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
I strongly believe that everyone has the ability to mend and heal the broken parts of their soul and find peace, happiness and contentment. I have experienced the power and effectiveness of embarking on the journey of healing through counseling and felt the positive influences in my own life. I assist others in overcoming depression, anxiety, addiction, broken relationships, past traumatic...
My passion is helping couples and families explore and improve their relationships. Using Emotion Focused Therapy you will mend broken relationships so love, connection, and safety can be restored. When working with individuals I use a holistic approach and choose treatment models that are best suited for my client's situation including Christian counseling when requested. Being accepting and...
Hello beautiful people. My most treasured skill as a therapist but most importantly as a human is the ability to connect and relate with almost any one no matter your race, gender, culture, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or age. I am learning in practice and in life that no matter how old, young, accomplished or established we become there will always be a natural human yearning we...
Rebekah gladly entered this field to help enrich and empower people through their obstacles and goals. She has a diversified experience working with people from all ages, children, adolescents, and adults. Rebekah has had extensive experience working individuals, couples, families, and even the occasional group setting primarily those with the youth population. She has treated those coping with...
The ideal client is a person or couple who want to change their situation or some aspect of their own self. People who are struggling or suffering or stuck and need some help and direction in creating new possibilities. I see myself as part of their team -empowering them to challenge their old beliefs and create positive feelings and actions. I am someone who has a lot of experience and a...
I believe in creating a safe and supportive environment in order for individuals to feel comfortable expressing themselves. In the therapy relationship, we will achieve greater awareness of your strengths, goals, and relational patterns and develop strategies that enhance your resiliency and well-being. I work collaboratively with clients, always respecting autonomy and choice. I believe that...
I believe in the capacity of the human spirit to grow and change and that psychotherapy is a powerful means for this kind of transformation. As a therapist, you will experience me as a keen observer, helping you to explore and identify patterns in your life and picking up on feelings and emotions that might be hard for you to make contact with. I make use of my creativity and yours to help you ...
Hello and welcome! I am glad that you came to see if my experience and approach will match your needs. We all need support at different times in our lives as we deal with the struggles in life, relationships, personal issues, difficult transitions and traumatic events. I have always loved being with others as they navigate changes in their lives whether it is a difficult change or challenging...
While active listening is an important skill for a therapist, listening can only go so far. Our practice belief is that we actually help you help yourself make the necessary changes in your life by giving you techniques, tools, skills, and guidance to achieve your goals. You'll almost always walk out of a session with a new technique or two that you can go home and start using immediately. Our...
A unique perspective of persons as inherently dignified, supported by philosophic and scientific education and study, informs my holistic view of the person sitting in front of me during the process of psychotherapy. With mindful attentiveness and by gently confronting obstacles and threats to emotional health and relational satisfaction in a collaborative manner, the patients I work with are a...
Examining thoughts, feelings, and emotions connected to old patterns is a path that leads to self-discovery and understanding of current functioning. I am a Clinical Psychologist with over six years of experience in the field. My work spans across different developmental stages from adolescence to late adulthood, including group therapy work and couples therapy. Likely, the hardest part is...
Passion Populations & Specializations: LGBTQ+, Couples of all varieties, Women-Empowerment, Teens. I'm in the business of story-shaping. I believe we become the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves. I also affirm that people are not defined by their problems. Are you stuck in a story that feels disempowering or defeating? Do you no longer feel like your own narrator? Let me be your co-auth...
Barbara is a licensed professional counselor who has a Master's of Science in Professional Counseling from Grand Canyon University and Bachelor's and Master's from James Madison University in teaching. Barbara has served children in the educational setting in the U.S. and the Middle East for over 20 years, through teaching, coaching, and counseling. Barbara was born and raised in the Shenandoah...
**Currently not accepting new clients** When's the last time you really felt heard? That someone was truly listening to you & what you had to say, instead of just waiting for their turn to speak? In these times when social media seemingly offers instant connections to anyone, yet can still leave you feeling unheard, unseen and disconnected from everyone, having someone give you their undivided...
Congrats! You've taken the first step towards attaining the positive changes you want in your life. This is a big deal! As a doctor of psychology who has developed a marriage model based on research, I'm here to help you build the strongest marriage you can before the wedding or during a hard time in your marriage. I also help individuals manage stress/emotional difficulty and promote personal...
