Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy

What is EFT Couples Therapy?

Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples is widely considered the most effective form of couples therapy available. Clinical trials indicate that 70% of couples receiving no more than 10 one hour sessions of Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, report a significant improvement in their relationship. When the 10 session limit is lifted, that number goes up to over 90%.

Who wouldn’t want those kinds of odds when working on the most important adult relationship in your life?

What is it that makes EFT so effective?

Researcher, therapist and author Dr. Sue Johnson has taken advantage of the science that has cracked the code of intimate connection, and taken the “luck” out of love. We now understand what it takes to heal past injuries, re-spark waning connection, bring the love back and keep your relationship on track.

Strengths of Emotionally Focused Therapy

• EFT is collaborative and respectful of clients.

• EFT has been validated by over 20 years of empirical research.

• EFT provides couple’s therapists with a clear roadmap to de-escalation, engagement and softening in communication.

It’s been difficult for clinical psychology to get couples therapy right. But after many decades of therapists and couples left floundering with methodologies that are less than effective, Emotionally Focused Therapy offers couples a nurturing and empirically validated method of reshaping their bond and rewriting their story of love in a way that draws them close and holds them tight.

EFT is based on the science of adult attachment and bonding.

EFT is a methodical approach to couples therapy formulated in the 1980’s at the University of British Columbia, and is now widely used and accepted around the world as the premier modality for relationships in distress. It is based on the science of adult attachment and bonding and expands our understanding about how a couple’s love deteriorates, and how to revive it.

A growing body of research demonstrating the effectiveness of EFT now exists. Research studies find that 70-75% of couples move from distress to recovery and approximately 90% show significant improvements.

An Example of the Change Process

A couple suffering from repeated and frequent episodes of escalated conflict learns to see their cycle of pursue-withdraw, or attack-defend as the enemy as apposed to feeling villainized by each other. A withdrawn, or emotionally unavailable partner takes vulnerability risks, asking for what he or she needs and learns to offer emotional support. Then, a critical, frustrated and often lonely partner learns to safely trust his/her now engaged and emotionally available partners in a softened and approachable manner. Here, bonding and trust are free to grow and create.