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 have spent my career working with couples and women experiencing stress, anxiety, and depression - and helping them to build healthier relationships and work on common painful issues. These include: infidelity, trauma, transition to parenthood, perinatal concerns, infertility, sexual problems, difficulty communicating, past sexual abuse, and other stressors. Many of my clients are high achiev...
I love to work with clients who are interested in growth and progress. I love Thich Naht Hanh's words "No mud, no lotus" and to me this means that without our difficulties, we can't reach our true potential. I would love to help you see and reach towards this potential that you possess. I have worked with clients with various difficulties, including but not limited to: eating disorders, disorde...
Everyone deserves support– life can be overwhelming. Our sessions provide a safe, encouraging space for you to slow down and focus on what’s important. As an advocate for you, your family, or your child, we create solutions that help you find healing. By developing your long-term goals, we set milestone successes that help break the “big picture” down into “bite-size." When difficult emotions a...
We focus on supporting individuals and their family members through their difficult struggles with anxiety, depression, challenging life transitions, stress management, parenting, relationship & family conflicts. Our trained mental health professionals specialize in providing low cost individual, couples, family therapy, teletherapy & weekly daytime and evening workshops. We also specialize in...
"EVERYONE NEEDS AND DESERVES TO HAVE A THERAPIST, it is vital that our primary support systems extend beyond family and spouses". My therapeutic approach is supportive, encouraging, directive, and humorous. I see myself as an educator and a coach. I seek to help my client(s) feel safe and achieve quality of life by helping them increase their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. I...
I currently work with adolescents and adults of all ages in individual therapy and have a special focus in working with clients holding marginalized identities (e.g., racial/ethnic, sexual, and gender minorities). My ideal client is someone who is willing to bring as much of themselves into the room (e.g., social/cultural identities, personal experiences, emotions, thoughts, and behaviors) in...
Do you feel like you’ve tried everything, but nothing seems to be working and you’re starting to feel hopeless? Do you want to be more confident in your abilities and who you are as a person? Do you find yourself so stressed out that you cannot function? Many of us may find ourselves struggling to keep up with the day to day grind and the hustle and bustle of life. As a result, we develop...
Therapy provides an opportunity to wonder about experiences, emotions, and desires that we may not otherwise have space to explore. This process can deepen our insight into the impact of personal history on our current behavioral and emotional patterns, allowing us a greater sense of self and choice in our life and relationships. I am mindful of trauma at all levels, and pay attention to how my...
My goal as a psychotherapist is to help people work through difficult experiences, traumas, or symptoms that may be holding them back. I believe that emotional pain can lead to anxiety, shame, and self-doubt. These feelings keep us feeling stuck and inhibit vital parts of ourselves. I strive to help my clients develop more compassion and curiosity toward their experiences so they can learn new...
What's getting in the way of you feeling good? Have you had a hard life? How are your relationships? How do you feel about yourself? Answering these questions can feel overwhelming and leave you wondering where to start, and that's where I come in. I am genuinely interested in hearing your story and listening with compassion and curiosity. I value diversity and honor people from all walks of li...
Are you having a difficult time functioning in daily life? Are there repetitive thoughts that plague you? Do you feel like you keep getting stuck in the same situations in your relationships? I firmly believe therapy can be beneficial for everyone. I offer a compassionate and non-judgemental environment to process difficulties big and small. I would love to help you work through and process lif...
Accepting new OHP clients but only in DESCHUTES COUNTY. I offer live and/or tele-health sessions. I offer compassionate and non-judgmental counseling to help expand your ability to make desired changes in your life. I also offer therapy to help you understand yourself better. I specialize in suicide prevention, trauma, unresolved grief, anger, personality disorders, anxiety, depression,...
My goal as a therapist is to help my clients find their own voice by getting to know their authentic self. I am able to best serve clients who are going through a transitional stage of life. I have diversified experience in working with college students, addiction, relationship distress, postpartum, and various traumas. I take a holistic and eclectic approach to counseling and educating...
I strongly believe in the tenacity and resiliency of the human spirit when it comes to overcoming life’s many challenges. As your therapist, it is my goal to draw out your dormant strengths while fostering and implementing a variety of coping skills that promote your wellness and quality of life. I typically use the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) approach to facilitate a healthier mind but...
Are you feeling depressed, anxious, or overwhelmed? Are you dissatisfied with or disengaged from your life and relationships? Or do you just feel like something is getting in the way of living the life you really want? Therapy can help you understand why these difficulties arise and help you discover what you can do to cope with these challenges now. I use a collaborative relational approach to...
