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
You are the expert on your own life. Many believe that going to therapy is about someone else giving you the answers, but the truth is, therapy is all about someone coming alongside of you with support and encouragement so that you, the expert, can achieve the goals you want for your life. Therapy works because you choose it! My name is Ashley Slade and I am here to partner with you. As an...
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My goals as a therapist are to create a safe and supportive environment in which clients can share their thoughts and feelings freely, to learn more effective coping skills and interventions in order to ease symptoms and solve problems as well as gaining deeper insight about themselves, the world and their future. My approach is to meet clients where they are in life without judgement. Therapy...
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Life can feel challenging and overwhelming at times to navigate on your own. My belief about therapy and the healing process is to learn, dig deep, explore and grow through your experiences. I am dedicated to empowering clients, of all ages to learn effective strategies to enhance their wellbeing from the inside out. My goal is help you help yourself, to facilitate you to uncover your truths an...
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( English | español ) Healing from painful experiences is challenging; it takes time & it requires a warm, compassionate, & encouraging approach. It would be my privilege to walk alongside you on your path to healing. I am a Latina, bilingual (Spanish) licensed clinical social worker with a focus on working with cisgender women as well as trans/nonbinary adults, and teenagers (15 years old+) wh...
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Beginning therapy can be one of the most difficult things we do. It can also be the most rewarding. It is stepping into the unknown and taking an unfamiliar path to a destination that may seem completely out of reach. Therapy is a journey and I will be your travel companion. It is my firm belief that as humans, we just want to be seen and heard. In my practice, I strive to create an environment...
*Not accepting new clients* I see people as separate from their problems. I work from a narrative perspective to help individuals, couples, and families identify their values and re-story their lives to align with their hopes and goals. Looking at past issues through a different lens allows us to rewrite our narratives to better reflect who we want to be. I see people as the experts in their ow...
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