What is Emotionally Focused Therapy?

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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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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

J.P. Mertens

Colorado Springs

Colorado

As a counselor, I seek to create an environment where people feel safe, heard, valued, and honored. My style is very relational, collaborative, encouraging, and empowering using evidence-based models of therapeutic care. I feel that people can bring their frustrations, anger, fears, sadness, anxiety, ambivalence, and dissatisfaction into the counseling process. Throughout my 25 year career, I h...
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Rebecca works out of Christian Counseling Service's newly opened Surprise office. She believes the best life is one lived with meaning and purpose where we are connected to others in healthy ways. She is passionate about living compassionately and authentically. Challenges and hardships are guaranteed. Bad things happen. How we look at and respond to these experiences can create obstacles to...
Hello! I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in Pennsylvania. I also hold a license in Illinois as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. I have over 14 years of experience in the mental health field. I am well adverse in working with various populations and skillsets. I have a background in working with children, adolescents, and adults. I specialize in cognitive-behavioral therapy, whic...

Heidi Oesterle

Durham

North Carolina

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Children, teenagers, and adults all want to feel in charge of their own lives; I believe in fostering your personal growth and change despite any obstacles you might encounter. As humans, we strive to feel capable, considered, content, centered, and connected to others. I will help you realize your inherent strengths; such as, encouraging parents to feel competent in their parenting strategies;...

Tasha Blaine

New York

New York

I exclusively serve individuals and families connected to adoption. I am a therapist with a passion for supporting individuals, families and children as they explore their challenges and move forward toward change. I came to this career after spending many years as a writer and editor. My past work informs and enriches my work with clients today. I believe in the power of narrative and the...
I believe that people experience healing in and through relationships. Brené Brown defines connection as “the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship”. Therapy can be a safe place where healing connections can be established and can be used to help individuals and couples learn to be who they were...
Hope for Healing provides just that. It is important to start with giving hope when it may be lost, and provide hope as a starting point for the healing process. We believe hope is the catalyst for the healing that will come, and is a must to achieve success. 20 years experience working with people with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities. Work with Autism. Bilingual (Spanish). Home Visits ...

Liza M. Torres Giusti

Denver

Colorado

I am Licensed in Colorado and a National Board Certified Counselor offering online (Video-Voice Telehealth) counseling services in both English and Spanish. I specialize in helping individuals and couples that want to advance their relationships, education, careers and wellness goals. Experiencing fear, stress, anxiety, worry, panic, nervousness or difficulty sleeping. Feeling sad, hopeless,...
With any concern, I work with the client and at times, their family, to develop an individualized plan for treatment. I work with clients facing a variety of mental health concerns including, but not limited to ADHD, ODD, anxiety, OCD, depression, trauma, and behavioral dysregulation. I also specialize in working with individuals/families experiencing serious illness or medical issues. I work w...
Are you struggling to balance your physical and mental health? Are things becoming unmanageable? Is your time limited? Then welcome to WellPsyche! WellPsyche Medical Group provides experts in the field of Adult and Child/Adolescent Psychiatry. Our practice offers the latest in psychiatry including Telemedicine! Now you can visit with your psychiatrist from the privacy and convenience of your ho...
Whether you’re a millionaire or living under a bridge, everyday life situations can be a struggle. Daily coping skills are not a gift. Sometimes we need help and sometimes we need MORE help. I've been helping people for over 40 years and I've been counseling people for over 30 years. My time has been spent sharpening the skills of people all around the world. The training that I've received hel...
Life presents many challenges and at times may feel overwhelming. Perhaps you are questioning whether to stay in your current relationship. Perhaps you feel stuck or frustrated with your current life situation. Our personal patterns and experiences often plague us with uncertainty. Therapy is a process that helps create a deeper understanding about ourselves and our relationships. By working...
Currently, I am not accepting new patients. I have experience working as a therapist in community mental health settings as well as being a part of the Therapeutic Community Program at the Austen Riggs Center. I approach each situation by fostering a warm environment in which you are welcomed to express whatever emotions or thoughts are on your mind. Through collaboration, I aim to help you gai...