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
Sometimes it is difficult to make sense of thoughts and feelings, especially in a world where many of us are told not to listen to what is happening inside. Sometimes it difficult to negotiate the incessant demands of everyday life and to find a time and place to think things through, to listen to ourselves and to pay attention to what is actually going on. Sometimes it is difficult to discover...
Lauren’s excitement lies in helping individuals and couples alike to shift out of the old and into the new. She sees that everyone coming into counseling has a valuable set of goals to be addressed and uses an eclectic approach tailored to begin the process of change. Lauren’s experience includes working with adults, adolescents, and professionals from many backgrounds including aviation, nursi...
You want change and you want to feel fulfilled. Finding the right therapist is the first step. As your therapist, I will employ a dynamic individualized treatment plan to help you become a happier, healthier you. Empathic understanding, emotional support, self-compassion and mindfulness are at the core of my abilities. We will work together to clarify areas of improvement and ultimately reach t...
I create a warm therapeutic environment where clients feel comfortable exploring their relationships, emotions and motivations. I believe that the personal difficulties we face are often rooted in relationships with significant people in our lives. My approach can be helpful for individuals struggling with a wide range of challenges, including (but not limited to) anxiety, depression, substance...
I am a licensed marriage and family therapist, that has been providing assistance to clients for over 11 years. I have worked with couples, families and individuals. I have found that the key to addressing personal issues is to “strive for progress, not perfection.” It is the key to living a fulfilling life for yourself and those around you. My clients are treated with the utmost respect at all...
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For 14 years, working in the mental health field has been my passion that I first began pursuing at age 10. Combining an authentic non-judgmental approach with my skills as a Therapist, Qigong Instruction, Breath Work, & Food Healing, I have witnessed healing take place for many of my clients who were about to give up. If routine mental health treatment, substance abuse treatment, or pain...
***ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS*** Would you like to talk about gender with a caring professional in a confidential space? We are a therapy practice devoted to supporting teens, adults, and families who are transgender, non-binary, gender fluid, gender queer, or just wanting to explore gender identity. We can connect you to needed resources, write referral letters, and network you in to our LGBTQ...
I invite anyone who is struggling to cope with the pressure of life. At times life can be difficult and grueling. Events that leave your understanding of your place in the world rattled or even shattered. Lost relationships, traumatic experiences, illness, or disability. During those times it can be helpful to have a safe and confidential space to talk about what has happened. Someplace we can ...
I am a licensed professional counselor in Chester County. My background is mental health and substance abuse with a specialization in forensic counseling. I have a passion for helping my clients make lasting positive changes in their lives. I utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Art Therapy with...
Do you feel overwhelmed by the challenges of life? Are you feeling stuck, disconnected, unsettled with life? Do you experience difficulty expressing your thoughts, feelings, or needs; or feel you have no one who you can talk to? I understand how life can sometimes challenge our ability to cope and, left unaddressed, create inner conflict and disrupt our joy. Whether you are experiencing persona...
