Emotionally-Focused Therapy

What is EFT?

Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is a treatment approach whose goal is the reconnection between self, partners, and/or family members. EFT, developed by Sue Johnson and Les Greenberg, is based on attachment research that shows human beings are innately born with the ability and the need to connect. We are put on this earth to connect with those that we love, and often our histories and experiences can get in the way of our connections.

Most couples find themselves in conflicts regarding such issues like jealousy, money, power, or sex. These issues often have underlying themes of a need to connect with each other. Questions such as “Do I matter? Do you really love me? Are you really there for me when I need you? Are you engaged and responsive to my needs and wants? Am I enough for you? Am I failing you?” are at the bottom of these conflicts and issues within a couple relationship.

EFT creates a holding space for each person’s emotions and needs in a relationship and in their life. Each person learns how to turn towards their loved one (or themselves) with an openness and space to hear and understand the needs of self and each other. Couples and families learn how to break out of their rigid cycles that often dominate each issue in their relationship. This brings couples and families back to the love, connection, and support that they each want and need. Even in Emotion-Focused Individual Therapy, clients can learn, heal, and accept parts of self, past injuries and stuck moments, and move forward feeling whole.

Research on the success of EFT

EFT appears to move couples from distress to recovery for 70 to 75% of the cases, and creates improvements in 90% of the couples coming in for therapy. EFT has been used with many different types of couples in private practice, university training centers and hospital clinics. These distressed couples include partners suffering from disorders such as depression, post-traumatic stress and chronic illness.

To view further references, recent articles describing EFT therapy and books on EFT, please refer to the EFT website: www.iceeft.com.