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 love relationships, connection, and the feeling you get when you are able to truly connect with others. This passion has driven me to found a practice where I specialize in working with individuals, couples, and families on relationship issues. If you are struggling in your marriage, wanting more emotional connection, or finding yourself constantly arguing with loved ones, I can help. I am a...
Sometimes when you feel broken, you need the help of another to rebuild. But where do you start when you’re seeking a therapist who is empathetic and experienced, supportive and compassionate? As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 18 years experience, I promise I am here to offer you a hand, not a judgment. Over nearly two decades, I have worked with individuals, couples and families...
I enjoy working with people who are searching for new ways to achieve their personal or mental health goals. I love working with people because I find it incredibly rewarding to journey along with others as they discover and learn new ways of managing and maneuvering their world. I work with individuals, couples, and families. More specifically, those who are seeking support for symptoms of...
Philip works with adolescents, adults, couples, and families. When working with adolescents who are struggling with independence and autonomy, Philip helps them explore and identify their true potential. This work often surrounds addictions and special occasion adoption issues. His work with adult clients facing life’s challenges focuses on relationship with self and others, as well as providin...
We cannot undo the pain that we have experienced in our lives, but we can learn to practice acceptance, improve our ability to cope, and resolve the challenges that prevent us from finding true peace. Owning our stories and learning to love ourselves are some of the bravest things that we can do. I know it can feel overwhelming to work through change on your own. The truth is that you do not ha...
*Online Therapy Available*. Are your child or teen’s emotions or behaviors out of control? Are they -- having tantrums or fights, talking back, self-harming, threatening suicide, running away, or refusing to follow rules? Calls from their teachers or other parents, complaints from their siblings or babysitter, can leave you feeling overwhelmed, angry or helpless. You want your child to grow,...
Do you find yourself in a place where life seems hopeless, lonely and difficult? Do you feel your relationships are lacking something vital or your partner does not understand you? Are you dealing with a past experience, trauma or something that feels impossible to move forward with? Are you finding yourself turning away from the relationships you value to something like alcohol or drugs to cop...
From day one I seek to help clients reach autonomy through treatment. Counseling, for the majority of individuals, is not something that should last a lifetime. Focusing on your goals, identifying barriers to progress, and seeking how to sustain the progress you have made is my philosophy. I have worked in the mental health field in various capacities since 2010. I have extensive experience wit...
Therapy is a wonderful collaborative relationship that can help you to identify and clarify internal conflicts and struggles, help access and find solutions to current challenging situations and lead you to a more positive state of mind and sense of well being. My passion is to work with individuals and couples through life transitions, relationship issues and to help you create your best life...
Bilingual Licensed Clinical Social Worker and certified Trauma Focused - Cognitive Behavioral therapist providing individual, group, and family counseling to adolescents and their families. My main focus is helping individuals with difficulties in relationship conflicts, lack of communication skills, depression, anxiety, self-harming behaviors, suicidal thoughts, low self-esteem, panic attacks,...
Are you seeking an unbiased person open to listening and discussing your thoughts? Sometimes we all need that! Life often brings us curve balls in the form of relational, career, racial, marital or family conflict that cause us to question who we are. These situations rattle our emotions to our core or change the normality that we call our life. During these times the ability to work through th...
You're tired of living the way you're living; it's not working for you anymore and you want more out of life. More authenticity, more freedom, more joy. I specialize in working with young adults (20s/30s) who want more. Young adulthood is a time for establishing who you are and what you want out of life. Sometimes these things get clouded by outside input. You find yourself pursuing a job, a...
Do you find yourself struggling with daily challenges? Does your child/teen struggle with connecting with his/her peers? Has your child/teen been diagnosed with being on the spectrum (ASD)? Does your child/teen get bullied? Do you struggle with managing your teen’s social media use? Teen, do you wish your parents listened more? Reaching your mental health goals, and knowing that those negative...
I believe each of us is born with an authentic self that guides us on our path and has the innate capacity for healing. When that authentic self is not nurtured enough by our environment, it develops defenses as protection. Patterns of behavior, ways of perceiving the world, and anxiety often result. Through our work together, I help you to integrate mind, body and spirit, strengthening your...
I have a passion for all people, especially families and couples. I believe that all family units can benefit from slowing down and learning to be authentic and genuine in their relationships. I work with couples and families from a systemic perspective to help them engage each other from a place of honesty, helping to change long-standing patterns. I have experience working with adults and...
