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 experience working with people from all walks of life. I really enjoy working with individuals and couples, especially around issues of trauma, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, personal growth, life transitions, relational conflict, communication, sexual difficulties, and societal oppression/equity. I am LGBTQ affirming and love working with LGBTQ couples and Trans folk. I work primaril...
Hello! To say my life has been interesting is an understatement. If it's unusual or a rare thing it's most likely happened to me or I've helped someone dealing with it. In order to be a well-rounded therapist, I have worked in state agencies, schools, and now for myself. I dedicated five years to fulfil contracts with the military (all over the world) to assist active duty and their families. I...
I see counseling as a collaborative and dynamic process in which you and I come to understand and trust one another, work as a team to explore and define the present problem, situations, and concerns, develop future goals for an improved life, and work in a systematic fashion toward realizing those goals. I focus on child and adolescent clients with social and anger management concerns, among...
As a Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT-Candidate), I enjoy helping people heal and thrive both individually and relationally. I work to provide a safe and accepting environment for my clients to express their needs, identify their goals, and make progress toward desired changes. I take a client-centered approach to treatment, seeking to highlight the unique strengths each person brings to the...
**Currently not accepting any new clients** Do you ever find yourself thinking, "I'm so stressed out and overwhelmed, I thought being a mom would be so different, that this would be such a magical time and it's not." "I'm feeling so alone and fearful, will I ever feel better or even normal again?" Too fearful of the feelings, that others will judge you or have so much shame or guilt that you ca...
( English | español ) I believe that people as unique individuals have the capacity to grow, heal and change, learning new ways for improving their health and well-being in all areas of life including biological, psychological, social and spiritual. Personal growth is facilitated by setting and working toward goals, assessing and building strengths in these areas to develop skills and resources...
Are you motivated for change but unsure how to get there? Are you yearning for better relationships with others as well as yourself? I consider it my privilege to help individuals work towards their goals by illuminating current patterns in their lives and curiously exploring them. We will work together to determine if these patterns suit you or if change would better enhance your life. From...
I like to think of therapy as a time to gain perspective. I think people can gain a "bird's eye view" perspective of their own life from therapy. Most individuals that I have helped come to therapy because they are "stuck". Maybe, they are stuck in the same behaviors or thoughts happening over and again. Maybe, they are stuck in the same situations, a pattern of anxiety or unhappiness. Therapy ...
Reaching out for help can be difficult. Often times, we tend to neglect the need for our own self-care as we tackle the challenges of daily life and take care of the ones we love. Platinum Counseling offers a comfortable and casual environment where you can feel safe and supported. We encourage you to discuss your vulnerabilities, without judgement, with professionals who want to hear about you...
Accepting new client again after mid-January. It is a challenging time currently. I specialize in children, teens, and younger adults, particularly those with Anxiety, AD/HD, and/or Depression, or just life challenges. I do individual and family therapy, depending on the needs. It can be hard to be at home more, particularly if you are having struggles with parenting, helping your child, or as ...
We all have something we struggle with, but it does not have to ruin us. You get overwhelmed by your thoughts and overanalyze, which leaves you feeling resentful, anxious, stressed, and at times, defeated. Evans Counseling & Consulting can help you find the balance in your life. We are a multi-specialty practice that specializes in 3 main areas: Comprehensive Post-Accident Pyschological...
We all seek help for different reasons. For many of us, we reach out because life's currents have set us adrift from our values. I see my job as a therapist to help bring you back to shore. To do this, I will develop a personalized treatment plan to help you realign with your values, wether this is in the context of relationships, new transitions, or difficult periods of time. I work with a wid...
My practice is focused on helping each of my clients find an understanding of self as well as personal growth. I treat individuals, couples, families and adolescents. I am well equipped to help those suffering from depression, anxiety, grief and loss, women's issues such as infertility and postpartum disorders, addiction, unresolved trauma, the effects of physical, emotional or sexual abuse,...
My goal in counseling is to create a safe and collaborative environment in which an individual, couple or family can explore and make sense of how their inner experiences and relationship patterns are either restricting or fostering a greater sense of connection with themselves and others. I specialize in working with couples, adults, families with adolescents or adult children, and clergy or...
We all strive to be happy in life. Unfortunately life is full of unpredictable struggles that get in the way of our path to happiness. To gain true happiness we must learn how to love ourselves. Loving ourselves starts with self-understanding and believing in ourselves. Struggles unfortunately make us believe that things are not meant to be, or that we will simply never be happy. This negative...
