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
**CURRENTLY - WAIT LIST ONLY ** Reaching out & asking for help can be really hard. If you are struggling with Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, Medical issues, Relationship/Marital Issues, problem behaviors, maintaining sobriety, unwanted change or navigating & adjusting to difficult decisions it is important to seek help. Whether you're going through a painful transition like divorce, having...
ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS!!! When it comes to working with my clients, I pride myself on the establishment and development of therapeutic rapport most of all. I believe that empathic regard and supportive, non-judgmental reflection combine to create the foundation of any counselor-client relationship, which if cemented and developed, can foster growth and/or change with any goal that clients are...
I work with couples and families who desire to feel more connected to others in their family. I am trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples (EFT) developed by Dr. Sue Johnson. EFT teaches couples how to recognize the deeper emotional dynamics that are happening between them (often below the observable surface) and how also to emotionally reach for one another in ways that create safet...
I am a licensed clinical social worker and specialize in depression, anxiety, grief, relationship issues, life transitions and trauma. I have worked with individuals, couples and families in a variety of settings and am affiliated with the Weill Cornell Institute for Geriatric Psychiatry. I provide an empathic, respectful environment to discuss your concerns and priorities. Using evidence-based...
Amanda is passionate about helping clients navigate difficult situations. With specialized training in couples and parent-child issues, she understands the difficulty which can be associated with beginning therapy. During the early stages of the process, Amanda will focus on building trust and creating rapport. By doing so, she makes the healing process more comfortable and productive for...
I am a Limited Licensed Psychologist who has provided mental health services to the West Michigan community for over ten years. I provide outpatient care for adolescents and adults struggling with a variety of mental health concerns. Therapy is a journey that is different for every individual, and I have experience working with children, teens and adults. I am supervised by Dr. Joanne Kolean ,...
ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS!!! am passionate about the work I do and enjoy helping individuals work through life concerns. My goal when working with individuals is to build a therapeutic alliance where the individual feels comfortable sharing and working through the process. My focus is on the whole person and building on strengths the individual already possesses. While incorporating new ways to...
We live in a world where we are bombarded with contradicting messages about how we should feel on the inside & how we should look on the outside, who we should love & how we should want and have sex. There are a whole lot of "shoulds" and a hell of a lot myths about relationships, intimacy, and sexuality. My counseling practice is focused on healing harm done by inaccurate messages and negative...
Everyone goes through difficult times in their lives where they feel unsettled and unsure of their direction. These moments often come with feelings of anxiety and depression that can weigh you down and make you feel stuck. I want to help you move past these feelings and work toward the life you have always wanted. To do this I work from a person-centered perspective and feel that the relations...
Are anxiety and stress taking over your life? Would you like to learn coping strategies to make stress more bearable? If you are ready to start taking care of your mental health, learn ways to effectively communicate with those you love and start feeling better about yourself, feel free to call the phone number listed in my profile to schedule a session. It's time for you to start feeling great...
Lee Dudley has 17 years of experience and is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She has extensive experience with trauma and attachment and specializes in working with adults in transitions of marriage/divorce/and co-parenting. She incorporates a powerful blend of wisdom, practical skills, hope, and humor in therapy. Lee has been the executive director of The Equine Partnership Program for 12...
My name is Cindy Charles and I am a Marriage and Family Therapist. I am honored to provide Individual, Couples and Family Therapy. I believe that our experiences shape how we understand and respond to the world and its relationships. How we choose to respond to the world can help us move forward or it can cause us to generate and continuously reproduce a never ending cycles of brokenness. Throu...
Does anyone really ever understand how tiring it is to act okay and always be strong when there is so much chaos going on inside of us? Maybe we are to the point where we just do not have the energy to do the things we want to do or perhaps even used to enjoy doing. We might be struggling with deep emotions no one else understands. Maybe there are things we don’t even know how to put into words...
Begin your psychotherapy with mindfulness. . With mindfulness in psychotherapy you can go deeper. . By knowing your own inner life through the lens of mindfulness you will be able to intelligently work through your flow of emotions and thoughts. . With mindfulness you’ll learn to regain perspective and become less reactive and more responsive to events. . Your mind will open to a whole range of...
Are you feeling sad, anxious or angry? Are those feelings disrupting your life? Are your relationships unsatisfactory? I’m a firm believer that therapy can help you deal with emotions that are holding you back from being successful and happy. I’m a licensed therapist working with people of all ages and backgrounds. I meet with couples and individuals who are trying to find balance and happiness...
