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
Accepting New Clients ~ availability on Saturdays. Are you experiencing Anxiety, Depression, Disruptive moods with feelings of Inadequacy that prevents you from happiness? In some circumstances there is unresolved trauma resulting in repetitious compulsions, relating from intergenerational patterns and behaviors. This causes harmful effects in our physical and mental being. Without perspective ...
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I am a graduate of Argosy University and earned my Masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. I am very excited and dedicated to my therapy career and I love helping others find their true selves through the process of healing. I believe in connecting to our emotions and experiences to better understand ourselves and to essentially grow personally and relationally. I also have a passion for...
Each individual is the expert on themselves, no matter what issue(s) & stressors they are facing. Each individual gets to choose the goals for therapy, what we focus on, what treatment looks like, how often we meet, and how I can support you. Therapy can be a mind-body-soul healing experience as well as a mirror and a tool of sorts to help you heal, grow, and move forward. Therapy can help with...
I am currently accepting clients, also through telehealth, if you are looking for a safe and supportive environment to help work through and manage issues which are causing distress, and which may be interfering with relationships, work or school, and quality of life. With eight years experience, I have specialized training in helping you cope with childhood trauma, PTSD, facing ‘roadblocks’ in...
“My goal is making therapy accessible via online or face-to-face while alleviating any stressor or problem that you are dealing with. Even if it is relationships (couples) or family struggles and individual conditions, as a licensed marriage and family therapist I appreciate and value each client that I treat. My approach is client-centered (Rogerian) and integrative in using various techniques...
I most appreciate chances to work with clients who are motivated to more openly deal with the painful things of life. Most of us can profit by admitting that we tend to rely on old coping strategies that have worked fairly well. Then as life gets more complicated those don't always work so dependably and at that time it is wonderful to discover new notions that relieve, explain and joyously...
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Colette is a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in adult mental health. Colette offers a caring environment with an approach tailored to the unique needs of each client. Colette strives to help clients feel empowered to work through a wide range of issues, to achieve personal goals, and regain a new sense of hope. My experience includes working with various issues in different...
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I am a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) who works primarily with children, adolescents, young adults and families. I have many years of private practice experience and specialize in treating clients with anxiety, depression, autism, ADHD, processing and learning differences. I also treat clients affected with executive functioning deficits. Right now is great time to develop ...
Working with children and families over the last 20 years has allowed me to learn the valuable skills necessary to help people in their most vulnerable time. Whether it’s strengthening a child’s mastery and self expression through play, or supporting an adult client through chronic mental illness or Posttraumatic Stress, my empathetic approach encourages clients to trust in the therapeutic...
Therapy should not only focus on relieving your symptoms and distress but is also about building greater capacities for dealing with life's inevitable stresses and anxieties. I believe it is important to actively collaborate with you to find out what it is you want from therapy and to periodically evaluate the progress toward these goals. I look to tailor each person's therapy to their specific...
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I specialize in relationships: relationship with yourself and with your partner. Couples counseling or individual - I work to create a supportive and compassionate place where we can explore your journey, your stories, and figure out how they have landed here. Feeling disconnected and overwhelmed is difficult. Getting help to navigate forward is important. Whether feeling the weight of depressi...