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
Are you are experiencing depression, anxiety, drug and alcohol addiction, marital and/or family conflict, grief and loss, trauma, PTSD, self-esteem issues or other mental health concerns? I will help you explore and achieve a deeper understanding of your current situation(s) to better cope and deal with them in a healthy way along with helping you gain a greater self-awareness and the strategie...
[At capacity right now] Often, behaviors that limit us result from beliefs and feelings of which which we are not aware. To this end, my approach goes beyond coping strategies; I offer therapy that focuses on how we relate to ourselves and others as the key to a more fulfilled life. I believe that what creates disconnection in our relationships is not always obvious and that conventional knowle...
Is COVID-19 causing stress, anxiety, hardship or depression? Let's get through this together! I specialize in helping clients heal from psychological pain. Many people are struggling through the isolation, job loss and major life changes. COVID has turn the world upside down. I invite you to join me in a partnership to discover hope during these difficult times and to anticipate a better tomorr...
At JFS we strive to have a holistic approach to counseling, focusing on the individual needs of each of our clients. We have several therapist with a wide array of expertise. Ashlyn Douglass-Barnes, LCSW, Clinical Supervisor practice focus is perinatal mood disorders, bariatric concerns, and LEO/first responders. Dorrit Ram, LCSW’s practice focus is adults with development delays/ASD, and anxie...
It can be a lonely and overwhelming feeling to realize that your life doesn't match who you were meant to be. I will help you identify the origin of your maladaptive coping skills, the effect early issues have on you in the present day, and help you learn new, healthy behaviors to live a better and more fulfilling life. I have over 15 years of experience working with individuals, couples and...
I work mostly with clients suffering with anxiety, PTSD, depression, and substance use issues, but I have experience with many different mental health diagnoses. I see clients needing help with goal-setting, limiting core values and beliefs, shame, fear, negative self-esteem, and trauma symptoms. I have trained in many mind-body and alternative techniques, such as EFT tapping,...
We sometimes lose our direction, and compromise the things most valuable to us. Clinical counseling or psychotherapy involves helping individuals, couples and families as they move to resolve issues that are interfering with their lives in some capacity. I believe that each person is unique and no one method of counseling reaches everyone. Therefore, I use a unique blending of various mental...
My goal as a therapist is to find solutions that work for you on an individual basis, helping you to discover the true potential of your life. There may be no magic button or quick-fix solution when it comes to changing things from the past that have been difficult. What we can do is work together to find understanding and resolution in the difficult areas of your life and in the challenges you...
Making the decision to begin therapy can be overwhelming, but is also an excellent opportunity to make the change you've been hoping to see. In my practice I follow your lead and pace to help identify and address any obstacles that stop you from having a fulfilling, meaningful life. No matter the source or length of your stress, my work is rooted in helping you gain insight and awareness while...
I work with families who feel stuck. Maybe you simply cannot seem to change the pattern of conflict in your marriage, or your teen’s behavior or emotional experience is more than you can handle. Maybe your son or daughter is depressed or addicted, or you have experienced a loss, an accident, or are finally ready to address the experience of abuse in your life that has held you back or kept you...
I desire to provide a safe place for you to explore the issues of anxiety, grief or depression that keep you from living life more fully. You may be struggling with low self-esteem or a loss of identity due to changes, such as loss of a relationship, life transitions, or loss due to trauma. You may find it difficult to move past shaming messages and would like to learn how to find your authenti...
Do you find yourself bottling things up because you fear others wouldn't understand? Does the anger leave you feeling stuck? Does it feel so unmanageable that it starts to leak into other parts of your life: difficulty concentrating on your tasks, missing in action with those you love, or going to sleep at night feeling alone? Periods of transition will come and go in life. It's how we handle t...
My goal as a clinical therapist is to empower individuals to increase self awareness, explore identity, emotion and insight, and identify and navigate opportunities, resources and barriers along their path. I specialize in treating clients experiencing adjustment and transitional issues related to life events, anxiety, depression, trauma, relational issues, identity exploration and others. My...
Is it difficult for you to stay present or manage your stress? Are you looking for more balance in your life? I work with individuals and couples affected by anxiety, grief/loss, caretaking, and trauma. Together, we identify how these struggles influence self-worth, career, and relationships. My hope is that you establish clarity around your goals for healing, including acceptance of & compassi...
Do you feel stuck either in an unhealthy relationship, or find yourself thinking that healthy relationships are never going to happen? Do you find that you blame yourself for things that involve other people? Or do you feel like you lost a connection with yourself? Regardless of what brings you to therapy, this search is the first step towards feeling better. We all have the capacity for emotio...
