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
Having practiced and taught in multiple areas of behavioral health for more than 30 years I believe the ideal client is any client willing to get to the root of the problem and put forth the effort necessary for their health and betterment. Psychotherapy is a joint effort between both client and practitioner and I believe by working together any disorder can be managed or overcome. My practice...
TRU-ROB Counseling and Consulting, LLC is a professional organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for individuals, families, and the community by providing comprehensive and effective behavioral health services through a caring, responsive partnership. We provide counseling and treatment services for children, adolescents and adults from all backgrounds. We are dedicated to helpi...
We counsel individuals struggling with depression, anxiety, PTSD, and abuse backgrounds, and we are trained in EMDR, a leading research-based treatment for trauma. We also specialize in marriage counseling and treat couples from a pro-marriage perspective, utilizing Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) to help couples identify their negative cycle of relating and restore their emotional connection...
Tiffany L. Sullivan, LPC, RPT, NCC, CPCS, Psychotherapist -- I currently hold a Bachelor's of Science in Human Services and a Master's of Science in Community Counseling from Mercer University. I am also credentialed as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Registered Play Therapist (RPT), National Certified Counselor (NCC), and Certified Professional Counselor Supervisor (CPCS). I have over...
Caring about people, as well as their relationships especially in families, I am committed to being a resource for anyone seeking change, growth and healing. I have respect for individuals' religious and spiritual beliefs. Do you need to build trust? Do you feel emotionally exhausted and/or alienated from others? Are you anxious? Do you need assistance with marriage, parenting and/or generation...
"Life isn't about finding yourself. Life's about creating yourself," George Bernard Shaw. I provide a safe, supportive and encouraging environment to help you tackle life's challenges. I have worked with individuals battling addiction, navigating life transitions, and coping with trauma. I enjoy helping individuals confronting addiction, addressing LGBT issues and sexual identity questions, and...
It is my desire to create and maintain a therapeutic relationship that restores balance in the lives of children and adults. The focus of therapy is to assist you in gaining and or regaining control of life's circumstances that leave you feeling unable to cope with daily life. I use a modality of therapies to help you find joy in life again. I work with clients struggling with trauma, parenting...
As a caring, professional psychotherapist: licensed marriage and family therapist, I will assist you to discover your strengths that will promote developing appropriate coping strategies to deal with the arrays of life difficulties. I specialize in providing positive psychology and empowerment counseling in order to assist you in developing positive thinking and realize your potential. I...
I treat depression, anxiety, grief and loss, relational issues, family conflict, and life-transitions. Therapy is a safe place where you can identify your strengths; rework unhelpful patterns of thought, emotion, and behavior; clarify your emotional needs; and explore ways to make your relationships more fulfilling and mutually rewarding. Along the way, we will work together to find ways to...
As an experienced child and family therapist, I am committed to provide you with tools to rid your relationships from conflict, pain and frustration. I offer a safe, nurturing environment where those suffering from mental health concerns will be provided with empathy and compassion. I believe you matter and deserve to be recognized, valued and understood. You are a person of worth. Seeking help...
Are you currently struggling to live your best life as your best you? Are you in need of a life reset? Does it appear to others that you have it all together but inside you are struggling with feeling inadequate and unworthy? Chances are you’ve tried to resolve these issues by yourself and you feel like it’s the end of the road. The time has come to change the narrative from hopeless to happine...
You're a couple who feels 'out of touch', parent who needs support with improving your relationship with your child, or perhaps you yourself are worried about work/family/life in general. Regardless of the issue, you're on this site to find someone who can help with YOUR specific issue! I offer 20 minute complimentary initial discovery phone sessions to connect and see if we'd be a good fit to...
I am experienced in treating a wide range of mental health issues and focus my practice on managing anxiety, depression, anger, relational conflict, substance abuse, personality disorders, trauma, and impulsive behavior. I specialize in populations affected by minority stress, including stigma associated with ethnic, gender, and sexual identities. I take a non-judgemental and compassionate stan...
I seek to provide a honest, compassionate, and nonjudgmental therapeutic environment where individuals, couples, and families are able to explore and accomplish their personal and relational goals. I have a positive, hopeful outlook and work to maintain a strong therapeutic alliance where my clients feel empowered to make choices that are congruent with the person they are and want to be. I...
I use a person-centered, sincere, solution-focused therapy to focus on your issues, building a rapport to address issues of addiction, adjustment and trauma issues, along with marital/couples and family issues. I excel in defining client goals and building trusting relationships supporting adults and families experiencing challenges with substance abuse, mental illness, and environmental stress...
