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
Do you and your spouse feel like roommates instead of lovers? Has infidelity entered the relationship and now you're at a crossroads? Are you caring for a loved one and feel you are losing yourself? Has retirement got you wondering "What now?" As a Marriage and Family Therapist I have experience working with individuals, couples in these very situations. I commit to join your journey as you see...
When I was a child I had terrible anxiety and a wonderful professional helped me. So now, my passion is helping other children, couples, and families. I am a licensed clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist who believes in total mental health care for you, your partnership, and your children. I also have experience with the unique mental health needs of the LGBTQ community. I provide school...
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Qualified to provide individual and family therapy. I have gained an in-depth understanding and passion for relational and family systems, trauma-informed care and experiential interventions. I am an empathic and insightful therapist with a talent for empowering clients towards positive growth. I have a successful history of achievement in academic, training and work experiences. Trained in...
In my practice, I provide the necessary emotional environment that is conducive to healing and use the most advanced proven therapeutic tools for my clients. I believe that any adverse life event can overwhelm the normal adaptive capacity of any person at any age. Untreated, it can lead to the development of dysfunctional behaviors, feelings, and thoughts, such as depression, anxiety, obsession...
I believe that you bring wisdom to the places of disorientation in your life. As a spiritually-integrated psychotherapist, my role is to help you nurture the conditions where you can reconnect with this wisdom. The primary context for this reconnection is an authentic relationship with another person. At its best, therapy can help strengthen your self-esteem, your capacity for meaningful...
My ideal client is an individual, couple, or family bothered with relational concerns, unable to navigate themselves out of what seems a rut, willing to work to get better. Anger, Anxiety, Depression, Traumatic Experiences, Substance Use, Abuse, addiction, Bi-Polar, as well as ADHD, can wreck havoc in relationships. Talk Therapy, coupled with the many therapeutic approaches I am trained to use ...
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It is my belief that we all have the ability to harness the power within us to find our own way to true healing and transformation. I am a licensed therapist who combines traditional clinical skills with a holistic, mindful and spiritual approach to healing and transformation rooted in self-compassion. Life is full of challenges and my true passion is working with clients to find the personal...
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Sometimes we come to a time in our life when we can use some guidance. I love working with people to help them along their way. We can explore what works for you and what doesn't. Together we can figure out where you want to go from here and how to get there. I've helped many adults and youth with personal growth as they navigated through life stressors and transitions. For 30+ years I've worke...
Are you just existing? Going through the daily motions, but not truly living? Caught in a vicious cycle of negative self-talk, low self-esteem, and self-defeating thoughts and behaviors? It doesn't have to be this way. Allow me to help you free yourself of your internal struggles so you can reveal your true potential, and live a more fulfilled and complete life. Through my compassionate, empath...
My name is Sarah Marie and I work with adults who feel like their inner critic is controlling their life. Their anxiety has overridden their playfulness. They fear they give too much power to other people's opinion of them. Often they are unsure if their relationships are healthy and if they are dating they don't want to repeat patterns they know do not work. This lack of confidence and ease wi...
If you’re looking for a therapist, you're ready for something in your life to change. Are you tired of trying to figure things out on your own? Are you struggling with your important relationships? Do the people you usually turn to for guidance no longer seem to know how to help? Whatever brought you to this point, your regular ways of making yourself feel better are no longer enough to restore...
