g., affection, empathy, a secure home, etc) that have gone unmet or unattended by early attachment figures (e.g., family members, friends, etc). It’s often hard to see how these unmet needs intersect with current relationships, yet they have a profound impact. Once these needs and early experiences are identified, EFT distinguishes the root emotions that drive the current patterns. Understanding of these emotions then allows self-compassion, which then leads to long-term changes in unhelpful relational dynamics. Couples in EFT are also able to restore emotional connection and trust by feeling seen, understood, and taken care of by one another.
The History of EFT
EFT was created by Dr. Sue Johnson, who recognized that using an attachment-based framework was essential for understanding one’s inner self and their relationships with others. Attachment bonds are created by stability or instability based on how emotional and physical needs were met or unmet throughout childhood. However, attachment styles are not permanent; the clarity gained through EFT allows individuals and couples the freedom to form secure and lasting bonds with those they care about most.
If you’ve found that you can logically identify your patterns in a relationship, but can’t figure out how to move past them, or if you’ve found it challenging to identify your patterns, then EFT may be a good fit for you as a therapy modality. Individuals and couples who invest in EFT often find they’re finally able to embrace long-lasting relationships that feel congruent with their needs.
PCT clinicians who use Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
