Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is a short-term approach to counseling most often used for couples, but it also works with families and individuals. EFT emphasizes developing a stronger bond between two or more people. It examines interactions and how each individual contributes to undesirable behaviors that negatively affect their emotional bond.
EFT’s goal is to reduce distress and negative patterns in the relationship so people can grow closer and rebuild trust, love, and intimacy.
There are three distinct stages in Emotionally Focused Therapy:
De-Escalation – The therapist has people slow down their conversations and interactions to examine patterns in this stage. Is one person not expressing their emotions? Is one person avoidant? Is one person quick to anger? Your EFT therapist will hone in on these specific exchanges to help you understand what interaction and communication patterns lead to hurt feelings and disconnection.
Changing Interaction Patterns – This stage involves encouraging each person to communicate their feelings and needs. Your therapist will help you express empathy, even during tense interactions.
Consolidation – In this stage, you practice the skills you learned during counseling. This stage aims to integrate more desirable communication patterns in EFT sessions and real life.
Anyone interested in improving their interactions with loved ones could benefit from EFT.
Therapists Who Specialize in Using Emotionally Focused Therapy
I enjoy tailoring my approach and creating a warm, welcoming environment for work with clients who have a variety of concerns that may lead them to seek counseling including anxiety, depression, trauma,identity development, LGBTQ+ concerns, adjustment to new life stressors, stress management, grief and loss, body image concerns, and working with those who are going through the process for...
I provide individual and family therapy to adults and adolescents who are experiencing distress due to transitions in some aspect of their life, whether it is a changing role, experiencing loss, health problems or relationship difficulties. I approach problems from a BioPsychoSocial perspective, which takes into account all of the factors in one's life and how they might contribute to - and hel...
I believe in creating a safe place, without judgment, to explore issues such as self-worth, interpersonal relationships, and current stressors. I have worked successfully with adolescent through geriatric clients from various cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds. I specialize in life transitions, mood disorders, and sex therapy, however, I have extensive experience in working with chronic pai...
At MBS Psychotherapy Services, we specialize in conducting individual and family psychotherapy sessions with clients who are experiencing varied mental health and substance use concerns. We also focus on those who experience trauma, persistent mental illness and chronic medical conditions in the adult, adolescent and child populations. I have worked in the counseling field for 18 years. In 2013...
Maybe you have scoured the internet, the self help section, and your own exhausted brain looking for a way to make it better, but you’ve still come up empty. Maybe you are wondering, “Why do I still feel like this?” or even, “Why can't I get my child to cooperate?” Whatever your question is, I'd love the honor of helping you explore your heart, and find peace and healing. I believe that you hav...
Your life looks good on the outside but you are struggling on the inside. You try to be grateful but feel disconnected from your purpose and the people you love. You've tried to do everything right but secretly wonder if you've gotten it all wrong. The stress of your internal tug-of-war has left you feeling like a wave of anxiety or depression may hit at any moment. Learn how to listen to the...
I create an environment which promotes safety and comfort in a way that is respectful and helpful. I work with the client at their own pace and we decide together what goals they want to address. Treatment is individually tailored to support clients managing daily stressors and coping with symptoms of anxiety, depression, chronic disease, relationship issues and grief. My goal is to work with...
ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS!!! When someone starts therapy, I want to them to feel safe and comfortable to explore those personal issues about themselves they may have been hesitant to do before. Building a rapport and being genuine allow me to use the various therapeutic techniques in my toolbox like cognitive behavioral therapy, solution-focused techniques, mindfulness, and motivational interviewin...
"Because I'm suffering I'm looking for a counselor. Why should I choose you?" First, you will not be viewed as being just like everyone else, but will be appreciated with all your complexities. You can choose in-person sessions in a comfortable, professional setting or select tele-medicine. Additionally, I have several assessments available to assist in fine-tuning our work. We will collaborate...
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"There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in" (Leonard Cohen). We all strive to be our “best" selves, but often we can get in our own way by constantly comparing and judging, or belittling our accomplishments while magnifying our mistakes. Together we can learn how to manage our own thoughts and behaviors in order to illicit positive change in ourselves and our relationships. I...
Welcome! I believe that one of the essential ingredients of change and transformative psychotherapy is the relationship between the individual and the therapist. Feeling understood and comfortable only helps reduce one's symptoms, encouraging self-acceptance, but also leads toward deeper work which promotes lasting change and a deeper experience of one's whole self. My Treatment approach is...
My work as a psychologist is rooted in a profound belief that by recognizing and honoring our complex, messy life stories with honesty and gentleness, we lay the foundation to heal the obstacles preventing us from building fulfilling, meaningful lives. Throughout life, we all create narratives about ourselves to help us survive. These narratives are shaped by myriad factors (individual life...
*WAITLIST ONLY* I provide teletherapy for both Colorado and North Carolina residents. Individuals: I work with people experiencing the remnants and recoil of trauma, including systemic trauma, and how it impacts mood, meaning, and relationship issues. My job is to help you explore the unknown and rejected parts of you, learning how to change your relationship to those parts so that you can live...
TELETHERAPY AVAILABLE. My ideal client is one who is navigating and learning to cope with difficult emotions, losses and relational changes. I will help you build resilience and grow from your grief and pain. I will use an eclectic, supportive and compassionate therapeutic approach to facilitate your gaining insight into destructive or limiting patterns of thoughts and behaviors. Our work will...
