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
Every person is unique in their own way, and so are their problems. Therapy is a special journey for every individual and couple. I am here to successfully guide you through the process. I strive to help individuals and couples break free from their feelings of despair, dissatisfaction, and dismay and gain or regain a sense of control, peace, and wholeness. My philosophy is to work jointly with...
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I have found adversity and peace in my lifetime, so I know struggles are real – but people can overcome! I became a counselor to help others do just that. I specialize in working with adolescents and adults who have substance use and/or other mental health disorders (co-occurring disorders). I practice client centered and client driven counseling. I use a variety of approaches with emphasis on...
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I provide support to couples and individuals who are navigating relationship conflict, sex-related concerns, life transitions, anxiety, and depression. Clients I see often come to therapy with some common issues: feeling stuck in patterns of conflict or disconnection, communication problems, difficulty talking about sex or sexuality, pre-marital/marital concerns, infidelity, desire for more...
I welcome the chance to work with you. I specialize in seeing both adolescents (ages 12 +) and adults. I am also a certified school psychologist in CT at the high school level. I use a variety of different modalities to meet your individual therapeutic needs. Whatever you may be dealing with, whether it be past/present trauma, depression, anxiety, relationship issues, stress, etc., I am here to...
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Life comes with many changes, and sometimes these changes do not always seem to be for the better. During these dark times it can feel like we lack the strength to continue on, or it feels like the path forward is too cloudy to know which way to begin to start walking. However, many people experience depression, sorrow, anxiety, grief, anger, and loss at different points in their lives and the...
