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 love to hear each individual's story and consider it a privilege to work with people from all different backgrounds. I provide a safe, non judgmental atmosphere so we can work together to find healing and growth. An authentic therapeutic relationship is so important when working together to help you understand yourself, the emotions that you are going through and finding coping strategies tha...
I am a psychotherapist focused on work with children, adolescents and young adults. I obtained my Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology at Siena College and went on to earn my Masters of Social Work from Adelphi University. As a Licensed Master of Social Work, my goal is to provide support and comfort throughout the therapeutic process. I am here to help you with whatever you may be struggling with. ...
Hello & welcome. If you recognize areas of your life in need of examination, my therapy sessions are an optimal place to begin these explorations. Shame, embarrassment & self doubt can be profound feelings that lead us away from facing many of our issues. My aim is to provide a safe, restorative place to build a therapeutic relationship built on trust & honesty. When such a compassionate,...
I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. I have experience providing psychotherapy to children, adolescents, and adults in individual sessions, couple sessions, family sessions, and group therapy. I tailor my therapeutic treatment modalities to the needs of each client, ensuring a person-centered approach. I have experience working with those who suffe...
At different times in our lives we can reach a point where we face challenges that seem to knock us off our feet. This can be anything from a loss, trauma, a significant life transition, coping with chronic pain, declining health or merely adjusting to a new role (spouse, parent, caregiver, career change). Sometimes it is an expectation that we had that did not turn out the way we anticipated....
I have over thirty years of experience as a psychotherapist. I enjoy working with all age groups, including children, adolescents and adults. I provide a safe space to talk openly about your problems, reveal deep fears, identify your strengths, and discover new ways to cope with challenging situations. I help individuals become more self-confident and enjoy more satisfying and productive lives....
I provide secure and HIPPA compliant tele-health counseling sessions and face to face sessions. These tele-health sessions are provided within the privacy of your own home or office, which provides you with a more affordable and convenient way to seek help. It is my passion to reach people who are either too busy or unable for whatever reason to leave their home to receive much needed help. Fac...
I believe that everyone deserves an opportunity to foster an understanding of their own mental health and create insight into what is needed in order to build healthy, personalized approaches to self-care, coping, and communication. Building this type of self-awareness and reaching the point of implementing these skills is often daunting, so connecting with a therapist to support you in process...
If you feel you're too busy or too stuck, too sad or too fearful, too tired or too wired, or too much of anything, we'd like to help you continue in your process of growth and fulfillment. We serve professional adults and university students who would benefit from an optimized, tailored combination of individual and group therapy, both live and via text/audio/video messages. We're creative,...
Painful feeling such as anxiety or sadness and/or the disconnect from loved ones can feel overwhelming. It is difficult to find joy in life when we are struggling with one of these challenges. Therapy can be a place to consider new ways to work towards your goals, to find new sources of joy, and to reduce the experience of pain. I am a licensed clinical psychologist, specializing in the deliver...
Ali is a licensed professional counselor who is also a certified school counselor for grades K-12. Ali specializes in working with children and teens who are having a hard time dealing with and managing their emotions. Ali also works with the adult population to assist with managing a variety of mental health needs such as depression, anxiety and stress. Concerns with just not feeling like...
Do you feel depressed or anxious and without direction? Are you struggling with family relationships or worried about your spouse or child's emotional-behavioral wellbeing?Are you overcome by the stressors of re-entry after incarceration or past unresolved hurts? Understand that happiness is a journey, not just a destination. I applaud you for reaching out and taking this important step to chan...
Relationships are complicated and often bring emotional pain, loneliness, anxiety, and discouragement. Committing to someone requires courage and strength. I work with couples, families, and individuals applying the principles of EFT which is a research-based treatment for clients seeking emotional connection and fulfillment in relationships. EFT helps clients understand the interactional patte...
The world is a lot right now. If you're prone to anxiety or were already having a difficult time before COVID-19, you may be feeling especially uncertain, run-down, and overwhelmed. Maybe you're an empath, or the person your family and friends typically lean on for support, and the compounding needs and stress of others is making it hard to find your center. It's a powerful decision to seek som...
Life’s journey is long and it can be bumpy. Sometimes we just need someone to talk to. At LifeWorks Counseling Center in Pottstown, PA, we are here to help! We help clients thrive throughout all stages of life to and live with confidence. Lorraine Donnelly, LPC, and Shirley Zagorski, LCSW, deliver high quality psychotherapy services and education to children, adolescents, and adults. We also of...
