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 invite clients to a safe, warm and supportive environment to process overwhelming emotions, hardships and life transitions. I specialize in young adults, college students and adolescents facing anxiety, stress, grief and adjustment to life changes. I believe healing comes from self-awareness, self-love, and compassion. Through counseling, we build a foundation of skills leading to insight,...
Johanna is the founder of Memory Farm a farm-based adult day center for those living with Alzheimer's and related diseases. Compassion and creativity are at the heart of Johanna's practice. At the farm, her clients engage in purpose fulfilling activities such as gardening and animal therapy. Johanna takes this same approach to her counseling clients. Johanna believes that every person's journe...
Bowling Green State University's Psychological Services Center (PSC) offers a broad range of mental health services to the NW Ohio community. Our staff of approximately 40 doctoral students in Clinical Psychology work under the close supervision of licensed psychologists who are BGSU faculty or adjunct faculty. Services are offered to individuals, couples, and families. The PSC embraces diversi...
******Accepting new clients********* No one enjoys feeling trapped, incapable of escape, and unable to see the light. This is all the more true when the bonds of our entrapment are made up of our mind, our relationships, and our circumstances. While there is a limit to what each person has control over in their lives, many have control over far less than what they are capable of. My theoretical...
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Charlie Mitchell, LPC-MHSP, is the founder and owner of Heart Pine Counseling Center. Heart Pine Counseling Center is missioned to bring premier counseling services to East Tennessee, with a specialty in the application of Emotionally Focused Family and Couples Therapy. This mode of therapy is extensively research and evidence based, promoting deep and long lasting emotional healing. Charlie...
Healing happens when we have something larger than ourselves to grow towards. I believe that the quality of our connection to ourselves, our loved ones, and our community is essential to our well being. All too often, because of past traumatic experiences, unfortunate events, or simply because of an inability to communicate, we become disconnected from those points of contact. In my approach to...
I provide comprehensive psychological and cognitive evaluations on individuals of all ages. My assessments confront a broad range of psychological issues. I can assist you in sorting out the chaos in your life so you can live from a clear and empowered place. I provide treatment for children, adolescents and adults suffering from emotional disruption....
You shouldn’t have to go through difficult times alone which is why my goal is to help provide you with a therapeutic experience that you need and want. You deserve time each week to explore areas of your life in a safe space and environment. Whether you are struggling with issues of postpartum, life-changes, parenting, family, relationships, life milestones (college/career), divorce,...
***Please submit all appointment requests through FrameworkPsych.com*** Dr. Leal is a graduate of the University of Texas at San Antonio as well as The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She specializes in helping individuals navigate through periods of high stress in their life. At her core Dr. Leal believes that every single person on Earth is truly capable of change. By using cogniti...
