Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
“Being the best you can be is really only possible when you are deeply connected to another. Splendid isolation is for planets, not people.” –Dr. Sue Johnson
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is an empirically supported approach to relationship repair that is focused on secure attachment and bonding. EFT therapists believe strong, secure attachments are the lifeblood of our happiness. Therapists have known for years how vital our first attachments are after birth. What we now know is this deep need for human connection is not something we outgrow. However, we often aren’t taught how to truly make safe, secure, and fulfilling adult relationships. Therefore it becomes very easy for couples to become caught in a cycle of pain, anger, and miscommunication. Most individuals long to be seen, heard, and understood by their partner, but feel lost in the behavior that pushes them apart.
Sue Johson, who developed EFT, says this: “In insecure relationships, we disguise our vulnerabilities so our partner never really sees us.” Often our relationship history teaches us to protect ourselves from vulnerability, which creates a block in connecting fully with our partner. The great news is, our brains are hardwired for connection! In emotionally focused therapy, you and your partner will be helped to understand your relationship cycle and change your pattern of interaction, while strengthening your love and understanding of each other. You will explore your attachment style and be helped to heal old wounds that create a barrier in your current relationship.
After 20 years of research, Emotionally Focused Therapy has become the gold standard in couples counseling. Thousands of couples have been helped to feel more resilient and securely bonded. More information about the history and current research in this area can be found here: www.iceeeft.com
Written by Step By Step Counseling’s therapists.