Emotionally Focused Therapy

Emotionally focused therapy (EFT) – or emotionally focused couples therapy as it is sometimes known – is a short-term therapy technique focused on adult relationships. EFT seeks to help clients better understand both their own emotional responses and those of significant people in their lives. A therapist using EFT will look for patterns in the relationship and identify methods to create a more secure bond, increase trust, and help the relationship grow in a healthy direction. In a session, the therapist will observe the interactions between clients, tie this behavior into dynamics in the home, and help guide new interactions based on more open feelings. Sometimes, this includes clients discovering more emotions and feelings than they were aware they had. Think this approach might be right for you? Reach out to one of

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Our emotions often tells us what is important to us, what decisions are aligning with our beliefs, and where there is a mismatch between our actions and our goals. I help clients understand their emotions in order to better understand themselves.

— Mark Eades, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Supervisor in Efland, NC

When working with relationships and families, I use Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). EFT is one of the most successful treatments for couples/family therapy that pulls from a combination of Experiential, Attachment, and Systemic Theories. I believe it is crucial to develop a safe, empowering relationship with clients. EFT teaches family members to slow down interactions and fully experience emotions as a strong, family unit. I advanced have experience using EFT within the LGBTQ community.

— Casey Brasfield, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate in Winston Salem, NC
 

Emotion-focused therapy (EFT) founded on the evidence that emotions are not accessories to human experience but organizing principles of our lives. By being able to more fully experience our emotional range, our relationships can thrive. Let’s dig in and support you and your partner’s emotional well-being.

— Gabriel Trees, Associate Marriage & Family Therapist in Portland, OR

Find out more about how I can help you with Emotionally Focused Therapy via my speciality webpage for couples: https://www.timholtzmantherapy.com/couples-therapy

— Tim Holtzman, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in Berkeley, CA
 

I work with emotions to help you explore, tolerate, and understand them. Expressing your emotions works when you have someone who responds to them appropriately. I find that the most meaningful thing that you can do for someone, is to genuinely listen which is the staple of this approach to help you feel comfortable with expressing your true feelings. When this happens you can listen to your emotions and understand the wisdom that comes from listening to them rather than pushing them away.

— Chardonnay Badchkam, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in , NY

My training was rooted in emotionally focused therapy (EFT). Although all types of therapy look at your emotions to some extent, EFT centers on them. We look at how you experience emotions in your body (where they originate), relate to them, and tune into the important messages they send you. Blocked or overwhelming emotions are often at the root of our problems. It's therefore essential to learn how to accept, understand, and respond to them well in order to unlock their wisdom and freedom.

— Lindsay Elizondo, Clinical Psychologist in San Diego, CA
 

When working with couples/relationships and families, I use Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). EFT is one of the most successful evidence-based treatments for couples/family therapy that pulls from a combination of Experiential, Attachment, and Systemic Theories. I believe it is crucial to take time to develop a safe, empowering relationship with clients. EFT teaches family members to slow down interactions and fully experience emotions as a strong, family unit.

— Casey Brasfield, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate in Winston Salem, NC

Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is my primary treatment modality for couples. With the guidance of EFT principles, I help clients recognize their maladaptive patterns of relating. They are then taught how to recognize these patterns in the moment and choose a healthier and more productive communication style. Once clients are able to develop healthier communication skills, they are able to engage in deeper forms of communication that promote healing and connection.

— Self-Care Simplified, Clinical Psychologist in Atlanta, GA
 

EFT is one of the only models used to help couples heal with evidence based research to back it up. https://iceeft.com/eft-research-2/ I have completed both an intensive externship and core skills in this model specifically.

— Sarah Newcomer, Marriage & Family Therapist in , OH

I have advanced training in Emotion Focused Family Therapy which is designed to help loved ones work with those in their lives that are struggling with mental illness (eating disorders and self-harm in particular), and other behavioral concerns. I frequently use this approach to augment direct work with my clients so they have the greatest amount of support possible, especially when they aren't in my office.

— Elizabeth Bolton, Licensed Professional Counselor in Cypress, TX
 

I have completed advanced training in Emotionally Focused Therapy for the treatment of couples. I am currently taking the steps towards certification in this therapeutic modality.

— Erica Christmas, Licensed Professional Counselor in Gilbert, AZ

Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT) are both rooted in identifying an attachment style and its direct effect on one's feelings. After identifying the feelings, I help the client remedy past traumas and attachment injuries through emotional realization and processing. These practices are evidence based and empirically backed to show lasting change.

— Ryan Pescaia, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate in Houston, TX
 

I use a highly experiential approach to therapy. This means I believe that simply thinking or talking about a problem is not enough to create real change. In order for change to occur, we need to go deeper, beyond the thinking mind. Research shows that having a felt experience opens up pathways to new ways of thinking and being. This means we will be working toward having new, felt sense experiences to help you move beyond stuck patterns and ineffective coping strategies and toward real change.

— Jane Thibodeau, Somatic Psychotherapist, Marriage and Family Therapist Associate in , NC

EFT is based on bonding the relationship. Relationships can get stuck in emotional patterns that can be negative to the relationship. EFT assists with shifting the patterns to create more positive emotional bond. Increase intimate satisfaction and trust.

— Cassandra Hesse, Counselor in Austin, TX
 

EFT is one of the only models used to help couples heal with evidence based research to back it up. https://iceeft.com/eft-research-2/ I have completed both an intensive externship and core skills in this model specifically.

— Sarah Newcomer, Marriage & Family Therapist in , OH

Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) has quickly become one of the most popular approaches to working with couples. It is widely recognized as one of the most effective forms of couples therapy. The focus is on understanding how our emotions, interactions, and attachments come together to form healthy and unhealthy patterns in our relationship. EFT aims to encourage the growth of new healthy patterns and move away from unhealthy patterns.

— Jacob Santhouse, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in ,
 

Often times, people end up in therapy because they are struggling with difficult emotions. EFT is an approach that changes your relationship with your emotions by promoting understanding of how your emotions can help you and teaching alternate ways of coping with difficult emotions.

— Amber Sylvan, Psychologist in Ann Arbor, MI

EFT is an approach to therapy treatment based on the premise that our emotions are critical to our identity and guide decision-making. When we lack awareness of our feelings or avoid unpleasant emotions, we cannot use the information provided by these emotions. Unlike other therapeutic approaches, EFT assumes that emotion can be a source of healing and works with specific emotions to increase adaptation.

— Jennifer Hamrock, Associate Marriage & Family Therapist in Hermosa Beach, CA