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
Each of us has personal and/or family struggles at some time in our life. I am here to help support you in fostering hope and change. I create a safe and structured place to work on those goals that will bring peace and happiness back into your life and relationships. As a marriage and family therapist, I work with individuals, couples, and families on any issue large or small. I specialize in...
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Dr. McQuinn is a licensed Clinical Psychologist and a licensed Marital and Family therapist. Dr. Anna McQuinn has been a Tenured Professor of Notre Dame de Namur University where she has been chair of the Clinical Psychology Graduate Department since 1987. She has also been an Adjunct Faculty member at the University of San Francisco graduate Psychology program. Currently she is a Professor...
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I provide a safe, welcoming space and want clients to feel at home. I provide continuous support for an array of issues pertaining to the adults. I believe the counseling relationship is the most important component to clients meeting their therapy goals. As a registered nurse of 16 years, I can relate to the emotional and mental stresses of the healthcare profession and provide support to...
My practice is based on the belief that we are spiritual beings having a human experience and I use my natural gift of intuition to guide my sessions. It is my belief that we do and feel our best when we feel connected and aligned to ourselves, which is where authenticity comes in. When we are more authentic in our words, thoughts, behaviors, we can be more likely to spend our time and energy...
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I am a licensed psychotherapist and a former U.K. registered mental health nurse. I have worked in the field of substance abuse and mental health in the U.K. since 1999 and more recently in California. I have a high level of comfortability with family and relational issues, emotional disturbance in adult and youth. I welcome culturally diverse adults, youth and families. I take an existential...
I believe that people are experts in their own lives. We all have strengths that sometimes are not apparent to us, but we can learn to identify them. As we connect to our internal experiences, we discover that our thoughts and beliefs about the way things are might be more workable than we had previously believed. My approach when working with people is to be collaborative and relational. I mee...
I’m a psychologist fueled by a deep sense of compassion and a desire to bring about real healing in the lives of my clients. Cultivating greater awareness in the mind, body, soul and spirit, I can guide you towards creating a more awakened and centered life. By learning how to reduce reactivity to events, situations and people, you can learn to respond consciously to the things you encounter an...
( English | español ) Fior is a bilingual licensed clinical social worker with more than 40 years experience in the health care field and over 20 yrs providing psychotherapy. She has extensive experience providing treatment to individuals with anxiety and depression and is trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Hypnotherapy. Fior has also developed an integrative approach to healing by...
Desiring to bring connection, healing and vibrancy back into your own life or your relationship? Have you and your partner begun to feel more like roommates than soulmates? Desiring to regain a sense of personal identity and purpose? You are not alone! I work with couples to move them from disconnection to a transformed connection. Individuals from mundane to whole-hearted living. Working with ...
CANVAS HEALTH IS CELEBRATING 50 YEARS of bringing hope, healing, and recovery to the lives of people we serve. We achieve this by helping children, adolescents, adults, and families who struggle with mental illness and substance use disorders. Our clinic in Bloomington has a special focus on caring for the mental health of children, adolescents, and families. Our services and programs: 1) Early...
