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 believe that using evidence-based techniques in a compassionate therapeutic relationship is the key to successful treatment. My work with my clients is grounded in empathy and connection while helping individuals gain insight into their struggles. As your therapist, I will help you to learn how to reduce the impact and influence of painful thoughts and feelings while taking action to build a...
My goal is to create a safe, relaxed, and fun environment to partner with clients on their life journeys, explore new goals, and cope with difficult life situations. I am a comfortable working with a wide variety of issues including depression, anxiety, anger, trauma, social skills, grief, family conflict, life-changes, and relationship issues. I especially enjoy working with adolescents and th...
Most of my work is with individual teens and adults, and with marriages and families. My strength is in creating a comfortable fit and a clear goal and direction in the therapy work. I have a warm, caring style, with emphasis on clarifying the problems in your life, looking for practical solutions, and focusing on your inner emotional experience for clues as to how we can best find pathways to...
I have a passion for people. I believe everyone has innate worth and value, and my goal is to empower my clients towards that belief of themselves. My therapy style is client-centered, which means I cater to my client's particular needs. I utilize an integrated approach that synthesizes my Christian values with research based practices in order to give the very best care. My desire is that my...
I would like to share with you what Pathway of Hope stands for. We are a counseling center that provide comprehensive counseling services to individuals, families and couples in the community. We understand that as humans we can experience difficulties, but the purpose of counseling is to provide support in times of struggle. I have worked with clients with a wide variety of issues from substan...
I enjoy working with people who are at some kind of crossroads in their lives. There's a problem to be resolved, a decision to make, a change that needs to happen. Sometimes we all need a compassionate listener and an honest, candid guide on the path to making our next move in life. I prefer a collaborative approach, working together to reach resolution. I'm trained as a marriage and family...
I work with adults and counsel individuals, couples, and families. Within those groups, I accept both long-term and short-term clients. My areas of specialty are depression and anxiety, relationship issues, parenting, geriatric issues, and life transitions. At various times in our lives, we all need assistance gaining awareness about ourselves and our circumstances to create the meaningful life...
I enjoy seeing adult and teen clients who are working on issues related to eating, mood regulation, anxiety reduction, trauma, and/or self-improvement. I have also worked at an outpatient eating disorder center since 2006. I have an eclectic approach to therapy that incorporates skills like Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), as well as looking at the be...
The struggle is real- for all of us. I am committed to helping a person grow toward improved insights and coping skills to resolve their problems and related emotions, in a non-judgmental and supportive manner. My goal is for one to learn more about themselves and to function at a higher level in the whole-person dimensions of their life. Whether one is motivated for short-term and situational...
Greetings! I am Dr. Melita T. Stancil, a Licensed Clinical Psychologist. I am passionate about providing comprehensive psychological assessment, and evidenced-based treatment for individuals and families. I received a Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical-Community Psychology at the University of South Carolina. I have also received the capstone of my clinical training at Mount Si...
I am a skilled and experienced psychotherapist and certified yoga teacher offering an eclectic, individualized and holistic approach to clients. I provide ongoing or short term support, guidance and skills to those having difficulty coping with life transitions, dysfunctional patterns of thinking or behaviors and traumatic events. I treat adults, children and families who are open and willing t...
My goal as a therapist is to get you to feel emotionally sound & where you believe you need to be mentally. I want to go at your pace with encouraging means all the way to your personal goals. I hope to guide you there whether it be through trauma healing, relational therapy, or manifesting unique ways that work just for you. My hope is that individuals in therapy get to a place of peace within...
I see adult individuals who would like to: feel empowered, self-compassionate and self-expressive, to know their heart's desires, and to overcome self-defeating thoughts, behaviors and anxiety. I see straight and queer couples who want to: learn new ways of relating to co-create secure and fulfilling attachment, to learn how to make effective repairs with each other, and to learn how to manage...
( English | español ) Does it feel like you are crawling out of your skin, and don't know why? Let me help you. I am a Christian Counselor specializing in helping survivors of childhood sexual abuse (CSA), domestic violence, and trauma. As a survivor of CSA, I am able to relate to my client's pain with compassion and understanding. I am also a Sex Therapist and work with couples dealing with...
Hello. I am a licensed clinical professional counselor in Portland who currently provides infant mental health to parents and caregivers, along with child and family therapy for children up to twelve years of age. I also provide individual therapy to adults. I believe the connection that is forged during the therapeutic process between myself and the client lends itself for change, insight, gro...
