Emotion Focused Couples Therapy

Emotion Focused Couples Therapy was Developed by: Les Greenberg, Ph.D. and Sue Johnson, Ph.D.

Overview Emotion Focused Couples Therapy: "Emotion and attachment have received little recognition in previous treatment models compared to rational cognitions and logical behaviors. EFT therapists validate the partners' emotions and attachment needs, respond genuinely to the partners individually, and try to stir the two partners' own ability to heal themselves and their relationship (the relationship is the client). This fits well with Gottman's research that it is not negative emotional engagement that predicts divorce, but rather a lack of emotional engagement.

The process of uncovering emotions is not the same as catharsis, but is an effort to reveal and integrate marginalized and denied emotions by identifying and engaging them in the moment. The therapy session is seen as a healing place where a corrective emotional experience between partners happens, and it is that process that is the method of therapeutic change. The therapist is egalitarian, and empowers the partners. The therapist avoids over-pathologization by remembering that current negative emotional responses were adaptive at some place and time; what seems irrational now actually was a logical response somewhere and somewhen. However, previously adaptive behaviors are now mismatched to the situation, or are rigidly practiced, and so are now maladaptive.

Systems theory combines two individuals and creates a whole relationship that is more than the sum of the part(ner)s. For Partner 1, inner emotional experiences influence external experiences, which in turn prime the person for the same inner emotional experiences, re-influencing external experiences.... This cycle for Partner 1 feeds itself and the same cycle for Partner 2, whose cycle feeds itself and that of Partner 1.... The whole thing takes on a life of its own and becomes "a self-maintaining positive feedback loop". This means positive encounters can have a compounding effect, while experiences in which one partner failed to respond to the other's needs (attachment injuries) can warp perceptions of future experiences." --excerpt from http://www.psychpage.com/family/library/eft.html

Resources Related to Emotion Focused Couples Therapy: 

The International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT) - located in Ottawa, Canada - is the home for research and training related to EFT - particularly for couple and family therapy. Founded in 1998 by Dr. Sue Johnson and her colleagues, the Centre offers educational courses and training to therapists (externships, workshops, core training etc.), provides certification for EFT trainers and therapists around the world and undertakes clinical research studies.

Emotionally Focused Therapy with Couples with Leslie S. Greenberg, PhD; part of the Relationships APA Psychotherapy Video Series

Article about Emotion Focused Couples Therapy Emotion Focused Couples Therapy as a treatment of Somatoform Disorders: An outcome study by Stephanie R. Burwell Walsh

Study about Emotion Focused Couples Therapy A randomized trial of emotion-focused therapy for couples in a training clinic; Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, Jan 2000  by Denton, Wayne H., Burleson, Brant R., Clark, Thomas E., Rodriguez, Christopher P., Hobbs, Barbara V.

Psychpage.com on EFT

The Medical News

Les Greenberg’s Website

Wikipedia's Page about Emotion Focused Couples Therapy

Books Related to Emotion Focused Couples Therapy:

Emotion Focused Couples Therapy Article Summaries