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
Are you questioning going to counseling? I have the Answers Within Counseling! I have years of experience in working with clients of all ages, specializing in decreasing symptoms of Anxiety, Depression, Relationship Issues, ADHD, COVID-19 Stress, Grief & Loss, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Occupational and School Issues. I will provide you with emotional support, reassurance, guidance and...
When searching for a therapist, it's important to find someone relatable and authentic. My professional experiences as a therapist include grief, life transitions, and trauma recovery. I help individuals, couples, blended families, families of autism, and LGBTQ populations to achieve wellness goals unique to their lives. My rich life experience substantially enhances the empathy, relatability,...
During these trying times we can benefit from a caring, warm, supportive, and knowledgeable person to help with life's challenges such as anxiety about current events, loss/grief, transitions, relationship difficulties, decision making, lack of motivation, identity issues including race, gender, and sexual orientation, and stress that can result in negative feelings including depression. I...
Creo firmemente en la terapia, en el cambio interior de todo ser humano. Todos tenemos momentos dificiles en la vida, ya sea en la casa, la escuela, el trabajo o cualquier otro lugar. El dolor de algun recuerdo, la angustia de alguna situacion, la falta del control del enojo, la impulsividad o la falta de motivacion pueden ser las causas de muchos comportamientos no deseados. Estas listo para u...
I'm both a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Special Education Intervention Specialist. I've been teaching in the K-12 public system for 18 years, which gives me a unique perspective when addressing a child's emotional/behavioral concerns. While I counsel children individually, the therapeutic process is a family affair. By aligning with your family -- not as a director, but as a...
Are you finding work or school to be more stressful than it used to be? Have you found that you are struggling to help your child regulate behavior? Have you found yourself wanting to develop a different level of connection in a relationship? I specialize in helping individuals and families identify the patterns they use to cope with stress. I approach counseling with empathy for the places whe...
Are you looking to embody and master your fullest vitality and goals? Have you had challenging relationship dynamics or life transitions that leave you feeling overwhelmed and unsure how to move forward with love, understanding, awareness, empowerment and healing? Do you need guidance creating a life of vitality, joy and optimal health and wealth? Does your life feel stagnant and you need some...
As a certified Sex Addiction & Partner Trauma Specialist, my role is to help you navigate the traumatic effects of relationship betrayal on your road to recovery, growth, healing & discovery. My approach is empathetic, action oriented, strength & trauma based. I'm committed to working with partners, couples & families impacted by sex addiction & betrayal trauma. As a therapist with over 35 year...
Life has a way of knocking us down, doesn’t it? It can be tough to create a life that feels fulfilling. We can find ourselves dissatisfied in our relationships, career, or life, and it can be difficult to shake the nagging sense that life has not turned out how we expected or hoped. Perhaps, you are struggling with a difficult boss or a job that doesn’t quite seem to fit your skill set. Or...
If you are in a moment of trying to navigate emotional pain, you are in the right place. Reaching out for support takes courage and wisdom. With all the demand on your time, energy and attention, there is an unreasonable expectation for you to have to take care of everything, both in your external life (work, relationships, finances, etc) and internal life (your emotions, thoughts and patterns)...
I work with clients who live with intense emotions, debilitating depression, immense anxiety, anger, trauma, or the urge to avoid feeling all together. For many this can lead to unrelenting crisis, self invalidation, being hijacked by emotions, impact relationships, and reinforce behaviors that are not in line with the life they want. I create a space to support clients with non-judgmentally...
I am a Couple and Family Therapist as well as a Sex Therapist specializing in with over 10 years of experience providing individual, couple, group and family psychotherapy. As as social justice driven therapist, I have expertise in working with the LGBTQ community, Heterosexual couples, non-monagamous individuals/couples, communities of color, health issues,grief & loss, trauma survivors, and...
My hope is to meet with clients of all ages who find themselves scrambling for health and wholeness and whatever that means to them. I believe there is immense power in feeling safe and known and that our wounds and victories both impact our thought processes, relationships, emotions, and behaviors. In life transitions, relational difficulties, and personal struggles, I aim to be an agent of ho...
Frustration due to feeling anxious, depressed, stressed, out of control, or not satisfied with your relationship(s) are all great reasons to seek therapy. It's also okay to not be able to pinpoint exactly what is going on - but you are sure something is off and you want to feel better. I work with individuals who want to let go of patterns that no longer serve them, and to gain a better...
I am currently accepting new patients via Telehealth. Is your teen or pre-teen suffering from depression or anxiety? Are they struggling in school or with their peer group? Through the use of art, crafts and play therapy techniques, your child can learn new ways of coping. Children and teens don't always have the ability, or the words, to share how they are really feeling. Instead it comes out ...
