What is Emotionally Focused Therapy?

How is EFT different?

What is Emotionally Focused Therapy?

EFT helps couples identify and transform the negative processing and interaction patterns that create distress. Once this is accomplished, couples can build a better alliance and feel a deeper sense of closeness and intimacy.

EFT sessions are experiential. That means there is in-session practice with assembling and deepening each partner's emotional experience and communicating that to one's partner in a more meaningful "felt" way.

There are three phases of EFT treatment:

De-escalation - Clients identify and express their concerns, negative behaviors, and emotions. This stage can involve breaking cycles of blame, criticism, and withdrawal.

Restructuring - Clients learn to express their feelings, needs, and desires and practice self-compassion and acceptance. This stage can involve building a stronger bond and more secure attachment.

Consolidation - Clients apply new solutions to old problems and integrate what they've learned into their self-concept and relationships. This stage can involve identifying changes that have occurred and integrating them into all aspects of the couple's lives.

Rigorous studies have shown EFT has a 75 percent success rate (more than 2x that of other forms of couples therapy). New physiological research proves co-regulation happens between couples when they share vulnerable emotions - when we feel seen and understood by a safe other, our physiology regulates.