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
My experience is primarily with children, young adults and couples. I also work with depression, anxiety and traumatic experiences. I am trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy and have extensive training in couples counseling techniques. I enjoy humor and like to use it in therapy when appropriate. I take a holistic approach to therapy and work with a group tha...
My passion is helping lost people reconnect with their deepest selves. I'll help you power through obstacles and achieve your dreams. We'll explore various cutting-edge, scientifically proven approaches to find your perfect fit and address your unique needs. We'll restore and develop your self-awareness to identify your most important priorities. I'll help you work through past trauma to build...
It is easy to get accustomed to things being not so easy. You might be asking yourself, "how did things end up here?" Sometimes it takes an outside perspective to gain insight, learn new skills, and move forward toward feeling more happy, peaceful, and fulfilled. This is where our work begins. I have had the privilege of working with clients of all ages who have survived difficult life experien...
Therapy is something I believe we all can benefit from at some point and time in our lives. It is a place and space where we can unload all that we carry day-to-day, whether it be work, family stressors or past traumas. In taking the time to pause and build trust together, we get the opportunity to explore who we truly are and what we might want or need for ourselves and those we love. I come...
Are you at a place in your life where it feels like you might just need a little help? Are you experiencing some level of depression, anxiety or loss of direction? Are you in transition, unfamiliar territory or ready to work through some issue from your past. You may just be at a place where you would like to improve on yourself. Everyone needs help from time to time. Life is full of challenges...
"Responsibility overload". "Emotional fatigue". "Isolation". "Anger". "Anxiety". "Disappointment". "Fear". At almost every stage of life we find ourselves feeling "some type of way" about our circumstances. And, the way this feels to each of us is different. I understand we're uniquely made, and experience life's laughs and cries differently. That's why I commit to facilitating emotional wellne...
Kristin brings compassion, inspiration, hope, and humor to her work with adult and adolescent clients. She understands that women face challenges with roles, responsibilities, balance, identity shifts, and life’s transition zones. Her work with individual clients includes areas such as relationships, spirituality, career, motherhood, marriage, divorce, co-parenting, step-parenting, empty-nestin...
Everyone is destined to experience stress, loneliness, loss, illness, pain, self-defeating choices, uncertainty, relationship or work problems. Sometimes it's hard to know when to ask for help. Seeking therapy does not mean there is something wrong with us. Many individuals are concerned about getting labeled with a mental illness because they are struggling with life issues, traumatic events o...
The fact is that everyone at some point in their lives, will face challenges, traumas, circumstances or relationships that overwhelm their ability to cope. While navigating these experiences can be painful, difficult, and complex- no one should have to go at it alone. I view the therapeutic experience as collaborative. My intention is to create a safe, supportive, and judgement free space where...
Life is meant to be lived fully, but often there are circumstances that get in the way of our ability to engage at the level that we want to. Whether that is a trauma or loss or a major life stressor that has made life seem unbearable, you can receive help and there is hope of moving forward and living life to the fullness of your potential. My counseling practice stems from the belief that eac...
Are you looking for a place to be heard and truly listened to? Do you need a safe space to navigate through a difficult relationship, traumatic event or painful period of life? I can help you. Together we can find a path that works best for you to get to a healthier and happier place and maintain it. My approach is diverse and conforms to meet your needs. I draw from different techniques, some...
Are you feeling overwhelmed and stressed? These can be symptoms of your life being impacted by past events. I specialize in the treatment of sexual trauma, grief, anxiety, depression, PTSD and addiction with individuals, couples and families. Together we will create a safe space where you can feel and be heard. As we work through past traumas, we begin to lighten the emotional burden we’ve...
We all struggle with life circumstances and difficult relationships! My primary goal is to support and assist families, and relationships improve connection and explore attachment, to provide feedback to help resolve current problems and to promote change and disrupt unhelpful patterns of communication. I am most interested in how people communicate through change and have experience working wi...
Taking the first steps towards change can often times feel overwhelming. I am here to walk this journey with you. I am passionate about partnering with my clients as they discover their resilience and develop a deeper understanding of themselves to become empowered to improve their quality of life. Your story, your feelings, and what you have to say matter, and I am here to support you along yo...
I love working with both individuals and couples and in either case take the approach of discussing what it means to walk through this world in relation to others. Whether that's a committed relationship to a loved one or the relationship you've developed with a casual co-worker or the relationship you have with your parents or the relationship you have with yourself (how you view and think of...
