What is Emotionally Focused therapy?
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is a structured approach to couples/relationship therapy formulated in the 1980’s and has developed alongside the science on adult attachment to expand our understanding about what is happening in relationships and to guide therapists.
In the last 40 years, Dr. Sue Johnson and her colleagues have further developed and refined the model and completed numerous studies.
EFT is also used with families and individuals. A substantial body of research outlining 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.
For more information on EFT research, please click here.
The major contraindication for EFT is on-going abuse in the relationship. EFT is being used with many different kinds of couples in private practice, university training centres, community mental health centres, and hospital clinics and many different cultural groups throughout the world. These distressed couples include partners suffering from disorders such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorders, and chronic illness.
Strengths of Emotionally Focused Therapy
EFT is based on clear, explicit conceptualisations of couple/relational distress and adult love.
EFT is collaborative and respectful of clients combining experiential techniques with structural systemic interventions.
Change strategies and interventions are specified.
Key moves and moments in the change process have been mapped into nine steps and three change events.
EFT has been validated by over 40 years of empirical research. There is also research on the change processes and predictors of success.
EFT has been applied to many different kinds of problems and populations.
In EFT we create a shift in partners’ interactional positions and initiate new and positive cycles of interaction.
Our goal is to foster the creation of a secure bond between partners.
Take Action
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