Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) focuses on improving emotional connection and attachment between individuals in close relationships. EFT is based on the idea that healthy emotional attachment is fundamental to healthy relationships and personal well-being. Therefore, EFT is a specific type of attachment therapy.
What is Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)?
EFT is typically used to address relationship challenges, such as communication difficulties, conflicts, and issues related to trust and intimacy.
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) was developed in the 1980s by Dr. Sue Johnson and her colleagues as a form of couples therapy. Johnson was influenced by attachment theory, which suggests that early experiences with caregivers shape our attachment styles and expectations in close relationships.
The development of EFT was influenced by research on attachment theory and adult attachment styles, as well as research on the role of emotion in relationships. Johnson and her colleagues found that by helping couples identify and express their emotions in a safe and supportive environment, they could promote emotional intimacy, trust, and support between partners, leading to healthier and more fulfilling relationships.
The EFT therapist helps people by:
- Identifying negative patterns: The therapist helps the couple identify negative patterns of interaction that contribute to relationship challenges.
- Emotionally focused interventions: The therapist helps the couple identify and express their emotions in a safe and supportive environment, and develop new ways of communicating and interacting with each other.
- Strengthening emotional bonds: The therapist helps the couple strengthen their emotional connection and attachment by promoting emotional intimacy, trust, and support.
How Does Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) Work?
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) works by focusing on the emotional bond between individuals in close relationships. EFT is based on attachment theory, which suggests that our earliest relationships with caregivers shape our attachment styles and expectations in close relationships throughout our lives. The goal of EFT is to help individuals in close relationships develop more secure emotional attachment and connection with each other.
EFT involves a structured, short-term approach to therapy, often lasting between 8-20 sessions. The steps involved in EFT include:
Assessment
The therapist works with the individuals to identify the negative patterns of interaction that are contributing to relationship challenges, and to identify the underlying emotional needs and attachment styles that are driving these patterns.
De-escalation
The therapist helps the individuals identify and express their emotions in a safe and supportive environment, and develop new ways of communicating and interacting with each other that are more emotionally open and attuned.
Restructuring
The therapist helps the individuals restructure their emotional responses and interactions, based on new understandings of their attachment needs and styles. This involves developing new ways of relating to each other that are more positive, supportive, and emotionally intimate.
Consolidation
The therapist helps the individuals consolidate their new patterns of emotional connection and attachment, and develop strategies for maintaining and strengthening their emotional bond over time.
Who Benefits From EFT?
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) can be beneficial for a wide range of individuals and relationships. EFT is typically used to address relationship challenges, such as communication difficulties, conflicts, and issues related to trust and intimacy.
Here are some specific groups that may benefit from EFT:
Couples
EFT is particularly well-suited for couples experiencing relationship challenges, such as communication difficulties, conflicts, and emotional disconnection. EFT can help couples improve emotional intimacy, trust, and support, and develop healthier and more fulfilling relationships.
Families
EFT can also be used to address relationship challenges within families, such as conflicts between parents and children, or between siblings. EFT can help families improve communication and emotional connection, and develop healthier and more functional relationships.
Individuals
EFT can also be adapted for use with individuals who are struggling with emotional regulation, anxiety, depression, or trauma. EFT can help individuals identify and express their emotions in a safe and supportive environment, and develop healthier coping strategies.
LGBTQ+ individuals
EFT can be particularly helpful for LGBTQ+ individuals and couples, who may face unique relationship challenges related to social stigma, discrimination, and minority stress. EFT can help LGBTQ+ individuals and couples improve emotional connection and attachment, and develop healthier and more fulfilling relationships.
Individuals with trauma histories
EFT can be particularly helpful for individuals who have experienced trauma, as it can help them process and regulate their emotions, and develop healthier coping strategies.
Caregivers
EFT can be helpful for caregivers who may experience emotional exhaustion, stress, and burnout related to caring for others. EFT can help caregivers develop healthier emotional boundaries, and improve their relationships with the individuals they are caring for.
Individuals with chronic health conditions
EFT can be helpful for individuals with chronic health conditions who may experience emotional distress related to their health challenges. EFT can help these individuals develop healthier emotional coping strategies, and improve their relationships with others.
EFT and Other Mental Health Challenges
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is primarily used to address relationship challenges, such as communication difficulties, conflicts, and issues related to trust and intimacy. However, EFT can also be used to address a range of mental health issues, particularly those that are related to relationship challenges and emotional dysregulation.
Here are some mental health issues that EFT may be helpful for:
Depression
EFT can help individuals with depression improve emotional connection and attachment in close relationships, leading to improved mood and well-being.
Anxiety
EFT can help individuals with anxiety address relationship challenges that may be contributing to anxiety symptoms, and improve emotional regulation and coping strategies.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
EFT can help individuals with PTSD improve emotional connection and attachment, and develop healthy coping strategies to manage PTSD symptoms.
Substance use disorders
EFT can help individuals with substance use disorders address relationship challenges that may be contributing to substance use, and develop healthy coping strategies to manage cravings and triggers.
Eating disorders
EFT can help individuals with eating disorders address relationship challenges related to food and body image, and develop healthier ways of relating to food and body image.
Next Steps: Ready for EFT?
Quite a few of our therapists are experienced in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). You can contact us today for a consultation or to ask questions.
Alternatively, browse our therapist directory to find the therapist who is right for you. You can use the dropdown boxes in the directory to filter for therapists who use Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) under the “how we help” category.
Note: ChatGPT generates some of our content for us on this website. However, all articles are edited and supplemented with original content by one of our professional writers who has a Masters degree in psychological studies.